StromXTc
0
Too complicated, where do you fill the tank?First you plug it in, then you unplug it.
Too complicated, where do you fill the tank?First you plug it in, then you unplug it.
I had a DRZ 400 and it did everything I needed. Was incredible. You can see YouTube, franks ride on, and watch it keep up with RMZ 450. Yet can go on the road.Original Post:
So I've got my Africa Twin and its a fun bike, but big. I've been wondering what it would be like to have a smaller dirt bike that I can throw around and
really run off road with it.
I have a 5 acre pasture at my place and took the Africa Twin in there and it was... not really that fun. Seems like a light, more torquey bike might be more fun there. And on trails that are too tight for the Africa Twin.
I'm a big guy. 260 lbs before putting on all the gear. Over 6 foot tall. Decently strong. So wondering IF (and that's a big if) I wanted to get a "dirt" bike, what should I be looking at? 250? 450? 650?
=========================================
Summary of Thread as of 10/31/2018:
This is here in case you don't want to read it all. I started out looking for a "dirt bike" but I figured out pretty quickly that trying to start being joe dirt bike at age 47 isn't all its cracked up to be.
Changed directions and started looking at mid size dual sport bikes and changed the title of the thread per request to keep the story going.
Highlights:
Post 133 - Bought 2014 CRF250L
Post 222 - Lost interest in CRF250L (after a month and a half of ownership)
Post 388 - Sold CRF250L
Post 420 - Bought 2018 KLR650
Post 544 - Lost interest in the KLR650 (again, bout a month and a half)
Post 584 - Bought a 2016 VFR1200X (on 10/30/2018 - NOT a dual sport bike )
Post 630 - The KLR sold and the Dual Sport Experiment is officially over
Post 645 - I'm back, kinda... Bought a Zero FX (electric dual sport) on 2/20/19
I had a DRZ 400 and it did everything I needed. Was incredible. You can see YouTube, franks ride on, and watch it keep up with RMZ 450. Yet can go on the road.
It amazes me that they don't recognize this and just create the necessary electronics to take care of leaving it plugged in after it is charged.
That is decent equipment and should be easy to have ser up for youI'm too new to really know much about suspension stuff. On the road, the bike feels fine to me. Off pavement, it soaks up little bumps, but jars me a just little bit on faster, bigger hits. Not sure if that's good or bad.
I prefer this bike's suspension to the CFR250L I had. Not as good feeling to me as my Africa Twin with upgraded springs in it. I think it reminds me most of my daughter's NC700X suspension, but with more travel.
Here's what it has on it:
Front suspension: Showa 41 mm inverted cartridge forks, with adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping
Rear suspension: Showa 40 mm piston, piggy-back reservoir shock with adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping
Front suspension travel: 8.60 in (218 mm)
Rear suspension travel: 8.94 in (227 mm)
I don't know if that's good or bad equipment.
Jarrett....Showa is a good supplier. They are OEM for most Honda stuff and several other brands.I'm too new to really know much about suspension stuff. On the road, the bike feels fine to me. Off pavement, it soaks up little bumps, but jars me a just little bit on faster, bigger hits. Not sure if that's good or bad.
I prefer this bike's suspension to the CFR250L I had. Not as good feeling to me as my Africa Twin with upgraded springs in it. I think it reminds me most of my daughter's NC700X suspension, but with more travel.
Here's what it has on it:
Front suspension: Showa 41 mm inverted cartridge forks, with adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping
Rear suspension: Showa 40 mm piston, piggy-back reservoir shock with adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping
Front suspension travel: 8.60 in (218 mm)
Rear suspension travel: 8.94 in (227 mm)
I don't know if that's good or bad equipment.
Update on this six day old bike:
"Your battery shows some signs of a bad internal crimp connection. This connection issue can cause some of the battery’s energy on high current events to be converted to heat, which can lead to reduced range, power, and increased battery temperatures. We are replacing your battery as a precaution and because it could have an internal defect."
Looked like they had a combination of hot day & difficult / steep terrain that pushed the limitMaybe if I go abuse it on a hot, summer day I'll find it again. It would probably be hard to do offroad.
Here's a video showing off road capability - towards the the end, it notes that the bike is programmed to lower its output & performance if it gets too hot, appears that once it cools down its good to go full out again