dual purpose or dirtbike?

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srr5008 · #1 Unread post by **srr5008** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 4:49 am

I used to do some trail riding on an old Yamaha dirt bike and have since moved on to a Yamaha ATV. However, I'd like to get back on something with two wheels. I was thinking that if i got a dual purpose bike I could also use it for local riding instead of driving my car. How do dual purpose bikes handle offroad abuse? Im not doing any motocross stuff, just trail riding and the occasional jump here and there. I'd also like to stick with Yamaha since I've worked on them before. Anyone have anything good/bad to say about Yamaha Dual Purpose bikes?

sapaul · #2 Unread post by **sapaul** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 4:54 am

XT 660 is super cool. Everything you could ever want.

Aggroton · #3 Unread post by **Aggroton** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:53 am

sapaul wrote:XT 660 is super cool. Everything you could ever want.

agreed as usual...

srr5008 · #4 Unread post by **srr5008** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:02 am

I can't find that bike on Yamaha's website... it does look pretty sweet tho. Anyone have any experience with the XT 225? Do you think that would be to small for me? (I'm 6'6" and 220 pounds)

Aggroton · #5 Unread post by **Aggroton** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 10:03 am

srr5008 wrote:I can't find that bike on Yamaha's website... it does look pretty sweet tho. Anyone have any experience with the XT 225? Do you think that would be to small for me? (I'm 6'6" and 220 pounds)

the 225 may not handle highway speeds very well.

the 660 is not in the us...i didnt know thats...my bad...yeah the 225 should be tuff enough though.

srr5008 · #6 Unread post by **srr5008** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:37 pm

well if the 660 isnt available in the US and the 225 might not handle highway speeds too well, can anyone reccomend a different brand of dual purpose bikes? I don't have any experience with any brand but yamaha.

jmillheiser · Wed Sep 07, 2005 6:05 pm

Kawasaki KLR650. Probably the most popular dual sport in the US. Easy to find, good aftermarket support, and not only can you get new but used ones are pretty easy to find as well.

The KLR has decent power and will do highway speeds all day but is still forgiving and considered an excellent bike for new riders. It gets decent MPG and has a HUGE gas tank (like 7.5 gallons or so). Will also go just about anywhere you could want to go off-road as well (don't expect to MX on it but it is certainly capable of tackling most trails).

Another nice feature is its design is its more like a dirtbike set up to be streetable so if you drop it there is less chance of significant damage. Many of the other dual sports on the market (see BMW, KTM, Buell) are more along the lines of streetbikes with beefed up suspensions and are more likley to see expensive repairs if dropped.

Honda and Suzuki also make bikes similar to the KLR and do sell them in the US.

Aggroton · #8 Unread post by **Aggroton** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 6:31 am

check out KTM...they get distirubted at my local yamamha shop...

but heres a few to check out...

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/buyer ... _buy03/#05

Sat Sep 10, 2005 11:54 am

Honda XR650L.

Just a heads up, a dual sport as big as the KLR650 and the XR650 won't be very great off road compared to the yammy 225. But the 225 won't be as fast or stable as the bigger bikes (stable at higher speeds). You might want to consider getting something like a XR400 and making it street legal. Of course if you want a yammy or suzu or kawa, that works. Just make sure it's an Enduro (dirt) bike. They're designed with long travles in mind.

And when i say off road i'm talking about really tight muddy rocky uphill downhill make you glad you're on a 200 trails.