Comparaison if you will...

[Guest]

I'm just curious how these three bikes stack up to one another, I'm looking for a bike that will last easily for rides up to Kelowna/Kamloops (riding up for Loose Screw per say) and do splendidly for everyday riding, but also not give up much if anything off road.

So I ask, how do they compare? (DRZ-400, XR650, TE 310-610)

Thanks,

-Tibby

 

[North]

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Tibarus wrote:

I'm looking for a bike that will last easily for rides up to Kelowna/Kamloops (riding up for Loose Screw per say) and do splendidly for everyday riding, but also not give up much if anything off road.

Hi Tibby,

I was looking for that same bike. To make a long story short. I got an 08 te 610. I made a list of possible bikes, with their weight, HP, etc. But, the only real way to tell is to ride the bikes and see what you like.

I have not ridden a 310, but it does look like it would be a blast off road. I don't know about loading it up and riding to Kamloops.

The DRZ is a nice bullet proof bike. It is a do-all bike too and one of the most popular dualsports.

The XR650L is 346 lb. They too, I have been told are bullet proof too.
The XR650R is 277lb, which is lighter than the 610's 309 lb, is great off-road. But, I don't know what the maintanence is like. (07 was the last year for the XR650R.)

In "my mind"(which is not all there), as a "General Rule" a 'Dirt bike" should not weight more than 250 or so lbs. A "Dualsport" sport bike in your low 300s. Above that and you start to get into your "Adventure bikes".

Anyways, ride the bikes, cause that's the only way to tell.:tup:

Rick


http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/

 

[Buckethead]

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Hey-

I could be wrong on this, but as far as weights go, the

DRZ E is 262lbs dry, the
DRZ S is 291lbs dry, and the
Te610 is 309lbs dry.

(The DRZ S can go on a fairly effective diet - bars, pipe, passenger pegs, helmet lock, ect to save additional weight - I don't know how this compares to the Te)

I have a DRZ S, and have ridden Rick's Te610. I would say that there is little doubt for me that the Husky is the king of the mid size dualsports. It comes very well equipped from the factory with great gear while most DRZ guys end up doing performance mods, footpegs, handlebars, ect. The Te just feels like much more of a performance bike - It's truly beautiful to ride. The only complaint I would have is with the stock headlight.

So, why did I buy a DRZ? It is a proven low-maintenance little bike with great aftermarket and community support. Any accessory or part you could ever want is on the shelf, and you have a big international network of dealers. Any problem you could ever have has already happened and the fix is on youtube. The suspension is great, and the performance is reasonable - It's not a factory race bike, but my bike can still go faster than I can. Cost was also a factor. They are 60-70% of the cost of the Husky both to buy and to maintain. Also, being a 400 means nearly a 50% reduction in insurance rates compared to a 600.

It's the same old story - The best bike is the one that best fits your individual needs.

Cheers,
Matthew

 

[Guest]

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I'd go out of test rides if more dealership allowed them... so far the only two I know of that are cool with test rides are Carter Motorsports on Granville Island and Pacific Yamaha BMW...

How is a person supposed to pick the bike that is best for them when that person can't take the bikes we wants to on test rides...

For an update to the comparison; I spend most (about 86%) of my time riding, on the road. I need a bike that will perform this function everyday and still be a blast off road.

I am kinda liking the super aggressive styling on the Huskies, gotta love a bike that looks kick ass.

North wrote:

Tibarus wrote:

I'm looking for a bike that will last easily for rides up to Kelowna/Kamloops (riding up for Loose Screw per say) and do splendidly for everyday riding, but also not give up much if anything off road.

Hi Tibby,

I was looking for that same bike. To make a long story short. I got an 08 te 610. I made a list of possible bikes, with their weight, HP, etc. But, the only real way to tell is to ride the bikes and see what you like.

I have not ridden a 310, but it does look like it would be a blast off road. I don't know about loading it up and riding to Kamloops.

The DRZ is a nice bullet proof bike, but it weights more than the 610. But it is a do-all bike too and one of the most popular dualsports.

The XR650L is even more at 346 lb. They too, I have been told are bullet proof too.
The XR650R is 277lb, which is lighter than the 610, is great off-road. But, I don't know what the maintanence is like. (07 was the last year for the XR650R.)

In "my mind"(which is not all there), as a "General Rule" a 'Dirt bike" should not weight more than 250 or so lbs. A "Dualsport" sport bike in your low 300s. Above that and you start to get into your "Adventure bikes".

Anyways, ride the bikes, cause that's the only way to tell.:tup:

Rick


http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/

 

[North]

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Hi Matthew,

You are right about the weights.

I got the "ready to ride" weight off the Suzuki web site. Curb Weight: 317 lb.

Most manufactures do not include any fluids, brake, shock, etc, in their dry weight. I was told that Husky does. So add 19 lbs for 3 gallons of gas and that put's the Husky around 330 Curb Weight, so the DZR S does weight less.:tup:


And Tibby,

Your right about the test ride thing. I don't how Dealers expect to sell bike if you can't test ride them.

I belong to a UK /GS (BMW) site and they can't believe that when I tell them about the lack of test rides here. They will test ride a bike for an afternoon. A good 3 hour ride.

 

[Buckethead]

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Hey-
Yeah, comparing specs apples to apples isn't always straightforward with bikes.

The best weight info I have found for the DRZ is when Ruskinrider weighed his KLX (green DRZ). Set up for an actual ride like we ride(spares, skidplate/armor, fuel, with aftermarket pipe and bars, ect) it came in at 305 lbs.

The other issue that I have had with test rides is that riding around a block a few times doesn't at all represent the actual riding conditions that are important to me. I have been lucky enough to have good friends willing to let me try their bikes out on the trails, and this is largely how I made my decision to buy. Admittedly this can be very complicated, and if you do ride someone else's bike I think it must be with the understanding that if there is any damage you as the test-rider must do whatever the owner would like to make things right including replacing their bike.

Tibby- Are you selling the XT?

 

[Guest]

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Maybe in a year or so, once I get it 1: paid off and 2: become more comfortable on a dual sport bike, on and off road.

I'm just gathering information, since test rides, for all intents and purposes... don't exist lol

 

[old trials guy]

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Most dealers don't offer test rides because every one wants to test ride but no one will buy the bike they just tested, they want a brand new one "out of the box". If you buy a new car from a dealer odds are it has been driven a few times but if you like it you buy it. When it comes to bikes, nobody wants the demo.

Try and find a used one at a dealership. Most dealers don't have a problem with test rides on a used bike. It also will give youa better sense of what the bike will be like after you have used for a while.

I start by studying the specs and read as many reviews as possible. Take a critical look at the bike, what stands out as bogus and needs modification, what is the quality of the components, does it have cheap rubber brake lines or are they braided steel. Hubs, brake calipers, tires, quality of welds.

You will find there is no substitute for buying a quality bike, you get what you pay for and if you have to start modifying gearing, suspension, tires, rim locks, carburation, etc etc to make the bike trail worthy I question whether you are saving anything.

Buy Japanese vanilla bike if you want minimal maintenance and can rack up high miles at a low cost. Buy European if the riding experience is more important than the cost of purchase or maintenance. Best analogy I can offer is Toyota Camray or Porsche Carrera...you decide.

BTW....I was able to test ride a Sherco before I bought one and it only took one short ride to convince me!

otg

 

[Guest]

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old trials guy wrote:

Most dealers don't offer test rides because every one wants to test ride but no one will buy the bike they just tested, they want a brand new one "out of the box". If you buy a new car from a dealer odds are it has been driven a few times but if you like it you buy it. When it comes to bikes, nobody wants the demo.

I don't know about that OTG... I mean I don't walk into a bike shop and just BUY a bike I'm thinking about because I can afford it...

It seems I'm not the only person who want to test ride bikes before they buy one, why don't the dealerships listen to us I wonder.

Anyways, back to topic.

The WR250R is a nice little package... anyone know how it stands up against the XR650, TE(WR?)250, TE310 or TE610?

 

[Buckethead]

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old trials guy wrote:

BTW....I was able to test ride a Sherco before I bought one and it only took one short ride to convince me!

otg

Watching you ride the Sherco was enough to convince me.
I had never seen one before in flesh, and that is one sweet bike.

 

[Guest]

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Buckethead wrote:

old trials guy wrote:

BTW....I was able to test ride a Sherco before I bought one and it only took one short ride to convince me!

otg

Watching you ride the Sherco was enough to convince me.
I had never seen one before in flesh, and that is one sweet bike.

was the "sherco" one of those little trials bikes u saw at the bike show\?

 

[caesarleigh]

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[old trials guy]

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The Sherco I am referring to is a 450cc enduro bike made in Sherco's factory in France. I have a little Sherco too, the 2.9 trialer. Sherco is a small Spanish company that specializes in trialers, SM's andenduros. They recently released an awesome 250 enduro that is very competitive winning Romaniacs three day onit's first big outing.

Sherco first appeared about 10 years ago bearing the historic Bultaco name as the founders had some prior association with Bultaco. The new company decided not to continue paying rights for the name and changed it to Sherco (some say they combined Sherpa T which was what they called old Bultaco trials bikes and Bultaco to come up with the name).

Some folks think Sherco uses KTM motors but that is not the case. It is their own design and is somewhat unique in that they have been using fuel injection on their enduro bikes from inception.

The Sherco would be quite similar to a KTM 450 EXC in most respects. The bike is a treat to ride and shines off road. I have ridden mine to Saltspring, Sechelt, Brohm Ridge and Chehalis and it is okay for those shorter jaunts on pavement.

At 274 pounds soaking wet and over 45 horsepower it makes a good substitute for a pacemaker for an old guy like me!

otg

 

[North]

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I just want to add that my 08 te 610 Husky was street legal off the floor. I didnot have to do anything to it.

BMW and KTM both ride days. So does HD.

BMW's is at John Valks in Vancouver. The ride is a group ride and is about 1 hour long. You can book the bikes you want to ride in advance. If I remember right, this is in May. He charges 10 dollars per bike, which he donates to a Theater group for kids.

I think that KTM's is at Holeshot in the Summer.

I personal think that the main reason for Bike shops not giving demo rides is because we let them get away with. Nobody buys a car without a test drive, why would you a Bike? If more people refused to buy Bikes without riding them, there would be test rides.

I was looking at a new 04 1150 GSA. I had never ridden one and asked for a test ride. I was told that it was a new bike and I could not. I wanted to buy it. I told them "are you nuts"? You want me to buy a 24,000 dollar bike and not ride one. That is just crazy.

Then I was looking at used dirt bike at one dealer. I wanted to ride it around the parking lot. The bike was not DOT. They told me that I could not ride it. I could not believe it. "You want me to buy a use bike and not ride it." That is just stupid!!!
They only do it because they get away with it.:mad3:

 

[bajaman]

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This is bike # 18 for me and I can say it's the best all round bike you can buy.

Absolutely bomb proof,tons of parts for it,easy and cheap to work on.This is the "e" model and I had to make it street legal.I would get an "s" model if I had to do it

again.....the laws about "rum"bikes will change some day.:mad3:

Its not the fastest or the lightest:shock:,but for an all around reliable bike for short day trips..nothing comes close:dr:.And that's my opinion.:tup.S.I'm sure the other bike's are great too.

 

[Phoenix]

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Orca Bay Suzuki holds a demo day in the spring. Last one I attended had about 20 bikes to ride including the DRZ400. You sign zee papers and go out as a group for a half hour or so. More than most dealers are willing to do. When I was shopping for a dualsport Orca Bay was one of mylast stops towards home. Pulled in and within ten minutes of getting there and saying I was interested in the DR650, I was in the loaner helmet riding away for a test ride. Brought it home the next day. Don't know if they still do that.

 

[Guest]

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Wow OTG, that Sherco is beautiful! =3

 

[zokalr13]

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i got to ride a VERSYS right off the showroom floor at VMS in W.Kelowna-so go there if you want to try a certain bike-no test rides are probably due to warranty issues and safetyor lack of class 5license-you cant compare a motorcycle buying experience in the same way as a car - its different because cars are moreMAINSTREAM and have more drive tests inmagazine articles and TV shows while the motorcycles are an emotional,sometimes EGO-driven type of purchase that is a CRAP-SHOOT due to lack of ride reports and TV coverage....I buy and sell and ride lots of different bikesand am always trying to find reviews on the ones im trying to buy but sometimes its a waste- so you buy it- if it doesnt float your boat- sell it -and move on....[i dont buy new because id have to take a big hit in depreciation cause id sell it in 6 months- LOL] TRY and go on dual-sport rides and see if anyone will let you try their bike out -or just try tohang with[shadow] the bike while riding and you can tell how it does on trails ,HWY,vertical rocky hills,mud bogs,jumps etc....GOOD LUCK!!! OH YEAH,the bike you NEED has to have about 610 ccs ,a 6th gear,red and white colors ,Fi,[sounds like a TE to ME]:tup: