My turn for a secret!

[Greg@RME]

Not much of a secret if I tell all you FF'ers about it...

I picked up another bike over the weekend and I'm quite excited about it. I have really regretted selling the yellow '05 DR650 over the winter, but after getting laid-off, it was the smart thing to do. I've been back to work for about 6 weeks now and the itch to get another bike was getting stronger as the work days went by.

I had been thinking about a few different bikes; An older KTM 640 Adventure, Honda XR650R and Honda XR650L. I talked to a few people that owned one of the following and really appreciated their time to help! Each bike has its strengths and weaknesses for what I wanted to do, but any of those bikes should do the job. I did want to buy one that was already farkled, so I didn't have that expense again. So I though knew what I wanted and how I wanted it to be put together.

I didn't mind my old DR650, but was really interested in owning a KTM Adventure... IMO that's the ideal bike! Almost an 8 gallon tank, large fairing, decent sized seat and all the quality parts KTM's are put together with. I looked at a couple and was pretty excited about them, but ended up with something different... I found a '07 DR650 on here that was put together quite well. Here's the list of mods-

- FMF pipe and Q2 muffler
- Dynojet kit with carb screws, extended fuel screw
- Keintech choke conversion
- Rack, chain rollers, Emgo handguards, UFO fender, alum. skid plate
- Keintech front and rear springs, Superbrace fork brace, Seal Savers
- Koubalink lowered suspension
- Corbin seat
- Aqualine Safari 32 liter tank (actual capacity almost 9 gallons)
- Slipstreamer Spitfire S06 windscreen
- Almost new Avon Gripsters

After a 2 day roadtrip to Topeks, KS the bike is now in my driveway. It was a hell of a haul, but I'm very pleased with the purchase. The bike it great, it runs and rides well. It's setup for a bit more road riding than I'm looking to do, but I think I will keep the road tires and windscreen for those big pavement rides just to have the option. It does need some minor mods to make it mine, knobbies, different bars with a taller rise, gear it down for dirt, raise the suspension back up, etc. The carb mods and exhaust make a big difference, it runs much better than my stock-engine'd '05 DR650 did. It gets up to 80 MPH effortlessly and still has power to pass at that point.

The gas tank is massive! Pics don't do justice to the size of the tank, but the good thing is that the width of the tank also acts as a fairing, keeping wind off. Speaking of fairings, the windscreen is a bit odd looking, but it's really nice at highway speeds. It keeps the wind off me, reducing fatigue over long rides. It will get pulled off for most dirt rides, but is a nice option.

Anywho here's pics of my secret, the DR Supertanker...

[Osprey!]

Congrats on the new bike. Nicely farkled machine ya got there. Those off road mods should come in handy around here...

p.s. Congrats on the new job too. Good news.

[toddler]

I loved my old DR, you can't kill it.

Enjoy.

I bet those with small tanks are going to become your best riding buds here pretty soon

[Greg@RME]

Originally Posted by Opie

Congrats on the new bike. Nicely farkled machine ya got there. Those off road mods should come in handy around here...

p.s. Congrats on the new job too. Good news.

Thanks! It's a good start, at the least.

Originally Posted by toddler

I loved my old DR, you can't kill it.

Enjoy.

I bet those with small tanks are going to become your best riding buds here pretty soon

Yep, enough fuel for myself and more!

I have considered picking up a 'small' IMS 4.9 gallon tank to reduce the size, but time with this massive tank will tell if that's needed.

[Wudscrasher]

Congrats on the job, and a "Welcome Back!"

A lot of 'secrets' lately...

[Blakebird]

Originally Posted by Greg@RME

I have considered picking up a 'small' IMS 4.9 gallon tank to reduce the size, but time with this massive tank will tell if that's needed.

You'll get invited on White Rim Trail rides a lot

Those are expensive tanks, nice to buy the bike with that on it already.
I had an IMS 4.9 on my DR650 - but I wouldn't get a smaller tank if I had the Aqualine, I just wouldn't fill it. I'd carry 3 or 4 gallons unless I was gonna need the range. It carries the weight low when it's 1/3 full.

I'd consider having the damper rod forks spiffed up a bit, they benefit from it even if they're not carrying the extra weight of 9 gallons of gas .

[Greg@RME]

Originally Posted by Wudscrasher

Congrats on the job, and a "Welcome Back!"

A lot of 'secrets' lately...

Thank you! I'd like to think all the secrets are a good sign of times improving.

Originally Posted by Blakebird

You'll get invited on White Rim Trail rides a lot

Those are expensive tanks, nice to buy the bike with that on it already.
I had an IMS 4.9 on my DR650 - but I wouldn't get a smaller tank if I had the Aqualine, I just wouldn't fill it. I'd carry 3 or 4 gallons unless I was gonna need the range. It carries the weight low when it's 1/3 full.

I'd consider having the damper rod forks spiffed up a bit, they benefit from it even if they're not carrying the extra weight of 9 gallons of gas .

I'm alright with that, WRT would be fun! My intended riding is stuff like the Kokopelli, since that's in my backyard. Hopefully some Continential Divide and Trans-American trail in the future.

I bought that bike due to the farkles, big ones being the tank and Corbin seat. I really do like the Aqualine tank, but it is different to ride with, even with the tank not full. What I noticed while riding offroad last night was the width of my knees while standing on the pegs. With my knees against the tank, they're much wider than my old DR with the IMS, which makes the bike feel larger. It's just different, will probably take some time getting used to.

The bike has heavier springs front and rear too, which helps a LOT. The suspension works like it should, rather than being so mushy like they are with the stock springs.

[Inane Cathode]

Whoa, that's a huge tank.
56 pounds of fuel o_O

[Blakebird]

Originally Posted by Inane Cathode

Whoa, that's a huge tank.
56 pounds of fuel o_O

made down under....and about $550 to purchase.

[Greg@RME]

Originally Posted by Inane Cathode

Whoa, that's a huge tank.
56 pounds of fuel o_O

I hear that often... It looks like a big BMW GS from the front, the tank is just plain massive.

[Wudscrasher]

I'm riding with ^

[kwight]

Congratulations Greg, and it's about time!

Kevin

[Greg@RME]

Originally Posted by Wudscrasher

I'm riding with ^

Originally Posted by kwight

Congratulations Greg, and it's about time!

Kevin

Yes it is! We'll have to get together one of these days and seek out some cooler temps! I'm busy this weekend, you have anything going on the weekend of the 18th-19th?

[Inane Cathode]

Originally Posted by Blakebird

made down under....and about $550 to purchase.

Lol, i've got my 'big' tank already for the TT. It wont go farther than that without breaking anyway, so it's a good compromise :)