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?

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

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.

Ural and keep the F. Snow-tires for the Ural.

Keep the F and get the Ural

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.

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.

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

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.

Here's a suggestion:


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.

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

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

Well Weeble, does it wobble?
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

Duuude. I love my Wr!!!

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.