[dsn_klr650] new adventure bikes

[Fred Hink]

Check out the latest adventure bikes from Honda, Moto Guzzi and Triumph:   http://world.honda.com/news/2010/2101102V4-Crosstourer/   http://www.motoguzzi-us.com/en_US/prodotti/touring/stelvio/stelvio_1200_4v/default.aspx   http://www.triumph.co.uk/usa/13594_13598.aspx Fred www.arrowheadmotorsports.com

[Jud]

The V4 Honda seems to epitomize the Escalade-as-offroad-tool concept. I wonder what it weighs with that lump in it.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Hink" wrote: > > Check out the latest adventure bikes from Honda, Moto Guzzi and Triumph: > > http://world.honda.com/news/2010/2101102V4-Crosstourer/ > > http://www.motoguzzi-us.com/en_US/prodotti/touring/stelvio/stelvio_1200_4v/default.aspx > > http://www.triumph.co.uk/usa/13594_13598.aspx > > Fred > www.arrowheadmotorsports.com >

[nhjim10]

Put some top opening, instead of side opening, panniers on it and I would love that Honda. Side opening is useless. You either open the bag and lose half the stuff out, or you have to unmount the bag and lay it on a flat surface to open it. Other than that, I love it. Jim

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Hink" wrote: > > Check out the latest adventure bikes from Honda, Moto Guzzi and Triumph: > > http://world.honda.com/news/2010/2101102V4-Crosstourer/ > > http://www.motoguzzi-us.com/en_US/prodotti/touring/stelvio/stelvio_1200_4v/default.aspx > > http://www.triumph.co.uk/usa/13594_13598.aspx > > Fred > www.arrowheadmotorsports.com >

[Monty]

Very creative Fred.  All those are easy to overlook.  Interesting to see so many mfg trying to capitalize on the adventure segment.  Honda - good idea and might be same class of bike as the new Yamaha or BMW?  I've ridden with a guy at Capital Reef national park in UT who was on an African twin.  The trails were challenging at times with lots of sand.  The adventure rider was from Switzerland on his way to south America.  Couldn't have been bigger than 5' 6" yet handled the big bike like a pro.  Will never forget that day or having dinner with him and his gal at their camp that night.   http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?albumId=784713019103&ownerId=94094993303 Guzzi - Couple years ago upon arriving in Tooele, UT to attend Bonneville and an AHRMA race at Miller Motor Sports on my 02 BMW GSA and noticing the oil sight glass dripping oil (grrrrrrrr) a guy parked next to me riding a Guzzi Stelvio.  As I was dealing with my missery he was blabbering how wonderful the Guzzi was.  "Not one problem.  Runs like a champ"!  Wanted to kill the guy.  But he was a bumpkin from Nebraska.  Actually a nice guy just didn't know what to say or when to shut up.  FWIW - that's the only Stelvio I've ever seen on the road.  If he were in my shoes looking for a part he'd be SOL in a BIG way.  Been tempted to own a Guzzi a time or two but shy away for this reason alone. Triumph - Big Hinkley fan.  Have owned a couple and loved them.  Speed Triples both.  Just spent a day helping a shop during a Triumph Demo truck visit.  Got to lead the demo rides and getting a chance to throw a leg over all their models.  Too bad this one wasn't there at the time ;-(  Have heard it's based on the same engine as the Street Triple which I found to be a beautiful engine in that platform.  Not sure how they'd tune that thing for an adventure ride?  Seems one too many cylinders but would sure have good highway legs.  Looks an awful lot like BMW's 800.  All this said, having just returned from another fantastic week riding an 03 KLR in NV on some very rough terrain I'd be hard pressed to think any of these bikes a good replacement.  Love the fact more adventure bikes are being turned out.  More is better IMO and we're sure to get something closer to an updated KLR some day.  Let's just hope we can afford one?  Good thinking Fred Hink!  

[Jim Douglas]

[SM]

I'm getting one of those Tiger 800s to replace my 1050 Tiger. Still working on repairing my broken-framed KLR, wife just called to tell me the replacement frame was delivered to my house today. Got to get cracking on it, LA-B-V is 2 weeks away! Thanks CA Stu

[cycletip]

+1 James. I'd have gone for one if not for already maintaining a GSA and R100GS air head in addition to the KLR. Was hopping the 800 would be closer to 10K but that was wishful thinking.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jim Douglas wrote: > > > Funny, don't believe anyone has discussed the BMW GS-800. I personally > think it's a perfect > sized engine as the KL650, to me, needs just a little more for the road > and the bigger BMW's are > well, simply to friggin big! Although it's now all that new now I still > would love to have one! >

[goluxgo]

Old adventure bikes. Center of gravity may be more important than weight. http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2010/06/09/universal-adventure-motorcycles-nothing-special-and-thats-the-whole-point Larry.

[RobertWichert]

When I was just learning to ride back in the 60s, my friend's dad was our teacher.  He rode a Harley, but it was a single cylinder, as I remember it.  It was huge though and it might have been a 45.  Anyway, he had put a VERY LARGE rear sprocket on it, and he rode it on trails and hill climbs, etc.  He rode slow and steady, and never failed to make what he tried to make. Maybe those boys on the 74s had monster rear sprockets too! Robert P Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ======================================================

On 11/11/2010 4:28 PM, goluxgo wrote:   Old adventure bikes. Center of gravity may be more important than weight. http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2010/06/09/universal-adventure-motorcycles-nothing-special-and-thats-the-whole-point Larry.

[roncriswell@sbcglobal.net]

I will agree on that one. One of the things that stops short leg me in taking my tall, top heavy gassed up KLR into more challenging places is its tip over factor. I can remember when people used to desert race and ride enduros on 650 Triumphs and BSA's. They didn't use a skinney 21 inch front tire in sand either. A big fat tire and a 19 inch front rim (I think.). A low seat height also and they weighed roughly the same as a KLR. The reason dirt type bikes are so tall these days is a long travel suspension. I don't need to jump off a 2 story roof on a bike used to explore back country. Criswell

On Nov 11, 2010, at 6:28 PM, goluxgo wrote:   Old adventure bikes. Center of gravity may be more important than weight. http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2010/06/09/universal-adventure-motorcycles-nothing-special-and-thats-the-whole-point Larry.