Motorcycle ????????

[Bailey Guns]

This. If you don't want to drop the coin on the BMW the Vstrom is a great dual-purpose. The Vstrom is a bit shorter for us folks who arent too tall. The 650 is plenty capable (and a little lighter which is nice off road) but if you will spend most of your time on the street get the 1000.

Bailey, just saw your post. I thought the Vstrom low seat was shorter than the GS short seat. Have they changed it?

I don't know. I have on 01 F650GS with stock seat and can place both feet flat on the ground. A friend has an 06(?) V-Strom that he said is stock and it sits just slightly lower than a stock KLR. I have a hard time reaching the ground comfortably with both the V-Strom and the KLR. Newer stuff might be different.

[brokenscout]

Ian, since you are a dad with a bunch of youngsters and living on a gravel road, I'd sure recommend you stick with the choice of the Jeep over a two wheeler. Just my worthless opinion!

This is true, I was looking at getting a bike & a Jeep

[Fentonite]

If I had the cash, I'd buy this instead of post the link. Relatively unknown Yamaha TDM850, only imported into the US for two years (sold overseas for many more). I had one when I lived in the mountains near Telluride, and I could go anywhere the KLR's could go, but cross country was still comfortable and capable. Definitely way more street that dirt, but it'll easily do what you're asking. If I had the money, I'd have bought this already:
http://denver.craigslist.org/mcy/3028096102.html

[Goodburbon]

I have a few dirt miles to ride. I had a KLR650, that thing was squirrely in gravel, underpowered on the highway, and downright scary in the wind. I still liked it.

I now have a Buell Ulysses. WAY more power, WAY more stable on gravel roads, WAY more steady in a crosswind.

Any bike can handle a little gravel, it's the riders that run into trouble.

For washboards I generally speed up and float over them, except when approaching a corner.