Motorcycle

Robert Goodwin · **Posted:** Tue Jan 25, 2011 11:01 pm

Thinking of buying a motorcycle. A dual purpose woods bike to ride with friends on the trails , power lines , etc. I used to race moto-x back in the 70's and get the strong urge to ride often (esp. spring and fall). But, I'm also 53 yrs old and somewhat ADD about these type of things. What do the riders in the group think about this as far as, what kind/size of bike to buy? I'm trying to keep this "in check" and not spend too much $. Been lurking on Craigslist but could use imput. THX!!!

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 7:23 am

go to advrider.com and you can learn alot about dualsports. I would like to eventually like to get one myself. I went on a ride in the mountains this past fall and ended up on a dirt road on the top of a mountain with my big BMW. Loved it.

I think if I get something it will bee in the 400-450 range is a if you really want to get serious light is your friend.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 9:09 am

Robert Goodwin wrote:

I used to race moto-x back in the 70's and get the strong urge to ride often (esp. spring and fall).

Bikes? Pre-75 or after or both?

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 11:47 am

Depends on how you want to use it. Do you just want get out for some mellow trail riding or are you going to want haul ass and hit some jumps. Also, the ride height of some of the DS bikes can be an issue if you're short.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 12:49 pm

I really, really want a KLR650.

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 12:59 pm

Karl Shultz wrote:

I really, really want a KLR650.

I like those as well but they are so tall, I am afraid I would look like a kid who just got off his training wheels any time I stopped at a stop light!

Robert Goodwin · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 1:02 pm

I raced a RM125 Suzuki and later a Honda CR125 Elsinore. Wish I still had the Honda. I am thinking I might need something that could have tags on it as I do not have a place to ride at my house. The bike would get more use if I could zip short distances on the road to trails. I'm sure there are some around here. (I'm in Fuquay)
Marcus, I'm 6'5" and have the problem of dwarfing smaller bikes. I was thinking maybe a 250 /300/350. The other problem is money. I get on these "kicks" and my attention span changes to some other shiny object and I don't want to take too big a bath on this. I am also looking at mountain property and a boat, so yeah......

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

i'm no motorcyclist (any longer) but the drz400 is the first thing that comes to mind

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 1:59 pm

I vote for this. I rode one of these once. Terrible handling and an insane powerband. No low end, no midrange, then boom.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/mcy/2108712388.html

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 2:10 pm

Robert,

I raced a CanAm 125MX2, 1975, and fortunately still have it although it could use a nice resto. My daughter and I pulled it out and got it running a couple of years back. It hasn't been seriously used since about 1978. I'd like to have both a 1st edition RM125 and CR125. Not sure what I'd do with them though, lol, but it would be fun to gather together a bunch of vintage bikes to ride some day.

Chris Landi · **Joined:** Mon Mar 08, 2004 6:31 pm **Posts:** 579

The newer 4-strokes have a smooth power band. For your size a 450F may be the way to go. Similar power to a 250 2 stroke but with a smoother delivery.

I've thought about getting another dirt bike. At age 37 I bought my first one...a brand new 250-2 stroke. Bad beginners bike, scared the hell out of me and I never gained confidence to try even medium jumps. At my size, approx. 165 lbs, I'd get a tamer 250F this time around.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 5:16 pm

clinehall wrote:

Karl Shultz wrote:

I really, really want a KLR650.

I like those as well but they are so tall, I am afraid I would look like a kid who just got off his training wheels any time I stopped at a stop light!

I sat on one of those impossibly large BMW dual sports at work last year, just to see. I felt exactly like the kid you describe.

Keith Vail · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 5:23 pm

Looking at motorcycles here as well. But my want for a certain use seems to change with the day so I think it best to sit on it for a little while. I have dirt bike experience when I was younger but than I got into the car thing and hadn't looked back since. I got the itch again last year but the money wasn't there.

Now I am looking again but one day I will want a dual sport for a combination of uses. Then another day I get bitten by the vintage bike idea for a fun project and little runabout to and from work. Then I go back to wanting to do hare scrambles and enduros, which a lightweight dual sport could do easily enough. I know the answer is to own 2 or 3 bikes. :lol:

The current list of contenders are:

Kawasaki KLR650
Yamaha WR250R
Suzuki DRZ400
mid 70's Honda CB or Yamaha RD

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 5:26 pm

Even though I think motorcycles are cool, I enjoy walking/living way too much to own one.

- AB

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 5:28 pm

That is the problem with bikes, they have such different personalities it is hard to be satisfied with one. I watch and rewatch Cafe Racer. I really want to do that to have a bike to go back and forth to the office on.

THSCC Forums

Motorcycle

Who is online