Two recommendations required…

Brother just passed his test, went to NZ and did 5000km over the last month on a kwacker KLR 650…. back now looking for bike, got up to £4k. So after something Trans-alp(esk) without being stupidly big, doesn’t need to be that new or for big journeys

For me.. I haven’t ridden in 20 years, but kinda fancy something again, as the cars annoying me. I always liked trail bikes more than sport, but not big heavy single ones (ala KLR).. But also don’t want a pocket rocket (loud) trail bike, as I always did like a bit of stealth trail riding. No budget as I’m kinda just day dreaming for myself

Thoughts on either of those options?

Yamaha Tenere 660 is worth a look. I’ve always fancied one.

have a 690 enduro r ktm … love it 😉

Here’s what I use 😀

If your brother is looking for something similar to a Transalp he might like that Kawasaki Versys http://www.versys.co.uk/
Or more road orientated, ER6
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/kawasaki/er-6n/2005/
Yamaha MT07
http://www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk/products/motorcycles/mt/mt-07.aspx
Not sure what trail bike to use for ‘stealth trail riding’,old XL250 or DT175?

TBH I know it’s was misnomer to say stealth trail bike, it was more to suggest that a road legal moto-cross bike isn’t what I’d like

Is that XT of some sort Bustaspoke?

Yes it’s a XT600,proper ‘old school’ kickstart only,lots of people like it,me included.If you don’t want an Enduro but like trail bikes I’d look for something similar, XT600,XT500,XL500 or something smaller like a XL185,XL250 or two stroke DT175 or DT250?
I’m sure someone will come up with some other suggestions HTH

I would bias the bike towards where you are going to ride it must. A lot of the singles mentioned above are great if you’re dong 50:50 road/green lanes but start to feel tedious on the road. There aren’t the same amount of gravel roads here to make a big single a sensible choice. For green lanes I would want something smaller as a bigger bike is very hard work.
I would look at a bigger trail bike such as a Truimph Tiger or more road bias KTM 950 or 990SM. If you want something smaller then a BMW650GS

My current working solution to this problem, having gone off the CCM GP450, is a Honda CB500X + Rally Raid Stage 3.

Like this

My brother, just pootling around locally when not working (airline steward, so lot of time off with nothing to do & everyone else at work), so doesn’t need to be a single which is why I said transalp-esk (twin ain it) and he’s never shown much off-road inclination but being able to do legal green lanes would be nice. It’s more about the high seating position, so you have lots of visibility for being nosy as he trundles around.
He doesn’t want a BMW, as our other brother has already tried to sell him his…

Tell him to demo a Kawasaki Versys & Yamaha MT07,those Ducati Scramblers also look nice
http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/ducati/2015-ducati-scrambler-first-ride-review.html

I’ve got a Versys and a DRZ.

Versys is an excellent option – particularly like the comfort/up-right position and the 200+ tank range, however brakes could be better. It’s not something I would want to take on the green lanes (it’s fine on poo roads with potholes though). For everything else, it’s fantastic. If you fancied more poke then the KTM 950 would be on the top of my list.

If you want something that can do trails, the DRZ400S would work well – fairly light, and super fun (on and off-road). Comfortable around 65mph too – if getting the bike muddy on proper green lanes isn’t going to happen, then the SM version would be better.

The quietest trail bike I’ve owned was a CRF250L – it was fine on proper green lanes, and did the daily commute…I just found it a bit bland (certainly compared to the DRZ on road).

Tiger 800XC is another option, but it seems really expensive :/

CB500x rally road conversion +1

That or a tiger 800

For your brother…why not a transalp ?
Massively underrated (a tad boring)
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/honda/xl700v-transalp/3352124/

And for you..a Honda CRF250L
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/honda/crf250l/7657771/
Great little bike. A few are being ridden round the world with no big issues.
Or perhaps both go for similar types of bikes if you reckon you’ll ride days/weekends together ?
BMW Sertao are good thumpers.
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/bmw/g650gs/3350930/

I did a 2 day off road course on one of these about 15 yrs ago, it was way better than me and was surprisingly good

I was going by 20 year m/c knowledge, so wasn’t aware a trans-alp still existed (or had till 2012).

Thanks ppl, food for thought

The XT660Z as stated earlier is an exceptionally capable machine indeed

Brother: V-Strom? A bit zzzzz but that’s what you want with a first bike, isn’t it?

Im collecting a versys this wednesday. If you search them online, there are several american write-ups making them into more of a green laner with a 21″ front wheel. It seems a remarkably capable bike and ideally suited to the uk.

In the time-honoured ST way of recommending what you own – Triumph Tiger 800. Fantastic bike.

Having said that, that CCM looks lovely.

V-strom for your brother and a ducati/triumph scrambler for yourself?

I’ve a 600 Transalp and will be selling a ’92 soon.

Sounds like you want the motorcycle equivalent to an SUV 🙂

And you point is?

If you want something capable for green laning then it will compromise your road usage. For that you want a trailie, roughly 400cc, and knobbly tyres. You can take a versys or v-strom off road but only like a CX bike, it’s not much cop when you hit the proper off-road.

The new Africa Twin would be worth a look (but its a big lump 1000cc) as it seems designed for this. £10.5K for a basic asking price though.

I think the RR’d CB500X would be a good compromise do-it-all bike personally. Not too expensive either (and available 2nd-hand).

I remember reading on ADVrider about people using their NC700X’s off road to… (don’t think there’s a RR kit for them though)