SELL ALL BUT ONE: Which Big Bore Dual Sport Would YOU Keep? | Ask SWANKY CAT 

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I'd keep the DR

The DR650 hands down.

The DR is the Delta Force bike that Chuck wiped out Dhurkistan with. And it was only a DR600 back then.

DR650! It may not be the best out of the showroom, but the aftermarket puts it in the stratosphere.

You definitely have some Suzuki Fanboys in your audience. I have the first generation dr650 and the new generation dr650. Both of them are geared down one tooth on the counter shaft. Makes it a little easier off-road. One is gear down two teeth on the counter shaft and oh my word. It has a spunk and character that none of the other engines have. Not very good on the highway. My other XR is geared down one tooth on the counter shaft sprocket and overall it is a wonderful bike. No suspension modifications necessary on either XR. They are perfectly suitable to my 170 lb dressed. My first generation dr650 is a pig and has better low-end than the second generation. Not only does it weigh like a pig, it handles like a pig. The new generation Dr is a sweetheart. One of my favorite bikes to explore on. If I know where I'm going, the XR650L is the ticket. It has more spunk and character in the motor and much much better suspension. But it is tall. It's one misstep, (when you are checking balance), to landing on the ground. So I say, do all the tricks you want to do to the DR, You will love it. On the new generation DR you can drop the forks and lower the rear shock. I'm sure you already know that. I hope you keep both bikes. I love your content on all the bikes you've had so far. I even enjoyed your XL250R videos... Years back. Yes, I'm sad to say, I have that bike as well. That is one fun motorcycle. I wish you were still doing content on that bike. You are entertaining to watch and I have been watching you for years. It has been a lot of fun watching your journey. I like your outlook, you even mentioned God's beautiful world. Keep the vids coming. "Texas on the prairie"

XR for me. Takes me back to the 80’s and 90’s when I was a kid riding my XR80.

Comparing the XR and DR is my favorite thing you’ve done on this channel. I’ve always been interested in both (except them being carbureted). Looking forward to seeing which one you end up going with after the long term. One of these will probably be my next bike.

The Doctor is the King of dual sports. The King is dead, long live the King!

I’ve had my 2006 Dr for about a year. Turned into a supermoto, and love it. If I had the money, I would buy an Xr too.(been looking at used ones) Either way, keep up the great content. Dual sports for life!

XR!!!! Let’s GOOO🔥🔥

I owned and XR600RK 1989 model for over 30 years and only sold that in October of 2022. I rode that here in Australia in the bush doing lots of hard single trail as well as having used it for road transport for some time. The XR great fun bike and my bike was 127 kgs (280 lbs) with full tank of fuel. That bike could go anywhere 15/48 sprocket set and would do 120 kph 75 mph but was up in the higher revs. Here in Aus 100 kph (60 mph) is out max speed before cops start issuing speeding tickets. The XR was great but wind buffeting was an issue at that speed on long run. I am biased but I think you made the right choice as I know plenty of guys that have ridden around Aus on XR 600 and the 650 has the magic button (electric start) where I had to kick my steed to life each time. There was a trick to that. One click past TDC or it would not start with ease.

Tough.... XR...DR... What great bikes.! So glad Japan still builds them BOTH. 🙏

I'm biased to the klr650 because it's the best bike in the world, does not one thing great but does everything well enough. That said the Dr650 I'd keep cause it's lighter, cushdrive and aftermarket.

I can't see you going wrong with the XR or DR as long as you can make it fit your body size and are happy with the suspension. If I remember right, the XR is more buzzy in the bars on the highway while the DR felt more comfy at 70. I guess it boils down to what your build is for. 50/50 dirt/street.highway or 70/30 or whatever percentage you think you will ride more.

Dr650, jet kit, airbox mod, slip on, 14tooth front sprocket. You won’t touch the xr650l after you do those mods to the DR and will sell the XR. The power difference is night and day.

So we need to keep watching.

Good video Ben. I'm looking forward to seeing your input of the rally fairing for the DR.

It’s going to be interesting to see how you make the XR and the DR more road friendly!

Keep the DR imho...

Xr650 for sure

THE DR!!!!

Are we going to see things for the DR like a big bore kit, wide ratio gears and/or Lectron carb? Maybe even something more simple such as an Outex tubeless kit etc

Easier to put a cush hub on an XR than make the DR suspension work as well as the XR. XR for my uses would work best and I will likely buy one soon to add to the stable.

Keep the DR & XR and buy a Kove! Then compare the three! (pretty please) Get the DR back on the road then decide between XR or DR. Build one that wins and see how the dinosaur compare to the new "unicorn" hotness from China. Deal? Honestly, I'm just excited that you're giving these bikes love and having the ability to do direct comparisons to tease out the differences. Cheers and good luck!

One thing that isn't mentioned between the XR and DR is the DR has cushdrive definitely a plus for driveline wear !!! I own and love my DR!!

Got to admit I'm interested in seeing how they stack up once you lower the XR a bit. Was looking at DR's when I started considering getting back on the roads after a 10 yr hiatus. A KTM390 adv, T7 (still have) and a CRF300L later (still have) I still think about the DR and XR to a lesser extent. I'm short statured so your XR lowering will be of interest for sure. Looking foward to it.

A pre 08 KLR would be a keeper. The DR650 also a good 2nd. Have a 13 690R myself. For racking miles and simplicity. Wouldn’t want to be on the 690/701. Great bike. Does everything well.

For you the DR maybe because of your height. Myself I’m 1,90 (6’3”) so I got myself a XR. Can’t go wrong with either of them I guess. You can always modify them to suit your needs!!

Thus video made me feel good about purchasing the dr.. I like reliability..

I rode a 690 in 2015...I understand they have improved the vibration level...but I could not wait to get off of it.

I’d keep the XR. Since you’re planning to modify antways. Keep the one you enjoy riding mpst and make it even more enjoyable! There’s no mod you can’t do on the XR you can do on the DR

I suspect you’ll keep the DR or XR, but I think the best all around bike as far as upgrades available, fuel range weight and power in this class of bike is the Husky 701.

Id go DR. But wow. Good dilemma to have!!

The dr650 is the one to keep. Its a no brainer.

In general, DR650 if your on road more than off. I took the XR, but I'm more heavily oriented offroad.

I think you need more time on the XR and DR to choose between them but that could make the decision even harder 😂

I went XR over DR as on an hour by hour basis, I'll eventually be doing 50/50 dirt/street. That said, I'm looking at fairing and windscreen options, as 50 mph is about where I'd like to have a bit less buffeting and noise. Bars also need to rise, and I'll be adding the Clarke 4 gallon tank. It just got changed to 14/48 gearing, and that's an improvement. No way I'd ever use top speed with the stock 15/45 gearing. Dave's mods and a new exhaust and that should be it. Well maybe different rear/brake/license light and smaller turn signals. And that's it. Well and install the handguards that came at the same time as the gearing. And that's all. Honest. Well, maybe...

Yenkro Fairing on the DR?

Have you even relocated the battery on the xr?

Go XR, I think it has the better engine and overall ground clearance gives it more appeal for dual sporting. And it's a HONDA.........I mean it's almost impossible to be wrong.

I’ll keep my DRZ and my 1250GS. 😊. Different bikes for different missions.

Put a windscreen, seatconcepts and larger tank on both the XR and DR and get rid of the t7 😜. Youd be surprised that they arent so bad on the freeway. Not gonna run them at 90 or 100 like the t7 but will cruise at 75 for hours no prob. Ur gonna want to dump the t7 anyway once the kove800x goes on sale in a few months. That will make money on youtube

If I had all 3 and could only keep one it would be the klr

I would just get rid of them all unless you really want to keep one. The XR is more dirt oriented but it's tall and takes some muscle to move it around. You seem like you would be better suited for like a honda 350 dual sport. Light, good gas mileage, can go off road and handle single track etc.. Big thumpers are "cool" but in all reality size and weight of the rider should really be a big consideration in having a personal bike. Doesn't mean smaller people can't handle bigger bikes, just means you'll get tired faster on a big bike which doesnt sound like fun. I'm 6'4 215 ish lbs and I get tired doing single track on the xr650l.

Which one is the most top heavy, t7, xr650l, dr 650, 701, keep 701 and xr650l, dr650 on windy days dr will scrae you, another' good vid, enjoy the ride

The DR will improve immensely by going down one tooth on the countershaft sprocket.

Good! Take that money and start building the dang thumpers!!!

I’d keep the DR, unless you’re doing single track videos in the future. The DR is better for every other scenario.

I loved my Gen 2 KLR, but when I sit on the Gen 3 ,it feels huge.

Dr definitely haha xr would be my 2nd but so dam tall also don't make a 790 big bore for it lol 😎

Klr or dr

Keep the XR

xr

How can you go wrong with xr and dr the amount of bikes out there and amount of aftermarket parts available they both solid picks and if your old and want more of plush ride klr is great bike that dont mind a heavier girl .

I love my Dr but there are 100 videos out there of the same builds. Unless you do anything unique then I'd rather see an XR build.

XR650L

By all means keep the DR650

Dr 650 is the goat

DR HERE!!

XR ftw!

Tuareg 660 beats them all IMO.

DR! DR! DR! DR!

XR

Keep the 701 for sure. More modern in every way: motor/brakes/suspension/chassis: and TC/ABS can save your butt.