Quote from: mattyvas on June 25, 2011, 04:36:04 AM
Sounds good Heather but a very short ride to
Help make up your mind. Though I guess sometimes it doesn't take much to know that you prefer one over the other.
I do wonder how much the lowering link might compromise the suspension setup?

Yes a longer ride would have been better but it just felt good from the start.

Regarding the lowering link.  I'm not a suspension guru so don't know.  The rep said you would also lower clamp on the forks in relation to the lowering link.  His main concern was sacrificing the ground clearance more than anything.

http://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle_news/first_looks_articles/11q2/2012_suzuki_v-strom_650_abs_-_first_look

Thanks Unge.  I'll keep an eye out for it. 

Hi H,

   I'm not sure if it's been mentioned in the thread but there is another bike that could very well be in your complete ball park as the great all rounder.

Yamaha Tenere XT660z, I know it is a little tall but there are lowering links you can get for it.
I have been looking at the adventure market lately and it might well be the best option for you. The price is okay compared to the It's bigger European competition but pricey compared to it's Japanese built cousins. However this Yamaha isn't built in Japan it's European built so the quality is much better.

Could also be worth a look for your adventure.

Thanks Matty.
The only problem with the Tenere is that it's so tall I could only test ride a stock one if I took a mounting block with me (or had a tall person on the back) as I would fall over when coming to a stop.  Not ideal for test riding.  Would be good if I knew someone with a lowered one that I could take for a ride.

Maybe if Matty's stars align in the not too distant future, you may just have one to test with - may involve a trip to Sydney, but hey, that's a precedent you set a long time ago!

Quote from: heatherp on June 25, 2011, 05:11:12 AM
Yes a longer ride would have been better but it just felt good from the start.

Regarding the lowering link.  I'm not a suspension guru so don't know.  The rep said you would also lower clamp on the forks in relation to the lowering link.  His main concern was sacrificing the ground clearance more than anything.

Regarding lowering your bike, I just read an article in (oldish) RoadRider, I will have a look for it when I get home this arvo and if you want I can post it to you.





                                   Mmick

Yeah I know it's really tall which does make it difficult to test ride or even test a friends 
It really does seem like the perfect all rounder.

Quote from: monstermick58 on July 25, 2011, 07:30:34 PM

Regarding lowering your bike, I just read an article in (oldish) RoadRider, I will have a look for it when I get home this arvo and if you want I can post it to you.





                                   Mmick

Thanks Mick that would come in very handy.   

Quote from: goldFiSh on July 25, 2011, 03:11:50 PM
Maybe if Matty's stars align in the not too distant future, you may just have one to test with - may involve a trip to Sydney, but hey, that's a precedent you set a long time ago!

Hmn so Matty buys a Tenere, gets it lowered just for me.  Then I pop up to Sydney to test ride Matty's bike and Doc's bike and Mostro's bike.  lol Anyone else got an Adventure/Tourer lurking in the garage?? 

Quote from: heatherp on July 25, 2011, 11:40:31 PM
Hmn so Matty buys a Tenere, gets it lowered just for me.  Then I pop up to Sydney to test ride Matty's bike and Doc's bike and Mostro's bike.  lol Anyone else got an Adventure/Tourer lurking in the garage?? 

Yeah, how about you come up and we all go for a squirt , you can borrow the DRZ and test all the big chook chasers as well 

1. F800GS
2. F650GS
3. XT660z Tenere (coming to a garage near me soon) if not one of the above
4 DRZ400 (available for hire) 

So feel like coming up in spring/summer sometime.......

Quote from: mattyvas on July 25, 2011, 03:13:14 AM
Hi H,

  Japanese built cousins. However this Yamaha isn't built in Japan it's European built so the quality is much better.

Am i missing something here. i allways thought that would be the opposite. well for cars anyway IMO  

          Only a retard would buy a motorcycle made in europe if your looking for quality not syle

Should I put it another way. Because it has been developed by Yamaha Europe for Dakar competition it comes fairly well sorted.

XT660Z Tenere is a cool looking bike  .

But its very heavy for a single cylinder machine.

I so badly wanted one.  Because its a cool looking bike  .

In the end I came to the conclusion that it does nothing better than the humble and far lighter DR650.... other than look much cooler.  And so since Heather rules out rides like the DR650, I really cant see what more an XT660Z offers other than an even taller ride height and far more weight. 

Compare:
DR650:          32kw/54Nm  Dry weight 147kg.
XT660Z:        34kw/58Nm  Dry weight 183kg  .
BMW F800GS: 62kw/80Nm  Dry weight 178kg.

I know Heather isnt interested in a DR650 type machine, I only include it for comparison.  But of the 3 I listed above the XT660Z is the last one I'd choose.  Too little power dragging along too much weight IMO.

Although I'm not sure if I mentioned just how cool it looks  .