Who rides motorcycles?

[scootr]

Did you keep the Yamaha? What swayed you to the Honda? Seems like the suspension is where bike manufacturers save their pennies. I’ve seen that complaint on the majority of bikes I’ve researched and/or bought.

It's embarrassing but I was swayed by watching the you tube content called itchy boots. This young lady from the Netherlands rides the CRF250L bike across Africa and the CRF300L from the tip of South America to the Artic Ocean at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska on mostly dirt roads. That little bike just took a beating and kept on ticking. And it looked easy for a rider of medium skills to handle.
So I started searching and a lot of people were saying the same thing...it is an often overlooked gem of a small dual sport bike.
That thing about the skills I can attest to. It does make riding easy. Beyond that it has a bigger tank, a gas gauge, a 6 spd, better wind protection, ABS braking, more ground clearance, better suspension... I know I'm forgetting something.
The XT250 got me into riding a bike that could do street and dirt. And I think this one just does both a little better... and oh yeah, a bigger engine.
I'll probably sell the Yamaha now and recoup the $ against the new bike.

 

[scootr]

 

[deserteagle71]

We used to love the old Honda Elsinore and the CL350 Scrambler for scooting around the dirt back in the day.

Never had an Elsinore. But I put 45,000+ miles on a Honda SL350, some 50 years ago. Loved that bike!

 

[scootr]

I had that bike too. Mine was a 1972 in red

 

[Grumpycat]

Congrats! My buddies and I were extolling the virtues of whether one needs 11" of suspension on both ends of a trail bike.

Seems most of us are in the 30-32" inseam and remember our '78 model trail bikes fondly.

Having to lower modern tall bikes is costly.

Wish they made a TW350.

I have a 30” inseam. Mount the tallest seat I can get, then an underbar Scotts damper, and Mini CR High handlebars. 2009 Husaberg FE450 with 11.6” front and 12.6” rear suspension travel.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I rode an early Husaberg 500 out in Hesperia CA. It was fast on the fire roads, but it had very little flywheel and was lousy for trials type tight trail rock riding. motor kept dying, and it was left hand kick. Preferred a WR 200 towards the end of that long day.

I've also rode an Ossa Super Pioneer north of Ruidoso and it was nice too, but under powered at altitude.

 

[Grumpycat]

I rode an early Husaberg 500 out in Hesperia CA. It was fast on the fire roads, but it had very little flywheel and was lousy for trials type tight trail rock riding. motor kept dying, and it was left hand kick. Preferred a WR 200 towards the end of that long day.

I've also rode an Ossa Super Pioneer north of Ruidoso and it was nice too, but under powered at altitude.

Husaberg has gone through 3 big transformations. Initially formed by Husqvarna 4-stroke engineers unhappy about Cagiva takeover killing 4-strokes. Eventually KTM bought in 1995 wanting a modern 4-stroke dirtbike. Allowed Husaberg to continue their way, and sell through KTM distribution. In exchange KTM got the wildly successful RFS line which wasn’t very much like the Husaberg designs.

For 2009 KTM took more control. In 2008 Husaberg announced the “70°” design using most of the moving parts used by KTM’s 2008 model XC4 engine but effectively upside down with crankshaft above transmission plus fuel injection that really worked. Chassis dynamics with high crankshaft turned out to be difficult to tune at the pro level.

My biggest problem is the rear shock is enclosed by gas tank under seat and exhaust. Shock gets cooked quickly. OTOH this engine has the sweetest throttle control of any dirtbike I have ever ridden. Discontinued after 2010 when most all factory riders had DNFs for bad tolerances in fuel pump. Too tight. Rotor seized when it got hot. 2009 pumps were in high demand.

More big changes in 2014 when KTM discontinued Husaberg (which by now were rebranded KTMs) as Husqvarna.

 

[scootr]

Fuel injection is a blessing to anyone who leaves a bike sit or rides in varying elevations.
I have 3 bikes and 3 vehicles all with FI. Don't want no more carburetors

 

[Cycledude]

Dang!

Now I want one. My old Garmin NUVI is getting old.

I have 2 Garmin Zumo XT 1’s owned them since they first came out and so far they have been flawless.
Now that the XT 2’s are on sale it’s making me wonder if maybe there will be a new XT 3 coming out soon with a bigger screen ?
So far Bigger screen seems like the only reason I would spend the money to upgrade from my XT 1 .

 

[scootr]

A bigger screen can be easier to see but I saw a comical sketch of a rider with a huge monitor with controls all around it blocking his whole view... just a jab at how big and complicated bike info systems are getting. I just ordered the Garmin XT2. I'm pretty sure that will do what I need.

 

[scootr]

Keeping the build going. Since I'm putting on a more aggressive D606 tire I ordered a larger JT sprocket and 520ERVT chain. Just 2 teeth bigger. I wanted 3 but only found 2, that should give her a little more grunt.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I've got to get to a couple valve checks/shim jobs on the mx bikes

 

[Cycledude]

A bigger screen can be easier to see but I saw a comical sketch of a rider with a huge monitor with controls all around it blocking his whole view... just a jab at how big and complicated bike info systems are getting. I just ordered the Garmin XT2. I'm pretty sure that will do what I need.

The first time I saw a Zumo XT screen I was amazed at how easy to read it was and knew I would be ordering one. For me it’s much easier to read than any other GPS I have ever seen, and no matter what the light conditions are the screen is very easy to read. The XT2 is very slightly bigger but not enough to make me buy one.

 

[lman]

I use Android Auto on the built-in instrument panel.

 

[Bocephous]

The south facing trails were in decent shape today. I stayed off the hill; too much ice and my rib still hurts from my get off a few weeks ago.

 

[Grumpycat]

Fuel injection is a blessing to anyone who leaves a bike sit or rides in varying elevations.
I have 3 bikes and 3 vehicles all with FI. Don't want no more carburetors

There are those who swear by FI, and those who swear against.

Husaberg hit a home run in 2009 with the single cylinder fuel injection. KTM apparently believed themselves to be smarter than their Husaberg subsidiary so they put FI systems on dirtbikes that didn't work nearly as well. As did the other manufacturers.

FI continues to be a problem on the small utility engine market, lawnmowers & etc. Works until it doesn't then $300+ to replace, cleaning or "rebuilding" doesn't seem to work. Dealers can still order most or all Bad Boy mowers with Kawasaki engines with or without FI.

 

[Bocephous]

My CRF is fuel injected, and most of my motorcycles have been. I think a well jetted carbed motorcycle is smoother.

Smoothest FI I've ever experienced was on my former 2003 R1. No on/off, very smooth. Smoothest overall motorcycle's were my two Yamaha FZ1's, both of which had Ivan's jet kits installed in the carbs.

 

[The Gaul]

I just don't get the current rage of wimpy bikes. Never owned a bike below 1,000 cc or 150HP.

Below are 3 of my Italian bikes. No electronic nannies. The MV and 1198R are tuned >200HP. I ride the Ducati 998S Final Edition when I feel nostalgic

 

[deserteagle71]

I just don't get the current rage of wimpy bikes. Never owned a bike below 1,000 cc or 150HP.

I'd love to see you on one of those bikes follow my "wimpy bike" on the roads I like to ride.......

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

A 250cc motocross bike, off road, is a hullava lot more to handle than a liter bike on the street.

Ive owned a Speed Triple, B-King and now have an 1125R Buell. All very tame compared to a CRF250R in dirt.