Hello everybody, im Giovanni from CA

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GIO
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Hello everybody, im Giovanni from CA

#1 Unread post by GIO »

Hello friends, i'm new into motorcycles and i wonder a few things, maybe someone can help me out.
I'd like to buy a KLX 250 , XR 250 or CR250.
The problem for me is that i live in san francisco california and there are a few rules and laws about this kind of motorcycles. I dont understand the difference btw off road bike and on road bike or "dual propouse".
i've arround $2500 to invest in an used bike but i dont know what to buy.
I need a bike for everyday use not for race but i'd like to get a fun bike to ride this summer. 8)
someone told me that there is a way to register an off road motorcycle as street legal. Is that true? is just the mirrors and lights? :|
thanks a lot for reading my post!!! i hope somebody can helpme
GIO
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VermilionX
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#2 Unread post by VermilionX »

:welcome:

dual sports are those bikes that can go both on and off road.

i think every dirtbike can be street legal if you just put mirrors and lights on it.

i dunno about dirtbikes that are 2 strokes though... CA doesn't like 2 strokes.
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#3 Unread post by GIO »

hELLO VermilionX, Thanks for your answer!!
so i'll check the dual sports bikes, and 4 strokes.
does anyone has a suggestion ? what motorcycle do you recomend to me? i'm willing to spend 2500 on this bike.
thanks a lot for your help
Gio
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VermilionX
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#4 Unread post by VermilionX »

GIO wrote:hELLO VermilionX, Thanks for your answer!!
so i'll check the dual sports bikes, and 4 strokes.
does anyone has a suggestion ? what motorcycle do you recomend to me? i'm willing to spend 2500 on this bike.
thanks a lot for your help
Gio
im not familiar w/ all the dual sports but...

check if they sell kawasaki KLR250s over there

or a suzuki DR200.

if you can find an older model, then im sure you can find one even less than $2500.
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#5 Unread post by totalmotorcycle »

:welcome: GIO!!

It can be tricky registering an off-road only motorcycle for use on the street, it is better to buy a dual-sport like a Yamaha XT225 http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2 ... -XT225.htm if you want a bike that will do both road and off-road. The Kawasaki is a good choice and don't forget about some of the other dual-sports from other manufacturers too.

Image
2007 Yamaha XT225

or a 2007 Suzuki DR Z400S
Image


or even a Suzuki DR200SE
Image


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Last edited by totalmotorcycle on Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:45 am, edited 3 times in total.
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#6 Unread post by Z (fka Sweet Tooth) »

Don't have any advice for you but just wanted to welcome you to TMW. 8)
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#7 Unread post by Toyuzu »

GIO,

Our venerable site administrator is correct. I'm a former California resident. Theoretically, you could take an off-road bike and add turn signals, brake and head lights, and some DOT approved tires and make it street legal. But these days CA is very touchy about such things. I suspect you would wind up spending more on the conversion process than it's worth, not to mention all the red tape headache.

You're much better off getting a dual-sport that's already street legal. There are many that are very capable off-road as well. All Japanese manufacturers produce small, light dual-sport bikes that can be had fairly cheap, and would be loads of fun. Do some research, and ask any question you want here! :)
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#8 Unread post by younggun »

sorry no advice hear either but welcome to the forums
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GIO
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#9 Unread post by GIO »

Thanks everyone for your help!!!
now i know i'll buy a dual sport because CA has real problems with dirt bikes.
I found out there are some XR200 street legal. so right now i'm thinking to buy one of these models: Kawasaki KLX(if it's street legal), XR 200, Suzuki DR200SE , Suzuki DR Z400S or Yamaha XT225.
I have to get my CA Motorcycle drivers license. Theres a course at the DMV where they teach you how to ride and everything and when you finish the course they give to you a drivers license.
So i just need to decide btw those models and i'm ready to buy it!
thanks for your help
Gio
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Your search for a dual-purpose motorcycle

#10 Unread post by scooter78666 »


Gio, one thing you need to keep in mind when selecting ANY motorcycle, but especially a dual-sport or dual-purpose model, is SEAT HEIGHT. Dirt bikes and dual-purpose motorcycles all have a lot of suspension "travel" in order to give them good ground clearance and to provide impact absorption on 'landings', which is all good. The downside to this is tall seat heights. Anything over 33 inches tall, is TALL. If you have long legs, no problem, likely. If you are short legged, with a pants inseam dimension under 30 inches....WATCH OUT for those tall seats. Seat HEIGHT, more than weight, determines how easily you might "drop" the motorcycle when you get "out of shape" with it.

Good luck with your search, Gio.
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