Anyone used the 650 for long tours?

[ExpatinIstanbul]

I'm planning 2 trips over the next couple of summers (from Istanbul), one to central Norway which will be a roughly 10,000km loop and one to Iran, Azerbaijan and Georgia which will be around 7,000 - 8,000km. I'd want to be spending about 8-9 hours each day on a bike with a two day break every three or four days, and at 6'4" and 15st I'm wondering if the 650xt is the right bike. I'm quite used to long hours in the saddle as I spent 6 years as a despatch rider and have done a few long tours on my old 12gs but I need to buy a new bike. Big bikes cost a lot in Turkey, the 12gs is £21,000 but the xt is £9,500 and as I won't be using it much outside of the 2 trips, other than a few short tours with my wife, I don't want to spend stupid sums on a bike parked outside my house for long periods. I know I'll need to make some mods which will add up but it will still come out ££££'s cheaper. Speed is irrelevant, but comfort, economy and reliability is. I'd appreciate any input from those who have toured, including what mods were found useful.

Cheers!

[Hondaman]

The bike will be fine, wow bikes are pricey in Turkey.
Be sure to post up plenty of pictures

[Parademic]

I'm 6'4 and 17.5 stone and my DL650 is good for riding all day.

The most I've done in 1 day is around 18 hours riding from the UK to the south of France... U get more stiff than anything.

Gareth


.

[mr_diver]

DL650 k6 with 55k on the clock. 2up 60kg of gear and 2k miles around Scotland.

Great bike for a budget price. Very adaptable to what ever you want it to do.

Mine did a fair bit of trail riding and even a bit of unplanned Greenlaning... they are easier to pick up and turn around than an Xt660z.

Decent tyres, engine bars, bash plate and luggage and your good to go. Anything after that is personalising it to suit you and your specific circumstances.

Loved mine and I'd have another in a heartbeat... only bought a Varadero as I wanted a bit more grunt for 2up as we pack everything bar the kitchen sink. She promptly bought a muscle bike and doesn't go pillion, I find myself looking at stroms again.

Blue ones are faster! 

[Ridaz]

Not only are blue ones faster,  they tour more often. 

3k trip round France and Belgium.  Another 2k trip around Ireland....

Mine has also been known to do 200 mile round trips when I nip out to buy a pint of milk too

Sent from my D5503 using Tapatalk

[obalanga]

1040 miles in 23h 42 mins. On one leg I got more than 260 miles from one tank. I did put a thick foam to cushon my 19 st frame but otherwise it went well.

[MartinW]

1900 miles in 5 days.

Top coast of Spain down to Gibraltar in 17 hours, including an overnight in a hotel.

[ExpatinIstanbul]

This is all very positive, thanks for the replies.

The only niggling doubt I still have is with tank range. On my last bike I had tank capacity of 36 litres, which meant only one fuel stop each day. This is a ridiculous thing to bother with, as 2 stops is hardly a problem but it did mean never having to take a break in petrol stations if I wanted to get some miles under my belt. Having said that to get another bike with that sort of range would mean spending double on one just to get another 150 miles per tank, and that would be insane. I'll just have to find fuel stops in nice places.

Thanks again for the replies.

[Hugo Magnus]

My best long distance run to date was 605 miles in 12 hours. I could have gone further but I had reached my destination

[Hondaman]

Potential 300 mile tank range if looking at the scenery - I've had 270+ on several occasions & still a couple of ltrs in reserve, quite a bit less if you are heavy with the throttle!
It's the best range I've had on a bike

[dogbreath]

This is all very positive, thanks for the replies.
On my last bike I had tank capacity of 36 litres,

  what bike was that ?

I have just came back from a 1500 mile trip - nothing compared to what you would do but I found the Glee excellent - I did fit a new gel pack seat before embarking which made a huge difference and was making 500 mile trips with only a fuel stop - was averaging 68mpg ( 54mpg on way home ) - one of the most economical bikes I have ever owned.

[chris1200]

Two tours of Europe so far this year. One 3,500 miles long and the last one 3,300. The only things that went were my back (I dropped the bike at the customs shed...sigh) and my rib (I cracked it lowering my panniers out of the second story window at a hotel using my bungee straps.....don't ask!) The bike never missed a beat. For half of both of those tours I was two up and on the second tour loaded up with all the camping gear. Hope that answers your question 

[obalanga]

And people think bikes are dangerous... tut tut tut

[TravellingStrom]

By Crikey Mort, serious??

Come on down to Oz, where if you don't have enough fuel, you die!

Just kiddin, mostly

Seriously, a 36lt tank  will get you anywhere in Europe.  In fact, a 10lt tank will get you any where but it will mean a few more stops   A newer version of the Suzuki DL650 will get you near 550km per tank(in Australian conditions), the older version only 480km and a headwind will cost you a lot more

Cheers
TS

This is all very positive, thanks for the replies.

The only niggling doubt I still have is with tank range. On my last bike I had tank capacity of 36 litres, which meant only one fuel stop each day. This is a ridiculous thing to bother with, as 2 stops is hardly a problem but it did mean never having to take a break in petrol stations if I wanted to get some miles under my belt. Having said that to get another bike with that sort of range would mean spending double on one just to get another 150 miles per tank, and that would be insane. I'll just have to find fuel stops in nice places.

Thanks again for the replies.