It is currently September 10th, 2010, 2:08 pm

All times are UTC - 6 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 17 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: 3 bikes and some questions: Kawa KLX250S, F800GS, Patrol
PostPosted: November 18th, 2009, 4:28 pm 
Offline
Should know their way around F650.com

Joined: July 19th, 2003, 2:18 pm
Posts: 404
Location: Connecticut, ('01 F650GSA)
Everyone's got an opinion, so I thought I would ask. I may have some spare cash so I'm looking for some input on 3 different bikes...

Bike 1 - K*w*saki KLX250S
Price is right, specs look good, smallish gas tank, comments are it lacks power. But as a lighter weight alternative to let me try some harder stuff it seems like a good deal. What's your take? As a comparison, I rode a H*nda CRF 230F earlier this year which was plenty for me and my skill level.

Bike 2 - BMW F800GS
This would be to replace my F650GS. My first question is how much maintenance can you actually do on the bike compared to my '01? My second question is, for those that got rid of their 650 for the 800, would you do it again or just keep the F?

Bike 3 - Ural Patrol
Vastly different, would still kee the F. Reasons to get it...maybe get the wife to ride with me since she won't go on the F, take the grandkids out (or the dog if we ever get one), extend the riding season (where I live, there's always ice on the road somewhere in winter). For those that have one, how has it worked out? Would you do it again?

_________________
Member # 1417, '01 F650GS with ABS, Connecticut.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 3 bikes and some questions: Kawa KLX250S, F800GS, Patrol
PostPosted: November 18th, 2009, 4:43 pm 
Offline
Gettin' wiser now.

Joined: February 13th, 2007, 6:11 pm
Posts: 1050
if it were me i would choose option #3.

unless you plan on doing a lot of single track the KLX will be a disapointment after the F650

F800, nice bike but what can it do that your 650 can't?

Ural, would be great in the winter, your wife can ride in it, and it's so damn cool looking


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 3 bikes and some questions: Kawa KLX250S, F800GS, Patrol
PostPosted: November 19th, 2009, 1:28 am 
Offline
NOOB

Joined: September 20th, 2009, 9:31 pm
Posts: 28
Location: Westchester County N.Y.
I was in the market for a Ural until I fell in love with the F-650.

I still want to get the "gear up" in desert sand color.

I'd go Ural.

_________________
2001 F-650 GS
Image
......................................................................................................................................................................................


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 3 bikes and some questions: Kawa KLX250S, F800GS, Patrol
PostPosted: November 19th, 2009, 3:40 am 
Offline
Gettin' wiser now.

Joined: May 25th, 2005, 1:23 pm
Posts: 2362
Location: San Francisco, Cali. It sucks here, stay away.
Ural and keep the F. Snow-tires for the Ural.

_________________
Inmate #1202, PAROLED:'97 F650ST \"Otto von Skidmarck\" (sold). 2008KLR \"The Warthog\" (sold) 2002 Vstrom DL1000 "Godzuki"
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 3 bikes and some questions: Kawa KLX250S, F800GS, Patrol
PostPosted: November 19th, 2009, 7:08 am 
Offline
Should know their way around F650.com

Joined: August 10th, 2009, 1:35 pm
Posts: 107
Location: Central Ohio
Keep the F and get the Ural

_________________
2006 GS lowered...hers
2006 GS raised...mine


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 3 bikes and some questions: Kawa KLX250S, F800GS, Patrol
PostPosted: November 19th, 2009, 8:54 am 
Offline
Gettin' wiser now.

Joined: November 20th, 2005, 4:28 pm
Posts: 2419
Location: Conroe, Texas, ('01 F650 Dakar)
MY wife and I will have the following bikes in the garage at some point of time:

The Dakar for me, and short trips two-up.

A Buell Blast for her.

An Ural Patrol, for taking the dog along. But alternative to this may be fitting a sidecar to the Dakar.

_________________
Image Peter CG#1983 .... '01 F650 Dakar - the \"Ghost\"


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 3 bikes and some questions: Kawa KLX250S, F800GS, Patrol
PostPosted: November 19th, 2009, 4:01 pm 
Offline
Wise Old Timer

Joined: September 29th, 2004, 4:54 am
Posts: 3011
Location: Living the ex-college life in Columbus, Ohio
Just wait until you see my "Dakar - 400cc's" that I'm going to post up in the next week or two. Do the stickman/matttys thing and try the WR250R. I liked mine so much that I got Jenny a WR250X (the supermoto). Left over 08 was $4,999 and the 08 X w/ 6k miles was $3,700. Not too expensive.

The 800 just seems too expensive and the Patrol seems cool, but the one I rode really didn't light my world on fire for any type of performance.

_________________
'05 DRZ470SM, '02 995i Tiger,
'08 WR250R, '05 DRZ134SM minimoto


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 3 bikes and some questions: Kawa KLX250S, F800GS, Patrol
PostPosted: November 19th, 2009, 4:26 pm 
Offline
Knows every word in the FAQs

Joined: February 18th, 2007, 9:39 pm
Posts: 554
Location: I am where I am - Sherwood, AR
Sometimes I ride with a buddy who has an '06 KLX250 and honestly, I'm sick of his complaining. He went from a 250CC Suz*k*, to a Vulcan 500, to the KLX and is now looking to get rid of it. He says the motor is corked and there's no power for single track or highway speeds. I know another guy, who went from the F800GS to a WR250 (10cup on Advrider) and he seems to be very pleased. Can't say about the Ural but I can think of a lot of other bikes, I'd rather have.

I think my next bike will likely be a WR250, that is, if I can shake my desire for a bobber.

Happy hunting...
nlp

_________________
Inmate # 2227, '06 Black F650GSA, '05 Y*m*ha PW50


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 3 bikes and some questions: Kawa KLX250S, F800GS, Patrol
PostPosted: November 19th, 2009, 8:26 pm 
Offline
Settlin' in

Joined: April 25th, 2009, 1:34 pm
Posts: 81
Well, you're considering three totally different ride "experiences" there. As an F650 owner, a Ural Patrol owner, and a Y*m*ha XT225 owner, I say--You need all three!

Each of those bikes is so different from the others and suited to specific types of riding that I don't think you can logically choose one over the other.

The only thing I wouldn't do in your shoes is "trade up" from the F650 to the new F800. The F650 is good at what it does and is probably a lot cheaper to fix than the new F800.

Good luck,

Dan K.

_________________
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Dan Kearney
Black Hawk, Colorado, USA
BMW K75, Ural 2wd Patrol hack,
BMW F650GS, Y*m*ha XT225 x 2

http://dansmotorcycleblog.blogspot.com/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 3 bikes and some questions: Kawa KLX250S, F800GS, Patrol
PostPosted: November 19th, 2009, 11:47 pm 
Offline
Should know their way around F650.com

Joined: April 2nd, 2008, 11:46 pm
Posts: 224
Location: Vermont, Mad River Valley
Here's a suggestion:
Image
Image
I can take this on and off in less than 10 minutes. My wife loves it. Took me 35 years to figure that out - but then I never had a sidecar before then.

Just make sure you take it off once in a while so you don't square your tires.

_________________
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."
Kishmurti
'99 F650 plus a varying stable of old H*ndas


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 3 bikes and some questions: Kawa KLX250S, F800GS, Patrol
PostPosted: November 20th, 2009, 7:58 pm 
Offline
Knows every word in the FAQs

Joined: August 26th, 2004, 1:18 pm
Posts: 943
Location: Connecticut. ('02 F650GSA)
I've been wanting a sidecar rig for years so I can take the dog w/ me! That said, I'm also thinking of a bigger touring bike and a small 250-400 range dual sport like the KLX or DZ - both would replace the F, if I ever get around to convincing my wife I really NEED 2 bikes :-D

So, I'm not much help to you, as I'm in the same quandary. Dave.

_________________
Image ImageCG #1620, BMWMOA #124396, AMA #256593
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled because my GS has made all the difference http://dbtcycle.blogspot.com


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 3 bikes and some questions: Kawa KLX250S, F800GS, Patrol
PostPosted: November 21st, 2009, 7:52 am 
Online
Knows every word in the FAQs

Joined: September 10th, 2008, 10:16 am
Posts: 759
Location: House Springs, MO
Weeble wrote:
Here's a suggestion:
Image
Image
I can take this on and off in less than 10 minutes. My wife loves it. Took me 35 years to figure that out - but then I never had a sidecar before then.

Just make sure you take it off once in a while so you don't square your tires.


Well Weeble, does it wobble? :lol:
Has your wife had any comments good or bad and how does it handle?
Can you show us more on the mounting, dismounting and all the other juicy details?
What sprockets are you running?
Thanks,
Frank

_________________
97 FlameRot Classic,1980 Suz*k* 'TS185 Buzz''
CG#2604; ATGATT, Smile, enjoy life & smell the roses!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 3 bikes and some questions: Kawa KLX250S, F800GS, Patrol
PostPosted: December 2nd, 2009, 3:51 pm 
Offline
Knows every word in the FAQs

Joined: March 17th, 2006, 10:44 am
Posts: 619
Location: Alexandria, VA. ('06 F650GS Dakar)
matttys wrote:
Just wait until you see my "Dakar - 400cc's" that I'm going to post up in the next week or two. Do the stickman/matttys thing and try the WR250R. I liked mine so much that I got Jenny a WR250X (the supermoto). Left over 08 was $4,999 and the 08 X w/ 6k miles was $3,700. Not too expensive.

The 800 just seems too expensive and the Patrol seems cool, but the one I rode really didn't light my world on fire for any type of performance.



Duuude. I love my Wr!!! :-D

_________________
'06 650GS Dakar, Y*m*ha WR250R- inmate number 2210.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 3 bikes and some questions: Kawa KLX250S, F800GS, Patrol
PostPosted: December 2nd, 2009, 6:06 pm 
Offline
Knows every word in the FAQs

Joined: October 9th, 2006, 1:41 pm
Posts: 878
Location: Georgia, ('97 F650)
Do you have any trips planned on your wr250r Y*m*ha ? I have a trip planned for next summer on my Y*m*ha xt225 which is sort of like your machine but for more mature riders.

_________________
Ike647, GA.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 3 bikes and some questions: Kawa KLX250S, F800GS, Patrol
PostPosted: December 3rd, 2009, 8:01 am 
Offline
Knows every word in the FAQs

Joined: March 17th, 2006, 10:44 am
Posts: 619
Location: Alexandria, VA. ('06 F650GS Dakar)
IAM wrote:
Do you have any trips planned on your wr250r Y*m*ha ? I have a trip planned for next summer on my Y*m*ha xt225 which is sort of like your machine but for more mature riders.


Havent decided which bike to take. :-D

_________________
'06 650GS Dakar, Y*m*ha WR250R- inmate number 2210.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 17 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 6 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: GeorgiaNate, JD_in_NJ and 6 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group