Great day out.

[GSXKING]

Hmm real DR's are 650!
[/quote]

From experience cubes don't make it better, that's why I ride 250/350 off road. Even back in the IT465 day's I was lapping the tracks just as quick on my mates IT250.
[/quote]

You're such a legend @Irish in Oz 

[VladTepes]

For a full on dirt bike - I agree - but for some desert / bush / off road touring a 650 is the way to go. The closest you'll get to an 'all rounder' 

[grog]

Most fun dirt bike ive ridden was 125 Bultaco, worst was Honda Elsinore 250. Both back years ago. Scariest, not sure of model, IT Yamaha 465?

[Irish in Oz]

@VladTepes
I don't do any touring on enduro bikes and the DR isn't any good for comfort, you should consider a KLR it would be softer on your arse.

[Irish in Oz]

Hmm real DR's are 650!

From experience cubes don't make it better, that's why I ride 250/350 off road. Even back in the IT465 day's I was lapping the tracks just as quick on my mates IT250.
[/quote]

You're such a legend @Irish in Oz 
[/quote]

A legend would lap a lot quicker on a 465.

[Kiwifruit]

Personally I found the big open class dirt bikes a bit of a handful, point and squirt, get em stopped, and repeat with wheelies in between. The bike just rotated around the back wheel while you sat on the gas cap. The little 125 was fun, you could start in 2nd gear get great drive with the front end lifted but not clawing skyward. I've found the same kingi, I could get around and dice with mates on the big bikes and be in control. Fast guys on open class bikes would just be gone though. Beach racing was a different story. H2's with knobblys were not uncommon, Ginger Molloy had an air cooled TZ or TD2 ? Beach racing was fun and fast. They'd be too worried about the shellfish to let it happen nowadays. All good fun.

[VladTepes]

@VladTepes
the DR isn't any good for comfort, you should consider a KLR it would be softer on your arse.

Nobody in their right mind keeps the stock Suzuki seat on a DR650 they are worse than woeful. 
Also nobody in their right mind buys  anew one as they are way overpriced for old tech.
The best idea is to buy a second hand one where someone's already changed the seat, sorted the front suspension etc.

It's all academic though I'm not getting another bike (due to $), and if I did it'd be a road bike.

[Kiwifruit]

@Vlad has management asked for a new kitchen 

[VladTepes]

No she's approaching retirement age, or past it  (she's 63) and OBSESSED with getting the mortgage down.

[GSXKING]

@VladTepes
the DR isn't any good for comfort, you should consider a KLR it would be softer on your arse.

Nobody in their right mind keeps the stock Suzuki seat on a DR650 they are worse than woeful. 
Also nobody in their right mind buys  anew one as they are way overpriced for old tech.
The best idea is to buy a second hand one where someone's already changed the seat, sorted the front suspension etc.

It's all academic though I'm not getting another bike (due to $), and if I did it'd be a road bike.

Maybe you could TURBO it 🧐😝😂🤣

[grog]

Where i live, some great twisty roads. All the sport bikes come here to blow them away. My mates DR650 is the best, no one catches him. Has wider wheels with sticky tyres. Spare set of wheels turns it back into off road. He laughs, reckons his bike cost less than most Panigale riders boots. Hes a legend, have heard the sportys talking about the bloody trail bike they couldnt catch.

[Eric GSX1400K3]

That's gold. My riding instructor back in the day was the same, had an ageing VFR, but set up properly. No one on  much newer and higher hp bikes could catch him.

[VladTepes]

Your mate's not Darryl Beattie is he?

He's been known to do that...

[grog]

No not Beattie. I do have another story about him. We rode from Port Douglas to Daintree. I had a dirt bike behind whole way, standing up on pegs. We were up to around 130, still up my clacker, standing up. Pulled up at Daintree, you can guess who it was.

[Kiwifruit]

Coming home from Wanganui Street Races must have been 3 years ago. Got totally smoked over the Parapara's by someone on a motard. Just way too nimble for me. Had some stonk too. Didn't even attempt to stay with him.