Extremes of M/C desire

[vintagemxr]

I sold my KLR650 yesterday and so I did the only logical thing and spent the rest of the day shopping for another bike. The Mrs. is out of town now so what better opportunity to get into motorcycle mischief?

I have been thinking about replacing the KLR with something more dirt worthy like a used DRZ400 but have also thought about buying a big touring bike so the wife is more comfy on rides. For some reason she doesn't find my Aprilia Caponord comfortable. Go figure. Anyway, I ran across two bikes at good prices yesterday that caught my eye, an '05 DRZ400SM (super moto version) and an '01 BMW K1200LT with <20k miles on it. Could there be two more different machines?

I managed to walk away from the 400SM as I could not think of any actual use for the bike beyond doing wheelies and sliding around corners on the way to work. Come to think of it, those are perfectly good reasons to buy it.

Not sure about the LT yet. I need to do a bit of research because I've heard that maintenance costs can be really high on them. It's a BMW so I suppose it goes with the roundel.

My thought is to do what any red blooded motorcycle guy would do and buy them both. I have fewer misgivings about the DRZ since it's basically a cheap, simple bike. I am probably more concerned about the LT and potential operational costs with it.

Any thoughts or comments from the august members here, some of whom are BMW people through and through? :pope:

[DJ Down Under]

I think the DRZ will get better air than the LT...and pushing through a sandy berm might be interesting on the LT..but pillion comfort will be better on the LT...:003: ....do they make knobbies for the LT?

DJ

[vintagemxr]

I think the DRZ will get better air than the LT...and pushing through a sandy berm might be interesting on the LT..but pillion comfort will be better on the LT...:003: ....do they make knobbies for the LT?

DJ

Which of course begs the question: Can I get a 6 disk CD changer, highway pegs, and an electrically adjustable windscreen for the DRZ?

[supermotoC]

Hmmmmm.... I see your dilemma. I also see a Husqvarna in your future.
The DRZ is too heavy, too slow, soo poorly suspended (better than the KLR, but barely). A SM bike is more fun than should be legal (2yrs on a Duke II taught me that), but it has limited use eventually. A DS bike?

Shy of spending a LOT on a paint-shaker KTM LC4 Adventure, here's your wish granted:
http://www.husqvarnausa.com/2007/images/te610_01.jpg
http://www.husqvarnausa.com/2007/07_TE610.html

This is also very nice.....

http://www.husqvarnausa.com/2007/images/sm610_01.jpg

http://www.husqvarnausa.com/2007/07_SM610.html

The LT is great for when you want to be the passenger/pilot. Are you there yet?

[geechie]

Ooooohh, I like the idea of the husky. You could almost get it into the top case of the LT. Best of both worlds.

I've got a friend in Indianapolis with a Light Truck that he rides all over the country. That said, he was complaining big time about some sort of maintainance issues last year when he was down this way. If you were to PM me, I'd be happy to give you his e-mail. He's a very bright, if somewhat opinionated, gentleman who could give you lots of good info on the bike.

George

[fnfalman]

Dude, you own an Aprilia. How much cheaper is the service of the Ape over the Roundel? None!

Anyway, get the Aprilia SXV 5.5 and call it a day. :eusa_clap:

The hell with the Suzuki and the BMW.:thumbs_down:

[vintagemxr]

I spent some time on the LT owners web site and was amazed at the number of final drive failures they have documented, I think the number was 136 documented bearing failures as of early last year. Apparently the '99 - '01 models were the worst and BMW updated the final drive bearings for '02 all the while denying there was any problem with the previous ones. As one might expect, LT owners are not the usual gixxer squids whinning about some little part or another so it gives me pause when I think about buying "pre-owned" machine that falls within the questionable years. It all brings to mind the infamous Gold Wing frame cracking issue from a few years ago.

As for the Huskys, I looked at them at the Cycle World Show last fall and they did look wonderful. Sadly, there isn't a Husky dealer anywhere near here. The one that existed ditched the line last year selling all the bikes back to Husqvarna. The now exclusively sell Arctic Cat ATVs.

The DRZ being slow and top heavy, as SupermotoC noted, but I myself am slow and top heavy so it doesn't much matter. This is about foolishness on a budget, not about performance limits. :SaiyanSmilie_anim: My preference would be for a Tuono but that's not going to happen.

The LT thing really is a sop to my wife who likes to ride with me but insists on some significant degree of comfort. I have to be honest and say that at this point in my life riding hundreds or thousands of miles on an uncomfortable bike doesn't hold much appeal for me either. I'm happy to bomb around on the Caponord (which has fairly reasonable maintenance cost, btw) but for miles I guess a luxo barge is going to be needed. Getting old sucks and the sad fact is I'm not 25 anymore and the misadventures of my youth are catching up with me. :gerg:

[DJ Down Under]

The LT thing really is a sop to my wife who likes to ride with me but insists on some significant degree of comfort. I have to be honest and say that at this point in my life riding hundreds or thousands of miles on an uncomfortable bike doesn't hold much appeal for me either. I'm happy to bomb around on the Caponord (which has fairly reasonable maintenance cost, btw) but for miles I guess a luxo barge is going to be needed. Getting old sucks and the sad fact is I'm not 25 anymore and the misadventures of my youth are catching up with me.
Sounds like the LT is the go....you old fart..:)...actually if I could afford one..I'd have one...how cool is that electric center stand.

I agree with Collyer about the DRZ..great bike but there is much better bikes out there..like the Husky's and Aprilia's.

DJ

[Deans BMW]

The newer LT's are quiet nice, more power, revised stearing geometry and that electric center stand. Even fully loaded, and two heavy weights aboard, push a button and up you go, eliminates the problem of dealing with a loaded heavy bike, oh I forgot to mention the reverse.