I'm thinking of getting a big old dirt bike

[colin1]

I've had a small 250 4 stroke dirt bike, and it was great fun off road, but a little under powerd on road, and I probably used it for commuting more than I used it off road.

I am now thinking of getting a big old 600cc dirt bike. The only thing is, I have a feeling that they die at fairly low mileages compared to a IL4 600.

What sort of mileage do big singles get to before they die ?
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Kradmelder]

Sounds to me like a KLR might suit you. Last forever, can do road but like any thumper 120 kmh max
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2011 KTM 990 Dakar
2009 BMW 1200 GS

[TaiChi]

Think of it this way, would you rather re-build an in line 4 or a big thumper?

I'd much rather have to buy 1x piston to fit in my single re-bored cylinder than buy 4 of everything.

IMO, off road bikes should have an hour meter rather than a odometer.

Big cc off road thumpers rock, look at the prices they fetch 2nd hand compared to the equivalent road going UJM in line 4.

The desirable one's, you have to find someone who owns one & put your name on the waiting list, or kill them & steal it.

[colin1]

[colin1]

[G]

If you're wanting to use it off road, make sure you stick with the 600cc bikes GENERALLY - the KLR650 and DR650 are both a good chunk heavier than the 600cc bikes.
Of course, plenty of exceptions to the rule - the XR650R is much lighter than the XR600L I believe.

[KLR600]

I sold my 1989 KLR600 with over 30k miles on the clock about 5 years ago and it was still fine. I only sold it as I was doing longer commutes so I got a divvy instead. When I go back to Wales to visit my parents I still see it going around as I sold it to a guy a few streets away, not sure if he's had to do any engine work on it though.
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[colin1]

A figure that i've read somewhere is about 60,000 miles being the life for a big single. Does that sound right ?
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[cdo1uk]

XT660 engines are good, i have seen them with over 100k miles on despatch bikes in london. i used to green lane on one too, they are pretty good...

[Stewie]

[G]

I used to have a FE501 - incredibly capable bike, but as he's asking about longevity, probably not the bike for him.
Properly serviced etc they should be ok, sure - but doing any reasonable miles like that and the costs are really going to stack up.

[tatters]

I had a 2001 KLR650C which is the more offroad orientated later European spec model compaired to the older KLR650A.

Both models share alot of parts such as the engine which is very reliable once the balancer chain tensioner and spring is replaced (know as a doohicky which is the only real weak point).

They are still heavy bikes and while you can go offroad like l did in the video below (labeled KLR600 when its a KLR650 in the vid) something like a XT600 or TTR600 would be far better offroad and still as reliable in fact there are members on the HUBB with over 80,000 miles on there XT600's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY8YH44jLd4&list=UUnDJ274sCqqGy9vOEkiUsKg&index=61&feature=plcp
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[monkeyman]

It's the rods on thumpers that let you down, they go long before you wear the piston and liner out.
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Im not the best, but im in the top one
RM 250, Husky TE610, K1 GSXR 750