Who rides motorcycles?

[CalG]

I must be cray-zee!

I just added another two wheeler!

2006 VESPA GTS250.... (Looks like the image in the post above, only silver paint).
3300 miles, Well kept.
Will need tires due to age, and a new air filter element for the same reason (oiled foam type)

Took it out this morning, 'brings back memories...;-)

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

My buddy does a lot of "horse trading" when it comes to motorcycles....
In the last couple of weeks, he sold his camping Monkey because he found a super clean 2008 yamaha raider with only 4800 miles, and that's how much he was asking for it. It is my buddy's 3rd Raider. I told you he is a horse trader.

 

[mrmikey]

I went for three due to knees and hip:

 

[deserteagle71]

I went for three due to knees and hip:
View attachment 3978005

So give us an evaluation of the 3-wheeled Can-am. How's it compare to riding a two-wheeled motorcycle? What's your fuel mileage like?

Just wondering because I'm kind of in the same boat - getting too old and clumsy to be on two wheels. But it seems to me that if I couldn't be leaning my way along a curvy road I might as well get something like a Mazda Miata and not have to wear a helmet - and have heat when it is cold and a/c when it is hot.

 

[CalG]

Just back from an after supper ride into town and back. Delightful warm , but cooling off, evening.
That scooter is the ideal way to "be there" at speeds between 20 and 50mph. And QUIET? It's like a bunny....;-)

 

[mrmikey]

I admit I'd not rode one before I bought this one, riding it home I was thinking to myself "What the he77 have I bought", twitchy didn't begin to describe the steering. I've had it now for a couple of months and I love it. Once you loosen up, all is good.

If one of the two out board don't take it, the middle one will.

You're 100% correct, it is hard to miss road kill with three wheels, ask me how I know .
Sticks to the road like s**t to a blanket. I'm not an aggressive rider by any stretch but it just begs to go around turns fast lol.
Mileage, I get 40-44 Can MPG, 1330 CC Rotax triple. It'll haul butt if you're so inclined to wind it out, if you twist the throttle after 4k, it'll scare the crap out of you and seems like it'll rev forever.
Semi auto so downshifts on it's own, up shifting is on you or you can manually downshift if you want for braking.
As for leaning there's no countersteering involved like on two wheels, you lean to the inside of the turn same as a Skidoo, or a Seadoo. It's more physical that a two wheeler but in a good way.
With reverse, backing up is no problem.
Linked brakes so there's only the foot pedal for all three wheels.
My previous ride was an '09 1700 Voyager and it bothered me to no end to have to sell it but it was getting to the point that I was too nervous. You lean that puppy more that a few degrees, it's going down and at close to 1,000 lbs it isn't coming back up easy. While moving it was smooth and easy to control, stopped if your foot happened to go into a hollow in the road or step on a rock while backing up and your foot rolls out, you're in trouble.
My previous ride:

 

[3930dave]

Just back from an after supper ride into town and back. Delightful warm , but cooling off, evening.
That scooter is the ideal way to "be there" at speeds between 20 and 50mph. And QUIET? It's like a bunny....;-)

Not for nothing, they are popular in Euro or Asian high density cities. Compact (that size anyway), easy to park and fuel, lockable storage built-in.... lots to like. @ opposite extreme, fans also take looonnnngggg trips on them...

I can find something to like, about pretty much anything on 2 wheels (no offense to 3 wheelers, as they are also my Plan B, later.....)

Rgds, D.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Taking the MX bikes out tomorrow

 

[BleedingOrange]

I really enjoy pics of you doing maintenance and upgrades on your bikes. Thay always look showroom fresh, exactly the way I like to keep all my toys. Great job.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I really enjoy pics of you doing maintenance and upgrades on your bikes. Thay always look showroom fresh, exactly the way I like to keep all my toys. Great job.

Thanks!

These girls are 10 years old.

 

[3930dave]

I find even just a MC ride-vid relaxing.... add in a thumper, putting along, AND box-breathing..... chill.....

Rgds, D.

Box Breathing for Stress Relief: Easy Steps to Enhance Focus and Calm

 

[scootr]

I'm going to get back into riding. Been a while since my last bike and I'm 71 so I'm looking at a Yamaha XT250. Seems a lot of people that thought they wanted to ride during Covid are tired of seeing their bikes leaning against the wall. FB is full of small trail or dual sport bikes with not too many miles on em.
Anybody here ride one of these?

 

[3930dave]

I'm going to get back into riding. Been a while since my last bike and I'm 71 so I'm looking at a Yamaha XT250. Seems a lot of people that thought they wanted to ride during Covid are tired of seeing their bikes leaning against the wall. FB is full of small trail or dual sport bikes with not too many miles on em.
Anybody here ride one of these?

Sat on, but not ridden.

Next, more useful to you....... you may know it, but in case not..... Advrider.com has a good search engine, with lots of people who have ridden them, including longgggg trips. That XT was one I seriously considered, I liked the simplicity and Yamaha, but chose the KLX300 for a little more punch, and arguably the best out-of-box suspension in that cc/$ range.

For poking around off-road, trails, dirt roads near to home, I'd expect you'd end up with face-muscle pain, from all the grinning you'll do on that XT

Rgds, D.

 

[deserteagle71]

I'm going to get back into riding. Been a while since my last bike and I'm 71 so I'm looking at a Yamaha XT250. Seems a lot of people that thought they wanted to ride during Covid are tired of seeing their bikes leaning against the wall. FB is full of small trail or dual sport bikes with not too many miles on em.
Anybody here ride one of these?

Not this newest model but the previous one. XT225. Had a 1992 and put thousands upon thousands of miles on it so in 2010 when a pristine 2007 (last year they were made before Yamaha went to the XT250) came up for sale with only 247 miles on it, I bought it. 8000+ miles on it now. Both bikes have been rock solid dependable. I explore some extremely remote country and neither bike ever let me down.

My 1992 XT225 on the very edge of the Grand Canyon...

My 2007 at the Temple of the Sun in Utah:

From my reading the XT250 is just as dependable as the XT225 was. There are small differences - the XT225 is carbureted, has BOTH kick starter and electric start, and is a 6 speed. XT250 is fuel injected, electric start only, and a 5 speed. Both have a low seat height, get great fuel mileage and are perfect for back country exploring.

But...at 71 years old, are you really in good enough physical condition to ride 2 wheels in the dirt? I'm a few years older than you and I'm going to have to give it up soon - way too clumsy, and my reaction time is now measured in minutes instead of milliseconds! When you're over 70, bones don't flex - they just break.

 

[not2old]

I'm going to get back into riding. Been a while since my last bike and I'm 71 so I'm looking at a Yamaha XT250. Seems a lot of people that thought they wanted to ride during Covid are tired of seeing their bikes leaning against the wall. FB is full of small trail or dual sport bikes with not too many miles on em.
Anybody here ride one of these?

My recommendation for an older bike if you are likely to any amount of highway riding is a Suzuki DRZ400. A decent and reliable bike that is big enough to carry a passenger and/or ride the freeway while is still OK on easier trails. The newer 350's cost a lot of money. Most smaller bikes are under powered for the highway if going any distance.

 

[CalG]

Not this newest model but the previous one. XT225. Had a 1992 and put thousands upon thousands of miles on it so in 2010 when a pristine 2007 (last year they were made before Yamaha went to the XT250) came up for sale with only 247 miles on it, I bought it. 8000+ miles on it now. Both bikes have been rock solid dependable. I explore some extremely remote country and neither bike ever let me down.

My 1992 XT225 on the very edge of the Grand Canyon...

View attachment 3983466

My 2007 at the Temple of the Sun in Utah:
View attachment 3983970

From my reading the XT250 is just as dependable as the XT225 was. There are small differences - the XT225 is carbureted, has BOTH kick starter and electric start, and is a 6 speed. XT250 is fuel injected, electric start only, and a 5 speed. Both have a low seat height, get great fuel mileage and are perfect for back country exploring.

But...at 71 years old, are you really in good enough physical condition to ride 2 wheels in the dirt? I'm a few years older than you and I'm going to have to give it up soon - way too clumsy, and my reaction time is now measured in minutes instead of milliseconds! When you're over 70, bones don't flex - they just break.

We all age differently.
I'm getting leary of my 800cc sportbike due to it's weight.
I too find my reaction times lengthening. I've started to constantly cover the front brake lever. Something I never did as habit.

But, Last week I bought a Vespa GTS , It's a full 100# lighter than the VFR, even if the wheel base is the same. (54")
I've been enjoying the scooter, but not ready to give up the sport bike.
I have had the dual sport bikes off and on. They get me into places I have a hard time getting out of. Mostly mud! ;-)

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Well, it was a fruitful day. Son had a high speed get off, but he is only limping a little

 

[CalG]

Any crash you can walk away from.....

My left elbow doesn't extend fully from a get off when I was a teen. 4F, if that means anything...

Put a USB. volt meter on the scooter today. Doing the same for the VFR tomorrow.

 

[RayIN]

I used to ride; had a HD sportster FLCH, Honda 350 I normally rode to work.
One day I was slowly passing an old pickup when the driver began pointing to his hood. He was tailgating an old car that had his left turn signal on, the pickup driver slammed on his brakes, which prevented me from slowing and pulling in behind him.
That did leave an opening to the highway berm for me as an escape route, but when I hit the crushed stone beside the pavement I lost control.
The next thing I remember was coming-to with a para-medic kneeling beside me. When I open my eyes he said "I thought you were dead".
The police report said the bike threw me 70' and I slammed into a Ford maverick, my head hit the top of the LF wheel and broke the A-frame, my left shoulder hit the corner of the body behind the LF wheel.
Amazingly, the ER sent me home with no broken bones, but my helmet was destroyed.
I did wind up requiring L shoulder rotator cuff rebuilt later.
When I was healed I rebuilt that Honda 350, then sold all my bikes.