View Full Version : DL650/1000,Kawasaki KLV1000,TDM purchase advice needed
Ok, so I've decided to look around for another bike to buy in a couple of months. V-Strom types. I like the riding position of these, if not the looks :lol: . Do any of you have any experience of the DL650/1000, Kawasaki's KLV1000 or the TDM? How capable is the 650 when it comes to touring as it's heavier than the sv to start with without luggage etc? Any other suggestions? Ducatis and BMW's are out due to cost.
Cheers
Paul.
Not riden 'em but all are comfy bikes to sit on.
Used TDM900 will be cheapest and is a good bike. Kwak is rare used as it's too new a bike and V-stroms aren't exactly big sellers either.
Triumph Tiger?
Triumph Tiger?
Too expensive, but then again I've not really looked into them :? .
Just been up to my local Kwak dealer and seen the ORANGE KLV 1000 :shock: ...want one. Seat height is just fractionally too high but if it's the same as the DL650 that would lower it enough. He's only got one and it's £5,800 which is £300 - £400 cheaper than the Suzuki equivalent that I saw yesterday.
Whatever I get I'll be borrowing the money but don't want to spend more than 6k.
Italianjob
28-05-05, 12:31 PM
The DL650 is suppossed to be a quality traillie, sv engine, good suspension and more road-biased than the Aprilia Pegaso, BMW F650 andTransalp.
You might want to have a look at this:
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/pdf/101/108966.pdf
Italianjob
28-05-05, 12:33 PM
Or here:
http://www.stromtrooper.com/
Just phoned round, couldn't find anyone with V-Strom 1000 to demo but Doug Hacking have the Kawasaki KLV1000 that I can take out next week so I'll be able to ride the 650 and 1000 back to back :D
If you don't want to go off road at all then the TDM is a brilliant bike. With a pair of decent cans on it sounds amazing. And with the new ABS option it's certainly worth looking at.
.
Cheers, definitely not going off road :?
Now who has has a TDM demo...................
Now who has has a TDM demo...................
Dunno about that, but do you have to buy new?
The current list price of a Tiger is around £7k so a year-old should be easily withing your budget. Remember, too, that for the last year or so, Triumph have been flogging them with hard luggage and heat-grips as standard.
TDM or Tiger IMHO
Cloggsy
28-05-05, 01:11 PM
Amarko5's got a TDM & he loves it... Give him a shout ;)
I've ridden the TDM (a 2001 bike) - very good it was too. Great riding position, though steering a bit slower than SVS. The SVS felt like a toy afterwards !
I was looking to buy a new DL/KL1000, but had to spend the money on a new cage - I shall be looking again towards the winter. In the meantime, the TDM is 'borrowable', so I could well end up buying it (and keeping the SV also).
Be very wary of DL1000 model year - I went to one dealer to see a brand new 'just out of the crate, sir' model in Feb, this year. It was a K3 ! Just where had the bike been? They initially assured me it was a K5 :?
I found the TDM slightly lower than the DL - which may well be the deciding factor.
I did also look at the Tiger, and it's certainly a good option (the DIY side put me off though)
Good luck with the search, and please post any views after riding.
Sid Squid
28-05-05, 04:29 PM
Buy the Kawasaki version of the Strom, bit cheaper and has an adjustable screen the Strom lacks, and of course the wonderful TL/SV1000 motor.
Buy the Kawasaki version of the Strom, bit cheaper and has an adjustable screen the Strom lacks, and of course the wonderful TL/SV1000 motor.
There was a magazine review comparing the two supposedly identical bikes. The Kwak won it.
Went to have a look at the Kawasaki yesterday. I think it looks fantastic in orange and seems to hide some of the ugliness of the front end which seems to stand out on the Suzuki. The seat height of the 1000 is just a little too high for me to feel confident, I can get both feet down but not flat. The 650 has a lower seat height which definitely feels better for me. I've found 3 dealers where I can test ride the 650, 1000, and TDM so hopefully I will be able to ride all 3 bikes back to back on the same day this week.
Having dropped Amarko5 a pm yesterday and read his reply, I am going have to give the TDM some serious consideration. You can't beat 'real world' experience. There seem to be so many positives for the TDM. There will also be a lot more choice with the TDM as they've been around a lot longer.
Many thanks for your replies so far, keep them coming :D
Paul.
Sid Squid
30-05-05, 04:23 PM
Buy the Kawasaki version of the Strom, bit cheaper and has an adjustable screen the Strom lacks, and of course the wonderful TL/SV1000 motor.
There was a magazine review comparing the two supposedly identical bikes. The Kwak won it.
Precisely.
They are the very same bike but for a few detail changes, the Kwak is a dab cheaper though, that would make my mind up for me, well that and the Kwak comes in that orange colour which I rather like :lol: .
Anonymous
30-05-05, 05:16 PM
I've ridden a Dl650 and DL1000. The advantages of the DL over the TDM are they are slightly more 'adventure bike'. With a decent set of tyres the DL650 is a fairly capable bike for roads of any surface (as opposed to single track off road stuff). If you look of www.advrider.com you will see particularly in the US where they are lucky enough to have unsurfaced fire roads etc that people love them. The 650 handles very well on the road and I enjoyed it when I tried it. The 1000 is more suited for 2-up touring. Its certainly got more grunt but for me felt a unwieldy. But if I was sticking to the road I'd buy the 1000.
The KLV is even rarer and TBH I agree with Sid in that I think its the one of choice between that and the DL. Its more individual. The DL screen is also adjustable, Im not sure what the difference is there. I THINK you can get a lower seat option for the DL, unsure about the KLV. In any case people get them resculpted.
To throw another one in, the Aprillia Caponard should be tried before settling for a DL or KL. The finish is much better, its got that Rotax engine. It has a real quality feel. I liked it much more than the DL except again for me it felt a bit unwieldy. A little while ago they were doing K4 Capo's for the same as a DL
:shock:
The other things in this kind of class are the Tiger as the guys say. Meant to be a lovely engine and quick. Lame looking tho IMO. Also theres the Transalp but thats way overdue and update and not very pokey. Good on trails tho, I had one of those for a week in Crete. I know someone who's changed from a Transalp to a DL650 and he reckons there's no comparison.
If it were me Id go for the KLV or the Capo.
OR a second hand Africa Twin. Not quick but real presence and an individual choice. Maybe a bit big and heavy tho. I never found one to try.
I never tried the TDM. Nice looking bike and have a lot of fans. Nice looking riding position too. Probably 100% road tho whereas DL might be and 80:20 road/light trail bike. But thats probably not relevant.
If it's a road bike your after go for the TDM, new or pre-registered versions are about for £5,000 and that's a bargain. The bike is a real grower, very competent all rounder that slowly gets under the skin.
It can scoot along at quite respectable speeds covering miles quickly and easily. I had a new 850 in 2000, kept it for 3 years and really rated it.
The V Strom derivatives are ok but feel quite large on the road, and not really suited to the off road beyond a gravel track either. The have the style of an off roader but that compromises the on road ability.
Winner has to be TDM as an all rounder and espescially good value for money.
Well I found new and used TDM's at Earnshaws in Huddersfield today. The guy there said that although the older 850 is good, it's crap in comparison to the new 900 (I think it's probably a case of him earning more comission from selling a new one :lol: ). Booked a back to back test ride on a DL 650 and a TDM for Thursday at ESB in Bolton.
Also saw a Varadero in Accrington for £2500 which seemed quite reasonable. Hopefully testing that in the next few days :D Anybody got any experience of these :?:
Anonymous
31-05-05, 04:43 PM
Well I found new and used TDM's at Earnshaws in Huddersfield today. The guy there said that although the older 850 is good, it's crap in comparison to the new 900 (I think it's probably a case of him earning more comission from selling a new one :lol: ). Booked a back to back test ride on a DL 650 and a TDM for Thursday at ESB in Bolton.
Also saw a Varadero in Accrington for £2500 which seemed quite reasonable. Hopefully testing that in the next few days :D Anybody got any experience of these :?:
Yes, I sat on one and it was huge :shock: :lol: . Meant to be nice but dont see many. Have ABS and things I think on some. Make sure its a 1000 tho :wink: :lol: Surprisingly tho I saw a review which rated the Varadildo against a GS adventure on byways (wide not too bad ones) and it wasnt too bad. The idea was what would they be like on unsurfaced roads. The GS was better but the VD ok if I remember correctly. Probably a great 2 up tourer.
Dont forget the Caponard....
http://www.onyerbike.net/apriliapics/capo2003.jpg
The guy there said that although the older 850 is good, it's crap in comparison to the new 900 (I think it's probably a case of him earning more comission from selling a new one :lol: ).
If the biking journos are correct then the salesman is telling you the truth. The 850s had a notoriously bad gearbox - not unreliable, just very clunky and awkward to use.
The 900 has an improved/nicer to use one. Add to that a bigger and more flexible engine..........
Booked a back to back test ride on a DL 650 and a TDM for Thursday at ESB in Bolton.
That will be interesting - please let us know how you get on.
Surprisingly tho I saw a review which rated the Varadildo against a GS adventure on byways (wide not too bad ones) and it wasnt too bad. The idea was what would they be like on unsurfaced roads.
Dont forget the Caponard....
http://www.onyerbike.net/apriliapics/capo2003.jpg
Definitely WON'T be going off road. much prefer tarmac riding :D
OK I'll have a look at the Caponard but I'm guessing the overall purchase, running and insurance costs will put it out of the running :lol:
Anonymous
31-05-05, 05:08 PM
Surprisingly tho I saw a review which rated the Varadildo against a GS adventure on byways (wide not too bad ones) and it wasnt too bad. The idea was what would they be like on unsurfaced roads.
Dont forget the Caponard....
http://www.onyerbike.net/apriliapics/capo2003.jpg
Definitely WON'T be going off road. much prefer tarmac riding :D
OK I'll have a look at the Caponard but I'm guessing the overall purchase, running and insurance costs will put it out of the running :lol:
Granted, they seemed slightly daft money to insure. Unsure why.
Granted, they seemed slightly daft money to insure. Unsure why.
Cost and availability of spares, dude :thumbsup:
Can't beat Japanese bikes on that score.
Still think OF.uk will come away with a TDM :wink:
Anonymous
31-05-05, 05:16 PM
Still think OF.uk will come away with a TDM :wink:
Agreed.
Certainly after looking at some of the prices on ebay :wink: :lol:
Went for my test rides today in the rain.
Got to ESB and they told me that I was liable for the insurance excess, which I expected, and that it was £1,000 :shock: . I said no way and walked out. When I got home I phoned round several dealers to find what their excess was and they all said the same. Fylde Superbikes only insure you 3rd party on demos :shock: .
So, still no rides :cry: I'll now have to arrange them for when I get back, in the dry :? . I haven't dropped a bike for years but you can guarantee that if I do it'll be a demo bike with a mega excess :lol:
amarko5
03-06-05, 03:35 PM
Went for my test rides today in the rain.
Got to ESB and they told me that I was liable for the insurance excess, which I expected, and that it was £1,000 :shock: . I said no way and walked out. When I got home I phoned round several dealers to find what their excess was and they all said the same. Fylde Superbikes only insure you 3rd party on demos :shock: .
So, still no rides :cry: I'll now have to arrange them for when I get back, in the dry :? . I haven't dropped a bike for years but you can guarantee that if I do it'll be a demo bike with a mega excess :lol:
hey mate when are you going and getting back. ??
if you wanna meet somewhere on a nice dry day you can test drive my TDM (on a you break you pay policy :lol: ) but if your up for it let me know.
I did likewise on a friends bike thats why i ended up with the TDM as had ridden all the others mentioned and there was no comparrison.
Cheers Mark :D
If it's dry on Monday (which it should be :twisted: ) I'll be testing the Varadero in Accrington, then going away on Tuesday until the following Thursday (15th), then camping Fri, Sat night in Silverdale.
It's a real bugger that I'm going away just when I decide to change bikes as I can't see the Vara hanging around long at £2500 and if I like it I may HAVE to put a deposit down before I go away. I don't think I can afford a 900 TDM having checked my finances so would be looking at a post 99 850 anyway. I'll let you know what's happening when I get back.
Thankyou once again
Paul.
amarko5
03-06-05, 05:58 PM
Cheers Mark :D
If it's dry on Monday (which it should be :twisted: ) I'll be testing the Varadero in Accrington, then going away on Tuesday until the following Thursday (15th), then camping Fri, Sat night in Silverdale.
It's a real bugger that I'm going away just when I decide to change bikes as I can't see the Vara hanging around long at £2500 and if I like it I may HAVE to put a deposit down before I go away. I don't think I can afford a 900 TDM having checked my finances so would be looking at a post 99 850 anyway. I'll let you know what's happening when I get back.
Thankyou once again
Paul.
another spanner in the works http://www.justwings.co.uk/index.php?id=5&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=218&tx_ttnews[backPid]=3&cHash=f5a8c02024
although he does not do test rides at all this guy he will however give you a very good trade in price :wink:
and anotherhttp://www.justwings.co.uk/index.php?id=5&tx_ttnews[pointer]=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=212&tx_ttnews[backPid]=3&cHash=b0a9e61034
Cheers Mark :?
That Aprilia has got to be a bargain, just don't like the riding position, still too leaned forward.
Now the Trumpet .....................................hhhmmmmmmmmm
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