The trail bike thread.

[jhynesrockmtn]

What is a good, reliable and light bike generally available with street plates that can do at least some dirt road duty in the national forests? It also needs to hold a 6'+ 200 lbs guy without looking like the circus bear riding a tricycle.

My research tells me to second the DRZ400 suggestion. Surprisingly, they seem to sell for more or similar prices to the 650 VStrom I just put on Craigslist :-(

[Jeff Higgins]

My 2003 XR650L, featuring XR's Only header and muffler, "Dave's mods" on the carb, Clarke tank (thanks to LakeCleEllum, Bob), opened air box with Uni filter, de-smogged, and running MT43 trials tires on both ends with dual rim locks.

Unfortunately, though, since my bike wreck a couple of years ago this has been the bike I've been able to enjoy the least. I ride it mostly on the street now, with the occasional well groomed logging road thrown in for good measure. Any serious off-road jostling still takes its toll on my wrists. They continue to improve, though, so I'm hanging onto this bike looking forward to the day when I'll really be able to ride it again.

[yetibone]

Crappy pic. Sorry 'bout that.

Bought a $900 Beta a couple of months ago cause I've always wanted a trials bike, and the price was fair. It had a crushed pipe, a bad rear master cylinder, and some cable issues that needed fixing, but still ran well when I got it. Fixing the pipe made a DRASTIC difference in the midrange power, and so I promptly wheelied over backwards, and bent the original ergal bars. I put a ProTaper mid rise ATV handlebar on it since this pic was taken. It's a bunch of fun to ride around the yard. No action shots though, I'm afraid.

1988 model TR34, 260 cc, 15 HP, 6 speed with super granny 1st and 55 MPH 6th, 186 lbs.

[yetibone]

Thanks Pete. I call it motorgoat. It'll climb on anything!

Yeah, I passed up a nice '76 TL 250 on Craigslist at the beginning of summer because the price was $1700, and I knew from a '72 XL 250 I had as a teenager that the motor was pretty heavy, so the rest of the bike would be too. Very clean bike though...

I think the Reflex had an XL 125, or XR 200 based motor that was really torquey, and the whole bike was around 210 lbs, or something like that.

[Jandrews]

Love that trials bike. Nothing will make a better rider out of you than that thing!

And by the way, my street legal KTM 525EXC (pictured earlier in this thread) weighs 260 lbs. I am 6'7", 285lbs, so I can throw it around pretty good, but it has almost infinite power....nearly a triple digit speed bike even with my substantial size on it! I can't imagine a bike being better at so many things.

JA

[Bill Douglas]

I've joined the club

It's a Honda XR400R. I've been buying bits for it to make it road legal, then I'll go through that process. I'm going to do a major trail ride this summer (winter over here now) through New Zealands biggest high country farm, Molesworth Station and Rainbow Station. I'll take a trout fishing rod and extra fuel, and take my time and enjoy it over a week. Pic's in February I guess. At the moment I'm LOVING having a motorbike again and my bike riding sea legs are coming back pretty fast.

[unclebilly]

That new Africa Twin looks pretty awesome, despite the weight.

I used to ride a Honda Transalp. I put a lot of miles on that bike on and and off road. It was Avery comfortable and capable bike.

My current scoot is a CRF450X and put a tank of gas through it this afternoon and after supper with my 5 year old son who was riding his Honda CRF50.

[LakeCleElum]

Bill - That XR400R looks great........Does it come with 'lectric start there? I know it AU, it comes on some models that does not have it in the US......Post pic's of your rides please?

[Bill Douglas]

Thanks Bob. I've been like a pig in muck to have a Honda trail bike again. No we are poor people here in NZ - not like those rich Australians and can't afford electric start.

I should... have taken some pic's this morning. It was a beautiful day and I rode around a very rugged coastal trail past seal colonies, very blue sea, and the sound of a Honda again

Not my pic, but this is the location.

[aigel]

Ok, you guys did it. I am taking the MC class for CA next chance I get, so I can go shopping for a plated D/S. I was going to go to class this weekend, but they are booked at the local outlet. Hunting season is heating up now too though, so not many weekends open, so maybe towards xmas time?

My wife thinks I lost it ...

G

[porsche4life]

There's been a slick 650 Transalp on Craigslist here lately that I've been drooling on. Having had an NX 125 and 250, I feel I really should own their big brother the transalp... Right?

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by aigel

I guess weight at 250 lbs or less would be great. Is that XT250/255 and similar territory?
2008 Yamaha XT250 dual sport

I think old XT500s are cool, but >300 lbs, drum brakes and $$$.
1979 Yamaha XT500 XT 500



Thanks!

G

My 2001 Kawasaki KLR 250 is 259 lbs with mirrors, and rear passenger foot pegs. I removed those, so i'm at the 250lb range. I am 5'10 and 190 lbs myself, and love the bike, but just need to ride it more.

My older (1988) Honda xr 200 comes in at about 215lbs.

[yetibone]

Speaking of weight, I think my XR weighs about 350 now with the Corbin seat, and 5.5 gal. Acerbis tank. Weight distribution changed for the better with the tank, because it carries the fuel lower, and farther forward making the whole bike feel less top-heavy even though it is actually heavier than before. I'd recommend those two mods to anybody riding a 650L. Made it much more pleasant to ride. The tank doesn't have to be the big Acerbis. It just needs to carry fuel weight lower. About any seat would be a damn sight better than that pommel horse it came with.

It's weird riding that XR now that I've spent so many afternoons on the Beta. First gear even feels fast on the XR.

[rattlsnak]

I don't know how you guys ride those big displacement bikes like 400s, or 650s on the trails. To me they are just way to big and heavy to really get down to business on them. I can see maybe if you ride on the street a lot though.

After riding street and dirt for basically all my life, I went the last few years without anything but picked this up a few months ago. It's a rare bike and hard to find. It is basically the woods/trail bike version of the race bike. I love it!!!

CRF250X

[yetibone]

I hear you. Yep, my old DR350S was easier to handle in tight woods, or in sand. I'd like to have a DRZ400S, and was looking for one when I found the XR. I settled on the Honda after my fruitless search for the Suzuki though. There weren't many used DRZ's for the street to be had ten years ago.

I'm used to the big XR now. The weight tires me out, and slows me down, but it;s not like I was fast, or athletic to begin with. It's really not that bad if you consider that it's a 23 year old design that was based on a now 31 year old design that was introduced in '84 as the XL500. You can't ride the thing like a modern KTM, or Husqvarna simply because of that. Basically, it's a design that's beyond it's prime, but Honda still makes them, parts are everywhere, and it still suits me pretty well, because it hasn't hurt me too bad, or left me stranded.

I'd give up my XR in a minute if I could find a '74 Yamaha DT360, that had a title, and lights still on it. I had one of those as a teenager, after the XL250 ate it's camshaft for a second time, and STILL consider that to be the bike I liked the most. Big torquey 2 stroke with a comfortable seat that was so reliable.

[Bill Douglas]

I'm pleased that exactly 40 years later I'm back on a Honda trail bike

[LakeCleElum]

Glad U found the barber shop Bill. Now to budget for riding gear?😂😂😂

[Bill Douglas]

Thanks.

Umm, sadly that was the norm around here back in the 70's. Board shorts and t-shirt. This time around I'll take a little more care of myself.

Actually I bought a nice biker style leather jacket from a lesbian lady. I think in the past she may have been a motorcycle stunt rider as she said she had pulled some cunning stunts in that jacket

[aigel]

I lost track of this thread. My wife may have unsubscribed me??? I went for my MC safety training class. Fun! I did not really know how to ride a MC before this class. I had ridden around buddies' bikes as a youth but never past 2nd gear. Should have my cert in the mail next week and an M1 license by next weekend ...

The shopping is heating up. Anything 400+ cc seems too heavy. The classic enduros are $$$ and also too heavy. Also, I feel I want to start slow. A 250 will have plenty of power to get in trouble with.

What do you think? This is right up my alley in budget. I could get this going, I am sure ...

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/mcy/5221476726.html

On non-project rides, I really do like the XT250 for being air cooled and not too pricey even newer models.

How about the TW200 with the fat tires? Is that thing a joke or an option for some fun?

Thanks!

G

[jhynesrockmtn]

I made the mistake of pulling into the KTM dealer to talk to them about used bikes in anticipation of a "future" purchase. The future turned out to be about 20 minutes. They had a customer 2004 450 EXC in that they were getting ready to put on CL. 111 hours, plated, some nice mods like steering stabilizer, soft seat, brake guard, carbon skid plate, heated grips, hand guards. They sold it new and know the history. This dealer has a great local reputation. They are doing an oil change and I'll pick it up today.