NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/rec/motorcyc/44897

Internet Message Format | 1993-01-21 | 1.8 KB

Xref: sparky rec.motorcycles:44897 rec.motorcycles.dirt:2770
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles,rec.motorcycles.dirt
Path: sparky!uunet!haven.umd.edu!purdue!mentor.cc.purdue.edu!noose.ecn.purdue.edu!sparkyfs.erg.sri.com!druth
From: [e-mail] (Doug Ruth)
Subject: Information Wanted on 650 Dual-Sports
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Keywords: look out below
Sender: [e-mail]
Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 93 18:23:03 GMT
Lines: 31

Ok, all you DoDers and non-DoDers, I'm comtemplating expanding my
stable of bikes (doubling it noless!) to include a 650-class
Dual-Sport bike.  I have no intention of getting rid of my R100GS-PD
since I still think its the ultimate bike for long-distance
"adventure" touring such as my 8-week, 11000-mile Alaskan trip last
summer.  However I'd like a bike which reverses the dirt/street ratio
more in favor of the dirt, and is also lighter.  I've taken the GS on
the RidgeRunner 500, a 2-day dual-sport run from Angel's Camp, CA to
Carson City, NV and back, and its a lot of weight to be throwing
around in the dirt.

So I'm looking at the following bikes:

    Honda XR650L
    Kawasaki KLX650 (new for '93)
    Suzuki DR650S

I'm not considering the Kawasaki KLR650 since its biased too much
towards the street IMO.

Can you point me to the appropriate magazine issues where these bikes
are reviewed, either by themselves or in a comparison format.  Any
personal comments/observations are welcome as well.  Do aftermarket
accessory makers make larger tanks for any of the above bikes.

Thanks
--
-- Doug Ruth         | [e-mail]  | SRI International
-- '91 BMW R100GS/PD | Work:[phone] | 333 Ravenswood Ave.
-- AMA #: 197665     | Home:[phone] | Menlo Park, CA 94025
--