Needs more dirt worthy tires, but I think that is my favorite bigger bike.

I mean look at that!!! It's a work or art, and rivals anything in the HOTD thread.



DANG!!!! And after I just gave that speech about not buying again.......I think I might have lied without even knowing it.





I gotta go before I start obsessing about this thing.

 

That's exactly my setup, I have a klx250s 2007 to go mainly offroad and a f650gs 2002 to go mainly onroad. The only thing that I would change would be to take the dakar instead to get more ground clearance. It's nice for asphalt and gravel road but when it's becoming trails then you start hitting rocks pretty fast. And the bmw side luggage are just plastic so not solid for offroad adventure!

 

Yup! Italian blood doesn't come cheap. It's pretty exclusive though.

 

The cheapest and most proven platform is going to be the KLR650

Not the best off-road but I have seen people ride the hell out of that pig off-road. It's up to the task if you are!

 

You want an enduro cruiser that weighs <340 lbs, 55+ hp stock..no pipe or mods yet, and 300 plus mile range that a 5'10" 170lb boater can ride in sugar sand.....bro its a ktm adv...nuthin is close.

It really doesn't vibrate that much....I just like to joke about it

I can twist her up to 80-90 mph for an hour or so no pproBbleMM..lol....she does vibe a LllliTTtlle at 80+.....but at 70 she is smoooth. Girls LUV to ride on Back .... and are REAL friendly afterward.

Pic of my bud on her ....he seems happy ... what more can I say....it is a real enduro cruiser. btw he make her look small....he's like 6'4"....seat is too low on the beamers.....remember I'm 5'10 170lb, my adv biatch flies with me on her sand, gravel or asphalt...just sayin



Mod her a little and



Oh .... If ya get the beamer I'll still ride with ya.....but ya may get a yuppie comment..lol

 

Slapdrum, I'm exactly the same place you are, this very moment. After 900 miles on my KLX, I can no longer endure the feet forward ergos on my Shadow Aero, not to mention scraping pegs in the twisties.

My brother's '08 KLR650 surprised the heck outta me one day last summer I had the opportunity for a 200 mile test ride. Man, it beat the Shadow every way possible (except braking, and looks). The real shocker was how much better it felt on the freeway, at 80 mph, solid as a rock around the big trucks, and felt peppier and faster than the Shadow. I'd expected to get blown around like a leaf, since the KLR is taller and 120 lbs lighter.

So...unless something else turns up, I'll probably get a new KLR and the Aero is officially for sale.

 

Skooter, after reading your post I went to kawasaki.com to look at the KLR650's. The new 2009 looks nice. It had me start thing about trading in the 250 since I probably want more of an ADv cruiser as well. Then I went to the KLR 650 on the forum here... there was no (recent) info. Can anyone provide some quick facts and opinions on the KLR 650? If someone wanted a cruising dual sport would it be a better option?

 

I researched that bike extensively prior to buying the KLX. I was set on the KLR and when I went to the dealer to look at it, it was too tall for me. I'm only 5'6" and mostly torsoe...legs are short. My toes barely touched the ground, and its a bit wider than the KLX. So, instead of paying the $7K I went with the KLX for $5K. Being a new rider, the KLX is better for me anyway.

Alot of good things to be said for the KLR, there were a lot of changes made from the earlier models.

 

Weestrom Is good and cheap. Will top 120 Mph easily.

 

I'm 5ft9 and 80 lbs lighter than my 6ft4 brother. For me, we adjust the compression/rebound to the softer settings, and the KLR mushes down enough to where I can almost flat foot it. There's probably a lowering kit on the market as well.

http://www.klr650.net has a forum with lotsa great info. Also an article in the current issue of Road Runner magazine http://www.roadrunner.travel/article-6640.php