So, for the trip im thinking an errand runner is definitely a good idea. Something that I can install panniers on, for grocery runs. Trying to not spend 1000s. My intellectual side has me looking at 350s and under, and my other side has been saying, but you love old Honda CLs and Bultacs. SMDH. I've found a few XT350s around and hadn't really thought of them before, but, outside of a kick only bike, they seem pretty cool.
IMHO the bikes you mentioned are all ones that I would classify as closer to being running projects unless you buy a really nice one. You don't say if you want to keep it after the trip, but if you don't you might not have that easy a time to sell it out West as they're plenty available out there.
If it has to be an old bike I'd get something like a CB350 (not a CL if you want to fit/use panniers) or an SR500 if you can find a decent one as reselling those might be easier due to the hipster bike factor.
But frankly, if you want something to just ride, get a CRF250 or 300, or maybe a newish XT250.
Im thinking it'll travel with me as ill probably, unfortunately, as I really love it, have to sell my 03 r1150gs. I love SR500s. They are impossible to find. I also haveca soft spot for 350/4s. Yeah, the CB makes more sense, but im not too famous for making sense. Those 70s Hondas are really almost indescribable, and relatively cheap.
There is a part of me that'd love a trials bike. So light, agile and fun. Can't imagine they'd fo well with panniers, though.
SR500s occasionally do seem to pop up on FBM, but I haven't seen one in a while. Agreed that they're hard to find.
Just as an aside, I was suggesting a CB350 twin, on the CB350/4 as the latter is also in hen's teeth territory.
I get the "not famous for making sense", I have that problem as well 
. But as much as I'd love to own a Bultaco as well (some day...) I think it's not the right bike for this use case with everything else going on.
All that said, what's the reason for selling the GS? They're not worth that much anymore, so you're probably not going to be left with much money out of selling the GS and buying another bike in its stead if you want something in decent condition. If it's due to weight and size, I get it - that's one of the reasons why I got my Bonneville T120 after my deer incident.
1st gen Himalayans are getting dirt cheap, and definitely have a retro feel. SR500 are getting hard to find, the reincarnated SR400, not as much. Doing points and carb balances on old CBs is kind of annoying honestly. For me anyway.
1st gen Himalayas are still.more money than a GS. The reason to sell it is simply room. I can mount a small bike on the tongue of the trailer but the GS would have to live inside.
As an aside, id forgotten that the GS is barely over 500#s. They are amazingly light for their size. Maybe I really need to n find a way to keep.her. they really ae undervalued at the moment. I till believe the r1150gs, especially the gsa, are the best adventure bikes ever.
Oh, and yes, as crazy as it sounds, a decent cb350 twin is about the same money, and not nearly as good as bike, overall.
In reply to BoxheadTim :
As an aside, I have a 1972 Ossa Pioneer 250 set up.as an MX that im selling. Not a Bultaco, but sme ideology.
Im now looking into ways to lighten the GS. The ABS , alone, ads 15#s! What the...
BoxheadTim said:But frankly, if you want something to just ride, get a CRF250 or 300
Don't.
KLX 250/300 are better bikes in every way, and cheaper.
I was thinking of getting. 690/701 but decided that it's more bike than I want. But what about a 501FE? Nice power and a lot less weight than practically any adventure bike.
501FE is a true, blue dirt bike. Not what I'd care to ride to run around town and do errands on
In reply to docwyte :
Agreed. They are also a bit fragile for my taste. As well. But really quick from what I've read and heard. Plus, being a former Husky owner (although mine was pre-Cagiva) i do have a soft spot for them.
I've had multiple generations of KTM/Husky 640/690/701's. They're the best single "do it all" dual sport out there. Maybe the new KTM 390 Adventure is better, but it weighs the same and has half the power. I've seen rumblings KTM is *finally* releasing a 690 Adventure...
docwyte said:501FE is a true, blue dirt bike. Not what I'd care to ride to run around town and do errands on
I was interested in the FE350s until I looked at the maintenance schedule. You are not kidding! It's a race bike with lights. I imagine the 501 is the same.
They are generally race bikes with lights - the maintenance schedule in KTM manuals is generally based on race use. Most of those bikes have a very aggressive schedule, especially for pistons and top ends. I'm an A class racer. The manual for most of my bikes says a piston every 20 or 40 hours depending on the bike. Generally 100-125 hours is about where mine actually end up needing a top end, and a dual sport use case will go a whole lot longer than that. The main thing they need is regular oil changes, because they don't hold a lot of it and they rely pretty heavily on oil squirters to keep things cool plus, like most bikes, the gearbox and clutch run in oil and there's just not a lot of oil volume to dilute wear materials into. Clutch basket rubber isolators are also a big one.
The 690 is a mellower bike than a 450XCF/450SXF, I'm not really sure why the 690s have such a reputation for being a monster. They also hold a lot more oil. They've got their quirks and it's taken a few years for me to find solutions for them, but the 690 really is the highway-capable dual sport/light ADV platform that most people are looking for. My 450XCF has 6th gear and a tower and is street legal. I still take the 690 instead any time I'm riding around town, to the point where the 450 gets ridden maybe once a year at this point.
Just looking at the weight of a honda ft500 and xl500, holy cow! The ft is 120#s more!
In my searching id forgotten about the Ducati Multistrada. They are a lot lighter than similar GSs and I love Ducatis. Not that impressive off road, granted, but fun to ride and the looks of the early ones have grown on me, plus an early 620 dark has to be getting cheap by now. Not easy to find, though.
Most cheap Ducs have had neglected Desmo/belt services. Caveat emptor. The OG Multis are super fun though, ride kind of like a Hypermotard with a half fairing. 2nd gen+ are a whole different thing.
In reply to fatallightning :
Im very familiar with these engines
Even own a few specialty tools. Something about them....
I found a deal on a Ducati S2R 800 thst I just couldn't pass up. Not dual purpose, but 200#s lighter than the GS.
S2R is platonic ideal of Monster to me. Air cooled, round headlight, SSA, shotgun pipes. All the best stuff.
SR500s are found on the West Coast, especially California. The unicorn is the SRX600!
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