GS Scrambler, Possible?

[saffa]

heres one for your viewing pleasure

[tatumjr]

Colorado, we have a guy in town that took a XL 650 Honda and put street tires on it, a dog bone to lower the rear shock and lowered the forks in the triple clamp. He loves it and is all he needs

So he just made a supermoto then. I always thought that would be a cool bike for around town. As for the Scrambler idea, it would be cool to have a trail ready GS. Maybe a fork conversion like pos did with the GSXR forks to something with more travel off a DRz or something paired with some taller rear shocks would be good. Maybe some geometry problems though....Anyway just my .02.

Oh and maybe a headlight guard just for fun!!

[saffa]

and from another angle

[crag antler]

Heck, I take my XL600 anywhere I have the b!lls to go.
A blast and a nice addition to the garage.Usually found cheap and you wouldn't have to mess a nic looking GS.

[crag antler]

and from another angle

Nice look. I would just wonder how much hp can you get out of a GS motor that would be tractable in the dirt?
Engine may be too wide for certain spots.All dependent on where you ride or want to ride.
Just my thoughts/opinions though

[crag antler]

Probably the best all around bike out there! It is large enough for me (6'4" and 220), so it is great as a tourer. It is also great offroad, pretty much like a big dirt bike.

I've ridden it 6000 miles since I got it back in March and about 1500 of those miles are dirt roads/trails. I just went on a ride with some ADV folks up into Wyoming and the V-Strom kept up with all the DR's. KLR's etc. in the loose and rocky trails.

Overall I couldn't be happier. I might like to try the 1000, just because of the extra power. BUT that power would do me no good on the loose stuff, which the 650 is great in.

How is the ADV group to ride with?
I have been a member there since April '09 and find it to as helpful as the GSR is.

[seuadr]

Probably the best all around bike out there! It is large enough for me (6'4" and 220), so it is great as a tourer. It is also great offroad, pretty much like a big dirt bike.

good to know. i'm 6'0 and 200 lbs, so pretty similar build. glad to hear the 650 is comfortable, that was one question i had. My 1100G is about the right size, with 2'' risers for the bars.

[reddirtrider]

How is the ADV group to ride with?
I have been a member there since April '09 and find it to as helpful as the GSR is.

Yea, what does ADV stand for anyway?

I was a member or NCTR (Northern Colorado Trail Riders) for one year before I moved down to southern Colorado. They were a lot of fun - everything from beginners to expert riders and they rode almost every weekend. If I ever get time off from the grind I'll join again and catch a ride now and then.

[reddirtrider]

Grafting a set of forks and a swingarm from an XR650R (or equivalent) would be pretty cool. There's nothing better than lots of suspension travel when off road.

[seuadr]

Yea, what does ADV stand for anyway?

I was a member or NCTR (Northern Colorado Trail Riders) for one year before I moved down to southern Colorado. They were a lot of fun - everything from beginners to expert riders and they rode almost every weekend. If I ever get time off from the grind I'll join again and catch a ride now and then.

adv is adventure riders. they aren't strictly trail nor strictly road, but kind of a mix.

lots of great pics over there i've noticed, and they seem to be pretty knowledgeable about a fair amount of bikes. they have guys that do ride reports (just regular members) that are everything from day trips on the street to cross continent trips.

interesting read.

hell of alot of v-strom owners, too. lots of tips and tricks like we have here for the gs's.

[crag antler]

adv is adventure riders. they aren't strictly trail nor strictly road, but kind of a mix.

lots of great pics over there i've noticed, and they seem to be pretty knowledgeable about a fair amount of bikes. they have guys that do ride reports (just regular members) that are everything from day trips on the street to cross continent trips.

interesting read.

hell of alot of v-strom owners, too. lots of tips and tricks like we have here for the gs's.

Here's the link http://www.advrider.com/

[bwringer]

I've sorta adventure-ized my VX800. No real reason, other than it's already been wrecked so there's no reason to keep it pristine.

The dual-sport tires work far better than I thought they would on and off pavement. The VX can chug through some really sloppy stuff with no problem, and throw a gawdawful roostertail of rocks and dirt at will.

It's still a streetbike with only about 4" of suspension travel, but as long as I keep that in mind, it's a lot of fun.

Since these photos, I've added fork boots ($17) and a sink-no-bob kickstand pad ($19). Yup, I'm a big spender.



The front is a 110/80-18 rear turned around backwards. It works great.


It would actually be easier to find dual-sport tires for my GS, since the front is a 19" rim and the rear is 17". The oddball 18" front on the VX left me with only one choice.

However, my GS is just too nice to risk in the dirt, and it's about 75 pounds heavier.

[reddirtrider]

I see what you guys are trying to do. Yea, not too bad if you keep it in the back of your mind that if you ever get stuck, you're going to have a heck of a time getting out.

Kinda does look like fun though in a sick, perverted sort of way. Kinda' like taking the 74' Bonneville out on some muddy back roads. Ah, stories to tell the grandkids.

[Colorado CJ]

Yep, ADV rider (adventure riders) is at http://advrider.com The guys/gals I met so far on the one ride I did were great. Alot of fun to be around and REALLY fun to ride with.

ADVRider has regional forums where people post local ride routes and meets. You can go riding every weekend (and sometimes during the week) if you want. There are strictly road rides, as well as a mixture of road/dirt rides happening all the time. It is a great way to meet people with the same interests and a great way to explore places you didn't even know were there.

[Colorado CJ]

These aren't GS's, but it gives me some ideas.

Yamaha XS 650:





HMM, my friend has a friend who has a '78 XS 650 but it doesn't have a title (he is a storage building owner and the guy stopped paying his payments for a couple of years now).

Anyway, I can pick it up for $50.00. I might just go this route instead of working on my GS, not sure yet though as I know my GS is running great.