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I've been off bikes for about six years now and I'm starting to get the itch again. My father-in-law let me have a go on his TW200 and I quite enjoyed it. I don't want to ride the thing on the highways and I don't have the room for a proper bike trailer, but a co-worker showed me that hitch racks for dirt bikes are a thing and now I'm seriously considering buying a 200 of my own. The only real problem is I live near Seattle and the used market is completely insane. There's very few listings in general, and if there are people want $3500 for a salvage title. Is it worth watching the classifieds for a cheaper bike in the PNW, or should I just grab one new?
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Jun 21, 2019 03:43
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Elviscat posted:If you're going full dirt bike, get a dirt bike, not a t-dub, they're cheaper and they ride better off road there are plenty of deals in the area, like this older YZ Hmm, I’ve been off Facebook for years, didn’t even think to try it, thanks. I’m definitely leaning more towards a small dual sport. It needs to be street legal, some of the rides my father in law wants to take me on are mixed trail and road. The TW appealed for how simple it was.
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Jun 21, 2019 06:42
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Hmm, this is great info, thanks guys. I'd been researching the CRF205L before and liked the idea of something in that class. I'm decidedly average height so seats above 35 inches concern me a bit, I should go see if I can find a place to sit on a WR250f, CRF250 and XT250 back to back.
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Jun 21, 2019 18:46
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So I sat on a bunch of bikes today and I think I'm going to try for an XT250. I liked the lighter weight. I felt comfortable on the CRF250l, but the XT was just a better fit. Are crate damaged bikes worth considering? One of the nearby dealers has one for $600 off. Then again I'm going to be in eastern WA next weekend anyway and this is even cheaper and undamaged. Just need to find a trailer to haul it. BabelFish fucked around with this message at 04:13 on Jun 23, 2019 |
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Jun 23, 2019 03:12
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Well my father-in-law has found a deal on a used 2017 xt250 with 1500 miles for $3700, everything but taxes included. A good deal for the PNW? I'd nearly convinced myself to be practical and give up on my motorcycle dreams again, but I'm seriously tempted by this one.
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Jul 3, 2019 18:36
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Verman posted:That seems like a great deal to me. They usually run a little over $5k new if I'm not mistaken so getting a $1300 discount for something 2 years old seems like a great deal, especially in the PNW so long as it has a clear title and is in good shape. They aren't of the YZ/WR variety so people who ride them tend to treat them better so they likely won't be as thrashed and crashed. If you're looking for a XT250, its worth going to look at that one. Thanks. It's at his local dealer that he spends a lot of time/money at, so I'm pretty comfortable that they're not taking me for a ride. Going to drive down next weekend and ride it.
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Jul 6, 2019 06:28
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This thread has me seriously considering an SV650 if I ever buy a street bike. How are they for short (< 30 minute) highway commutes?
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Sep 12, 2019 22:27
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Gorson posted:Highway or freeway? You'll get blown around a bit in heavy winds and by passing trucks but as far as comfort and ergos go they are perfect for sub 30 minute rides on back country roads or highways. They're just not ideal for long stretches of slab. If you're doing that you'll want to upsize a bit to a sport tourer. Bigger freeways. My commute to work is about 15 miles (16-40 minutes depending on traffic) of 6-lane freeway. Honestly if the electrics were a little cheaper I'd be looking at a Zero, but they're still about a 5-grand premium.
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Sep 12, 2019 23:49
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Martytoof posted:Sat on a 2018 Ninja 650 today. Sigh, now it’s all I want. I upgraded from a ninja 250 to a ninja 650 and it was fine. Used it to commute around the SF bay area. It liked the highways a lot better than the 250 did, but everywhere else I honestly preferred wringing the heck out of the smaller bike more. I'm back on a 250 (dual sport this time) and looking to compliment it with a 650 or electric commuter, but this time the head of the pack for dinosaur power is an sv650 instead of the ninja.
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Oct 18, 2019 22:08
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Next year I'm moving to a new job in Seattle that will have severely limited car parking nearby. I'm considering commuting by motorcycle, ~15 miles of mixed freeway and city traffic. I've currently got an XT250 for trail riding (and an electric bike for the summer,) but it's really not comfortable doing freeway miles in the wet. Anyone got suggestions for a good commuter? Eyeing the V-Strom 650 or perhaps splurging for something Zero makes.
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Dec 19, 2019 01:15
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Coydog posted:Better tires for the xt250, and a windscreen. I bought a windscreen already so perhaps I'll just go buy a second set of wheels to be able to swap the tires quicker and start with that!
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Dec 19, 2019 02:00
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AuxiliaryPatroller posted:What commute exactly? I commute Seattle/Bellevue. I5/I-90 mostly, 520 sometimes. Depending on your route you’ll want a good2go pass. Motos aren’t exempt from all tolls. You can use HOV lanes though, and motorcycle only parking exists in various places if you look hard. Factoria to Fremont. 90 to 5 99% of the time. We recently had to get a new breaker box for the house, so I got an extra 40amp 220v socket put in at the same time, charging at home shouldn't be a problem. I've got a set of Alpinestars Andes v2 jacket and pants. They've been quite warm, was looking at Revit's waterproof overpants so I don't have to change at the office, probably some form of heated glove liner too. I've got the budget for a set of luggage, at least a top box.
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Dec 19, 2019 19:41
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Jim Silly-Balls posted:Although I am a noted not-liker of the Versys 650, the Versys 1000 is apparently an off-road Ninja 1000 and owns quite a bit. What's the general opinion on the V-Strom 650? I hear great praise for the SV650 and they share a similar engine.
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Feb 15, 2020 10:28
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Does NZ have the Yamaha T700 available? The response to those seems to be good, and I see it compared to the 690 a lot, though it's definitely more of a dirt oriented bike.
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Feb 27, 2020 21:55
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OMGVBFLOL posted:i want a motorcycle but im poor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4AiZyN88l0 If you want still be able to
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Feb 28, 2020 00:36
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Mr. Wiggles posted:Anyone have any experience with the new super cub? It looks so great, and I'd like to have something smaller for zipping around the neighborhood. An ex co-worker bought one for commuting across the ferries in Seattle. He really enjoys it.
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Mar 30, 2020 23:04
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I've ridden my father-in-law's TW200 around and they're great fun. Low, grippy, and a ton of fun on tight trails where you're not going very fast anyway. Fortnine did my favorite review video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2a-sUdaNJ8 I ended up going with an XT250 because the disk breaks and slightly more power for short freeway stretches, but the TW's great.
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Apr 10, 2020 22:06
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Ténéré 700 would probably fit into that category.
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Apr 19, 2020 02:19
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I've become super interested in getting a 'practical' bike for a daily commuter when/if the current situation blows over. Honda's NC750x DCT is currently at the top of my list, has anyone tried one? The DCT is tempting for all the stop and go city traffic I have to do (no lane splitting in my state.)
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May 8, 2020 23:08
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Hmm, thanks guys!Nitrox posted:I tried Africa twin and Goldwing DCT and both were surprisingly good. You can still downshift in full auto mode. But otherwise, pretty boring. In regular and economy setting, they just go up to highest gear as soon as they can. Test ride before you buy, and not just in a parking lot. Slavvy posted:I mean, there's a lever right there on the left but if you want double the complexity and pointless automation then yeah sweet! BabelFish fucked around with this message at 23:41 on May 10, 2020 |
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May 10, 2020 02:03
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Steakandchips posted:When I was just learning (ie first or second time on a bike) I asked these questions too and Slavvy correctly informed me that I need to learn to use the clutch. Jim Silly-Balls posted:I’m pretty sure the new GSXRs have a quick shifter both for up shifts and downshifts. Ignition cut on upshifts, auto-blip on downshifts. Unless I'm very much mistaken, I'd have to go all the way up to the GSX-R1000R before they add a quickshifter. I mean, those are very cool bikes, but I'm not sure I'd want to commute to work on one every day. The KTM 790s and up (and the RC390/390 adventure) also have quickshifters, but then I'd have to buy a KTM.
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May 11, 2020 01:25
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Rolo posted:Is there anything challenging about buying a new/used bike from a dealer across state lines? I bought my latest bike from a dealer across state lines, and they just had an extra page of paperwork they filled out which I had to take into the DMV, who then charged me sales tax. I bought it in Oregon though, which lacks a state sales tax, so that may have made things easier.
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May 11, 2020 22:30
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Jack B Nimble posted:This was fantastic, thank you. I'm sort of settling on the idea that a dr650 would be a great choice IF I was already comfortable off road, but a 250 will be a better choice to start with. So, I think I'll keep an eye out for a used KLR 250 (efi) or a Yamaha xt250, and ride that for a year, then maybe move on to a dr650 later. And I could still keep the 250 around because maybe, finally, I could actually convince a friend to ride a little if I transported the 250 to a trail. I sold my ninja 650 and stopped riding for a few years, then bought an xt250 last summer and have really enjoyed it. It's at the top of it's range on a freeway and gets blown around a lot at that speed, but anything 50mph or lower and it's great. I'm probably going to pick up a larger road bike in the future, but I'm keeping the 250 as a trail bike.
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Jun 2, 2020 19:03
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How much do lowering links muck with geometry? I finally got to sit on a T7 at the local dealer, but my 30 inch inseam couldn't get the ball of one foot down without sliding off the seat. Apparently the low seat (which isn't even showing up at Yamaha US for another month, let alone at the local dealership) pulls 20mm off the seat height, and the lowering links another 20mm, but at that point I wonder if it's just worth looking at other motorcycles. The T7 shocks felt SUPER stiff too, there was essentially no sag when I sat on the bike, but I've only ever ridden dual sports. Do adventure bikes generally have no sag in the suspension, or was it just a bad showroom floor setup?
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Aug 9, 2020 20:37
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Slavvy posted:Sounds like a bad setup, they're usually pretty plush. If you're having to do all those things to bake the bike lower you're better off with a lower bike IMO, the ground clearance and height is half the point of having a dual sport in the first place. Nitrox posted:I have a 30-inch inseam and both my feet touch the floor while sitting on t7. Not fully planted, but stable enough. I'm also 5'9 am I riding boots give me another inch Hmm, thanks. I suspect the dealer had just slapped the bike together and left the suspension on the hardest settings then. Would be par for the course with those guys.
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Aug 10, 2020 17:43
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Given how tight bike supplies are, it's amazing just how many used Africa Twins with < 2000 miles I see up for sale at reasonable prices. After riding a bunch of ~650cc 'adventure' bikes over the last couple weeks looking for an upright road commuter, I've confirmed I'm the most boring motorcyclist possible, as I actually like the NC750X the best. But for about a thousand dollars more, I could get a couple year old Africa Twin 1000 with very low miles. How much of a fool's errand is it to try to time new model releases? There's rumors of a whole new line of 850cc Hondas to be announced later this year, and I'd hate to buy a brand new bike only for the updated version to be announced a couple months later.
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Sep 10, 2020 04:56
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Elviscat posted:Does anyone have any experience with the Teneres? Especially the new 700? They look like dog poo poo, but I was thinking it might be a nice compromise between the blandness of the Honda, and the KTMness of the KTM offerings. If I wanted a big dirt bike that could be ridden dozens of miles of freeway to a trail then handle the dirt excellently, it would be at the absolute top of my list. Everything Ryan says about it is true. It feels top-heavy though, way heavier than anything else in the ~600-900cc range. Felt about like the new 2020 1100cc Africa Twin to pick up off the side-stand. I would personally need the lower seat to feel comfortable with that much weight that high (with my 30 inch inseam I could only get the ball of one foot down by sliding a good distance off the seat) and nobody knows when Yamaha America is going to get them.
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Sep 10, 2020 23:21
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Nitrox posted:Honda recently took out a patent for something similar to T7 based on Atwin platform/nomenclature Yamaha actually makes a more street focused bike based around the CP2 engine. It's called the Tracer 700. They just refuse to bring it to the US. The closest we get is the Tracer 900 GT, which IS a very nice bike if you're looking for something lighter but with some of the Super Tenere touring comforts. BabelFish fucked around with this message at 00:12 on Sep 11, 2020 |
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Sep 10, 2020 23:57
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Ryan at Fortnine is still my favorite, though Ari and Zack are a very close second.
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Oct 6, 2020 05:26
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FBS posted:Is there any motorcycle ever made that gets girls to talk to you instead of random dudes? I had a couple girls in SF stop to tell me they liked my lime green ninja 650 many years ago. That’s the only time strangers commented on that bike while I had it.
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Nov 21, 2020 03:14
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Mr. Wiggles posted:I rode a friend's Zero again and came away with a burning desire to own add an electric motorcycle to my stable. However, I really feel like this is a segment that could do with some cool vintag-y looking bikes. Is anyone making anything like that which is actually purchasable and not vaporware? https://www.energicamotor.com/energica-eva-esseesse9-old-school-electric-motorcycle/ Comes with DC fast charging and a bigger battery option, but the AC charge rate is lower. Has a chain and reduction gears so it’s louder than the zero, but some people really like the whine it makes. Dealer network is not as good as Zero in the US, but they’re working on it.
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Nov 24, 2020 03:38
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Mirconium posted:Oh poo poo there is an electric with fast charging now? How long for a full battery on a DC fast charger? <20 min? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFgZ2JQ_hFU He's got the smaller 13.4KWH battery here, the 21.5KWH packs are new for this year I think so there's less info on their charging rates.
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Nov 24, 2020 03:59
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Steakandchips posted:Hell, as long as the carbs don't need loving with, I could be persuaded to go carbed. The Bandit 600 the training school had had water ingress into the carbs which caused it to be an unreliable POS, hence my wariness... I am fine with turning on the choke to start it and then turning off the choke later, but any fuckerey beyond that when trying to get back home on a rainy day from work would suck. If you want the most practical commuter that can handle freeway speeds without being at 10,000rpm, it's probably the NC750. I spent the last year trying to work out which motorcycle I wanted to buy to do my commute, and ended up putting my name on the list for a 2021 NC750x assuming they actually come to the US. I figure it will last me till they get solid-state batteries into motorcycles 5-10 years from now.
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Dec 30, 2020 01:57
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If you want a ~1000 cc sport tourer I’d look at the Versys 1000 and the tracer 900 (GT for both if you can find them.) The Versys 1000 is a very different machine to the 650. Edit: Perhaps an Indian FTR 1200? BabelFish fucked around with this message at 04:00 on Dec 31, 2020 |
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Dec 31, 2020 03:55
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AlphariusOmegon posted:Wow is the 650 really so boring? Well, I suppose I'll go for the 1000 or the Tracer 900 (Both available nearby thankfully). Is there any important update from the 2019 model to the 2020 or 2021 version that I shouldn't snap this 2019 up? Zack Courts put it bang center of his daily rider chart with good reason. There’s no part of it that you could describe as “bad”, but it does not stand out in any way. Goons tend to like exciting/interesting/storied motorcycles.
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Dec 31, 2020 04:11
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The tracer 900 I test rode was perhaps the most fun bike I tried. My only problems were a slightly too tall seat height, and a shift lever that was a pain to get my toe under. Both of which seem to have been solved in the 2021 model.
BabelFish fucked around with this message at 13:40 on Dec 31, 2020 |
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Dec 31, 2020 12:23
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bengy81 posted:I love my XT250, it was tough to choose between it and the T-dub. It's extremely an old man bike though, definitely doesn't turn heads at all, which is good or bad depending on how you live your life. I'll probably try to get a TW when my oldest kid turns 16 so we can cruise fire roads together. My father-in-law has a T-dub, and while it's an absolute joy to ride, I'm happier with a disk on the back and EFI. BabelFish fucked around with this message at 13:33 on Feb 16, 2021 |
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Feb 16, 2021 12:53
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captainOrbital posted:Half of these it sounds like you made up. "FortNine"? come on, son https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSAR0b-0w8k
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Feb 25, 2021 01:20
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Snapshot posted:No worries, I didn’t know where to look. I’ll ask the dealer about how much it would cost for the major plastics; It looks like this problem may solve itself, as they’re apparently in low supply. What should I be cross shopping? Drz400, drz400sm and a conversion kit, wr250r? It’ll need enough go for about a 300km highway transit at ~110 kph with a weekend’s worth of gear from time to time. Really feels like the drz400 or dr650 are your main options. 250-300cc is going to struggle going that far/fast with luggage, and if they do, you're going to be pretty worn out by the time you get to the trail.
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Mar 16, 2021 04:52
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Fat Tire E-Bikes are especially great, particularly if you're going to be going over sand. If I lived in some sea-side village and wanted a two-wheel vehicle to bop around on the beach/run errands with, I can't think of a better idea than something that light with big buoyant tires and extra power to get me out of ruts.
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Apr 3, 2021 02:40
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