dual purpose bikes

[dieseldog]

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. 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.

Oh, and I got a second mirror, as it only came equipped with one from the PO.

 

[dieseldog]

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

It won't take you very long before you've topped the 1,500 miles I added to the odo . . .

 

[e9999]

I was told by a dealer that the newer california offroad version of the dual sport bikes can't be converted to street legal, even if you would put all the required stuff on. Don't know if true.

 

[Hilux]

couple of qs and I don't want to start a thread so ones kinda O/T.


1: is a small twin more mpg efficient than a big single? I'm really jonesing for a single but I'm noticing fewer out there....bummer.

weird thing. A guy on a Nx650(SINGLE) told me he gets @70 but googling I've found some that say 40-50ish. anyone know if there is any truth to that?

and 2: how does one down shift a bike w/o the clutch? I know you can up, (forgive me, I've got motivation for a Locost 7 on my mind) but how the hell can you do it down?


I think that flat 4 I saw on that old GoldWing with a drive shaft would make for a great Turbo platform and low C.G...

 

[Texx]

The twin vs single mileage thing...probably a small twin (250ish) would beat a thumper. My KLR never got above 40 something.

Not likely he's getting 70 per. I call bs.

It's a matter of unloading the gearbox. Rev and let off, snick gear in the unloaded state, it'll go right in, on a Honda at least.

Check out nakedgoldwing.com or something like that, I'm sure it's been done.

 

[FJBen]

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

yeah, it was supposed to be an old POS, and turned out to be the TW200.

I got the Baja Designs rear brakelight LED. I need to take an updated pick, it's looking nice Just changed the skanky oil last night.

I really need a new tank for it, and muffler....she sounds MEAN

I have a battery drain somewhere at the moment...I need to trace down where it's leaking from.

People are getting 80 MPG's+ on the Tw200's... thats awesome!

 

[Happy Trails]

I was told by a dealer that the newer california offroad version of the dual sport bikes can't be converted to street legal, even if you would put all the required stuff on. Don't know if true.

I've heard this as well...I don't understand why Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki
have essentially left the 400cc duel sport to Suzuki and KTM. I'd like to have
a few more options to choose from. At the moment I'm leaning towards the DRZ400, love the KTM but sure is $$$. I would buy a factory street legal Honda XR400 in a snap! The 650's are just too heavy for my liking and slow
trail cruising.

 

[concretejungle]

i don't know if this rumor still floats or not, but when i had my ATK, since it was made in America and not imported, it was allowed to have a plastic gas tank. However, if the bike is imported and you want the bike to be street legal, it must have a steel gas tank. Doesn't make sense.

 

[e9999]

i don't know if this rumor still floats or not, but when i had my ATK, since it was made in America and not imported, it was allowed to have a plastic gas tank. However, if the bike is imported and you want the bike to be street legal, it must have a steel gas tank. Doesn't make sense.

that's right, the same dealer also said the tank was different on street and dirt versions.

 

[e9999]

I've heard this as well...I don't understand why Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki
have essentially left the 400cc duel sport to Suzuki and KTM. I'd like to have
a few more options to choose from. At the moment I'm leaning towards the DRZ400, love the KTM but sure is $$$. I would buy a factory street legal Honda XR400 in a snap! The 650's are just too heavy for my liking and slow
trail cruising.

it looks to me like the DR400 is much more dirt / track oriented and the KLR, XR etc are more street / exped style. I don't know how long I'd last on a DR400 going through Baja. Plus the issue of luggage etc.

 

[concretejungle]

i know the KLR is much more suited for street

 

[Hilux]

Check out nakedgoldwing.com or something like that, I'm sure it's been done.

I am NOT going to link that!

 

[thorvald]

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

nice ST90 , you have any more old trail bikes hiding in your garage?

 

[dieseldog]

I was told by a dealer that the newer california offroad version of the dual sport bikes can't be converted to street legal, even if you would put all the required stuff on. Don't know if true.

Where there's a will, there's a way. Folks have been known to install the gear, transfer the bike to a trusted buddy in, say Colorado (where the laws aren't quite so tight), get it titled/plated in that state and then transfer it back to you. Assuming it was CA EPA approved in the beginning, you should not have too much difficulty--relying as you should--upon the Full Faith and Credit clause of the U.S. Constitution.

 

[dieseldog]

nice ST90 , you have any more old trail bikes hiding in your garage?

Well, how does this one strike you? (It's not yet in my garage, but me and a couple of hard chargers are gettin' it done--eBay score):

 

[SLOonTheGo]

I am looking into one of these as my first bike. Found a used one that was laid down and fixed by a shop for about 4,600. Now if only I hadn't bought that 2k mountain bike 6 months ago. Dang college keeps me so poor.

Suzuki DRZ-400SM 35 inch seat hight and just under 300lbs

 

[thorvald]

Well, how does this one strike you? (It's not yet in my garage, but me and a couple of hard chargers are gettin' it done--eBay score):

Nice, what year is that?

I found a '69 locally this spring

my trail 70's now street legal (documents) just need to tune it a little so it will go over 32mph.

 

[e9999]

Where there's a will, there's a way. Folks have been known to install the gear, transfer the bike to a trusted buddy in, say Colorado (where the laws aren't quite so tight), get it titled/plated in that state and then transfer it back to you. Assuming it was CA EPA approved in the beginning, you should not have too much difficulty--relying as you should--upon the Full Faith and Credit clause of the U.S. Constitution.

and I read someplace that you have to rack up some significant number of miles out of state too if you want to bring it back to the PRK. That true?

 

[concretejungle]

I am looking into one of these as my first bike. Found a used one that was laid down and fixed by a shop for about 4,600. Now if only I hadn't bought that 2k mountain bike 6 months ago. Dang college keeps me so poor.

Suzuki DRZ-400SM 35 inch seat hight and just under 300lbs

That is a great bike! Price is really steep, but it's a good motorcycle. What does it weigh, 280 i think. . .

 

[dieseldog]

Nice, what year is that?

I found a '69 locally this spring

my trail 70's now street legal (documents) just need to tune it a little so it will go over 32mph.

It's a '79--the last year for the Trail 90. Both it and the ST90 are street legal. I hit 43mph in the ST90 yesterday during a test run. It's only a three-speed though. I'm hoping the Trail 90 does as well.