The cruiser of motorcyles....

[e9999]

I'd say my '82 1100 Gold Wing for it's awesome reliability and smooth cruising in all on-road conditions. But that is why it doesn't qualify for the landcruiser of motorcycles, it can't go offroad.

So, I declare the Gold Wing the Lexus LX 450/470 motorcycle equivalent.

oooh, I can see some pink panties getting in a bunch over this....

 

[Newps]

What about the Honda Translap?

 

[yooper]

the Honda Africa Twin is the 70 series equivalent. It fits every criteria proposed here and is not available in the US.

 

[Hilux]

ror^

 

[RHINO]

the KLR may be a bit better than the DR on the road, but is nowhere as good on the dirt. Way heavier in particular. A "cruiser" bike must be good on the dirt...

i guess that depends who's riding the KLR, i never had issues riding with my buddies who for the most part rode lighter faster bikes.

i would put the KLR above the DR for the cruiser of bikes if only for the aftermarket support. but then the XR is right there also, i really think its a wash with with the 3 japanese bikes, i say 3 cause XT has been out for a long time.

i think if i was really gonna try to pair them up i would put the DR with the nissan patrol,, i mean, its a great reliable beast but even in other countries not as much aftermarket compared to a cruiser or rover which would get the KLR and XR pair up in my mind.

transalp is a good bike but not offraodable enough to pair with a cruiser.

 

[PappaSmurf]

In retrospect. I am going with the rokon.

Exactly what I was thinking!

 

[PappaSmurf]

i guess that depends who's riding the KLR, i never had issues riding with my buddies who for the most part rode lighter faster bikes.

i would put the KLR above the DR for the cruiser of bikes if only for the aftermarket support. but then the XR is right there also, i really think its a wash with with the 3 japanese bikes, i say 3 cause XT has been out for a long time.

i think if i was really gonna try to pair them up i would put the DR with the nissan patrol,, i mean, its a great reliable beast but even in other countries not as much aftermarket compared to a cruiser or rover which would get the KLR and XR pair up in my mind.

transalp is a good bike but not offraodable enough to pair with a cruiser.

I found my 1993 KLR too heavy for it's own suspension and geared too high for feet-on-the-pegs crawling.

 

[baxter650]

XR650L a little on the heavy side but takes a beating and shrugs it off.
Simple, good suspension, good power, and above all very reliable.
Not a bad price either.

 

[legion]

I've had 3 TransAlps and have ridden 'em all over the US and Canada. Can't vote for 'em though. Too much of a street bias and not enough fuel. I rode a KLR650 from Santiago, Chile to Ushuaia, Tiera del Fuego, Argentina, hung out for a week and then rode it to Cartegena, Columbia. It's the ticket. Not great for anything but it'll get there... and it's super reliable. Almost "can't kill it" reliable. I've ridden a couple of 1200 GS's all through Europe and they're great but hefty and not made for much beyond a gravel road. I've ridden an HP2/Enduro all over the US and up the Alcan and it's fabulous... but not in the same "stone hammer" sort of way of the FJ. It's a KLR. Not that new jobbie. The one from a couple years back that seemed unchanged for 20 years. (edit: the ural should come right out of the box with somebody to push)

 

[AdventureToolCompany]

I love this post!! I've always stated that my 2003 KLR was the "Toyota Truck of DualSports"...It's light, simple, carberated, large gas tank, simple design, great gearing, can carry a load, great support and can be fixed on a mountain trail, walmart parking lot or a city park and people will always stop to talk with you, help you or want to ride with you...

A couple of years ago I did a Kansas City to Colorado over 12 mountain passes, camping and back to KC trip...2300 miles...I carried everything on the bike, parts, tools, fluids, clothes, camping gear, food and more stuff then I really needed and it never had a problem. I've got over 13k on the bike now and it's still going strong!

 

[AdventureToolCompany]

I can't stress it enough, if your carrying gear and going off road make sure you can pick the bike up if you go down. The KLR is realitively lighter then most DS bikes but it's still tough to pick up after a day of riding, mountain trails, 12,000 ft and your wiped out.

The picture without the seat was in a park in Telluride when I had to replace the headlight fuse. The shop photo was in Gunnison CO in the local Kawasaki Dealership. I had laid the bike down some mud (the summer melt) and gummed up the clutch safety. The cleaned it and I was on my way. (Now I know how to clean it or by pass it if it happens again).

Good Luck!

BritKLR

 

[roscoFJ73]

XR650L a little on the heavy side but takes a beating and shrugs it off.
Simple, good suspension, good power, and above all very reliable.
Not a bad price either.

Tell me more or respond to my post in this forum. Im looking at one very soon

 

[roscoFJ73]

I imagine practical should be a criterion as well for a cruiserish bike...

not to mention can carry survival gear and spare parts...


Oh yes, the XR650L is a very nice bike. Better suited for dirt than my DR it seems. But much higher seat (3" or 4" apparently) which makes it impractical for a large segment of the population (gotta be over 6' it seems), 15% more expensive, and nowhere as good on the road, I'm told. But a great bike all the same.


So, of the big 3: DR650, KLR650, and XR650, I think the DR is the best road/dirt compromise. 80 Cruiserish, if you like
The KLR would be the 200 and the XR a 40.

The Honda XR650L is ridicuously high when it comes to throwing your leg over,my hip cracked 1st time and was sore for 2 weeks,old age doesnt help.
Once you're up there ,it is a good view ,especially in traffic

However I dont think its a great dirt bike,certainly not in soft sand and it can be hard to turn in tight spots at low speed.
Where it really does shine is on extremely bad dirt roads,so good that it doesnt matter when you hit a pot hole.

 

[Chang-kuao-lo]

XT600

Drove one for many thousands of miles on decomissioned logging roads and s***ty bc highways, never a hiccup. Still have it (now with a 11.5:1 piston, lectron carbs and a highlift cam) and a second one in the basement in about 565 pieces.

 

[tag3]

Might be a little fast for the landcruiser of bikes, how about the drz400

 

[fireflyr]

I'm voting for the XR400, but man that Triumph Scrambler is looking pretty nice.

 

[fireflyr]

Not mine, but they all tug at the same string...