Maggot motorcycle stoke thread

[garyfromterrace]

Crank case cover should be a pretty easy fix (fingers crossed). She'll be back on the dirt shortly. Luckily had a truck to come pick her up and drag her home. Of course it happened on a Sunday so no shops in Moab were open. The 450 is kicking my ass lately, not giving up on her yet, but she's a beast, and not exactly perfect for what I like to ride. Might trade her in on something different after this season.

Planned on riding the Kokopelli back from Moab too, at least a mellow shorter version, but the crash ended that idea. Which was OK because I was pretty sore after the ride to Moab. Definitely a good ride if you are into that kinda longer day trip. We might check out Rim Rocker/Paradox and a few others this summer too. Alpine loop is also on the list.

While it was numerous decades ago when I rode MX in the mtns lots, I always found my KX250 was enough jam. I could still throw it around when I needed to. I'm not a big guy mind you 5'6 180. Whenever I got on anything bigger thinking (CR 480 in particular) just seemed too big for mtn riding for me.

[Name Redacted]

While it was numerous decades ago when I rode MX in the mtns lots, I always found my KX250 was enough jam. I could still throw it around when I needed to. I'm not a big guy mind you 5'6 180. Whenever I got on anything bigger thinking (CR 480 in particular) just seemed too big for mtn riding for me.

Yeah, I'm just getting it back from the shop today, parts were backordered from Yamaha. I am leaning toward going back to a WR250R. Not the best off road, but pretty damn good. I really miss the low maintenance, gas mileage, and on road performance of that bike. As I get older I'm leaning away from the more technical off road stuff anyway, but I took mine all over the place with little trouble. Even some of the harder trails around my area. My skill held me back more than the power.

I'd love to get a Tenere 700 for long ADV rides someday then just a 250/300 for trail riding, or maybe even an electric bike when they evolve to something I'd like.

[Name Redacted]

Local throttle therapy clinic is open for business.

[DeathVan]

Here’s just a bit of some great motorcycle adventures I had this summer.
-Around 8000 miles, camping 37 nights, rain or shine.

Kluane Lake, YT


Moonscape near Carcross, YT


Paarens Beach PP, BC


Slept in the ambulance at Thompson’s Eagle Claw Motorcycle campground, Tok, AK


Got a new rackless bag system, Love It!
Atigun Pass, Dalton Hwy, AK, heading North


Over the pass looking North


Actual midnight Sun!, Galbraith Lakes


The Brooks Range


Deadhorse oil derricks


Looking South at Galbraith Lakes and the Brooks Range


Atigun Pass, heading South


Success! On the dry fly even, many grayling, Bushkanek Creek, AK


Denali Mountain, Denali Hwy


Fun Times!

[skinipenem]

Great stuff!

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[Meadow Skipper]

Nice.

[Name Redacted]

Lots of this lately. Not an easy climb but worth it.

[Norseman]

Visitors had some nice dualsport setups

Attachment 497918Attachment 497919

[adrenalated]

Let's play TGR's favorite game: tell some idiot on the internet what thing they should buy.

I have a Kawasaki Versys-X 300 that hopefully is going to a new home tomorrow. It was a great bike to figure out what I wanted to do, which I've learned leans more towards dirt and less towards pavement.

Use case for the next bike will be 80%+ grandpa puttering around rough FS roads and ATV trails in the woods in Southwest Colorado. It will be plated so that I can just ride from my house but that's fairly easy to do in CO (DOT tires, headlight, tail light, brake light, horn, one mirror). I do have a lot of moto legal singletrack around but it's all pretty rowdy and I don't foresee having the skill to ride it, especially solo, anytime soon no matter what I buy, so really planning to stick to the MTB for that stuff and keep things a bit more mild for the moto. I live 150mi from the nearest freeway and basically never need to go faster than 65mph for the brief stretches I'll spend on the road. Might do an occasional overnight and maybe a BDR someday. Really I just want to leave the house in the evening and go scare the cows off all the little rancher roads that don't go anywhere and I'd never have a reason to explore otherwise.

The Versys could do this stuff, but it's really a street bike with slightly taller suspension. It has a small engine but feels like a bigger bike - it's pretty happy cruising 30mph on gravel but once on the slower, rougher stuff it just feels very unwieldy. My buddy with a Tenere said it felt very similar in terms of dimensions and weight when he threw a leg over it. I briefly rode a XT250 and really liked the small, light feel of it, and honestly felt like it had plenty of power for what I need to do, just the cockpit was a bit cramped for me when standing and that particular model seems a little too basic for the price.

Should I buy a small dual sport like a CRF300L, CRF250L, KLX230, KLX300? Or should I buy a trail bike like a CRF250F, CRF230F, TT-R230, KLX300R, KLX230R, etc and go through the mods to plate it? (Fucking alphabet soup model names). Local dealers have a KLX230R (felt a little tall, liked it otherwise) and a CRF300L (felt a little heavy, liked it otherwise) sitting on the floor right now; used inventory is a bit variable in this area but CRF250Ls are somewhat common and there's a few KLX230R, TT-R225, TT-R230 around. Cost ends up being roughly a wash between the dual sports and trail bikes once you factor in the street legal mods. Seems like I'm looking at 40-60lb lighter for a trail bike (but then adding some weight to plate it), dual sports are more likely to be water cooled and fuel injected with exceptions on both side (FI would be nice, cooling not sure I care?), dual sports are likely to have lower seats and trail bikes are likely to have more clearance and suspension travel.

I know evdog has a CRF300L and likes it. The third local dealer thinks I need a $13k Husky which.... no. I'm lighter than most 14 year old boys so soft-ish suspension doesn't scare me, am on the shorter side of average for Dirt Bike Bros, and have a lifted Tundra to extend my wiener and don't need a 450cc MX bike to assert my manliness. Currently sitting at 27 ICE cylinders at my house so the less maintenance the better. What should I buy?

[North]

Given the choice between a trail bike and a dual sport, I'd probably take the dual sport if only because the suspension on those appears to approximate something I'd actually enjoy riding. The forks on the trail bikes (never ridden one) give me 2003 Judy TT elastomer fork vibes. You'll also get a headlight, which if it's anything like my 250X will be mostly useless, but (slightly) better than nothing.

Fuel injected 4 strokes are supposedly pretty dialed these days. I've had no problems with my carb, but I'd choose FI. Plate out of the box is pretty cool too. I have all the things to plate my bike, but I've been too lazy to buy & swap on DOT tires for a day and appointments with CSP are few and far between (especially in my area).

Like Foggy told me, you will putt for 5min. I found 5th gear on mine first day, and I'm not especially addicted to speed. The DS seems like a more versatile/refined option while you further hone in on what you actually want (a real dirtbike ). Ride my Honda when you're here in Sept, or if you grab something before then come ride with me and the dual sport boys (Himalayan, XR650L) 2wks prior.

[adrenalated]

what you actually want (a real dirtbike ).

So you're telling me I actually want the $13k Husky?

Fuck

[North]

If you're actually going to stick to fire roads and want to mix in big rides, 'splorin, link some areas together etc. the DS will be great. If it's mostly going to be 1-2hr burns on doubletrack, that will still be more fun on a real dirtbike IMO. Maybe not $5K more fun (if set on buying new). My "I'll just explore some new places on doubletrack" phase lasted ~1 month before I went to riding singletrack almost exclusively. But we have less connected DT and more beginner-friendly singletrack in my area IME. All I'm saying is if you think you'll end up on a dirtbike someday anyway...

If I were buying a new Husky for the riding I'd want to do in your hood, I'd get a TE300 from All Terrain in GJ for $10K.

I saw a 300L and something bigger on Block & Tackle last wknd. I had to wait for them to fix a throttle tube in the middle of a rock feature (from dropping the bike), but they appeared to be having a shit ton of fun and the bikes were in good shape. Operator not machine etc etc.

[Name Redacted]

A friend just got a blingy new Husky FE 350s. It is nice. Very nice. I kinda want it, but now i am spoiled with the 450. But I am heavy. I have seen some pretty good deals recently on new Huskys.

My ‘14 yamaha WR 450F is plated and I fucking love it now. After a break in period (me not the bike) and some fine tuning, it is about perfect. After i got it registered I took most of that stuff off. I just ride it across the street to the trails anyway. Bang for buck it is hard to beat. And it”ll perform well as a timbersled if I ever get around to that.

Some guys like the 300 two strokes a lot. Definitely worth looking at. More maintenance though. Great for trails but not anywhere near pavement.

I really liked my WR250R. That could be perfect. Just need to lower it for you. You can get those used pretty cheap. Six speeds and it’ll go anywhere. Rides like a lot more than 250cc.

The Honda 300L could be good. Colman used to have one. I rode it briefly. Nice, soft, low, but suspension and overall feel was a little less than optimal for me personally. More street oriented.

You can take my 450 out any time you are around. “Kristi Yama-hoochie” will take you anywhere ya wanna go. .

[adrenalated]

Thanks gents and good thoughts. Keep 'em coming.

To answer some of the things that came up...

Definitely not set on new, at all. Budget is like $4k used and maybe up to $6k new

Can't really predict the future of what I'll end up riding, right? North the moto legal singletrack you MTB'd with me last year is pretty representative so yeah.... very not beginner friendly. Conversely there's probably thousands of miles of two track right out my door in the slightly less mountainous zones that I really want to explore. Real remote country that not a lot of people go. So I think that's mostly what I'll be doing, but yeah, I can't know for sure?

Rides realistically will most likely be couple hour evening scoots most of the time. There's a lot of interesting potential for moto camping loops in this area though.

Fairly confident that two smoke isn't the experience I want... lower maintenance and more forgiving powerband of the four stroke appeals to me. Same thing fuel injected vs carb.

I had dismissed things like the WR250R as being too tall but hadn't considered just throwing a lowering kit on one. Good thought

[Name Redacted]

Thanks gents and good thoughts. Keep 'em coming.

To answer some of the things that came up...

Definitely not set on new, at all. Budget is like $4k used and maybe up to $6k new

Can't really predict the future of what I'll end up riding, right? North the moto legal singletrack you MTB'd with me last year is pretty representative so yeah.... very not beginner friendly. Conversely there's probably thousands of miles of two track right out my door in the slightly less mountainous zones that I really want to explore. Real remote country that not a lot of people go. So I think that's mostly what I'll be doing, but yeah, I can't know for sure?

Rides realistically will most likely be couple hour evening scoots most of the time. There's a lot of interesting potential for moto camping loops in this area though.

Fairly confident that two smoke isn't the experience I want... lower maintenance and more forgiving powerband of the four stroke appeals to me. Same thing fuel injected vs carb.

I had dismissed things like the WR250R as being too tall but hadn't considered just throwing a lowering kit on one. Good thought

You can get a nice lower seat for the WR250r too. It really does sound like the perfect bike for what you want. 3000 mile oil changes, great fuel economy, and probably the lowest maintenance bike out there. Just throw some tusk dsports on there twice a year and go. And check chain tension.

I had a 4.7L tanks and could go like 300 miles on that thing. All damn day. Very forgiving power band. Endless amounts of mods. I have some mosko moto saddle bags i could sell you for pretty cheap too. Already fit for the WR.

The Honda is nice. Main complaint I hear is that the suspension sucks. Yamaha suspension is the tits.

I am waiting for a Tenere 350 or something like that to come out. Maybe a small adv bike or just get the 700 someday. Keep the 450 though.

[North]

Agreed RE: 2t. I mentioned it mainly to let you know that All Terrain has good pricing on Husky, should you decide to go off the deep end.

NM has had experience on both a DS and a dirtbike, so you should probably listen to him. The maintenance interval on the DS sounds pretty nice. Dirtbike oil and air filter changes aren't hard, but it does get old if you're riding a lot - in that case these things are happening biweekly.

[adrenalated]

Agreed RE: 2t. I mentioned it mainly to let you know that All Terrain has good pricing on Husky, should you decide to go off the deep end.

That is good to know because I'm anticipating simple coming along any moment now to tell me to go big or go home and fuck the plates, just run from the cops

[SuperChief]

Yeah, I'm just getting it back from the shop today, parts were backordered from Yamaha. I am leaning toward going back to a WR250R. Not the best off road, but pretty damn good. I really miss the low maintenance, gas mileage, and on road performance of that bike. As I get older I'm leaning away from the more technical off road stuff anyway, but I took mine all over the place with little trouble. Even some of the harder trails around my area. My skill held me back more than the power.

I'd love to get a Tenere 700 for long ADV rides someday then just a 250/300 for trail riding, or maybe even an electric bike when they evolve to something I'd like.

Have you considered the Honda 450RL? It seems to tick a lot of boxes the wr doesn’t. Reviews say it fees smaller or rides lighter than the WR250R

Haven’t ridden or seen one yet but it’s got my interest.

[North]

That is good to know because I'm anticipating simple coming along any moment now to tell me to go big or go home and fuck the plates, just run from the cops

Oh shit. If simple's going to join us I need to clarify my stance on a few things that aren't especially relevant for your case:

- I don't think there is a meaningful difference in maintenance between modern 2 strokes and 4 strokes. People assume 2t eat top ends, but they last a long time under recreational riders. No engine oil changes for 2t (the thing I do the most).
- Modern 300 2t "enduro model" powerband is very manageable. Built to lug. Not what you want (best for tech singletrack) but you'd be ok with the power.
- Plates aren't super necessary where we live. My bike was ridden all over Boulder for 2yrs w/o plates. Friend I bought it from is a lawyer, said get insurance the unregistered vehicle fine is negligible.

[Name Redacted]

Happened to stop into a few of our local dealerships today to get my OHV and a tail light, and I was pretty surprised by how much they were dropping prices on some bikes and that is rare here in Summit, those places are usually pretty pricey.

But that Husky FE350s is probably the perfect bike out right now for what you want. My buddy who just bought one is newer to dirt riding and just crashed it so now that it is scratched up I might hit him up to ride it soon.

A used KTM 501 EXC or Husky FE 501 should be considered too. Quick search on the Frange resulted in this: https://denver.craigslist.org/mpo/d/...770305052.html

If the power scare you, they can be detuned or larger sprockets, or you can grow into them.

[evdog]

Yeah I've been happy with my CRF300L so far. The FI is nice and it's a smooth ride. Price is good even for new bikes. My only complaints are the weight (320lbs) and the suspension is pretty soft. It's nice for forest road riding but when you get into rocky jeep roads it's easy to get kicked off your line. That said it's gotten me up some stuff I didn't think I'd be able to ride. A suspension upgrade is still on the to-do list.

I have a 98 XR400 as well. Aside from some persistent electrical and carb/fuel issues that I've hopefully solved it's a really smooth, fun bike to ride. It's on the tall side for me with a 36" seat height. But it doesn't seem so heavy anymore now that I have the 300L I bought it since XRs are known to be bullet proof. But I've heard comments lately that parts are starting to get harder to come by. Last model built was '04. I was planning to sell it but have been having a blast riding it lately. Might end up keeping it.


Before buying the 300L I did a bunch of research into the various dual sport options. Plating a dirt bike isn't really an option in CA unless they are pre 2004, and you're very limited here if you are not on a plated bike. So I was looking mostly at dual sports like DRZ400, WR250R, CRF250L/300L, KLX250/300, XT250, etc. All of these are pretty low maintenance. KTM and their sub brands are options too but prices are a lot higher and they all have pretty high seat heights for me - and some models have much more maintenance than the Japanese brand 4 strokes. I don't know enough to take a chance on which ones would work for a recreational rider. The 250s (Honda/Kawa/XT250) seemed a little outdated and underpowered compared to the newer 300s. The WRs are solid bikes but even with a lowering link they are too tall. I'd have to get the suspension lowered. And I've read in multiple reviews they ride best when rev'd pretty high so the comment is they aren't super friendly for beginners. Haven't ridden one though. DRZs have good power but are on the heavy side. So it really came down to 300L and KLX300. There weren't many options available when I was looking so I went with the first bike on my list that popped up in my price range.

[Hopeless Sinner]

The 300L has several advantages over the XT250, definitely a more modern bike. It's about 10 more hp, 6 speed vs 5, longer service interval, ABS brakes, gear indicator on the dash, and LOTs more aftermarket support. It's also a couple inches taller, but less clearance, it's water cooled iirc, and is built in Thailand. The XT250 is air cooled and still built in Japan.

That said the first nearby bike that came up for sale was a XT-250 so that's what I bought. My buddy just bought the 300L used on Friday past. He's a few lbs bigger and several inches taller so I think the 300L will be fine. He said the clutch feels "funny", but gobs of low end, and he's ridden my XT250. Buy the red one!

My practice area and bike.

[Name Redacted]

Rode the FE350s today. Very nice bike. For me, the stock cockpit was a little cramped, and the suspension a little stiffer than I would like. Both are easily adjustable. Also the power band was super predictable and smooth. Everything else was way too nice for me. Very light and maneuverable. Very quiet exhaust from factory. Great bike on the road too probably, at least short distances at moderate speeds. I wish my 450 had 6 speeds.

Also rode a KTM 390 adv duke and a Honda Rebel around town. Pretty fun and stable. I would want the 890 if I was buying for sure, but it was a fun little bike. I do want an adv bike someday. Probably looked pretty funny with me in full dirt bike gear riding a Honda rebel that I barely fit on.

[skinipenem]

Oh shit. If simple's going to join us I need to clarify my stance on a few things that aren't especially relevant for your case:

- I don't think there is a meaningful difference in maintenance between modern 2 strokes and 4 strokes. People assume 2t eat top ends, but they last a long time under recreational riders. No engine oil changes for 2t (the thing I do the most).
- Modern 300 2t "enduro model" powerband is very manageable. Built to lug. Not what you want (best for tech singletrack) but you'd be ok with the power.
- Plates aren't super necessary where we live. My bike was ridden all over Boulder for 2yrs w/o plates. Friend I bought it from is a lawyer, said get insurance the unregistered vehicle fine is negligible.

Came here to say ^this.. agree with maintenance and powerband, except I am clueless in the plating thing.

Furthermore...

I'm not sure I understand what you're looking for.... that being said. 4 stroke for higher speed double track and whoops. 2 stroke for single track or technical double track 2 stroke will feel a lot more like your mtb with more nimble handling and turning, while 4 stroke will be more planted and stable.* generalities here.

Shorter rides better on a real dirtbike. Long rides like dbr, significant pavement or gravel, camping better on adventure bike. Adventure bike might be a lot to start out on, especially if you might take it on anything more than gravel or easy double track.

I doubt you'll tell a difference between carb and fuel injection. Fuel injection will be easier for you to deal with.. no jetting, no lectron / smartcarb for frequent elevation changes, etc...

If you are short, consider getting a lower seat, and then lowering suspension.

Most importantly, get real gear. Boots, full face, knee braces, upper body protection.

Prepare for face hurting smiles



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[Name Redacted]

Most importantly, get real gear. Boots, full face, knee braces, upper body protection.

Yes, most definitely as I have figured out the hard way, DH MTB gear is not a substitute even if it is more comfortable. Get quality protection and gear the first time. It is just part of the deal.