I am trying to come up with a dual sport sidecar combination, and could use some input. I want to do 50-50 street and off road riding. At first the Ural seemed ideal, but I need something that requires little or no mechanical apptitude. I then lit on the BMW GS with Ural sidecar, but the price is too high. The next best thing looks to me like either a Susuki DR 650 or Kawasaki KLR 650, with a suitable sidecar. I hope that someone out there will give me some input on this issue. I guess the question boils down to: What's the best tug for dual sport riding, leaving out the more expensive BMWs?
Ed,Check out Jay's dual sport rigs at Dauntless... very cool stuff...!! There is a KLR, a DRZ400, Little Beemer GS and my favorite, the Guzzi Quota.. :)Rob http://www.dauntlessmotors.com/dualsportsidecars.htm
In my humble opinion the KLR is a great bike... for one reason it has been made for so so many years and there is so much support and info out there... not to say aftermarket galore additions! Called the "tank" sometimes for obvious reasons... it would be my first choice... as also there are so many "slightly employed ones" for sale out on the Market...
Jay would definitely steer you right as he has done for me (GS/Ural)n can't go wrong... I am one happy driver!
http://beemerchef.smugmug.com/gallery/1204831/3/61998878
Be well... Ara
I agree the KLR is a bullet proof little rig... I would like to have something in between the XR 200 used for trail and woods duty and the Quota for fire roads for the times that we run into single track and the Quota is just too much.I have always been an XR guy and thought the XR650R would be good but a couple of guys that we ride with here use KLRs, both 250 and 650 and they are looking better all the time.Rob
We have bolt on mounts for the KLR but not the DR. We will have them soon for the Quota as my wife just bought one. I have a KLR. We are making a platform sidecar for the KLR. Also it is looking like we will be getting in one container load of new Sputnik sidecars which are being built up from new old stock parts. The Sputnik is a good sidecar for a 650cc bike (or larger) These and other sidecars can be seen at our web site www.mysidecar.com Be sure to look at the dual sport section.
Jay Giese
Dauntless Motors Corporation
866-638-1793
I have been making a subframe to mount a hack to a KLR. Looks like it is going to work just fine, but it has taken me many hours of fussing and Jay's mounts are much, much nicer!
Don't know which would be better, a DR or the KLR. I looked at both. Went with the KLR. It will need a few design flaws addressed, but it has been around long enough that there is a ton of info and aftermarket stuff for it and it has a reputation for being a pretty bulletproof bike. And it is cheap(and so am I ;-).
Although the Suzuki and KLR are very similar, three features set the KLR apart. A real luggage rack, hand holds (to pull you out of the mud) and most importantly, a 6 gallon tank.
Hi there at the other side of the ocean,
What about a Honda XLV750 ? ( has this off road bike ever been imported in the states ?).
Strong frame, no chain drive and very easy to maintain.
greeting from Holland,
Ingmar
Nope, I've never seen one over here. You guys get all the good ones because you actually use them. Over here people seem to think they're only for shining summer days and going to the bar.
They only let us have the TransAlp for two years. :0(
There is an article on the KLR in the current MCN Number 5 May 2006 www.mcnews.com
Jay Giese
Dauntless Motors Corporation
www.mysidecar.com
866-638-1793
