46robbie46 - Thank you very much for that, it's nice to get a balanced view.
46robbie46 - Thank you very much for that, it's nice to get a balanced view.
totally agree with robbie, the SLR is a great cheap bike, easy to maintain and easily tarted up to look a little more modern. bullit proof lump that looked after will last for years of mild dirt track stuff and chugging around town
I had a 1999 Dominator which I sadly and stupidly sold. I used it to commute three/four times a year from here in northern England to my place in Provence using only A roads (RN's) in France. 940 miles over two days door to door.
Dommie is an excellent A road 60/70 mph tourer once given a gel seat and tank bag. The bike was superb once into the pre Alps, decent predictable handling enough torque to deal with the mountain roads.
I never used it for pillion work and only needed overnight kit so power to weight it was surprising to others two up and carrying two weeks of holiday gear.
I foolishly fell for a triumph Tiger 955i, excellent bike but heavy. The Tiger kicks ar** on the motorway but it takes just as long to ride the Tiger down as it did to ride the Dommie and is more of a handfull in the mountains. My limit not the bike's, 470 miles in a day is hard going on any two wheeled vehicle (old bast*** )
Looking for another late mint Dommie again!
I think the answer is that the NX, SLR, FX are all competent bikes, but not really trail bikes. A and B roads and town work are their forte; they will also cope with light trails.
It depends on what you want: wind protection and a 21" front wheel on a Dommie or more stripped down and a 19 incher on the other 2.
I've never ridden an SLR, but I've had a close look at one and the only advantages of owning one over a dommie are that it seems to have a lower seat and it has road biased tyres which will last a bit longer than road nobblies.
I reckon a dommie would suit what it is you want to do, and frankly what the gsxr/r1/cbr riding bike magazines say about the dommie/slr is utter crap.
For they money, its probably one of the most all round bike you can buy because it can do everything.
I want a ktm adventure next, to me its the only bike that is better than the dommie at doing everything
Thats my two penneth anyway![]()
Thanks for the Dommie input. My only real doubts about the Dommie were the height of the saddle compared to the weight of the bike. When stationary I just felt that once it starts to go it would be a bit of a nightmare to keep up. Then there's the question of broken plastics.
With the SLR I felt that it would be a little more controlable if it's starts to go, and that even if it did, damage would be minimal.
I've had a couple of situations where a slight loss of concetration and balance has left me puffing, panting and looking a right pratt as I struggle to not drop the thing.
I think it must be accepted that the Dommie is the better bike, but I have a bike for distance work and was just looking for some good old thumping fun.
I am busy searching the ads at the moment and I think it will come down to what bike crops up first. I've seen a nice SLR at a reasonable price but unfortunately it's right down on the border with Spain. Although doable there and back in a day, it's a long and expensive trip if all is not well. One of the disadvantages of living in France is that bikes are dear and it's a very large country.
Thanks to one and all, and if I do get a result, I'll let you know.![]()
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