Who rides motorcycles?

[Milo]

I was in a dual sport ride at Loretta Lynn's ranch that really was more of a race. At a little store/gas stop one of the riders was on his back in the bed of a pick up truck with a stick poking out from his gut. They had his helmet off and his face was as white as a ghost, almost made me sick to see it. The ambulance arrived just as we were leaving.
Later in the afternoon the doc (guy I was with) went over the bars and broke his collar bone. One of the crew rode his bike back and another took him to our motel in a Gator. I was exhausted when I got back but had to load both bikes on the trailer then drive his Suburban all the way home from Tennessee. What kept me awake was his moaning every time we hit a bump.

 

[scootr]

I was in a dual sport ride at Loretta Lynn's ranch that really was more of a race. At a little store/gas stop one of the riders was on his back in the bed of a pick up truck with a stick poking out from his gut. They had his helmet off and his face was as white as a ghost, almost made me sick to see it. The ambulance arrived just as we were leaving.
Later in the afternoon the doc (guy I was with) went over the bars and broke his collar bone. One of the crew rode his bike back and another took him to our motel in a Gator. I was exhausted when I got back but had to load both bikes on the trailer then drive his Suburban all the way home from Tennessee. What kept me awake was his moaning every time we hit a bump.

It's not fun if people are getting hurt I guess that's why I ride alone...

 

[not2old]

It's not fun if people are getting hurt I guess that's why I ride alone...

The older I get,(now 77) the more reluctant I am to ride my dirt bike off road alone.

 

[Milo]

It's not fun if people are getting hurt I guess that's why I ride alone...

I usually ride alone now myself.

The older I get,(now 77) the more reluctant I am to ride my dirt bike off road alone.

Yeah at 72 now my dual sport is a little Yamaha XT250 that I mostly ride on small local paved and dirt roads and trails on the property. Nothing real challenging anymore.

 

[not2old]

I have plates on both my 2008 Husqvarna 510 TE and my 2016 TE 300. When on mostly pavement, I use my 2005 XL1200 Harley Sportster.

 

[scootr]

I usually ride alone now myself.



Yeah at 72 now my dual sport is a little Yamaha XT250 that I mostly ride on small local paved and dirt roads and trails on the property. Nothing real challenging anymore.

I have the same bike. It is amazingly capable and friendly to older and younger riders alike.
I also have a cruiser in the wings waiting for some fall riding.

 

[CalG]

Yup!

I bought a Vespa to combat getting old.

A very capable back toad burner, but a bit harsh in the rough stuff.

 

[Milo]

I have the same bike. It is amazingly capable and friendly to older and younger riders alike.
I also have a cruiser in the wings waiting for some fall riding.

Yeah the XT is a fun little bike.
Enjoy your Fall riding! I think it's over here for me, last night we got a couple inches of snow and once they start salting the roads I generally stop riding.

Yup!

I bought a Vespa to combat getting old.

A very capable back toad burner, but a bit harsh in the rough stuff.

Scooters offer a lot of advantages but one problem is they generally have limited suspension and that along with smaller wheels contribute to rough riding on poor roads.

 

[scootr]

Yeah the XT is a fun little bike.
Enjoy your Fall riding! I think it's over here for me, last night we got a couple inches of snow and once they start salting the roads I generally stop riding.



Scooters offer a lot of advantages but one problem is they generally have limited suspension and that along with smaller wheels contribute to rough riding on poor roads.

I'm impressed with capability of the little XT250. I did a lot of research. Everything pointed to this bike. Nearly unchanged in 20 yrs and still selling today tells you something about design and reliability. I got the newer FI model (mine is a 2019)so I won't have to worry about fuel turning to varnish if it sits.
There is a huge accessory market for this bike. I added a skid plate and put a Dunlop 606 tire in the rear and MT21 front tire on recently. Made a huge improvement in traction. For the off road I replaced the 15T front sprocket with a 14T. This enhanced the measly 19hp. The bike makes lots of torque. I recommend it for anyone looking to explore the wilderness.
I was surprised to see so many to choose from when I started shipping on Facebook.

 

[Milo]

Looks like Yamaha has discontinued the XT250 for 2026. It has what a true trail bike needs; lots of ground clearance, lowish seat, lots of steering angle, wide ratio transmission with a low 1st gear, good low end torque, simple 2-valve, air cooled engine, FI, 2.5 gallon tank, and made in Japan reliability.

 

[scootr]

Looks like Yamaha has discontinued the XT250 for 2026. It has what a true trail bike needs; lots of ground clearance, lowish seat, lots of steering angle, wide ratio transmission with a low 1st gear, good low end torque, simple 2-valve, air cooled engine, FI, 2.5 gallon tank, and made in Japan reliability.

Made in Japan reliability. Easy on gas

 

[deserteagle71]

Made in Japan reliability. Easy on gas

Exactly. I've ridden the XT250's predecessor, the XT225, for over 30 years now. My first one was a 1992 model that I put umpteen thousand trouble free miles on. When I heard that Yamaha was discontinuing the XT225 I bought a 2007 model, last year they were made. I've got over 8,000 trouble-free miles on it now...but it is up for sale. Getting too clumsy at nearly 80 years old to ride in the dirt.

I've ridden some of the most remote areas of the lower 48 on my XTs and never once had to be rescued. In my opinion one of the most dependable bikes ever made.

At the ford of the Dirty Devil River in Poison Springs Canyon, southern Utah:

In Nevada's Ruby Mountains:

 

[scootr]

Exactly. I've ridden the XT250's predecessor, the XT225, for over 30 years now. My first one was a 1992 model that I put umpteen thousand trouble free miles on. When I heard that Yamaha was discontinuing the XT225 I bought a 2007 model, last year they were made. I've got over 8,000 trouble-free miles on it now...but it is up for sale. Getting too clumsy at nearly 80 years old to ride in the dirt.

I've ridden some of the most remote areas of the lower 48 on my XTs and never once had to be rescued. In my opinion one of the most dependable bikes ever made.

At the ford of the Dirty Devil River in Poison Springs Canyon, southern Utah:
View attachment 4375778

In Nevada's Ruby Mountains:
View attachment 4375779

Very Nice. I'm jealous
Just want to strap a helmet on and follow that road across the mountains. Beautiful
To be honest the only thing that worries me about the bike is the lack of a kick starter.

 

[deserteagle71]

To be honest the only thing that worries me about the bike is the lack of a kick starter.

I can certainly understand that. Those tiny batteries in them can die at any time but the bike will still fire up easily even though the battery is dead - just a good kick on the kickstarter and it is running. My 1992 came with both electric start and a kickstarter. The 2007 had electric start only - but the kickstarter kit was available from Yamaha so I had the local dealership order it and install it.

 

[scootr]

I can certainly understand that. Those tiny batteries in them can die at any time but the bike will still fire up easily even though the battery is dead - just a good kick on the kickstarter and it is running. My 1992 came with both electric start and a kickstarter. The 2007 had electric start only - but the kickstarter kit was available from Yamaha so I had the local dealership order it and install it.

Good to know - I'll look and see if it still available for my 19 model Can't guaranty there will always be hard ground and a hill when you need it.

 

[CalG]

Good to know - I'll look and see if it still available for my 19 model Can't guaranty there will always be hard ground and a hill when you need it.

I had to run and bump the VFR800 this summer on a dirt back road. That's not easy for a guy 73 years old.

I did EVERYTHING wrong,

Try one, First gear skid. Try two, No ignition on, Try three, side stand down, stop switch.

Fourth time is a charm! Varoom! and ride home to the charger..

I used to run my Moto Morini without a kick start or an electric start. run and bump EVERY TIME. It was a light weight thing, and where I positioned the foot pegs.

I really should get that bike out next spring, a sweet little V twin!

I think there is a new battery in my future....;-)

 

[scootr]

I shut my XT250 off rolling past the neighbors house yesterday. It pisses her dog off and he runs the fence after me. Once past the house and on the the downhill I switched it on and let out the clutch. Too low a gear and I skidded for 8-10 ft on the dirt and gravel before it caught...lesson learned, this bike has lots of compression...lol

 

[scootr]

Spent the last 2 days at a motorcycle training class to get my license reinstated and for an insurance discount. PIA not sure I could recommend it. Lots of new riders, crappy worn out bikes, and info you already know tried my patience.
But I did come away with something new to me. Counter steering

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

That's new?

 

[Cycledude]

I rode for probably 5 years before ever even hearing of counter steering ! There was no rider training when I got my license, at least none that I was aware of. Pretty confident I would probably be a better rider today if they had those training courses available when I started riding.