Anyone running a motorcycle setup for backcountry trips?

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I rock a DR650. Talk about a walk back in time… it’s a 2022 but still carb’d and I can fix or cheaply replace everything on it. Kind of my SHTF bike. I’ve done a couple overnights on it, but have mostly hauled it places like NC/Georgia and PA to ride forest roads out of a basecamp. Overall in my opinion one of the best analog classic ADV bikes.
 
I rock a DR650. Talk about a walk back in time… it’s a 2022 but still carb’d and I can fix or cheaply replace everything on it. Kind of my SHTF bike. I’ve done a couple overnights on it, but have mostly hauled it places like NC/Georgia and PA to ride forest roads out of a basecamp. Overall in my opinion one of the best analog classic ADV bikes.
Agreed
 
Yeah that’s a sick unit. They hard to find on the used market?
Unfortunately I can’t tell you. Bought it new back a few years and I haven’t looked to sell it. For me in the Northeast it’s a great rig because of the limited terrain that is truly ADV worthy. I often have to highway a couple hours on either end of the trip to get to or from the good stuff. I had a 500cc bike previously and having it wrung out for hours to do the 85mph transits was tiresome. While the ‘18 version is “only” 1000 cc’s I can take a nap with it doing 90 and not even think about it and still have it tackle all terrain other than true single track, comfortably. Guys with real skill on a bike (I’m not one, very late to the dirt bike game) can use it for that as well.
 
6 spd or DCT? I'm curious to see if their DCT is basically a speed shift trans...
It’s the 6 speed. When I got it there was a lot of chatter—is it better, is it reliable, is it good for off-road, with some “is it cheating” elements to the commentary as well. It was also like $500 cheaper to keep the 6 speed. I chose the toe shifter version. Don’t regret it. Though I don’t know what I’m missing.
 
I'm super new to bikes but already seem to have been bitten by the bug. I picked up a KTM 350 EXC-F and a Suzuki DR200 with the intention of just riding with friends and cruising forest service roads while camping, but I'd like to build up the KTM to do a little bit more. I understand neither bike is well equipped for freeway use, so I'm thinking I'd like to get my feet wet by just heading out from a trailhead and camping for a couple nights. Any advice for getting started would be greatly appreciated!


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Welcome Andrew H, you can more than affordably find a used KLR 650, some set up with a complete bags/lights kit already; ride more, fix less. The aftermarket support for the KLR 650s is vast for tourance riding/camp/ride shit. Ride on!
 
I stumbled onto these for a really good price from a friend, so I figured I'd build up some experience on these smaller bikes first while I figure out what I like. We had some small Hondas in the military but they were always broken and quickly relegated to the back of the motorpool when we got the MRZRs, so I'm starting at essentially zero. I definitely think the KTM will be traded for a more ADV oriented bike in the next year or so, I just need to get this wedding out of the way first...
 
I stumbled onto these for a really good price from a friend, so I figured I'd build up some experience on these smaller bikes first while I figure out what I like. We had some small Hondas in the military but they were always broken and quickly relegated to the back of the motorpool when we got the MRZRs, so I'm starting at essentially zero. I definitely think the KTM will be traded for a more ADV oriented bike in the next year or so, I just need to get this wedding out of the way first...
Yup, it depends on your inseam, wrenching abilities for doing suspension changes, and/or in the case of used KTMs; parts availability for older models. The 650 market is loaded with XRL/DR/KLRs, with IIRC the KLRs being more friendly for less than 36" inseams. ADVrider. com is a wealth of knowledge and resources for research. Congrats on the pending wedding!
 
Yup, it depends on your inseam, wrenching abilities for doing suspension changes, and/or in the case of used KTMs; parts availability for older models. The 650 market is loaded with XRL/DR/KLRs, with IIRC the KLRs being more friendly for less than 36" inseams. ADVrider. com is a wealth of knowledge and resources for research. Congrats on the pending wedding!
I'll hop over there and start absorbing what I can, thanks for the tips!
 
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