On/Off-Road Motorcycle

IEatRiceGT

New Member
Sep 22, 2005
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MD
Does anybody have any experience with this type of bikes. I am thinking of buying one and getting my bike license this summer with the hopes of being able to drive an on/off bike to save gas and have some fun with. What are your suggestions on what to get? I am 6'4" and about 200lb. Money is my deciding factor in what to buy. Thanks.
 
If you are dead set on a dual sport bike, then I'm not likely to sway you. I will state for the record that I've never been a fan of these bikes as they aren't really great at either focus, street or dirt.

With that said, I'd stick to finding a nice, used bike you can tool around on the street with. I've ridden motorcycles since about age 7 (dirt to dual to street) and I like those bikes the least of all.

If you are dead set on a bike, check out the Enduro, if they are even made anymore. HTH...
 
My dad has a sport tourer, its mainly a straight up position style that is mainly focused for street duty but is built for offroad as well. He just got it a few months ago. It's a Triumph 993 Tiger. has some pretty mean guts and he has a really nice pipe and header on it. ill post up a pic of it. i rode on it and I've had some dirt bikes and this is a really nice bike, but kinda of expensive. You should def look into a used dual sport, 600-750 CC if it's ur first bike, I've had dirt bike growing up and they are a blast. Like 4u2nv said most cheaper japanese dual sports are that great at either, but they are still a blast. just dont plan on really carving a canyon road at like 90+ like a crotch rocket could. but lets see how fast that crotch is going ones the roads get a little dirty.:nice: ill get a pic of my dads up real quick, i want one of these:) My dad is NOT a small guy, 6'2'' 270. he use to squat 800+ free weight though...lol

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The main reason I want a on/off bike is because I am going to school in md where it is really nasty outside most of the year. I want a bike that can go decently in the rain and snow. What are the best places to look? It seems that on/off bikes are hard to directly search for.
 
what i am contemplating buying is a Honda Crf 450X

This is a motorcross bike that is setup with lighting and diffrent gear ratios....maby some day

I used to own a 90' XT-350...it was a horrible dirt bike, but it is ok for trail ridin and road ridin.
 
Are you talking like an enduro type bike? Like a dirtbike that can be driven on the street?

I had a KTM125 dirt bike (along with many other bikes/quads over the years), and the KTM enduro is like the best you can by for both pavment and off road. It DOMINATES the Dakar(sp?) rally in its class. Tank sums up how they are built. The type of tire will decide how well any bike will handle the road/road conditions/off road. The big knobby dirtbike tires wear FAST on pavment and the street tires just dont grab in the loose sand/dirt/mud like the knobbies do.
 
Well, don't get me wrong, I would love to have a fast street bike. I, being inexperienced w/ bikes, think that a enduro(dual sport) bike would be the cheapest way to accomplish getting a bike that is cheap and can do in good and bad weather. My price range is probably going to be less that $2k. Let me know what you guys think would work, keeping in mind my price range and my 6'4" height. Thanks.
 
89white50 ... that is a sweet bike your dad has there.


I agree on the KTM's. I don't really have any bike experience either .... but I know a few people with the KTM enduro's (that have lots of bike experience) and they say they are awesome. Not the greatest in looks, but they sound like they're really performance-oriented bikes.
 
I would be scared about why that bike is soo cheap.

If your budget is kinda small, go to a bike dealership and see what they have from trade in's/used bikes. A enduro/dirtbike goes down in value like mad. You can get a fairly light use 2-3 year old bike for a good chunk less. With a daily (from what you posted thats kinda what you want) you will be thankfull you got a good brand. Plus they will be the best chance to finance if need be.

Yam. has/had a 4xx dirtbike and I am preaty sure they have a enduro, a buddy sold his 01-02 kawi. 250 2 stoke for one of the 03-04 4 stroke yam. he said its a monster. I think they have a 250 4stroke as well that has good power. The man. have been working hard to get the 4stroke competitive.

Again another thing I loved about my KTM...if it didnt start on its 2nd kick it was a fouled plug...I even half arsed put it away for winter one year and it fired right up after sitting untouched for 4mo. on the first kick and it was a 2 stroke. That is the kind of dependability you want. 4 of the guys I rode with sold there bikes and bought new KTM's (the newer ones started getting competitive in the power dept.) and love them. Plus KTM comes with some aftermarket parts from the factory (or they did anyway, its been a few years since I sold my bike and stuff and preaty much got out of the hobby).
 
I'm not really into the dual sport bikes either. If I'm going the thrash something in the dirt chances are mirror, turnsignals, lights etc.. is going to get broken making it non-street legal anyway. I know several peope who have done the exact same thing with their dual sports. IMO they should have just got dirt bikes. I'm 6'3 270 and I ride this everywhere when the weather is nice. Can't complain about 38mpg.

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Yeah has anybody ever even heard of that name before? I know I haven't.

The Yam Enduros look a lot like the one you posted. So if thats kinda what your looking for check out a dealer. You can actually get pretty good deals on used biks at dealerships.

Me and my dad had our eyes on a couple if he would have had an extra like 6k I think he would have rode it home it was only a couple years old but that was for a Honda Rebel that looked brand new
 
ram360 said:
I'm not really into the dual sport bikes either. If I'm going the thrash something in the dirt chances are mirror, turnsignals, lights etc.. is going to get broken making it non-street legal anyway. I know several peope who have done the exact same thing with their dual sports. IMO they should have just got dirt bikes. I'm 6'3 270 and I ride this everywhere when the weather is nice. Can't complain about 38mpg.

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How much did that bike cost you? Do you any recomendations about where to look for bikes online?
 
IEatRiceGT said:
How much did that bike cost you? Do you any recomendations about where to look for bikes online?

$11K after tax /tags etc.. Bought it new. But can't beat it for the performance per dollar. If your looking for used check a few local bike shops. I know around here they always have a decent selection of used bikes. Might be less of a chance of getting burned if you get it from a shop. Private owner can be a different story if you don't know what your looking for. Good luck man.
 
Back from the dea but i've been busy. those Yzf's and Crf's are fawkin NUTZ. they have some serious power. My dad use to have an all offroad Kaw. KLX650, and that things had more balls than several 600cc street bikes. I personally would not get a crotch rocket if you have long 2+ hour rides. they are fairly uncomfortable bent over like that for a while. Also, KTM makes some the finest dirt bikes made. I had great experience with Yamaha, was better built than my honda, but that was just me. Riding in the rain can stong like a mofo.... look in this yamaha http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/273/0/home.aspx ive read great things on this bike.

Personally if i was buying a bike, this would be it
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