I love my VFR. The CBR too. But I have a bunch of dirty filthy friends who keep trying to drag me through the dirt. I've wanted a Dual sport for a long time, it's time to play. But what will be good and have a prayer of keeping the MX bikes in sight in the dirt? unsure.gif
I want to get a dirt bike, but one with a license plate for versatility to go ride fire roads without trucking it there. But a dirt bike for the street, NOT a street bike that can do dirt. I need some input on what bike is most dirt oriented but still street legal. Freeways don't matter, won't be doing those.
I'm talking $2,000, no more than $3,000 range. I think I can get a mid or late 90's model in good shape in that price range or maybe lower, looking at recycler.com and cycletrader.com. I probably don't want to go back to the 80's. Must have disc brakes. 4 stroke, 250 - 400 cc, not too tall or heavy. The Honda 650 is too big. Electric start, secondary kicker would be nice. Here's my take on the alphabet soup of the basic model lines out there, based on a bunch of web surfing.
>VFR- great road bike. Be very careful on the dirt roads. Avoid trails, and trailess areas. Best stick to the roads. Already got one.
>KTM- good stuff, too expensive. >Honda XL250 or XR250L, XL heavier than XR, XR more dirt oriented than XL, both more oriented to dirt than street. >Suzuki DRZ line, maybe better dirt bike than the Hondas. I wonder if parts might be easier to come by. Don't know which line has sold more bikes, or anything about parts availability. >Kawi KLR line, more street oriented than dirt. In which case, not for me. >Yamaha XT line, more street than dirt also.
I want a dirt bike with license plate. I'm not too worried about the street handling or top speed, just so it's street legal. Anyone got a comparo between the Suzi and Honda dual sports 90's vintage? Any personal experience to share? More alphabet soup?
A conversion bike would maybe work too, if it's already got the plate. I read something saying you could still get a plate for a dirt bike in CA, but you would have to do it as a special construction (like my 954), and get signed off by the CHP or DMV. I don't want that much hassle, just wanna ride.
Ahhh....dirt riding....no laws, no cars trying run over you, fun fun fun! I have a 1998 KLX 300, but its not street legal.
You can try looking around http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/ if you haven't found that site already. They have classifieds and reviews of a lot of bikes. Out of your list I would also lean toward the Hondas of Suzukis. Suzuki makes the DRZ-4oo in a street legal version, and is probably the best dirtbike that is still street legal. If you look around you should be able to find one for less than $3,000.
I like my XR650L,.....sure it's a little big and heavy for the tight single track, well, ok, it's a lot big and heavy, but I keep up with my buds on their 250 two strokes. They leave me in their dust now and then, but I'm not racing, there's no trophy, so who cares? Besides,....if I'm slow I have an excuse, it's the bike, not me!
I modded it to be a little better in the dirt, took about 15 lbs off it, small turn signals, small tail light, no passenger pegs, plastic tank, etc.
It's a lot of fun, serves as my foul weather commuter too.
Lee, I recently bought a 2003 KLR650 and I think you should look a bit more at this bike. It is a bit tall and at 330 lbs it's heavy, but for jeep trails and fire roads it does great. It also handles very well on the pavement so getting to the fire roads is a blast as well. You can pick up a 2000-2003 for under 3K probably. I'm very happy with it. Oh yeah and it has disc brakes, it's water cooled, and has an electric start.
If you want street legal, and e-start a DRZ400, or DR350 will fit your budget. They're both great, bulletproof bikes. Don't worry about parts availability. The 350 is air cooled- the DRZ liquid. I have two 350's and they both run like tanks. My riding buddy has a slightly modded DRZ and it doesn't really ride or accelerate much better than mine.
VFR4Lee, May 24 2005, 09:08 PM I want a dirt bike with license plate. I'm not too worried about the street handling or top speed, just so it's street legal. Anyone got a comparo between the Suzi and Honda dual sports 90's vintage? Any personal experience to share? More alphabet soup?
A conversion bike would maybe work too, if it's already got the plate. I read something saying you could still get a plate for a dirt bike in CA, but you would have to do it as a special construction (like my 954), and get signed off by the CHP or DMV. I don't want that much hassle, just wanna ride.
Ok 1st off I agree with a DRZ or even a XR400 for the money you want to spend.
But Lee have I got the bike for you........... the price is higher than you stated, (anticipated price will be about 7000.00) but the FUN factor will be off the scale. See the spec's posted below:
700cc ATK INTIMIDATOR For those of you who don't know about ATK, they are an American-based company that has been around for a long time now. ATK has used mostly Rotax engines of one sort or another in their own unique frames, but with the Rotax two-stroke technology becoming rather dated, ATK sought a new motor supplier. The motor used in this 700 is based on the latest technology from the folks who built the famed Maico/M-Star motors. (there's that M name again)
Here are the specs and info on the 700 so far,
Engine Type: Liquid-Cooled, 2-stroke, single fing02.gif Displacement: 685CC Bore & Stroke 100X87 mm Carburetion: 39mm Kehin Ignition SEM lighting output 130 watt Starting System: Kick start Transmission: 5-Speed, Wide Ratio Fuel Capacity: 2.5 Gallon / 3.5 Gallon Front Suspension: Paioli USD Rear Suspension: WP Front Tire: Dunlop 755 80/100-21 Rear Tire: Dunlop 756 120/100-21 Final Drive: D.I.D. V6 520 O-ring chain Dry Weight: 238 lbs
Tire choice Excell rim color choice Front wheel size (20� or 21�) ............ (I would want 17") Plastic colors Seat foam and cover Suspension valving and springs Handlebar bend Final gearing Jetting Lighting kit Skid plate Handguards 3.5 gallon fuel tank
As for Performance, according to Frank White, ATK CEO �It pulls right off idle and all the way to peak revs with more power than anyone will ever need. It�s sort of like a 490 Maico on steroids".
I want this bike........ lets see, 17" rims shod with pilot powers..... yes sir, bring on the liter bikes...............I want to play
I have both the VFR and a DRZ 400E. In NH getting it titled was a piece of cake. Don't know about CA. I did ride a DRZ 400 dual sport with nothing changed but the tank in California this spring with ADMO tours. You may want to give UWE a call and ask him for his opinion on these bikes. He can ride the wheels off of his bone stock DRZ. He was also recently featured on a Two Wheel Tuesday episode riding the DRZ.
The other great source of info is a site called WWW.Thumpertalk There are bike specific forums as well as regional forums and a classified section.
Good luck on the purchase. It's more fun than Motorcyclists should be allowed! and a great tool for getting better on the street.
Just another idea............you could find a good used XR400 and purchase a Baja kit, which makes it street legal. then get it licensed. The XR series are nearly bullet proof where reliability and durability are concerned.
johnmark101, May 27 2005, 05:34 PMJust another idea............you could find a good used XR400 and purchase a Baja kit, which makes it street legal. then get it licensed. The XR series are nearly bullet proof where reliability and durability are concerned.
ULEWZ, May 27 2005, 07:23 PMNo, the bastages! They changed the law a year or so ago. I understand there is still a backdoor way to do it, but it costs $$$
As good as an XR400 is, skip it, and get a bike with the magic E-start button. The last thing we 40 somethings need to be doing is kickstarting a bike we just picked up. goofy.gif
In the PRK (People's Republic of Kalifornication), you have to get a dual sport bike which was built to their specifications. They are working signals, lights, and a steel gas tank. They are no longer allowing you to "convert" a dirt bike into DS status.
There are about four viable choices. Two of them are built on the DR-Z line, the 400S model with the electric start, and the 200S. The other two come from KTM with a price tag to match. On the matter of the DR-Z400S, almost all the parts for the DR-Z450 will fit it, since it is the same chassis. If you want more power, Yoshimura make a 450cc kit for this bike.
I have seriously looked at the 400S and the 400SM. The only thing which has staved off the purchase of either one of these bikes was the "gift" of a 1985 XL600R in a basketcase status. I just need to get it restored, running, and a different set of wheels/tires/brakes/ for it.
ULEWZ, May 27 2005, 02:23 PMNo, the bastages! They changed the law a year or so ago. I understand there is still a backdoor way to do it, but it costs $$$
I wasn't aware that I had changed any laws. biggrin.gif
From what I'm hearing, and reading wherever google takes me, one of the Suzi's is the one. 650 is too big. 125 is too small, but there's more than 1 size and iteration in between out there. Time to go check some out in person, see which one is just right. 491.gif
VFR4Lee, May 27 2005, 08:58 PMNow answer me these questions three. laugh.gif
What is your quest? What is the fastest color? What is the airspeed of an unladen VFR at full song? laugh.gif
Ask me the questions, bridgekeeper. I'm not afraid. BRIDGEKEEPER What... is your name? ROBIN 'Sir Robin of Camelot'. BRIDGEKEEPER What... is your quest? ROBIN To seek the Holy Grail. BRIDGEKEEPER What... is the capital of Assyria? [pause] ROBIN I don't know that! Auuuuuuuugh! BRIDGEKEEPER Stop! What... is your name? GALAHAD 'Sir Galahad of Camelot'. BRIDGEKEEPER What... is your quest? GALAHAD I seek the Grail. BRIDGEKEEPER What... is your favourite colour? GALAHAD Blue. No, yel-- auuuuuuuugh! BRIDGEKEEPER Hee hee heh. Stop! What... is your name? ARTHUR It is 'Arthur', King of the Britons. BRIDGEKEEPER What... is your quest? ARTHUR To seek the Holy Grail. BRIDGEKEEPER What... is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow? ARTHUR What do you mean? An African or European swallow? BRIDGEKEEPER Huh? I-- I don't know that! Auuuuuuuugh! BEDEVERE How do know so much about swallows? ARTHUR Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know. [suspenseful music] [music suddenly stops] [intermission] [suspenseful music resumes]
For anything tamer than MX courses and competition the DRZ-S works very well. If you go this route you should try to get a newer one because they significantly upgraded the front suspension in either '02 or '03.
I've got a 2003 that's set up for agressive dual-sporting and haven't found anywhere it wouldn't go (so far). If I'm trailering it somewhere to ride pure off-road and tight woods with guys on smaller bikes then I'll take all the signals, rear fender, racks, etc off to save some weight and maybe some busted lenses. It takes 30 minutes to pull it all off and change the gearing.
I've added crash protection, a jet kit, airbox mod, oversize plastic tank, dirt tires, and a few other goodies. It comes from Suzuki certified for the street so you don't have all the California red sticker, green sticker, no sticker hassles. There's lot of good info over on ThumperTalk if you get serious. I'll be glad to share my thoughts and experiences too.
And if you get tired of the dirt, they make great supermotos.
I looked at a '94 DR350SE today with 1900 miles on it, and super clean. Guy wants $2,400 for it. I offered $2,000 and he refused to lower the price as he just put it on the market. I've called a couple other ads too, a '96 with 15,000 miles for $2,000, and a '93 with "low" miles and desert tank etc for $2,250. We shall see. biggrin.gif
VFR4Lee, May 28 2005, 02:54 PMI looked at a '94 DR350SE today with 1900 miles on it, and super clean. Guy wants $2,400 for it. I offered $2,000 and he refused to lower the price as he just put it on the market. I've called a couple other ads too, a '96 with 15,000 miles for $2,000, and a '93 with "low" miles and desert tank etc for $2,250. We shall see. biggrin.gif
Stick to the E-start ones. Earlier DR's "can" be a little tough to start. I have a 90 but after a year I seem to have a pretty good handle on starting it. Just before the end of last year I got 99 for under $ 2000.
Stick to the E-start ones. Earlier DR's "can" be a little tough to start. I have a 90 but after a year I seem to have a pretty good handle on starting it. Just before the end of last year I got 99 for under $ 2000.
Yeah, I was reading in a couple places about the "ease" of kick starting. E start for sure. A '99 for under $2,000, pray tell what mileage and condition was it? Just for comparison purposes. Unless you want to sell. In which case I have a pickup truck for picking up stuff like that. biggrin.gif
My son and I are taking him to Gorman tomorrow for a few hours. Nothing too fun as that rear tire is bald (no hills or sand). Ya I told him to change it before riding it, but he had too much to do to change the tire today. I have 911 preprogramed into the speed dial. tongue.gif
I just want to ride around and get a feel for it. It's a whole different kind of bike than I've ever ridden for more than 2 minutes testing. Despite > 20 years riding motorcycles. fing02.gif
It still bothers me not to hang off in a corner in the dirt, but that is the opposite of what you want to do. Pushing the bike in turns just doesn't feel natural. Riding wheelies and jumping are fun in the dirt! I just have to remember to wear my $550 cell knee braces.
And remember not to follow Lewis up and down an intermediate "blue square" trail on the first ride. goofy.gif The easy "green circle" ones were challenging enough, I only tipped over slow a couple times. The blue one had some sand stretches that had the front sliding this way and that, and some steep hills. Couldn't go slow enough in one steep downhill right hander, and ate dirt. Oof. pissed.gif
The gear is semi effective, I can report. Elbow rash from the inside of the armor, and biff to the knee. Ding in the helmet, but not the head. fing02.gif
Bike is sturdier than body, it just needs a front brake lever. All the scratches on the plastic? Meh. They can stay.
Lee was doing so well I thought a blue square would be no problem. He made it over to the motorcross track no problem, but on the way back.... I'm sure those spent tires did him in. My son Rob saw the hole thing from behind Lee and I turned around when I heard the oofff! Just caught him sliding with the bike in tow. A nice easy day for Rob and I as I am still recovering from my getoff on Tuesday. For being sore, I was really feeling it today. Learned to go faster around turns by putting my weight forward (sitting on the tank). It made a world of difference. I bought some Asterisks knee braces. These things are awesume if you have bad knees like I do. A little pricy at $550 though. Don't give up yet Lee. Going out every week will shake off the cob webs in no time. I ride tons faster now than 7 weeks ago and so will you. You actually did better than me my first time out, minus the crash. Fix it, reshoe it, and lets ride.
So much for that idea. goofy.gif Not trying that again until after Laguna Seca. Gotta heal and get tires. wink.gif
Reminds me of a track day. Load the stuff in the AM, unload and ride a bunch of hairy shite, pack up and go home tired and sore. Unload at home despite the tired and sore. laugh.gif
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