Not a FJ but still a blast

[Dieselman7.3]

Been a while since I've been on here.  A couple weeks ago I picked up a Kawasaki Versys 650 off my father. What a blast to ride (quite a bit slower but very snappy) took it on a 600 mile camping trip in northern Maine. Paved roads up there and then all back roads and atv trails all weekend.  Anyone else on here do any adventure type riding?? Whole different world but it got me hooked.  Plus gives me something to ride while I get my Fj in nicer shape.

[ribbert]

Been a while since I've been on here.  A couple weeks ago I picked up a Kawasaki Versys 650 off my father. What a blast to ride (quite a bit slower but very snappy) took it on a 600 mile camping trip in northern Maine. Paved roads up there and then all back roads and atv trails all weekend.  Anyone else on here do any adventure type riding?? Whole different world but it got me hooked.  Plus gives me something to ride while I get my Fj in nicer shape.

Yes Dieselman, the Versys 650 is a lot more bike for the money than you'd think (if only it had a hydraulic clutch), the huge mid range torque from an engine that size is amazing and the quick action throttle adds even more to the feeling of power, it's a lot of fun and I reckon they're greatly underrated.

Having a dedicated bike for adventure riding it great, but not having one shouldn't stop anyone having a crack at it, the FJ below has done more off road, bush tracks, creek beds, water crossings, beaches, scramble tracks, even mountain hiking trails and ski runs (off season) than the other two combined. The only thing that stops it is ground clearance and it's been stuck a few times. If it's physically possible to get the FJ there, it's been there.

My earliest riding as a teenager was on old English road bikes (Norton, BSA, Triumph) through the bush, 55 years later I'm still doing it, I just have a better bike that doesn't leak oil or require back tracking on foot to find the kick start lever.



Yes, Adventure riding is great fun and the places it lets you explore is one of the great joys of owning a motor bike.

*The orange bike is a Versys 650

Noel

[Dieselman7.3]

That's a nice line up you've got there. The thought of building an off road Fj has crossed my mind a couple times        I'd think the low ground clearance and not long travel of the Fj suspension would be it's down fall. Would be quite interesting to see. My plan is to run the Versys until I can get more capable adv/ tourer. For now it's a blast and I do love the fuel injection in the cold mornings. Just got to start freshening up my Fj so she's ready to rip up payment in the spring. 

[Firehawk068]

Since buying my "Adventure-Bike" two years ago, it has opened up a whole new world of possibilities.............
Being able to just turn down any dirt trail or gravel-road I want to explore, or access to the best dispersed-camping spots, are just two of the advantages.
I have taken my FJ down some pretty sketchy places, but the Super-Tenere is just on a whole other level!

The Versys-650 is a great bike for the money!
I put one through it's paces about a year ago..............If you are a small person, the engine is pretty snappy. Not much low-end grunt, but the midrange and top end is surprising for an engine this size.
I found the bike too small and cramped for my size (I'm built like a Bear), and the front wheel size will limit its capability off-road slightly.........but it's still plenty capable. They are an underrated bike in the ADV world.

[Dieselman7.3]

How do you like the super Tenere. I think after abusing the Versys for a while I'm going towards that. I agree the Versys is underrated, and tire options do kinda suck. Looking at putting tkc 80s on her

[Firehawk068]

How do you like the super Tenere. I think after abusing the Versys for a while I'm going towards that. I agree the Versys is underrated, and tire options do kinda suck. Looking at putting tkc 80s on her

I LOVE the Super-Tenere!
It is all the bike I expected it to be, and more.......... I obviously could love it a bit more if it was lighter, as it's a heavy beast. She's a big-girl.
But that weight makes it a joy to spend thousands of miles touring on. It soaks up the miles like nothing else!
It will go anywhere that I dare take it. It is more capable than me, and the engine will tractor-away from as low RPMs as you would ever run it...........even Idle!
That engine is a torque-monster down low...........This helps in the tight, technical stuff.

[Dieselman7.3]

How do you like the super Tenere. I think after abusing the Versys for a while I'm going towards that. I agree the Versys is underrated, and tire options do kinda suck. Looking at putting tkc 80s on her

I LOVE the Super-Tenere!
It is all the bike I expected it to be, and more.......... I obviously could love it a bit more if it was lighter, as it's a heavy beast. She's a big-girl.
But that weight makes it a joy to spend thousands of miles touring on. It soaks up the miles like nothing else!
It will go anywhere that I dare take it. It is more capable than me, and the engine will tractor-away from as low RPMs as you would ever run it...........even Idle!
That engine is a torque-monster down low...........This helps in the tight, technical stuff.

Thanks for your input. They seem to have awesome reviews from everyone

[Firehawk068]

I originally was going to say that I wish it had slightly lower gearing in 1st and 2nd gears, as it is geared kinda tall, but with as much torque as that engine has it doesn't really matter at all. The bike doesn't care how slowly you try to ride it.
The only thing negative that I can possibly say about it is:
The stock wind-management (if you are a tall-ish person) is pretty poor.
I got annoying wind-buffeting at anything close to freeway speeds.
I have added the side wind-deflectors, and added an adjustable extension to the top of the wind-screen. These have helped tremendously!

Also, this does not affect me because I am fairly tall................but if you have shorter legs, this is a TALL bike. There is not really a way to make it low enough to fit a shorter person....
They do make lowering-links for this bike, but you would be giving up a good amount of ground-clearance, and it may still end up being too tall.

[ribbert]

The only thing negative that I can possibly say about it is:
The stock wind-management (if you are a tall-ish person) is pretty poor.
I got annoying wind-buffeting at anything close to freeway speeds.
I have added the side wind-deflectors, and added an adjustable extension to the top of the wind-screen. These have helped tremendously!

Alan, this is a subject that always catches my interest and I have played with FJ screens over the years in an attempt to produce the same thing, that is, equalising the air pressure ahead and behind the screen to minimise the buffeting. Most modern bikes do this one way or another but not many aftermarket screens do, only offering clip on deflectors and wings.

I discovered these screens below by accident and couldn't believe how well they work, hence, the last two bikes into the garage have had them fitted immediately.
The double overlapping screens, and being open at the bottom allows the wind pressure to equalise while keeping it rain proof. One of the better features is the range of height adjustment, the entire length of the channel shown, or for commuting or off-roading the upper can just be unclipped in seconds.
Having an electric windscreen I know there's a sweet spot for screen height, depending on your own height, and this is easily and quickly adjustable with the cam locks from the riders seat.
It's a Givi Airflow and they make a model for the Tenere and if you find yourself in the market for a screen, these come with a high recommendation from me.







Noel

[Firehawk068]

Thanks Noel,
Yes that Givi Airflow screen design is pretty well-known.
I have seen it pop up frequently in discussions about wind-management.

I'm pretty happy with the solutions I came up with, but I'll definitely keep it in mind for recommendation.

Alan.

[Millietant]

Hey Alan, re the pictures of your Super Ten ....where we they taken?

Your profile says you're from Denver, so lots of awesome places nearby, but the pics remind me of my trips through the Canyonland and up around Moab.

Wherever they were taken, it looks awesome. 

[Firehawk068]

Hey Alan, re the pictures of your Super Ten ....where we they taken?

Your profile says you're from Denver, so lots of awesome places nearby, but the pics remind me of my trips through the Canyonland and up around Moab.

Wherever they were taken, it looks awesome. 

Yes, the first two were taken near Moab.
First one was last year, at the top of the Shafer Switchbacks.
Second one was taken along "Onion Creek"

The third picture was taken this year, camping at "Muley Point"
The last picture was taken at my garage.

Utah has some awesome riding opportunities if you are on an adventure-bike.