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Post by richard on Aug 7, 2013 23:13:23 GMT -5
I wonder is people would think I was crazy it I drove my 1980 to the arctic circle?  I wonder if anyone else has rode and XS650 to the arctic circle? I read in a blog post where a guy said he had V-Strom but decided to ride his XS650 special across the Yukon and back. The Yukon alone is 1700 miles long. I also met a guy in Costa Rica who rode his 85 XT350 from Deadhorse all the way down to the tip of Argentina. I'm sure he was telling the truth. |
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Post by yamimoto on Aug 22, 2013 6:21:09 GMT -5
Sometimes it's good if people think you're crazy with regard to some scenarios. It's often because they lead hum drum lives and are really just envious. I suspect most people on the forum would just be envious, it's another good reason to go for a long ride. Who here does not want to do that?
Your 1980 looks great.
Yamimoto
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Post by richard on Aug 22, 2013 20:59:40 GMT -5
I have been thinking a lot about making the trip and I saw on YouTube a video made buy some guys on BMW GSs where they were passed several times buy a guy making the same trip on a little 200cc bike. I never did hear whether he made it all the way or not, but when he told them he started his trip in Mexico it got me thinking. Up until then I just figured to buy a KLR, Versys, V-stom or BMW GS, but seeing the guy make the trip on a 200cc bike got me thing it could be done on a XS650. The MPG is there, you might have to re-phase it but I'm sure it could make it. I have three XS650s and could make a lot of changes any one of them for $9000 bucks, which is what a BMW f800 GS would cost used. The 1980 I just bought would be o good candidate becuse if all else failed I could leave it and take the plane home. Another aspect about bike I like is weight. an XS650 would be a whole lot lighter to load on to a boat than a BMW 1200 GS and a lot easier to drag out of a mud bog or up a muddy hill. With as many xs650 as there are out there I'm sure someone has made some long trips with one of them. People talk all the vibration they make, but my 71 has a 32 sprocket in the rear and when you get it the timing dead on it's actually pretty comfortable with the gel seat, Plexiglas windshield and all. the other advantage in the wheel diameter lends its self to enduro tires if you needed them. The reason most people chose the bigger bike is because of time constraints. They need to go fast so that can make the trip quickly. It still take about a month it you want to see it all. Oh and there is a lot of being rained on. I'm not sure how a XS650 would handle that?
Richard
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Post by headcase on Aug 23, 2013 8:46:00 GMT -5
Re: rained on- I hate to admit this, but my bike sits outside in the weather the whole season, since I don't have the garage up yet. I managed to replace about 90% of the hardware with stainless so far, but the occasional steel studs poking out do get a tad rusty by fall. Other than that, there have been no water-related problems to speak of. I can blast it down at the car wash and it'll fire right up afterwards. Just seal everything electrical the best you can with dielectric grease, grommets etc. I would think the biggest issue would be finding gas. At 150 or so miles a tank, that either means a couple big cans on the back, a good gas station locator, or a support truck following along  |
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Post by richard on Aug 23, 2013 13:09:45 GMT -5
Gas is an issue, I get about 50 MPG in the mountains here with the 71, but most people have bigger tanks or carry Rotopacks which hold about 2 gallon each The Yukon is about 1700 miles from border to border and only 30 thousand people live there so it's kind of spread out. I have a spare tank sitting in the garage. I could make it taller or wider. I think you need at least a 250 mile range. I may have to do some long distance test runs first to see how it will hold up.
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