Suggestions for a 90/10 hiway/dirt commuter!

[charles]

My KLR was stolen off the street in Burnaby last fall. After commuting from Bowen since then in my truck you can imagine why I want to get back on a bike.

I was pretty happy with the KLR, with the exception of the usual items that go quickly but understandibly keep the purchase price low (stock tires, brakes, do hickey, hand guards). It handled the #1 with plenty enough cruising speed & comfort. A little dodgy in the wind & heavy rain on the upper levels. But my last few hundred yards to home is where the KLR was sweet. It's no exageration to say that the end of our "street" is more goat-trail than fire road. It's bad to the bone, but the KLR just loved it.

So, my question for you all is: I already know I'd be reasonably happy with a KLR, but is there any other bike like an Aprillia or a BMW F650 that would also do the trick, given the major hiway driving and minor mud and stone road every day?

Can these Europeans, for instance, handle the rough road with some knobbier tires put on them?

Any suggestions & comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[sagot]

I think that a step in the dirt direction might be a DR650 or XL650. These bikes are as plush as the KLR but slightly more dirt worthy. Even further down the dirt road would be a DRZ400S, witch is also fairly plush but has the potential to be quite a good dirt bike. However the seat on the DRZ sucks for long highway jaunts.
See if you can go test ride a bunch of these bikes. Dealers often have used or demo ones for this reason.

[ktmken]

90% street - 10% dirt

650 vstrom


KTMKen

[WestCoast Rider]

I'll second the 650 vstrom if you're riding on the highway 90% of the time. That, or a Tiger 800 / F800GS if you want an expensive toy with a warranty.

[drifter dave]

I'd look for a 650 GS.

[Bora20]

90% street - 10% dirt

650 vstrom


KTMKen

I third that. I had ridden with a few guys on 650 Vstroms with TKC8o tires and they were having no problems with logging roads getting to cut blocks. Then they turn around.

Great bike for highway travel from what I have heard and potentially cheaper than the F650GS.