Who rides motorcycles?

[Mackman141]

Been to all 49 states. Put 43,000 miles on my HD in 3 years. Based out out of philadelphia.

 

[TractorTYMe]

Just sold my 1983 Honda XL600R

THEN I picked up a brand spankin new 2025 Suzuki DRZ4S......and I LOVE IT. It putters and tractors around even better than the old venerable XL600R did.

 

[Bocephous]

Just sold my 1983 Honda XL600R
View attachment 5336670

THEN I picked up a brand spankin new 2025 Suzuki DRZ4S......and I LOVE IT. It putters and tractors around even better than the old venerable XL600R did.

View attachment 5336671

Love that old school XL. How does the 4S compare power-wise?

 

[Bocephous]

From today's errand running...

This last pic is of the house I grew up in. My grandmother gave my parents 115 acres and my dad half built this log home. Some stuff he couldn't do, but he did a lot of it. The landscaping is much different. I grew up sniping woodchucks, riding horses and dirtbikes and exploring all 450ish acres of the combined family acres in that one location. I only live about a mile or so away now on property from my dad's side of the family.

I took the big XR up our mountain on logging trails for the first time when I got home. Pics were too large for posting here. Could definitely feel the weight coming down what are in my estimation 40 degree rock strewn trails.

 

[scootr]

Nice pictures !

 

[TractorTYMe]

Love that old school XL. How does the 4S compare power-wise?

Stock for stock the XL is good for up to 100Mph and the DRZ4S tops out at about 81Mph. But on forest service and single track it absolutely tractors away. They're about the same weight give or take. But the DRZ4S seems like a nimbler bike by far. And I get 65Mpg easy on it, where the XL did 50-55Mpg

 

[scootr]

Congrats on the new bike. She's a beauty. The DRZ will probably last as long as your Honda did with long service intervals and good gas mileage making it an economical choice. The only thing I don't like about it is it's weight 331 pounds. Like the Honda Rally 339 pounds these are heavy on the single track trails and ultimately why I opted for the Husky at 244 pounds. I'm too old to be picking up those big bikes...

 

[BackRoad]

What's the status of your recently new Honda Mr. Scootr?

Interested in your comparative observations...

 

[BackRoad]

Stock for stock the XL is good for up to 100Mph and the DRZ4S tops out at about 81Mph. But on forest service and single track it absolutely tractors away. They're about the same weight give or take. But the DRZ4S seems like a nimbler bike by far. And I get 65Mpg easy on it, where the XL did 50-55Mpg

Can you kindly define what "tractors away" means from a performance perspective? It may be an attribute that is appealing.

I had a 70's Honda 360 road bike for several years that was tame, but also used to ride my brother's early '70s Husky 400, which you had to maintain your focus when riding and it was temperamental.

Now I'm more interested in looking at what I'm passing, rather than trying to reach a destination.

My interests now are puttering gravel backroads, old paths and abandoned farms at 8 mph and low RPMs rather than 60 mph, screaming RPMs and just trying to find the line...

 

[Bocephous]

Can you kindly define what "tractors away" means from a performance perspective? It may be an attribute that is appealing.

I had a 70's Honda 360 road bike for several years that was tame, but also used to ride my brother's early '70s Husky 400, which you had to maintain your focus when riding and it was temperamental.

Now I'm more interested in looking at what I'm passing, rather than trying to reach a destination.

My interests now are puttering gravel backroads, old paths and abandoned farms at 8 mph and low RPMs rather than 60 mph, screaming RPMs and just trying to find the line...

You've just described precisely what I bought my XR650L to do. A DR650S would be another fine candidate. If you prefer fuel injection over a carb:

CRF300L
KLX300
DRZ4S

 

[ponytug]

@Bocephous what great photos! The last one looks like a very scenic road.

All the best, Peter

 

[scootr]

Can you kindly define what "tractors away" means from a performance perspective? It may be an attribute that is appealing.

I had a 70's Honda 360 road bike for several years that was tame, but also used to ride my brother's early '70s Husky 400, which you had to maintain your focus when riding and it was temperamental.

Now I'm more interested in looking at what I'm passing, rather than trying to reach a destination.

My interests now are puttering gravel backroads, old paths and abandoned farms at 8 mph and low RPMs rather than 60 mph, screaming RPMs and just trying to find the line...

Tractoring away refers to a motorcycles ability to climb at low speed...it's a torque and gearing combo that's attractive to anybody who's not racing up hills etc. A bike with tractoring ability doesn't stall when the going get hard and the rpms are low. It just keeps on going like a tractor.

My new Honda is in limbo...It's almost all fixed up. Still have the front fork upgrades to install...but that's about it. I had a problem where I dropped it and strained my back picking it up. I'm 72 yrs old so no surprise. As nice as the Honda is I probably shouldn't ride it alone which is what I do most. So I bought another much lighter bike that easier for me...and the Rally sits. I may sell it. Are you interested? It definitely tractors uphills.

 

[Milo]

The tractor comment brings back memories.

Quite some years ago I entered a dual sport "ride" in Tennessee. I had an XR650L and before going was a little nervous since I wasn't much of an off road rider and mentioned it to a friend who was very experienced riding off road.

He said "don't worry just ride your own pace and here's what you need to do; drop one tooth on the countershaft sprocket and mount new full knobbies". I said "but my tires are pretty good...." He said "you're trailering it there arrive with brand new knobbies". This turned out to be excellent advice.

When we met at the staging area there were hundreds of riders and ex-racers from all over, in colorful MX gear, most with plated dirt bikes. It had rained that night. After hearing our instructions which finished with "remember this is a dual sport ride not a race" we got to our bikes waiting for our turn to go, about 25 at a time. I had intentionally parked at the back but others had come afterward and were behind me.

When the groups ahead took off it looked like a motocross race with mud flying everywhere, clouds of 2-stroke smoke, bikes roaring across the field funneling down as they reached the trail through the woods. When our group got the flag I took off toward the trail as other bikes passed me on either side. Finally after all the fast riders were gone it was me and 10 or so other slower riders following along.

We came upon a group of bikes that were stopped at the bottom of a steep hill waiting for some that were stopped part way up blocking the trail. Others kept going crashing into the stopped bikes or going around finding their own paths over logs, rocks, through saplings, etc. I took a break.

The path was really chewed up by this time. After the stuck ones slid back down trying again on different lines and finally making it I held my breath and gave it a try. I was amazed how well my 650L went up that trail, when it'd almost come to a stop the tire would dig in, hook up, and I'd keep going. As it clawed its way to the top I thought this thing's like a tractor!

A while later I'll never forget as I was plodding through a deep rutted section with roots through it a rider flew past me on an XR650L riding two up with a girl on the back. They were dressed in full MX gear with logos and they both moved as one up on the pegs, leaning right, down on the seat, they were gone in an instant.

After the race, I mean ride, I was able to speak with that rider who was none other than Scott Summers, multiple time GNCC champion. He had arrived after the "ride" began but still managed to catch and pass over 1/2 of us riding 2-up!

 

[scootr]

Nothing trumps good rubber. Don't know that I could ever ride single track 2 up, it's all I can do 1 up some days That's impressive.

 

[Milo]

Nothing trumps good rubber. Don't know that I could ever ride single track 2 up, it's all I can do 1 up some days That's impressive.

That's what my friend made clear, ultimate traction comes from new, square, knobbies. Once they start rounding off they still work but not nearly as well. LOL he knew I needed all the help I could get!

As well as skill it took a lot of strength to ride that heavy bike like that two-up. I recall an ad Honda ran with Scott standing holding up a XR650L in his arms.

It's amazing what top riders are capable of be it dirt, trials, or track.

 

[scootr]

Unless you have pro skills and perfect balance a lightweight bike is the best option in dirt

 

[Milo]

Yep that's why I have this for riding around the property and local back roads.

 

[scootr]

I had that. Good bike and I sold it too quickly. But interestingly I later found the XT225 which 1 more hp and weighed in about 45 pounds lighter... only downside I saw in the design was a carburetor and a drum rear brake. Granted a guy could live with both, we did for decades.

 

[deserteagle71]

Unless you have pro skills and perfect balance a lightweight bike is the best option in dirt

Yup. Especially as you age and your balancing ability and reaction time deteriorates. Seems like not so long ago I had (all at one time, fit the bike to the terrain) a 600, a 500, a 400 and a 250. Now that I'm about to turn 80 years old I'm down to one bike - my little (and light) XT225.

 

[scootr]

Great bike - almost bought one but it was a little too beat up for the asking price. Better than the 250 because it makes the same hp with about 45 fewer pounds. Great old man's bike. I'm getting a kick out of the map taped over the fuel tank.