A smaller, lighter, nimble stable mate to the CB?

[Django]

No problem at all:

[CA200_imp]

I once had a V-strom 650 that was to tall for me - loved the bike and motor , even two up it was great. But just could not over come the tallnest ( look I just made a new word). Could not find a good leg stretcher to save my life .

[the_undecider_imp]

The more I think about it, the more I want an adventure bike based off the Yamaha FZ07. Something with a very small windscreen and integrated mounts for hard bags. I'm basically describing the Ducati Hyperstrada, but with down to earth reliability, affordability, and maintenance schedules. Maybe I'll do like Ack and and mount some knobbies on a naked standard bike. It would be very Mad Maxx looking.

[the_undecider_imp]

I went and looked at a 2011 KLR650 on Saturday and I am thinking about going back to test ride and see if they'll offer me enough for my supermoto. Allegedly, one of the guys that works at this place wants a 250cc sumo. That may be a tactic to get me back in there with my trade. I was in the biz, so I know how it works. If the deal isn't right, it isn't right. I may just buy it outright if the trade doesn't work out. Hate to have that much clutter...cross that bridge later.

I still feel like I ought to test ride a Versys, but I wanted a KLR before I bought the sumo. I also miss blasting dirt roads, something the Versys is less adept doing. I figure the KLR will hold me over until Yamaha builds me the FZ07 based adventure bike. I went and looked at the FZ07 again and the ergos just don't work. I also don't want to spend $7k on a bike and then wind up throwing another $2k farkling it. The used KLR already has most of the stuff I would do to it, so I'm way ahead. Whatever I buy will be well farkled or cheap enough for me to spend a few bucks setting it up.

[rboe]

KLR, in my ever so humble opinion, is too darn heavy for dirt. My XR is about 80lbs lighter, but may be too dirt orientated for most leaving the DR as the better choice.

[the_undecider_imp]

KLR, in my ever so humble opinion, is too darn heavy for dirt. My XR is about 80lbs lighter, but may be too dirt orientated for most leaving the DR as the better choice.

I want good wind protection. I've ridden the XR in the dirt and completely agree with you. I'm guessing 10% of my riding will be off road and that would me primarily and and gravel back roads. XR is more dirt oriented than I need or want.

I'm actually still considering the Versys, too. I need to test ride some stuff.

[CB4ME_imp]

My local dealer is running a sale on a leftover 2013 CB500X, Honda's adventure style version of the CBR500R / CBR500F. They're asking $4799 but they might take a check for $5500 out the door. Very tempting.

Honda only offered this bike in 2013 and only in black.

[rboe]

For only 10% dirt riding and that being gravel roads, anything without a fat tire, preferably light, and not a belt drive, should be OK. When I first rode there was no such thing as an adventure bike. You had dirt/dual sport bikes - for real dirt, not gravel roads, and street bikes which pretty much meant any prepared road (something that saw a road grader more than once a year).

Then put on decent dual sport tires and go at it. Tires and skill set will mater more than anything else.

I have not had the CB on gravel yet, but I suspect she would do just fine. Just a bit heavy to pick up if it slid out from under you. A buddy and I did some speed riding on some back roads in Northern Minnesota back in the day. He was crazy, bouncing off grapefruit sized rocks - on his KZ900. I was on my KZ550. Well maintained gravel roads; we didn't think twice about it. We didn't know any better!

[the_undecider_imp]

My local dealer is running a sale on a leftover 2013 CB500X, Honda's adventure style version of the CBR500R / CBR500F. They're asking $4799 but they might take a check for $5500 out the door. Very tempting.

Honda only offered this bike in 2013 and only in black.

Honda still sells this bike. The 2014 was white with red decals. The 2015 is black again, but with hi-vis yellow decals.

I'd be tempted at that price. My hang up is the money. I'd end up dropping another grand on farkles. I'm looking at some decent used bikes in the $4k range that I'd have to spend less on farkles.

My general plan is to find something cheap for now and see what the future might hold for a Yamaha FZ-07 based adventure bike.

For only 10% dirt riding and that being gravel roads, anything without a fat tire, preferably light, and not a belt drive, should be OK. When I first rode there was no such thing as an adventure bike. You had dirt/dual sport bikes - for real dirt, not gravel roads, and street bikes which pretty much meant any prepared road (something that saw a road grader more than once a year).

Then put on decent dual sport tires and go at it. Tires and skill set will mater more than anything else.

I have not had the CB on gravel yet, but I suspect she would do just fine. Just a bit heavy to pick up if it slid out from under you. A buddy and I did some speed riding on some back roads in Northern Minnesota back in the day. He was crazy, bouncing off grapefruit sized rocks - on his KZ900. I was on my KZ550. Well maintained gravel roads; we didn't think twice about it. We didn't know any better!

CB does surprisingly good on dirt/gravel. As you said, fat tires aren't the best and the skinny rubber on the CB cuts through the loose surface dirt. Lack of suspension travel is the issue, so you just slow down on bumpy stuff.

I grew up on dual sports, too. Bungee a backpack on the back and take off. The BMW GS was the first mainstream adv bike, in the early 80s, but by the end of the decade, The KLR650, Yamaha Tenere, and Honda Transalp came about. North America didn't embrace the latter two and it wasn't until 10 years ago that we started buying big adv bikes in quantity. I'll admit that this trend isn't unlike the transition seen in the auto industry where people went from buying real SUVs to crossover utilities. "Soft Roader" is a term for both crossovers and ADVs.

[flynrider]

For only 10% dirt riding and that being gravel roads, anything without a fat tire, preferably light, and not a belt drive, should be OK. When I first rode there was no such thing as an adventure bike. You had dirt/dual sport bikes - for real dirt, not gravel roads, and street bikes which pretty much meant any prepared road (something that saw a road grader more than once a year).

Then put on decent dual sport tires and go at it. Tires and skill set will mater more than anything else.

I have not had the CB on gravel yet, but I suspect she would do just fine. Just a bit heavy to pick up if it slid out from under you. A buddy and I did some speed riding on some back roads in Northern Minnesota back in the day. He was crazy, bouncing off grapefruit sized rocks - on his KZ900. I was on my KZ550. Well maintained gravel roads; we didn't think twice about it. We didn't know any better!

Yeah, back then they would take a standard dirt bike and add street legal equipment (lights, horn,etc...) and that was your adventure bike. As I recall, the were mostly referred to as "enduros" (Honda's were XLs and Kawis were KLs, Yammie used XT.).

Nowadays adventure bikes are essentially street bikes with a few features like longer suspension and bumpy tires. The emphasis is heavy on the "street" with a slight nod to off-pavement use. The opposite of the enduros of the 70s and 80s and modern versions like the KLX 250.