Yes, I know they're a bit gravity prone but...

Would be surprised if the DL650 had too much trouble two up with luggage
- the SV650 (same engine) wasn't struggling in the slightest to maintain
illegal speeds two up (maybe 150-160Kg of rider and pillion which given
Dave is claiming he's 75Kg is unlikely to be significantly different to
his proposed load).

JL

 

Agreed, I would be flabbergasted if the DL650 struggled two up with
luggage given the humble 650 single Freewind cruised two up with
luggage at 140 regularly on the way to last years Snowy Ride.

 

He needs a GPX250, he does.


BTH

 

You are a sad case. My name is not James, or Peter, or Alan. The only
megawanker is you Smee. KeroseneCowboy is known to me. He's a great
guy and a director of a large freighting company in Australasia.

 

It's not so much a struggle...was rather thinking of 2-up long-distance
stuff, when it's rather nice to sit at 3500rpm than 5500rpm all day long.
The engine's a gem, far smoother than the 1000, but hasn't got the
engine-braking or the grunt of the 'big one'.


cheers
pete

 

yer keep it up james megawankercowboykiwisheepshagger.

 

<43578534$0$13315$

Have a think too about just what percentage of your trip is likely to be
"crappy roads" compared to ordinary "unsealed highway" and regular
secondary tarred backroads.

If I was planning a trip around Australia, I'd take my Monster. Its a
hoot on good condition dirt roads, happy enough on ordinary to poor
condition dirt, and manageable in crap dirt/mud. The tradeoff for me of
the extra fun I'll have on the Monster on the fun bits of road makes it
an easy choice to not take a more dirt oriented bike.

This is from at least a little personal experience, I rode an XT600
Tenere from Sydney to Cameron Corner then down to Mildura and back to
Sydney a few years back. I'd do the trip again but on the Monster given
a choice. The crappyness of the dirtbike on the open road was the worst
bit of that trip for me (apart from cracking two ribs), Sydney to Bourke
and Mildura to Sydney were _dull_ - and there wasn't anywhere on the
dirt road section of the trip where the road conditions were so bad that
I haven't taken the Monster through something similar.

This was about as bad as it got:
http://www.mightymedia.com.au/~bigiain/photos/desert_trip/dt_pix_large/bi
gman_with_mud.jpg
I'd happily attack that road on the Monster.

Have you thought about another ST4? (you're _obviously_ much more likely
to find yourself "2 up" on one of them than an ugly BMW...)

big

 

Agreed, on the trip to Innaminka from Brisbane I wished I had riden the
K1100LT to the end of the bitumen and changed over to the R100GSPD for the
loose stuff.

Boxer

 

'Sfunny, 5500rpm is what the freewind does at 110 and I dont find it
tiring at all, even for extended periods of time. The motor is so
smooth you cant feel it, and the exhaust is so quiet that (particularly
combined with the earplugs I wear) you cant hear it most of the time.
My pillion certainly appreciated the suspension/seat package in
comparison to the Bonnie too.

I agree litre bike grunt is shitloads of fun and highly addictive too,
but I can live without it. Life is compromise and for me, a 650 is the
perfect all round bike for my riding. No doubt for others a 650 would
be a royal PITA.

 

While everyone else is sprouting alternative ideas ... KTM 950 Adventure?

Cam

 

<chomp>

Um... now which one of you bastards mentioned the (eye twitching
badly...)... dribble dribble....

..... Ducati.... oooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh...

(twitch)

..... Multistrada?

Thoughts returning to that Italian experience... slight bulge in the
trouser... is this the machine for me??

Actually I never thought the Multistrada was the most sexy of options but...
um... it is after all a Duc.

(feverish googling of Multistrada images....)

Cheers,
Dave E

;:;:;-)

 

Look nice in piccies, but didn't quite work for me in the flesh.

-----sharks

 

Yes, I've met her...

Actually, I've had similar reactions but from all accounts it is a VERY
capable bike. Perhaps not really off-road oriented but again this comes
back to the whole issue of exactly what the user is intending to do.
Perhaps I'm less likely to want to scale rugged peaks in the Pilbara and
more likely to ride backroads.

Odd bike eh? Incidentally, have you been into a Beemer showroom lately?
There's some really heavy drug abuse going on in Goimanny methinks.

Cheers,
Dave E

 

If you are considering a Multistrada the look (seriously) at a TDM900

 

Burnie, as much as it pains me... the TDM is IMNSHO one of the butt-ugliest
things around. However, I'm no oil painting and so we could be a great
match.

I'll add it to the list of testrides!

Cheers,
Dave E

 

Ride the Strada first....to me it was a disappointing experience
(engine-wise). Also barely any dirt-road capabilities (17" front, 180
section rear). GREAT looking arse ) (makes up for the front that looks
like it hit a bus)
The TDM ? Again...a bit disappointing, due to weight sitting high somehow...
apart from that, liked the rest of it.
Best ride em all before buying.
cheers
pete

 

Rather. I had a bit of a thing going for the Cagiva Navigator a fair
yonk ago, but the Ducati engine servicing costs put me off it.

Also, don't forget to think about what it'll look like with luggage
stuck all over it!

Definitely some kind of squinty thing going on there!

So far, from what you're saying, I'd be thinking Varadero myself.
A couple of the old XLV owners have bought them and love them.

-----sharks

 

Hmmm - so much to consider. I've just been reading some Multistrada stuff
and it doesn't look like it's the one. Apart from the purchase cost, the
running costs (been there) etc., it is obviously not suited to days in
bulldust or more rugged tracks, parts availability wouldn't be great, has
limited carrying capacity and is supposed to be fairly uncomfortable.
Probably a good thing - I just can't get my head around its front end.

Varadero? Hmmm - can't remember if I've ridden one but perhaps that's to be
added to the growing (and shrinking) list.

Cheers mate,
Dave E

 

Oh, okay, now I understand;

priority one - pose value

 

How about a KTM 950 ?

High pose value and actually reasonable offroad
Don't drop it tho - that plastic is expensive