2nd Bike Option

Problem with the KLR is that it's a heavily "under powered" single cylinder shaker for any sort of decent highway riding to get to your offroad destinations.

I would go with a twin cylinder. If you're booting around locally, then it'd be fine, but I'd want to take this beast to Alaska (Africa Twin).

 

I would go down tomorrow and order myself a brand new Goldie if I could talk my wife into touring on that thing with me. But to spend some $30K + on one just for me? Not going to happen. So sad.

 

The Goldwing is actually the only bike my wife has ever sat on. She never once put a leg over the VFR, and that includes at rest, in the garage, without the ignition running. She hates bikes. But I convince her one day to jump up on the 'wing, and lo and behold, she liked it.

 

While the KLR and DR are a bit portly compared to a dirt bike they are easy to get down to 300 lbs especially the DR. Not sure about the under powered either. Both can run 80+ fully loaded all day long. The DR is better at off roading than the KLR. The great thing about them is the simplicity that makes fixing almost anything almost anywhere easy. Not sure about the KLR but the DR's crank is way over built. I bet it could run 10k half full of oil and not blink an eye. I'm on ADV forums and the DR forum and read of the trips some of these guys make on these bikes. Incredible mileage and abuse. One guy took his DR from California to the east coast, boat over to the UK then went to the tip of Africa with a bunch of side trips...... AND back! A lot of people do Alaska to the Terra Del Feugo at the tip of South America on the KLR and DR. And the desert trips on them are well known. Sure a KTM 1200 Adventure would be nice with gobs of power but I can buy 4 DR's for that price while getting 50+ miles to the gallon. And the real off road possibilities of the little thumpers is a huge plus. Try throwing that big KTM ot BMW around and feel the pucker if you get it off the ground. lol
All that being said I am very interested in the Africa if it comes here.

 

+1
on the KLR, I love the price point for them, esepecially for the carbureted ones. My KLR story is this: was working in a shop and a customer got arrested down the street from the shop, I hopped on a KLR 650 and proceeded to book out of there to bail the poor bastard out of jail, well the first time I lit off from the traffic light, the front end lifted 3 feet or so, kinda caught me off guard.

Anyway, the doode stunk in the jail as I couldnt spring his sorry ass. If I brought another bike into the stable, it would have to come in boxes literally, thats whey I would do the "busa" because if I am gona go through heart ache, I might as well make it worth while. A sub 2000 dollar KLR would be nice though...Cheers...does require a "doo-hickey" repair on the right side of the engine to make 100% reliable. Anyway, cheers...gota killl some ants...FL is a bitch :loco:

 

The rain is driving them in the houses!!!! Fucking ants. lol

 

I know the 'Busa supposed to be great bikes, but I find them pretty fugly

 

I have a friend that has a 2014 Goldwing. Great bike, but way too big for the amount of riding I get to do. I have an 8yr old daughter and only get Saturday/Sunday 6am - noon to get any riding time in (besides my 2 mile commute)

 

May be I'll just buy a caravan. At least the family could get some pleasure out of that. I'm too old and fat to enjoy sleeping in a tent on the hard ground. Hate to have to crawl out to take a piss in the mornings.

 

That's what empty water bottles are for.

 

I did that for a good part of 5 weeks and 8000 miles in 2012, then again for 3 weeks and 5000 miles in 2014. I'm old and fat! Took one night in Yosemite sleeping in the sleeping bag on the hard ground then a rapid acquisition of an air mattress.

It went down to freezing over night in Yosemite for at least a couple nights while I was there.

 

I just sold my Duc Multi and it was great but I miss my Beemer also. My buddy stores his 2005 R1100S Boxer Cup Replica in my garage and I ride it now and then. So I know what you mean.....It's very nice. If it was me.... Pick up a low miles used K1300S for around 10 or 11 thousand. If that's too much go for a low miles 07 or 08 K1200s. Much different than the VFR....heavier and feels like twice the torque.
I promise you will thank me. Then your sweet old VFR will be your nice little back up bike.

 

The VFR is a fantastic machine. In my opinion for a extra bike go totally different. I have off-road for riding with the kids, but the most fun is my vintage '81 Yamaha RD350LC. Vintage is cool, you meet lots of old F-ers out for a blast, and is is awesome to just wheel out my little two-stroke and hammer out some skyshots. So rediculously fun. BUT you will have plenty to choose from and the hunt is half the fun. Good Luck, Laker

 

Nice, one of them new fangled water cooled 2 strokes. I have a 75.

 

It's funny that you say that. I had been lusting over a '08 K1200s (all black) for the past few years. Last month a low mileage '08 K12s showed up at my local dealer. I rode the VFR out there and took it for a 30 minute ride and came away completely unimpressed. When I got back, I told the main sales guy that it didn't give me the same grin factor that the R1100s, or the R1200gs that I had ridden there.

I think I may just scratch the R1200S itch once and for all. It's completely different than the VFR, and honestly, my old K100rs could handle any dirt road most ADV riders (no offense to the serious ones) ride.

 

bought a 2007 BMW R1200s. Kinda the same, kinda different. Not nearly as comfortable on 200+ mile rides.




Just got back from a 250 mile ride on the VFR. Still completely smitten with it. If only Honda made a modern 1000cc V4 150hp VFR...dare to dream