This is topic Dual Sport/Endurbikes in forum General Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://californiafords.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=062104

Posted by 90GT510 (Member # 9199) on :
 
any one have any experience with these?

My last bike was a r6, thinking of switching over to dual sport reason being the offroad and on road capabilities. The honda crf250l is at the top of my list right now. Pros and cons? or should I stick to crotch rockets?
 
Posted by brandon151 (Member # 12990) on :
 
The amount of power is obviously way different, there will also be more maintenence on any dual sport. The maitenence doesnt cost much compared to full street bikes... having the offroad capability would be a big plus. I wouldnt dare take that crf250l on any freeway though.
 
Posted by ZincYellow 281 (Member # 9865) on :
 
Having the off road capabilities is awesome but will you really need it? I have a 250 Ktm, not street legal. I don't plan on ridding on any roads, that's why I didn't get a dual sport.
 
Posted by wilit (Member # 3367) on :
 
I swapped bikes with a buddy for a weekend. He took my VFR and I took his KTM 525. I really wanted a dual sport until I rode that bike, especially on the freeway. Yes it was fun, but for like a split second. Then I realized riding this thing on the freeway was possibly the most uncomfortable and dangerous thing I think I've ever done. A big thumper like that just isn't comfortable to ride at the RPMs needed to travel at a safe highway speed. A twin like a KLR might be a little more comfortable.
 
Posted by 5.t0es (Member # 5864) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by 90GT510:
any one have any experience with these?

My last bike was a r6, thinking of switching over to dual sport reason being the offroad and on road capabilities. The honda crf250l is at the top of my list right now. Pros and cons? or should I stick to crotch rockets?

Explains everything, your a dual sport enduro kind of guy [Wink]
 
Posted by TMA Turbo Donald (Member # 11926) on :
 
I have a 2014 DRZ400SM
 -

Don't know what your budget is, but if you're eyeing the CRF250L I would consider the WR250R also.
 
Posted by 90GT510 (Member # 9199) on :
 
^ that's nice. How fast does it go? Also I'm pretty open budget wise just don't really know what options I got.

There is a 250l I think I can get for a decent price

[ 2015-05-07, 07:11 PM: Message edited by: 90GT510 ]
 
Posted by TMA Turbo Donald (Member # 11926) on :
 
I do 70mph on average on 680 around the Sunol grade on the Highway. With the stock gearing 15T 41T. wide open throttle is around 85mph.
 
Posted by Ryan_LX (Member # 7089) on :
 
I would go bigger if I were you. That bike would be fun for awhile, then you will "outgrow" the 250 really quick, unless your not planning on taking it on the freeway at all. Especially coming from an r6. Those bikes are really fun though, easier to get in trouble imo because you feel like your on a dirt bike just hot rodding around everywhere lol.
 
Posted by 90GT510 (Member # 9199) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Ryan_LX:
I would go bigger if I were you. That bike would be fun for awhile, then you will "outgrow" the 250 really quick, unless your not planning on taking it on the freeway at all. Especially coming from an r6. Those bikes are really fun though, easier to get in trouble imo because you feel like your on a dirt bike just hot rodding around everywhere lol.

Exactly haha fuck traffic I'm taking the sidewalk.
 
Posted by brandon151 (Member # 12990) on :
 
You could always try and find a crf450x that has plates already. They tend to be quite pricy but they are great bikes.
 
Posted by Blue92 (Member # 8789) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by brandon151:
You could always try and find a crf450x that has plates already. They tend to be quite pricy but they are great bikes.

 -
 
Posted by TMA Turbo Donald (Member # 11926) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Blue92:
quote:
Originally posted by brandon151:
You could always try and find a crf450x that has plates already. They tend to be quite pricy but they are great bikes.

 -
Sweet Supermoto!!!! I would go this route if I had to do it all over again!
 
Posted by need-a-cage (Member # 5415) on :
 
Go bigger than a 250. Dual Sports are a total blast. Most fun I ever had on a bike. You can do wheelies all over the place and have a ton of fun under 100mph, so they are safer than some 150+HP sport bike. I am drueling over the new KTM 500 EXC dual sport. Lighter than my DRZ400E dirtbike, 20% more horsepower, and has turn signals, lights, and a plate. Sweet, but it cost $11000!!!! Probably never be in my budget. FYI, my DRZ dirt only ran 13.60 in the 1/4 at 94mph. I had to gear it up for this. The dual sport version is heavier, has lower compression, and a different carb and is in the mid to high 14's. You could still gear it to be okay at 70mph for shorter stints on the freeway. That 250 probably tops out at 80mph and would take a long time to get there. I don't know why Yamaha and Honda are using their 250's for dual sports when thier 450's would make such a better dual sport. I may look for an already CA licensed WR450 or CRF450X when I get my next bike since that KTM will probably always be twice as much.
 
Posted by Bent70 (Member # 9694) on :
 
How much off road are you thinking? The crf250l is slow everywhere and mediocre offroad. I have a husky 310r, which is fine in the city or streets,but shot on the freeway. It's a offroad race bike that happens to have a plate. The ktm exc 350 and 500 or basically re badged husky 350l and 501l are simaler but have wider ratio trans allowing sustained freeway speeds more attainable. Then you got drz's which are closer to a true dual sport without weight a ton.....not race bikes, but capable enough offroad.
 
Posted by 90GT510 (Member # 9199) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Bent70:
How much off road are you thinking? The crf250l is slow everywhere and mediocre offroad. I have a husky 310r, which is fine in the city or streets,but shot on the freeway. It's a offroad race bike that happens to have a plate. The ktm exc 350 and 500 or basically re badged husky 350l and 501l are simaler but have wider ratio trans allowing sustained freeway speeds more attainable. Then you got drz's which are closer to a true dual sport without weight a ton.....not race bikes, but capable enough offroad.

I want it mostly for off road use. Just want to have the option of riding it to the off-road spots since I don't have a truck
 
Posted by Bent70 (Member # 9694) on :
 
If your riding from the eastbay to like close spots....like carnige,metcalf or Hollister. Get something with a wide ratio trans 400cc+. It'll suck riding on the freeway after awhile. Basically, I'd get any late model KTM exc larger than 350cc or any bigbore beta rs. If you can find a plated wr450 those would fit the bill and be cheaper, but know you could lose the plate at anytime since it slipped past DMV.
These are bikes that work really well offroad.

[ 2015-05-17, 12:43 PM: Message edited by: Bent70 ]
 




Fueled by Ford Mustang Owners
on CaliforniaFords.com