fast, reliable, light, cheap, dualsport

[offcamber]

I'm riding a Yamaha xt225 right now (1st bike, and i've put over a thousand miles on it) and am looking for a bike that i can go 80mph or faster without feeling like i'm going to blow the motor. I do like how light my bike is and how easy it is to save it in the dirt but the cruising speed before redline is 55 and i usually push it to an indicated 65mph on the highway.

I would like to ride cross country eventually but at least be able to ride between San Marcos and Houston, or Leakey without a problem. The bike obviously needs to be street legal or made to be so without too may problems.

I am 5'9" and don't need much low end power seeing how my 225 has more than enough in the dirt. It also doesn't have to have quick acceleration (though that would be nice). It just needs to have a high cruising speed, be relatively light, reliable, somewhat durable, available parts, and cost in the $2,500 range including the street legal kit. 4-stroke and reasonable maintenance intervals are also required. I do most of my riding as a commuter but still want a losable bike for the dirt.

Yes, i know i'm crazy and that a bike like this doesn't exist, but hey i still believe in Santa and the tooth fairy so cut me some slack. I'm hoping one of Santa's elfs has at least started the initial process of designing my bike on solidwords.

-Dave

[KenH]

Harbor Freight trailer.

[offcamber]

What about a 400/450cc with a sprocket change?

[jqueen]

You might get lucky with a klx250, but I would look more towards drz400, or dr350 if you find a nice one.

[Rsquared]

Fast, reliable, cheap. Pick two...

[Trailduster]

Thats kind of a tough one, Light, Fast and cheap but good on the highway, We usually have to give up a little of one to have more of the other and vise versa, Reliable: any of the big 4, DRZ4s are fun in the dirt and ok on the highway if you don't mind the buzz at 75 mph, I've heard the DRZ250 with the 6 speed is better on the road than the 400 with the 5 speed and cheaper if you can find one, the KLR250 is dated and kinda slow off road but they are reliable, I wouldn't ride anything less than a 650 over 200 miles one way but thats just me and I;m getting old, you said cheap, my list of cheap as in 15-2500, KLR, DR, DRZ, XRL, all these will get you anywhere you want to go but some are better off road or on, it's a tough call.

[Tourmeister]

Fast, reliable, and cheap are all VERY relative...

For instance, my KLR 650 is fast compared to a KLR 250. Running in the serious twisties of Arkansas and Missouri, I've never had any trouble keeping up when riding with folks on sport bikes. Of course they walk away on long straights if top speed is their thing. It's reliable compared to... well... heck, it's just been really reliable and I've never had any problems with it!! I just change the oil, tires, brake pads, sprockets, chain, and go go go... It is definitely cheap compared to my 1200 GS It is also light compared to my old 1150 GS!! I can run it at 75-80mph pretty much all day with stock gearing. Right now though, it is geared one tooth lower on the front for better off pavement performance, so sustained 80mph cruising is pretty much at the limit and you're running it hard. Still, it will run 70-75mph no problem. With stock jetting, most KLRs will get in the high 40 to mid 50 mpg depending on how you ride them. Mine has been rejetted a little rich and gets in the mid 40s even when I flog it. As a jack of all trades, it does nothing exceptionally well but does everything well enough. I've done monster highway miles on it for hours on end, crawled over rough mountain passes in Colorado, explored the deserts and mountains in Arizona, and even been to the deserts of Mexico on it. I've used it to commute and just for weekend riding. I bought a 1200 GS about a year and a half ago and a KTM 530 EXC just recently, but I doubt I will get rid of the KLR any time soon... Bang for the buck, it is hard to beat. Mine is an 01 model.

[Rman of 237]

Originally Posted by Rsquared

Fast, reliable, cheap. Pick two...

Indeed!

[Gravel Guy]

Originally Posted by Tourmeister

Fast, reliable, and cheap are all VERY relative...

For instance, my KLR 650 is fast compared to a KLR 250. Running in the serious twisties of Arkansas and Missouri, I've never had any trouble keeping up when riding with folks on sport bikes. Of course they walk away on long straights if top speed is their thing. It's reliable compared to... well... heck, it's just been really reliable and I've never had any problems with it!! I just change the oil, tires, brake pads, sprockets, chain, and go go go... It is definitely cheap compared to my 1200 GS It is also light compared to my old 1150 GS!! I can run it at 75-80mph pretty much all day with stock gearing. Right now though, it is geared one tooth lower on the front for better off pavement performance, so sustained 80mph cruising is pretty much at the limit and you're running it hard. Still, it will run 70-75mph no problem. With stock jetting, most KLRs will get in the high 40 to mid 50 mpg depending on how you ride them. Mine has been rejetted a little rich and gets in the mid 40s even when I flog it. As a jack of all trades, it does nothing exceptionally well but does everything well enough. I've done monster highway miles on it for hours on end, crawled over rough mountain passes in Colorado, explored the deserts and mountains in Arizona, and even been to the deserts of Mexico on it. I've used it to commute and just for weekend riding. I bought a 1200 GS about a year and a half ago and a KTM 530 EXC just recently, but I doubt I will get rid of the KLR any time soon... Bang for the buck, it is hard to beat. Mine is an 01 model.

Well said! +1

[bronco78]

DRZ 400, reliability work mainly with suspension and tuning done.. gets you
fast(er then what you ride now), reliable, light(ish, 295#), cheap, dualsport.

From there you can build on it, or ride it as is anywhere in the world.

[RollingJ]

Seat height is over-rated. I am 5'9" with a 32" inseam and ride a CRF450X with a 37.5" seat height. At stops I can tiptoe both feet or plant one with the 'one cheek sneak'. Suspension travel is more important to me than comfort while stopped. You learn to find the balance point on the uphill side very quickly.

Your high speed is unrealistic. Over 70 for long stretches on an under 300lbs bike with no wind protection is not fun. 70 is doable, and you need to remember that these engines are meant to run up to 1K short of redline for extended periods. Winding them out is where you get the power to overcome wind-resistance.

I would say go for a DRZ400S. Find a 2001 or later for $1800. Most owners will have done the little required things that quickly add to the cost (skidplate, handguards, case protection, maybe a rear rack).
Change the gearing to 15/44 for $150 with a DID chain and JT sprockets. Get an extra front sprocket at 14t to put on if you know you are going to stay local and ride a lot of dirt. Get a low seat foam/cover set from Seat Concepts for $160 and you can ride all day and get 1" lower seat height. Drop $240 on a new gas tank in the 4 gallon range and ride for 175 miles or so between fill-ups.

That leaves you $150 for your first set of new tires!

[offcamber]

Originally Posted by jqueen

You might get lucky with a klx250, but I would look more towards drz400, or dr350 if you find a nice one.

Between the 350 and 400, the 350 from what i've dug up is a bit simpler and more reliable. It's also less powerful but does have an extra gear. Has anyone had experience with a Dr350 geared for the highway? Seeing how i am never in want of more power in the dirt(just lightness) and am always looking for a higher cruising speed on the highway(going from San Marcos to SA, ATX, Houston) i figured a light bike geared for the highway with just enough power to hit 80-85 would be the ticket. I've been eying this one:
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/mcd/2717129777.html
Here is a drz400:
http://austin.craigslist.org/mcy/2715051357.html

Originally Posted by Rsquared

Fast, reliable, cheap. Pick two...

I'm actually surprised it took that long for someone to say that. Y'all are slackin.

This is also tempting seeing how it's lowered. I'm concerned about the mileage though...and weight. I do like the aftermarket support though...
http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64494

[offcamber]

Originally Posted by RollingJ

Your high speed is unrealistic. Over 70 for long stretches on an under 300lbs bike with no wind protection is not fun. 70 is doable, and you need to remember that these engines are meant to run up to 1K short of redline for extended periods. Winding them out is where you get the power to overcome wind-resistance.

On the highway i am constantly dialing back on the throttle(xt225) for fear of over-reving the engine. I would rather fly along at high speed and have to stop more often than putter along for hours on end. A lot of it is physiological. I can't drive a car less than 80mph on the highway and so now that i'm used to riding a bike, 60-65 feels dog slow. The combination of me not comfortable at 65 and the bike drifting up to an indicated 70mph means i am constantly looking down at the speedo and backing off the throttle. On top of that, the redline on the speedo is 55... I'm not trying to be an dick on the road or anything. I'm just not comfortable going slow but do take riding/driving very seriously.

Since i have no room in the budget for two bikes, am a n00b to motorcycles, and love playing in the dirt i feel i still have a lot to learn in the dirt on a dualsport that can translate to the street (dirt hurts less than asphalt). Thankfully i have a background in motorsports and cycling/MTB racing. At this point in my life, rider comfort is only a concern if it has major safety implications.

Sometimes i think a small 250 sport bike with knobby-ish tires for offroad/gravel roads would make me happiest.

-Dave

[DFW_Warrior]

Buy two cheap bikes with less overall compromises would be my advice. The bike you are looking for doesn't exist. If you can't afford it, then wait till you can. Or like KenH said, get yourself a Harbor Freight trailer and be done with it.

[JMZ]

Just reading your post makes me think KLR 650 . Espescially this , " It also doesn't have to have quick acceleration


Really , I am thinking KLR 650

[DFW_Warrior]

Do you all really think KLR's fit into any "light" category? I've got one and unless there is some secret piece of the bike I can take off to save 60-80 lbs I personally wouldn't call one a lightweight. Heck it's not much lighter if any, compared to a 650 V-Strom....

[JMZ]

Mine seemed light to me But , I am kinda strong and big My XRR does seam a little lighter though

[Rman of 237]

Originally Posted by DFW_Warrior

Buy two cheap bikes with less overall compromises would be my advice. The bike you are looking for doesn't exist. If you can't afford it, then wait till you can. Or like KenH said, get yourself a Harbor Freight trailer and be done with it.

Ack! You beat me to it!

Dude, you need two bikes! My big heavy XR650L tops out at 105mph and will comfortably ride 80 all day. My little TW will do 70ish tucked. But they both do what they're designed to do very well. The 650 will go off and leave the TW on the line like it's sittin' still but the TW will do circles around the 650 on trails. "Compromise"?, that's where the 440 and the KDX come in!

[Rsquared]

Unfortunately, unlike dedicated off road or street riding, Dual Sport is all about compromise. The individual must decide where he wants to compromise. More off road = 450cc/300# or less. More on road = 600cc/300# or more. Good Luck.

[RollingJ]

You are looking at the wrong 'redline'.

A red line on the speedo is there at the bequest of your government. It simply a warning of the 'recommended ground speed'.

The redline on the tach gives you an indication of theoretical limit of engine rpm before the rings float or the valve springs are unable to recoil fast enough to keep the valves in the right place at the right time. There is at least 1k of play past the redline before damage should start occurring.

If you don't have a tach, and if you have never hit your rev limited while wide open on a downhill, you have never hit your redline.

A little bit of simplification has been added for readability.