[Rainer SchadeMember]

Thanks “minus one”

I have done 34,000 on the Multi and gone through 3 sets of the original Scorpion trail which to me were neither here nor there tyres – not great for anything, only had one flat with them though but that was my fault – very worn in the centre and riding on sharp rocks.
Changed to Michelin Pilot Road 3 – much better on the road especially in the wet with easier turn-in but the BIG surprise is that they are just as good as the Scorpion trails in the dirt. Other surprise for a top wet weather tyre is the mileage – I’ve got about 8-9k on them and still OK.
The TKC80 are on the Conti website but haven’t actually found any yet in either Australia or US, about to try Germany

Haven’t made much progress with the adventure bike tho
thinking of starting with something super cheap to get my “dirt legs” back while I continue the search for “the perfect bike”

[Rainer SchadeMember]

Thanks for the input
that’s sort of where I was going – I have the Ducati Multistrada (and have just found that Conti are making TKC 80’s for it which will improve it capability) for road and a bit of dirt and now looking for something to do everything else but as has been suggested by several people thats still not so easy – a good adventure bike can’t be a good tight single track bike and vica versa. I would love 3 but thats not gonna happen so have to decide where to compromise and that the problem – I want it all !!!

[Rainer SchadeMember]

Thanks Gaz

[Rainer SchadeMember]

OK, getting closer thanks

Firstly agree with TB that I’m not gonna find one bike to do it all and meet the other criteria esp $ and Kg, can’t afford 2 though that would be a great longer term plan. Spend many years of $ on the Multi and now looking for a cheap option.

On your question XY, why not a Hyper ? – great bike, but more as a fun second bike and if you have the time and lotsa $ maybe even a great base for a dual purpose bike but not the long distance that the Multi can do – I have done 1400km days including 400 (easy) dirt and its perfect for that

I Like the light weight and simple maintenance of the 2 strokes (even considered an old IT490 or WR 500Z) but accept its again great as a 2nd (or 3rd) bike but not a do anything

LC4 -on your 625, what year model was it ? from what I have read, from 2004 they have the same counterbalancer as the 640 and they are almost half the price !

Where there any TTR 600’s with E start in Australia ? – any comments ?

Getting back to what TB said – a lot of truth in it I think and the DR certainly ticks as many boxes as anything else, unfortunately it seams its never that easy – while they are v cheap new they are relatively expensive second hand and by the time its set up properly it turns out to be an expensive bike. Trailzone did a project on one and spent $6k on upgrades and that didn’t even include suspension though of course don’t need all of that !!
Can’t help thinking it would end up being cheaper and easier to get a better bike in the first place – of course if there was one …

Guess next step I will try and ride as many as I can
thanks

[Rainer SchadeMember]

Thanks
Interesting, your not the only one who likes the 640’s ! – much higher resale than other similar bikes and many with really big kms
haven’t found any 660’s yet

Being a KTM guy – what do you think about the 300 2 stroke ??

[Rainer SchadeMember]

Appreciating the input and apologies for my ignorance
a bit more clarification and of course more questions
* I think the 990 Adv or even a 950 would be a great bike but I’m not good enough or strong enough to muscle 200kg when the going gets tough
* Had considered the 640 or 625 SXC (what’s the difference ?) but there are lots of stories about losing fillings from the vibration – are they true ?
* Don’t know anything about a KTM 660 or did I get that wrong and did you mean the Yamaha ?
* Other than the E start is there such a big difference between XR 650 R and L versions ?
* The NX is the Dominator right ? great reputation but seems to be a bit heavy for a single
* The other approach I had considered was something like a KTM 525 or Berg 550 because of the attractive weight and power but not sure what it would need to make it more civilised for longer distances and then there is the maintenance issue
* Notice no comments about 2 strokes – is that just too silly to even consider ?

the more more I look into it the clearer it becomes that I have probably set an impossible criteria !!

Thanks again

[Rainer SchadeMember]

I think you are right – it is impossible to get one bike to do everything well but both bank balance and garage space limit how many I can have.
My experience is though that if you have more than one you always end up on a road or trial somewhere where you wish you had the other one !
Probably also right that maybe I should have stuck with the 690 and put more effort into sorting it out but I put a lot of money into it and got turned off getting stuck in the middle of nowhere a couple of times and it just never seemed to be right.
I have the Multistrada, so the long distance easy dirt is covered so more interested in the more difficult stuff where in my opinion weight (or muscle) is the biggest issue

[Rainer SchadeMember]

Thanks for all the input guys
quick summary –
* Tried both the BM and Triumph 800’s – certainly more capable than the Multistrada but feel just as heavy and wouldn’t want to take em anywhere serious
* Tried different sprockets on the 690 – either made it better on the road or in the tight stuff but couldn’t get both and 2 different KTM dealers couldn’t fix the low speed fuelling – it was an early model maybe later ones are better
* From what I have read and as was pointed out the DRZ is worse in gearing – even read about someone spending $2k t have custom gears made !!!
* Very brief ride on the Husky 630 but the vibration scared me though prob worth a longer look, will have to be secondhand so probably 610
* Never ridden a DR650 and certainly seems to be the most common choice but not a lot of go and I read someone saying the handling was “like a wheelbarrow with a bar fridge in it” obviously an big exaggeration and fixable but can’t help thinking it would be better to spend the money on a better bike in the first place ?
* Tenere’s great but again weight is a bit much
* Thoughts on 2 strokes for longer distances ?
* What about Honda XR650 L (yes I’m a woose n need electric start) or Yamaha TT600 ??

thanks again

[Rainer SchadeMember]

Thanks Nick
I live in Sydney but work in Brisbane so a long commute and unfortunately too little time to ride.
Really like the Snowys and Vic high Country but at the moment basically any dirt road that I can make it through on the Multi
Hopefully when I get a proper dirt bike I will get out and about around Brisbane as well

[Rainer SchadeMember]

Thanks Boony

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