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I'm all out of Suzukis for now but added a couple Honda dual sports

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    I'm all out of Suzukis for now but added a couple Honda dual sports

    I sold my Mr. Turbo and my '79 GS1000E and miss them but life goes on. I always have my eye out for something. 3 years ago I got my then 15-year-old a cheap XT350 Yamaha and started riding it around. I really enjoyed it, but sold it before he got his license. Times were tough and I made about $1200 on it, was a nice little bike.

    So fast forward, my son is 18 and jonesing for a bike to plod up the mountain and do some 'adventuring'. He pointed to a CRF250L which is a mild-mannered dualie, nothing great, and has its limitations. Gets the job done tho. I found one with 1400 miles on it, a 2013 model for a price I couldn't refuse. It's barely broken in. I started riding that around and yeah, it is gutless but really sweet. It does fine on the trails and street. So then I'm thinking hmm, I want to ride out in the desert in the winter, mountains in summer with him. I have a few years left. He's passed his MC training and will get his license at the DMV, doing his written test next week. I'm confident of his skills, he's ridden extreme MTB for years and is very skilled and level-headed.

    I settled on a dinosaur, a 2022 XR650L. I found one in Ventura, a 2.5-hour drive, and grabbed it over the weekend. It has 350 miles on it and is 100% stock, basically brand new. Being 'frugal' I got a great price on it. It has a lowering link but the bike is 37" seat height stock, which is pretty tall. I'm checking it out, at 6' 3" I can flat foot it, and hmm maybe keep it this way, seems fine.

    There are two flaws that jump out - no cush drive so the clutch is snatchy on pavement. Jeez Honda, it's been 30 years. And it's carbureted, and of course, it's lean. I don't care, it is a blast and I'm gonna be riding the trails with my boy a lot soon.

    Last edited by oldGSfan; 10-25-2023, 11:23 PM.
    Tom

    '82 GS1100E Mr. Turbo
    '79 GS100E
    Other non Suzuki bikes

    #2
    Nice. I hope you have some great times with your son.
    sigpic
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    Glen
    -85 1150 es - Plus size supermodel.
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      #3
      Congrats on the new ride.
      Is that a bash guard for the rear disc? Can't imagine that would last too long.
      2@ \'78 GS1000

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        #4
        Originally posted by steve murdoch View Post
        Congrats on the new ride.
        Is that a bash guard for the rear disc? Can't imagine that would last too long.
        Thanks. It's for rocks kicked up I think, not any major impacts for sure.
        Tom

        '82 GS1100E Mr. Turbo
        '79 GS100E
        Other non Suzuki bikes

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          #5
          Originally posted by oldGSfan View Post

          Thanks. It's for rocks kicked up I think, not any major impacts for sure.
          it's to protect the disk if you are going down a rocky trail and pass to close to big rock and drive the disk into it.

          My dirt bike disk guard has plenty of scars, but i play in big rock fields.
          78 GS1000 Yosh replica racer project
          82 Kat 1000
          10 990 ADV-R The big dirt bike​
          Some dirt bikes

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            #6
            Didn't you have a pair of '83 11Es you were working on?

            Every time I think I'm ready to forgive you for selling the EZ turbo, you have to go and throw salt on the wound by mentioning it again.
            1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

            2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.

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              #7
              Originally posted by Rob S. View Post
              Didn't you have a pair of '83 11Es you were working on?

              Every time I think I'm ready to forgive you for selling the EZ turbo, you have to go and throw salt on the wound by mentioning it again.
              I still have the two 83's, both are done, but one has its bodywork off for blue paint. I have another good full body set so I'm doing some glazing work and will prime and paint in the not too distant future. Plus I have the Norton and my son's Ducati which I ride when I want - he likes the 11E so we trade off.

              That Mr. Turbo was epic & cool as a conversation piece, It was good to ride but is best for straight-line duty. The stock 11Es have plenty of power and torque for me. My son outgrew that Honda 250 and got a Tenere, then sold it and got the Ducati which is amazing. I got a Transalp and sold it when I got the 11Es. Lots of bikes in and out but have made $ on most transactions.
              Tom

              '82 GS1100E Mr. Turbo
              '79 GS100E
              Other non Suzuki bikes

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