I have never cared for the supermoto look, but after seeing your bike, I have changed my mind. This bike looks fantastic. Good job on the bike!

 

Thank you!! Much appreciated

 

I bought this 520 from a friend so we could go dual sport riding. It had 620 miles on it, now about 900.



Picked up my KLX in April 09 and had it 351nd in March of 11. There are 11300 miles on the KLX.



Thought that it would be fun to have a DRZ so I picked up this 06 in Nov. 11.
I put new chain and sprockets 13 counter shaft and stock rear, jet kit, opened the air box and lowered it 2". Also put Kenda Trackmasters on it. I never weighed any of them but the DRZ felt like it weighed the most



If I only could have one bike most likely would be the KTM. KLX piped, carbed and 351nd was more what I wanted so sold the DRZ. Now looking back I should have left the stock tires on the DRZ cause it was big time fun on the road. I don't get the 6 speed thing as the DRZ would pull a four speed.
My YZ 125 needs a 6 speed tho.

 

Those are interesting comments from someone who's done more a variety. I would expect what you said for a couple reasons.

I'm sure the KTM probably has the best off road characteristics. But I see why a well set up 351 would be good since the KTM is a 620, not a 350 or 450. That is the part I like - you don't seem to have that Euro bias. That KTM is king, the rest are peons. You see the good in the KLX with what seems to be an objective eye.

The DRz is a great road ride, especially with SM wheels. The engine is great as long as you aren't afraid of some rpm. I have a good friend who has run an SM'd S model and now has a DRz400SM, did it as much for style as anything else, selling the other one. I liked the other better. I'm following that kind of thing, with the 650 for the road, while still having some dirt/gravel capabiity, and doing the true dual sport with the 250. Maybe some day it will grow to a 351.

Good notes, reaffirms the KLX as a decent off roader as TNC will often comment.

 

Ya that's a pretty sweet fleet you had there. The KTM 520 looks like a sweet machine. I loved my klx and I love my drz but I feel the klx was a bit more reliable than the drz. There's a lot of reliability fixes with the drz, loctite stator bolts, loctite countershaft sprocket nut, and a few other things.

 

One of my riding buddies has a DRZ (jetted & full exhaust). The DRZ has far superior brakes and the engine feels more powerful than my 351. Although it may just have better throttle response that makes it seem more powerful. Not sure if his has been lowered but it sits lower than my 06' 351. All that makes for a really nice bike but on forestry service roads the 351 is easier to ride fast and a lot of fun. For going to the store for beer, I choose the DRZ. For dual sport riding, I choose the 351 any day of the week.

 

And i was thinking about getting a klr650 since i sold my vtx1800 yesterday. But i just bought a 2014 Polaris sportsman 800efi and not sure i want to buy 2 new bikes in one month, lol

 

Nice ride. My buddy has a 500 and a new 800 or 850 or ? Talk about riding a pillow compared to my old Honda 300 4trx asswacker.

The KLR650 is a leatherman. Great at nothing. Good at nearly everything. It's my daily rider as I save the knobbies on the KLX for dirt and thrash the KLR whenever the opportunity arises.

 

I think off road they feel exactly the same there both heavy haha I just think your more use to your klx. I'm really gettin into true supermoto riding. On-road & off-road with the street tires and its a blast. Especially seeing people's faces when I hit the trails haha :-) the street tires do a lot better than I thought they would off road