dual purpose bikes

[yooper]

My neighbor started talking about a dual-sport a couple of weeks ago, a Kawa 250 because the mileage is sooo much better than the bigger bikes.

He looked at one last week locally.

As of yesterday he called as far away as Ohio, none left

Yep the moped, scooter, and small motorcycle market is booming.

The KLX250 is very popular, it's a great bike, a friend of mine just bought one and said the dealer had to really work to get it for him and he probably only got it because they are friends of his and he is a fellow small businessman, he owns a bicycle shop.

 

[PHAEDRUS]

If you are still in the market check out the KTM lines,
I absolutely love my 450 EXC, and in the 2007 and up come from the factory with DOT tires and signals making it street legal. Mine is a 2006 So I have not registered it for road use but I have taken it at 60 for about 20 miles at a stretch with no issues. It is water cooled, Rides great, and with some minor mods to the carb they can be great to run.
If you want to do some research check out thumpertalk.com, It is to KTM's what Mud is to cruisers.
Dave

 

[RiggerFJ80]

I think the TW200 is what I 'll get if I get a dual sport. BUT I AM NOT SELLING MY TRUCK, WOMAN!

 

[Cruisin'Carolina]

Yep the moped, scooter, and small motorcycle market is booming.

The KLX250 is very popular, it's a great bike, a friend of mine just bought one and said the dealer had to really work to get it for him and he probably only got it because they are friends of his and he is a fellow small businessman, he owns a bicycle shop.

He found one. 1 year old dealer trade in, reportedly less than 500 miles on it, $1500 less than MSRP.

Not as cool as the current year model, but still pretty sweet.

I can't seem to get into it. I have a 3 mile one way commute. The slowly ever-increasing armored 80 serves my purpose just fine.

 

[wierdbeard]

finally heard back from the BMW dealership, the F800 and the F650/800 will be arriving in August. If i didn't need to be able to do freeway commutes the smaller dual sports would be fine.

 

[e9999]

wuz wondering about the freeway part.

been looking at 250s also, but several comments I read suggested these are not suitable for freeway riding. Highly subjective, of course, and I can't imagine a reasonable recent 250 couldn't easily do 55mph without shaking you to pieces. So what's with that? Just people used to lots more power or really an issue?

 

[yooper]

wuz wondering about the freeway part.

been looking at 250s also, but several comments I read suggested these are not suitable for freeway riding. Highly subjective, of course, and I can't imagine a reasonable recent 250 couldn't easily do 55mph without shaking you to pieces. So what's with that? Just people used to lots more power or really an issue?

Americans are power hungry. It seems like the consensus among American riders is that 400cc is the minimum for highway travel. In any other country you will see 125cc bikes everywhere.

My XT225 will do 55-65mph all day comfortably. Faster than that it gets a little squirrelly. It won't go much faster than 75mph.

 

[wierdbeard]

i don't think its a specifically a matter of top speed but weight, on the smaller Dual sports they weigh around 225 lbs vs an 800 that weighs 390 lbs, big difference when it comes to getting buffetted around by semis at 55-75 mph range. Also even if your not planning on using it, its nice to have some reserve power at those speeds as opposed to being pegged out.

 

[Hilux]

uh-oh.... Might have to go get me a job...

Versys?

Engine Type Four-stroke, liquid cooled, DOHC, four-valve per cylinder, parallel twin
Displacement 649 cc
Bore & Stroke 83.0 x 60.0 mm
Compression Ratio 10.6:1
Maximum Torque 44.9 lb/ft @6,800 rpm
Cooling Liquid
Fuel Injection Digital fuel injection with two 38mm Keihin throttle bodies
Ignition Digital CDI
Transmission 6-Speed
Final Drive O-Ring Chain
Frame Semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel
Rake/Trail 25°/4.3 in.
Front Tire Size 120/70-17
Rear Tire Size 160/60-17
Wheelbase 55.7
Front Suspension / wheel travel 41mm hydraulic telescopic fork with adjustable rebound and preload / 5.9 in.
Rear Suspension / wheel travel Single offset laydown shock with adjustable rebound and spring preload / 5.7 in.
Front Brake Type Dual 300mm petal discs with two-piston caliper
Rear Brake Type Single 220mm petal disc with single-piston caliper
Fuel Tank Capacity 5.0 gal.
Seat Height 33.1
Dry Weight 399 lbs.
Overall length 83.7 in.
Overall width 33.1 in.
Overall height 51.8 in.


YouTube - Kawasaki Versys - Motorcycle Review

 

[RiggerFJ80]

Cool. I was wondering that myself. I only weigh a buck 20 soaking wet, so the CCs don't matter as much for me.

 

[concretejungle]

i don't think its a specifically a matter of top speed but weight, on the smaller Dual sports they weigh around 225 lbs vs an 800 that weighs 390 lbs, big difference when it comes to getting buffetted around by semis at 55-75 mph range. Also even if your not planning on using it, its nice to have some reserve power at those speeds as opposed to being pegged out.

agreed. the smaller bikes will run the mph, but they will be all over the road with wind gusts, other car's wind disturbance, ect.. When i had mine and rode it on a windy day, i would literally have to lean into the wind to keep from blowing into the other lane. It was not fun.

Going up hills in a 250 cc motorcycle trying to hold the speed limit required having the throttle twisted all the way.

 

[dieseldog]

This is mine. (Photo taken by the PO)

Hey! I've ridden that bike. A lot!

 

[dieseldog]

Congrats on being smart enough to choose a bright jacket. Thats hard to miss!

Like this one? (Taken on the long-haul delivery ride to the new owner):

 

[dieseldog]

As a starter bike any Honda XR should do nicely...a 400 is a good starter....oil and petrol and ride it...really durable etc and will be able to sell it on when you`re ready to upgrade to a bigger weapon.....

I updated my XR400R with a Baja Designs dual sport kit. Here is the result:

 

[dieseldog]

I updated my XR400R with a Baja Designs dual sport kit. Here is the result:

and a couple more:

 

[dieseldog]

I'm fixing up a dual sport that I got for free. yeah, very cool. The seat is currently getting redone, I just need to change the oil and look for a new gas tank. Mine is a bit dented. She runs damn good.

It's an 87 Yamaha TW200. What a great little bike! They have quite a following, indestructible engines and stupid easy to ride. Not a lot of power at only 200cc's but they get the job done.

love the fatty tires this is a 2009 model
MSRP: $3,899

A FREE TW200? WHOAH, that's awesome!

They are very cool bikes. Offroad they will go nearly anywhere with the fat rear tire; excellent traction in all conditions.

Dude. Seriously. Praise whatever divine being you pray to . . . cuz you scored HUGE. Nice bike. Nice price.

 

[dieseldog]

I'm kicking myself for not getting an NX650 for $1,500 a while ago. I wouldn't care what my rig got if I was riding the bike around 50%.


87mpg scooter...

1987 Honda Elite, 250 cc, $1500 obo

For putt puttin' around the local hood, there's always one of these (supposed to get over 130mpg):

 

[Happy Trails]

Dieseldog, what did that conversion kid run you? I am a big fan of the XR400 and would consider it
if it could be legal on the street in Califo

 

[sisukid1975]

Hey! I've ridden that bike. A lot!

More than I have, in fact! And you only had it for a week!

 

[dieseldog]

Dieseldog, what did that conversion kid run you? I am a big fan of the XR400 and would consider it
if it could be legal on the street in Califo

All in--I paid about $650. I got upgrades for all LED on the brake/tail/turns. I paid extra to get an H4 Hella 80w/80w headlight, and I purchased a new red tail assembly and license holder. Also, I paid for a brand new upgraded stator from Ricky Stator (dual output 100w/100w). The system works fantastic and I'm very impressed with the quality (examine the OEM-style switchset in the one pic). The headlight remains on AC and is fed by one of the stator outputs. The brake/tail/turns/horn all feed DC off a battery that is regulated and fed by the other stator output. Simply awesome.