Thinking of getting a bike to ride this type of trail several times next summer, sort of wondering which way to go.
Looking at getting a decent used bike to see how much I like it before jumping in head first. I think I am basically looking at choosing between a DRZ400 or a KLR650, depending on how much highway, how tough the trail is, etc.
I haven't ridden off road in over 15 years, mid 50s, 6'5, 290, and have mostly just ridden my V Twin on the highway for the last 10yrs or so. I don't need a rocketship, just want to best combination of reliability and trail ability for these specific types of trails.
For the guys who ride this type of trail, is the KLR too big and bulky for parts of it? I'd assume it would be better on the pavement than the DRZ.
Is the DRZ "big enough" to haul enough stuff to camp a couple of nights and stable on the pavement?
I basically live right in the middle of the WABDR, so I could do the south or north parts by just leaving the garage or we could trailer up to one end or the other and return home, etc., so that makes riding it very appealing to me. I just don't want to go through a big hassle of buying one, deciding it isn't right, then selling it and buying the other.
Any suggestions?
Looking at getting a decent used bike to see how much I like it before jumping in head first. I think I am basically looking at choosing between a DRZ400 or a KLR650, depending on how much highway, how tough the trail is, etc.
I haven't ridden off road in over 15 years, mid 50s, 6'5, 290, and have mostly just ridden my V Twin on the highway for the last 10yrs or so. I don't need a rocketship, just want to best combination of reliability and trail ability for these specific types of trails.
For the guys who ride this type of trail, is the KLR too big and bulky for parts of it? I'd assume it would be better on the pavement than the DRZ.
Is the DRZ "big enough" to haul enough stuff to camp a couple of nights and stable on the pavement?
I basically live right in the middle of the WABDR, so I could do the south or north parts by just leaving the garage or we could trailer up to one end or the other and return home, etc., so that makes riding it very appealing to me. I just don't want to go through a big hassle of buying one, deciding it isn't right, then selling it and buying the other.
Any suggestions?
What’s your price range? New? Used?
From the videos I’ve seen, the WABDR is mostly fire roads, not hardcore single track but I’ve never been on it myself.
My first thought was an XR400, but I’ve come to the sad realization that if I’m going to be doing any multi-day riding, I’m going to want to have a button to start the thing sooner than later, and I’m not going to be getting any younger either!!!!!
Basically I’m wondering if the carrying capacity and road ability of the KLR override the dirt capabilities of the DRZ for these specific trails that are fairly close to me. Neither are probably perfect for all off road riding, obviously.
You can definitely find a good bike on Facebook marketplace right now and there’s a lot.
Not sure why, but I keep leaning towards the KLR, maybe because so many of the used ones come with tons of extras. There’s also a little bit of thought about having to spend more time on pavement if trail conditions are bad, too much snow, etc.
From what I’ve seen, the WABDR isn’t really a lot of single track so that’s why I’m hoping that there are some folks here who have ridden it before.
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Most of the crew was on adv bikes, but me on my ktm500 and buddy on his XR650R had WAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY more fun. The adv guys had the comfort advantage anytime on pavement, but as soon as it turned to dirt me and XR dude were power sliding corners, jumping water bars and making the adv boys green with envy. With that said, I think a plated dirt bike is the way to go. Plus, you can go ride Foggy and Devil's from your house.
I personally think a xr or drz400 is too little motor, but I'm also used to an uncorked 500. I think my buds 650R was about the best of both worlds.....plenty of motor, soft suspension, reliable as an anvil and cruised above 60mph much better than my ktm.
I have to admit, the thought of a plated XR650R is pretty appealing as well. Anything is going to be a little bit of a compromise, and to be honest part of the appeal of the KLR650 is how easy it would be to ride to work 8-9 months out of the year. I don’t have a very long commute, but back when I rode on dirt more I had a much harder time obeying traffic laws on bikes that were real “dirt bikes with lights and plate” than on bikes made more for the streets. Also, I just like the idea of e-start for anything that I would think about commuting on.
Probably a psychological thing that I could overcome if I tried, but just something that I remember being self aware of. I used to not pay attention to cars as much on a dirt bike the way that I do on my street bikes, but I could always work on that.
I’m leaning away from the MX based bikes just from a reliability standpoint. I know that the “lower performance” bikes (DRZ, XR, etc) aren’t going to be as strong as those, but it sure seems like those engines are basically bulletproof with just (very) basic maintenance. I don’t think I’d really care too much if the guys I would be riding with had faster bikes than me, as long as I could maintain a decent enough pace to not bore them too much.
I’m hoping to be able to leave my garage on a Saturday morning and spend the night in Packwood if I go south, or Concunully if I head north, then ride the trail back on Sunday.
I think that would mean that I probably wouldn’t need as much luggage as most ADV guys carry, since I’d probably stay in a hotel/motel Saturday nights either way.
I guess I have 3-4 months to decide, and if I get the “wrong” bike, hopefully I buy it at the right price in case I decide to change it.
Came with all of the usual ‘standard’ mods done. An extra 4G tank, etc. A bit cramped even with some bar risers so I ordered a set of Knight 1.5” lowered pegs and probably going to get the Seat Concepts taller seat. Being a big guy I cranked the compression damping full up for now but ordered Race Tech fork and shock springs and will go from there.
Won’t have a free weekend until the 4th, but hoping to do Wenatchee to Ellensburg and back one of those days, and Cashmere to Chelan and back another one of them.
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