How are you liking the Beemer? Im thinking of trying one as a second bike to keep out west.

 

Honda XR 650L for work I spend hundreds a week for gas for my pickup and drive mostly gravel county roads, this thing would be perfect for my situation and save me a ton of gas money!!

 

Those are dead reliable bikes. I've come close to buying one a few times myself. It amazes me that honda essentially hasn't changed anything beyond the stickers on them since what, late 80's ? And they still get a ton of money for them. Even the used ones sell for a lot. I guess when you got it right on the first try there's no reason to mess with it.

 

I own a 2018 Goldwing DCT, so I'm too happy with my current ride to ever think about owning a different motorcycle!

That said, if Harley ever puts the Pan Am motor and frame into a modern lightweight sport touring bike with the HD GPS Boombox and an electric windshield, essentially a Harley Goldwing Killer, I'd take a hard long look at such a beast.

 

If what you say is true about the XR650L being unchanged, that's probably to keep it "grandfathered in" for emissions, like Suzuki does with their DR650.
With a few accessories, those big Thumpers are good do-it-all bikes and they can run all day on the freeway, which is something I wouldn't want to try with a 300 cc Dual Sport.

 

I quit thinking. Wanted a 650 pound touring bike. Bought a '20 FJR1300 and got an incredible machine for a 1/3 of the price. But we love our Harleys

 

 

Something old, slow (like me) and relaxing after riding my XR1200...that I can repair in my garage.

 

Sounds pretty good especially compared to Harley's current tourers but my dream tourer would be something at least 100# less, say 575-600#. I don't see why it'd have to be over 30# heavier than a loaded Pan Am? (For reference the shaft drive BMW R1250RT is about 620 lb). I can do w/o a motorized windshield just make it easy to adjust manually, at least 4-5" of quality suspension, belt drive, tall 6th gear, no "infotainment" or at least make it and optional.


I don't believe those bikes are "grandfathered in", rather the rest of Honda and Suzuki's more modern offerings come under the emission limits enough (for now) that even with those two non-compliant bikes the total line-up average squeaks by the EPA. I've owned both XR650's and DR650's and both have their strengths, with the XR a little more capable off road but the DR engine a little smoother and probably better longevity with it's oil cooled engine.

 

That's the scooter my dad gave me when I was 6. Rode it until I was 11, when he gave me a "Real" motorcycle. He used the Cushman to get around the base. I'm 65, I still miss my dad.