Who rides motorcycles?

[3930dave]

I'm in the market... for a light weight dual sport... to augment my Big GS Adventure...

Top two contenders:

Honda CRF300L Rally
Kawasaki KLX300

Been watching a ton of YouTube videos on them, they are very close in performance. I do like the Honda's display better, and either bike will have to have suspension upgrades based on my size. I think the Honda is edging out just based on aftermarket support and known quality.

Unfortunately, all I can do is just sit on them, no test rides.

Too bad you couldn't find a school, with one or both to rent. You don't need the training, but that would be one way to get on one.....

@ my weight (180 #), and Off-road skills (Low, being polite), what sold me on the Kaw (vs CRF) was the factory suspension. I just wanted to go riding (w/o putting new suspension parts under it) right away, and from all the reviews I read, the KLX would cover my present and near-future off-road skills - It does, for me. Might have been a somewhat older CRF teardown I saw, but IIRC, there was only One front spring... way too light even for my weight.

Throwing new parts immediately @ a new bike..... I really wanted to like the DR650 - liking he old school engine, but even just sitting one one in a showroom, front end was way to easy to dive. As one Aussie reviewer put it..... if you can't find enough aftermarket parts for your DR650, you really need professional help with you shopping disorder !

Adding lots of new (and widely available) parts right away to a new bike..... I likely would have ended up with a DR650 - tank choices alone are significant, and I like the simplicity of that bike.

Let us know, how the quest ends up !

Rgds, D.

 

[Darth_DMack]

Too bad you couldn't find a school, with one or both to rent. You don't need the training, but that would be one way to get on one.....

@ my weight (180 #), and Off-road skills (Low, being polite), what sold me on the Kaw (vs CRF) was the factory suspension. I just wanted to go riding (w/o putting new suspension parts under it) right away, and from all the reviews I read, the KLX would cover my present and near-future off-road skills - It does, for me. Might have been a somewhat older CRF teardown I saw, but IIRC, there was only One front spring... way too light even for my weight.

Throwing new parts immediately @ a new bike..... I really wanted to like the DR650 - liking he old school engine, but even just sitting one one in a showroom, front end was way to easy to dive. As one Aussie reviewer put it..... if you can't find enough aftermarket parts for your DR650, you really need professional help with you shopping disorder !

Adding lots of new (and widely available) parts right away to a new bike..... I likely would have ended up with a DR650 - tank choices alone are significant, and I like the simplicity of that bike.

Let us know, how the quest ends up !

Rgds, D.

I hear you on all parts... I'm a big dude, 6'3" / 250 pounds wet... add gear to that and I will make most OEM suspension systems cry. Even on my BMW R1250GS Adventure has upgraded suspension (added progressive springs to my weight).

I'm leaning towards the CRF300L Rally, but the Kawi has my eye!

Either one, will need suspension upgrades due to my weight.

 

[Darth_DMack]

I take it you've watched Ian's reviews? I'm pretty sure he reviewed both bikes.
I like the Rally's larger tank.

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www.youtube.com

Yes Sir, love his channel. Also, watched DorkInTheRoad and his reviews... he's a big guy (275ish) and did a great review on both bikes.

I'm 99% sure it's gonna be the Rally that comes home with me.

 

[3930dave]

I'm 99% sure it's gonna be the Rally that comes home with me.

With your planned mods, and riding skills, I'm certain you will have a blast with the CRF

Either on here, or an MC forum, a thread with how you build that up, and the riding results, will be of interest to many in your weight range.

Rgds, D.

 

[drssg]

I'm in the market... for a light weight dual sport... to augment my Big GS Adventure...

Top two contenders:

Honda CRF300L Rally
Kawasaki KLX300

Been watching a ton of YouTube videos on them, they are very close in performance. I do like the Honda's display better, and either bike will have to have suspension upgrades based on my size. I think the Honda is edging out just based on aftermarket support and known quality.

Unfortunately, all I can do is just sit on them, no test rides.

I attended an event similar to this one back in the early 90s. It was a blast. I test rode several different bikes with no obligation to even seriously consider buying them. Perhaps your local dealerships would know whether anything similar is being held in your area.

Over 100 bikes available to test ride at ABR Festival 2024

Most of the manufacturers kept fairly tight control on the rides. You rode in a group and at a sedate rate. Harley just let you take out the bike, and there was a marked route that you were supposed to ride.

I rode some sort of BMW on/off road bike, and I couldn't keep up with the BMW guy that was leading the group. I briefly told myself, "I'm on the same bike, going through the same curve. I should be able to go the same speed." Then I quickly decided that that's bologna, so I slowed down.

 

[S854]

One more contender? Have you looked at the RE Himalayan?

I haven’t ridden one, however, usually those who have come away pleasantly surprised…

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 - Adventure Rider

The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 improves over the original model in many ways, with better handling and superior brakes.

www.advrider.com

 

[ericm979]

View attachment 937227

That looks like the parking lot of the Lick observatory on Mt Hamilton here in California.

 

[Darth_DMack]

That looks like the parking lot of the Lick observatory on Mt Hamilton here in California.

That's exactly were that picture was taken... We used to "neutral race" back down from there... keep the bikes in neutral, and coast... speed management... so much fun! I loved riding out there.

I was stationed at DLI back then, for Arabic.

 

[Darth_DMack]

I rode some sort of BMW on/off road bike, and I couldn't keep up with the BMW guy that was leading the group. I briefly told myself, "I'm on the same bike, going through the same curve. I should be able to go the same speed." Then I quickly decided that that's bologna, so I slowed down.

I have a shirt that says... "Beware of an Old Guy on a GS!"

I ride my big GS like a 600cc Super Sport. She moves for a big girl...

 

[Darth_DMack]

With your planned mods, and riding skills, I'm certain you will have a blast with the CRF

Either on here, or an MC forum, a thread with how you build that up, and the riding results, will be of interest to many in your weight range.

Rgds, D.

I used to post a lot on ADVRider... but I mainly lurk there now.

Once I get it, I will be sure to showcase what I do with the suspension. Not much to do in regards to power, but I am not getting the 300L for power. I want to learn how to ride the technical stuff on something that is not 600 pounds... My BMW GSA is much more capable than I am right now. For sure!

 

[ericm979]

That's exactly were that picture was taken... We used to "neutral race" back down from there... keep the bikes in neutral, and coast... speed management... so much fun! I loved riding out there.

I currently live in the mountains behind your left shoulder in the pic.

If you did the whole Mt Hamilton-Mines rd loop, I grew up in a town at the other end.

I've ridden Mt Hamilton and/or Mines road on a bicycle many hundreds of times, and also ridden it on various motorcycles. They are fun roads, though unforgiving of mistakes or inattention.

 

[Darth_DMack]

I currently live in the mountains behind your left shoulder in the pic.

If you did the whole Mt Hamilton-Mines rd loop, I grew up in a town at the other end.

I've ridden Mt Hamilton and/or Mines road on a bicycle many hundreds of times, and also ridden it on various motorcycles. They are fun roads, though unforgiving of mistakes or inattention.

I was living in Marina, going to school Mon to Fri at DLI... Saturdays and Sundays were our riding days if we were not at the track. Thunderhill was my go-to track when I was there.

We rode all over Santa Cruz, up the mountains, HWY-9, or out to Coalinga (HWY 25 and HWY 198)... such great riding out there. I sure do miss it.

I've ridden the Mt. Hamilton - Mines Road loop dozens of times, very technical on my GSXR1K, wish I had my current bike back then... those roads are made for my GS Adventure!

 

[MarkMac]

I ride a 2018 KTM 500 EXC and a 2024 KLR650.

The KTM was the last bike I raced.

 

[3930dave]

I used to post a lot on ADVRider... but I mainly lurk there now.

Once I get it, I will be sure to showcase what I do with the suspension. Not much to do in regards to power, but I am not getting the 300L for power. I want to learn how to ride the technical stuff on something that is not 600 pounds... My BMW GSA is much more capable than I am right now. For sure!

Roger on the weight issue..... I was thinking of trials bikes as we were winding through this conversation....

Skilled riders in all disciplines impress me, but none more so than a top trials rider..... How did they get a free-pass on all the laws of physics that I have to deal with ?

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I ride a 2018 KTM 500 EXC and a 2024 KLR650.

The KTM was the last bike I raced.

Race bike, and a SuperTanker - Different steeds, for different needs !

Impressive, what some people have done with KLRs off-road - way beyond my riding skills !

Welcome, and Rgds, D.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Has anyone worried about the short windshields? Like if you are trail riding and do an endo and your trachea hits the edge?

What might seem OK for the road might could give you a bad day.

Had a buddy take a Yamaha 650 with a windjammer III into a deep sand creek. (He showed up on the wrong bike). He endo'd and hit the bridge of his nose on the edge of the windshield. Split it clean and the blood was flowing. Think someone had some electrical tape to mend him.

 

[Rockbadchild]

A dual-sport in the wild......

I think you already have engine guards (little tough to see in those pics), but if you are looking for anything, I like the T-Rex I put on last year. Not inexpensive to land in Kanada, but what is.....

Not my pic (factory one), but my KLX is the same setup..... I went with their bash-plate too - I like it because it is longer, upswept @ rear, to protect the lower dogbone.

The crash bars are more of a wide street style, which is not for some, but work for me

T-Rex Racing Kawasaki KLX250 / KLX300 Engine Guard Crash Cages

Rgds, D.

yeah i have a factory one … I actually drop it yesterday and it work like a charme … long wet clay hole with ruts and a turn, a bad combo, I was coming a little fast as well.

 

[3930dave]

yeah i have a factory one … I actually drop it yesterday and it work like a charme … long wet clay hole with ruts and a turn, a bad combo, I was coming a little fast as well.

Like you said..... playing off-road..... just a matter of time.... glad to hear the factory guards did well.

Looking @ your T7, reminded me of a build an Aussie named Adam did with a T7.....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Engineering.... you get it, or you don't...... this guy does, AND can ride, AND knows how to film...... did a great build on a T7.

Stumbled across Adam seasons back...... Pro-racer, paid to ride high-end stuff many of us will never see.... for a lark, he bought an old Africa Twin in Norway, to boot around on......

Hard to predict, where you heart and head will take you..... he's got it BAD, for these ur Twins.....

Great comment ^ " They say after 50 , a man shouldn't own anymore motorbikes....."

Rgds, D.

 

[Rockbadchild]

4000km (2485miles) on the bike now, all mines… i got about 1242mikes on the tire more than I thought but I won’t try this tire again (Pirelli MT21) the front his holding very well tho… The roads were I work are very nice, lots of bush roads and trails. Some roads are 40km/h roads “speed limit” in a truck let’s say some are 60km/h so they are lots of fun with these kinda bike… I am talking about hills, curves and straits between two curves, lots of drifts, beaks and gas … best of all most connect at some point so I can do loops and come back from a other roads which is my favorite kinda ride.