Dual Sport riders

[DbleDutch]

Originally Posted by mb36912

And then there is the lowly fun TW200 that has been around forever in its fundamental form. Though the fat-tired go-anywhere TW is simple and undeniably reliable, it is pretty under-powered when compared to anything else.

I looked at a TW and sat on it. Not sized to hold 2 adults comfortably in my opinion. Would be a fun ride for just me.

[andy29847]

I have been adventure riding since 2004. I spent a lot of time and money looking for the perfect bike. The best big bike I had was a BMW R100PD. This bike was perfect for 2 up off road riding. I also rode a V-Strom 650 for a spell. The V-Strom was a great all around bike, but it wasn't sporty enough off the paved roads to make me happy. When my wife decided she wanted to have her own bike, we bought her a Yamaha TW200. The TW is a great beginners bike but it is underpowered. I have seen Kawasski 250 motard bikes with wide tires and liked what I saw - much more power. I rode a DR650 until it blew up. Suzuki has had a problem with a small number of bikes breaking 3rd gear. Third gear is right by the piston so when it fragments, everything is ruined. My current bike is a Kawasaki KLX400. It was made for Kawasaki by Suzuki and is a DRZ400 clone. It is a great bike. I have ridden it from sea level to 13,000 feet. Yes, power is down at high altitudes, but there is enough power to keep riding. I would love one of the new EFI bikes, but I can't bring myself to spend $10,000 on a dirt bike.

[Bipeflier]

Currently ride a Yamaha WR250R (modified). Got rid of a 2014 KLR 650. It was a "do anything" bike but heavy for a 70 year old.

Love riding in Colorado around Buena Vista or Ouray/Lake City.

I raced MX, Enduro, Hare Scrambles, Desert, and flat track in my younger days but time has taken it's toll. I'm a little slower these days but I don't crash near as much!!!!

[FORTRIDER]

Here is my current ride, v twin, shaft drive and easy maintenance.

[mb36912]

Very nice ride!!!

[trikepilot]

I have been riding and racing motorcycles my whole life. Current bike is a KTM 500EXC that I carry in my Ford Ranger toad. Depending on where we find ourselves, it might be a day ride of 60 miles or a week long ride of 2000 miles. I'm happy either way. When the wife starts getting tired of me she tells me to go for a long ride.

[mb36912]

A KTM 500 EXC is exactly what i have been drooling over for the past 3 years. I struggle with the $11k+ price when I have a perfectly serviceable (and paid for) bike in my current '01 XR650R, but EFI and electric start are calling to me.....but I still want one. I have ridden a 2014 500 EXC-F and really liked it. Power-wise, it felt comparably strong on the top end, but I was a little disappointed it didn't have as much low end power as my XR (likely due to the displacement difference). The owner told me he had some reliability issues due to some of the electronics but those were his only issues. I heard the 2016's stepped up the performance and reliability.
Questions for you:
1) What has been your experience with yours?
2) What other off-road bikes have you ridden that you can compare it to?
3) Has it been reliable?
4) What year is it?

Thanks,
Mike

[Badd Andy]

I've been riding DualSports for 30 years. I upgrade after every big leap in bikes. 1st was a new 88' XT-350. Sold it 15 years later for an 900 mile used 01' DRZ-400S. 16 years later traded it in (only traded it in cause 2 bikes wouldn't fit on my old trailer) on a 18' FE 450. Love the FE so much, bought him a brother, 19' TE 250I 4 months later. The FE is for DualSport events/desert, and the TE is for gnarly singletrack. 4 years and counting until retirement and USA wide DS events year round.

[trikepilot]

Originally Posted by mb36912

A KTM 500 EXC is exactly what i have been drooling over for the past 3 years. I struggle with the $11k+ price when I have a perfectly serviceable (and paid for) bike in my current '01 XR650R, but EFI and electric start are calling to me.....but I still want one. I have ridden a 2014 500 EXC-F and really liked it. Power-wise, it felt comparably strong on the top end, but I was a little disappointed it didn't have as much low end power as my XR (likely due to the displacement difference). The owner told me he had some reliability issues due to some of the electronics but those were his only issues. I heard the 2016's stepped up the performance and reliability.
Questions for you:
1) What has been your experience with yours?
2) What other off-road bikes have you ridden that you can compare it to?
3) Has it been reliable?
4) What year is it?

Thanks,
Mike

My experience has been great with my 2014. I have sheared the rear sprocket bolts and ripped the hub apart from all the torque with too tight of a chain due to mud packing. I have had to tear into the starter button and file the contacts down in the middle of a 2000 mile ride (or use the kickstart, but who wants to so that). That is all with 11,000 miles on the bike. I have changed the oil every 60 hours and re-shimmed the valves once.



As far as plated dirt bikes goes, I can compare it to a DRZ400. More power, 6th gear, smoother suspension that can take harder hits without deflection, and better fuel mileage. With an auxiliary rack (Globetrottin mini) it will carry ADV gear in soft bags just fine. I sold the DRZ after 6 months. These are the only two that I have owned besides the KTM200, KTM300, KDX220, IT490, KX250, CR500, and YZ125. I am fairly new to dual sport and coming from 2 strokes it is a different world.

[trikepilot]

Badd Andy,
I am looking for a Ford Transport cargo to use as a toad behind my motor home. I carry the KTM and two electric bikes in the bed of a Ford Ranger currently. I would like to be able to protect them better when I retire in October and start traveling full time.

[travelorer99]

I sold my Harley last spring a got a new Kawi KLR650, its a 2018, they stopped making them in 2018, as they are still carborated. Its easy to work on, one can change the front sprocket to 4 different choices in 20 mns. It goes in the back of the truck now, and if I ever get a 5ver, will hang off the front of the truck. In 2 months ill have had it a year, and have 6,600 miles on it now. The darn things have a cult like following.

[Vintage465]

Hi,
I hear real good things about Beta Dual Sports.

[DirtRider]

I have a DRZ that I've really only ridden locally, but I'm a fan. And I'm supposed to pick up a Yamaha XT250 today for my wife. We'll see--the dealer has been a complete flake through this process, so I'm not really holding my breath. My wife doesn't currently ride, but I'm hoping this bike is the right introduction to it, and then we can take the bikes with us when we go to CO to ride the RZR. Have something street legal to ride around, and something to try out some forest roads on.

So, no--I don't do adventure riding, but hope to dip a toe in soon.

For the people looking at extreme lightweight stuff (like we all should be, really), I think the 2-stroke KTM/Husqvarna stuff looks mighty interesting. Fuel-injected, oil-injected, lightweight, and a very good reputation. That TE250i (2-stroke) mentioned above sounds awesome! And the FE350 (4-stroke) would be the ticket, too.

[AdvJon]

Yeah there's a big following on the TW. I've looked at them a little for running errands.