Wanting a dual sport bike: What to get?

Op, the yamaha sm is a sweet bike. Would you really wanna get something that nice to play in the dirt with? I am a big fan of the KTM bike's. I wouldn't suggest getting anything bigger than a 450 if you wanna play in the woods. Also You don't gotta do a ton of maintenance to all the sm bikes. Depends on what you get.

 

Suzuki's my brand, DR650 ... 4 stoke anything is going to be reliable and low on maintenance. Oil change every three rides and top end rebuilding is coming from a throttle happy 2 smoke owner

 

lol the oil is in the gas with a 2 stroke engine. and i changed my motorcycle oil every 3,000 miles? idk what you guys are talking about. my dr350 was actually less of a hassle than my car at the time.

 

Yeah my KTM has 4,500 mile oil change intervals!

 

not sure yet, was hoping to get more feedback on the trade situation... i really like the guys bike, but i KNOW im trading down, something I try never to do! hoping someone will buy my bike before i decide to do that!

this is the bike... what do you think?
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/mcy/2467040600.html

Adamo

 

Someone mentioned the XR further back, they're pretty damn bullet proof but the 650's are freakin tall!! I'm around 5'9" and the 650 is way too tall for me! The 400 is pretty tough though. I used to have a '95 XT350. It's not much fun at highway speed but as long as you keep it under 60 mph, it's a great bike!

 

the best all around dual sports is the wr250x and it's sibling wr250r. i have an X, and have done EVERYTHING with it. i revalved the suspension, and will ride on the street riding under rice rockets with ease (under 80mph) one day the next riding hardcore single track after a wheel swap and clicker adjustment.

i have brought the bike into the woods in pure sm trim, and it does admirable, but big mud stops it dead.

sm trim:


spooned on some shinko 705's on the sm wheels and rode muddy trails:


i was the only a55h0le in the woods in leather...



or the only a55h0le in the snow on a motard...



i recently swapped to 21/18 for dirt work, as i was getting stuck/hitting the ground too frequently in mud/rough single track.




the bike is bulletproof. only issues i have had, are mostly my fault (burnt up relays from riding in the salty snow, never fully cleaned the bike.... oops).

 

if you want a dual sport buy a bmw, they have a huge line-up and then last forever. I bought a 2001 f650gs dakar in 05 for 4500 and just sold it this year for 4300-. you really cannot go wrong with a bimmer

 

my bro just got the KTM Duke 690... google for pics.. he got the black one.. the exhaust is ridiculous.. (i dont know bikes, but im pretty sure this is a totally street only bike)

 

Truer words could not be spoken. I have a 2001 f650gs with 15k and never a problem.

 

ALRIGHT ALRIGHT... going tomorrow to meet the guy with this bike!!!

last minute opinions? DONT DO IT? DO IT? He was asking 7400 for his bike, and I was asking 8750. Say we both came down, he got 7k and I got 8k, still a grand difference, I dont want to trade down, but I dont want this to sell before I buy it, haha...should I go see it, take my bike home, remove a couple things? OOORRRR just say screw it and make a straight trade? Id take off the K&N filter, rear sets, ASV levers, and then trade?

damn it someone tell me! lol....

 

idk i would die before i rode anything other than orange but it looks like a well built bike, despite the questionable black painted motor. but he did say he had a second motor so i would ask for that to be included also. But thats just my opinion...

kTm​

 

Rodney, that bike is awesome! Love the wheels. Is it the anniversary color?

Adamo, I dunno. Would your trade include some cash? Maybe if you got $500 in cash it might take the sting off? The SM is one I've seen before but I can't remember where--it's pretty nice looking and assuming it passes muster, it'd be a fun ride.

 

That WR looks awesome. I'm sure it would be a sweet, fun mount, however, just cause the guy has put all that money into it, (no doubt he has), don't make it worth that amount. Tough call.

 

Shouldn't be more than $25-$35 a month for full coverage.

 

what year is this? looks sick

 

I have an offer to buy a 09 wr250r with 4000 miles on it for $4000 cash... what do you guys think of that deal? yes or no?

 

i just bought my 2011 brand new for just under 6

 

thanks looks better now with the tail tuck, bark busters with led turns and some odds and ends

 

trade me for my drzzzzzz