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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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!