Another dream stable...

For 2007 the Triumph Bonneville Black gets the bigger engine of the T100 and Thruxton (the Scrambler is tuned for more low-end torque, but at the expense of peak horsepower). I'm thinking this would be a cool bike to blast up the turnpike with my wife to the Indian casinos for a weekend getaway. The DR--also available in black for '07--would be my unpaved road explorer. Come on Powerball!

What was I thinking?

I'm back with the DR650 today. As much as I appreciate the versatility of the V-Strom--especially it's two-up, highway capability--I don't think my wife and I would be doing that enough to compromise the dirt road and trail riding I think I'll be doing more of.

That, and the look of the V-Strom just doesn't do much for me. I guess it's the same with the KLR. The DR just looks better to me. A guy should like the way his bike looks.

Suzuki V-Strom 650

Here's another bike I might consider getting. Though not as off-road capable as the DR, it does have comparable range to the KLR with a 5.8 gallon fuel tank. It would probably be more comfortable than either dual-sport--especially two-up--but not as stable on unpaved roads. It's also $1600 more expensive. I don't know if it's $1600 more versatile...

Getting away

Time for a new post (if for no other reason than to put another picture of the DR at the top of the page). I know a person shouldn't wish his life away, but I sure would like it to be time to finally get a bike again. What I miss the most is just being able to get away from everything for a little while and do something I really enjoy. Maybe soon...

Out of the running...almost!

I've just about eliminated the KLR. Finicky turn signals, weaker brakes, less ground clearance and suspension travel, the whole "doohickey" thing, and overall build quality (the Suzuki just looks put together better). The big fuel tank might be nice right off the showroom floor, but it seems to me the DR beats it out in most other categories.

Of course, I should never say never. The KLR is a very popular motorcycle in spite of it's shortcomings. Guess I still have a lot of time to make up my mind.

My first bike

The first bike I ever rode was a friend's CB125. I cracked the throttle, let out the clutch and promptly crashed right into the back of a parked car. I bought my first bike, a '77 XL100, a few weeks later. After my dad and I got it out of the back of his pickup I kicked it to life, cracked the throttle, let out the clutch and tried to climb a huge elm tree.

Amazingly, I didn't crash again until one day I was riding it home from work and hit some loose sand in the street. That was the last time I ever rode without gloves after the bloody roadrash mess that was left of my palms.

Sand caused my only other crash when I was turning into an on-ramp and my '81 Yamaha 550 Maxim just slid out from under me. This time I was wearing leather, but I probably would have been OK in pajamas. I landed flat on my butt and just sat there watching sparks fly from the chrome exhaust.

Never got a scratch on my Sportster. In twelve years of riding those were the only mishaps I had on motorcycles. One nice thing about dual sports, if I do bang it up, battle scars are appreciated.

OEM or aftermarket?

Two of the most popular accessories for the DR650 are the IMS fuel tank and the Corbin saddle. They seem to go hand-in-hand with increasing range and comfort. A lot of riders seem to order these items when they buy their bikes, but I think I would wait to see if stock proves to be inadequate for my needs.