dual sporting is to me. nklr (was nx250?)
Posted: Thu May 17, 2001 10:25 am
Actually, I have no desire to ride any bike for hours on end at 70 or 80 mph.
For me, half the fun is not just getting there and back. I enjoy exploring back
country, which includes off the beaten path paved and unpaved roads, as well as
fire access road and trails, etc. Our group enjoys farting around on these
roads at 10 to 50 mph or whatever might be appropriate, and the occasional
almost trials like adventure along the way. A trailer and the smaller Dual
Sports bikes are the ticket for this kind of stuff. Actually, for much of it
the old Honda Trail 90 (except for the trail adventures) is probably more
appropriate than the 650's, although we've never used it, and we do use the
650's. When we take the 650's, there's always a running commentary of how the
smaller bikes would actually be more fun. That's why we're all adding smaller
bikes to our stables.
As an example, several of us, from CA, OR, OH, and FL, will meet somewhere in
Colorado (trailer in) the first two weeks in August, then take off for some
back country, exploring ghost towns, gold and silver mines, abandoned ranches,
and other places not generally known to the public, along with the wonderful
unpaved passes over and through the Rockies. Very little real rough riding, but
just enjoyable putzing for 8 to 12 hours a day. Lots of discussion. And a
little trout fishing. And an occasional stupid old fart trick. We don't haul
ass. We don't camp. And we eat well.
We'll do the same in Oregon (dunes and mountains), Florida ( wildlife and
Keys), and California (Sierra Nevada's and desert) and maybe even Big Bend
before the year is out. Next year we'll hit Northern Idaho and Montana (where
at least the cows are sane) along with our "domestic" rides.
You must understand that we are a group of old shits, and some of us have more
metal than bones from our earlier days of rough riding and racing. We have
nothing more to prove; everyone knows we're dumb fuck has been's, and we're all
comfortable with it. We rode rough and nasty when the bikes and clown suits
didn't make it easy. Now we make and market motorcycle parts so we can write
off all these bikes and forays.
This is our definition of Dual Sport riding. Everyone has their own. Otherwise
there would only be one Dual Sport Bike and it would probably be a large ugly
green abortion that does everything, but nothing well. Don't get me wrong. I
like my 650's, but they aren't what I consider fun bikes. They're pretty much
utilitarian, and by reading the posts on this list you'll find that while much
of the talk is about offroad, the majority of the riding done here is on the
road. That's why the large tanks, expensive luggage, clown suits, and
modifications. That's also indicated by the fact that there is more discussion
about better street bikes than real dirt bikes. Nothing wrong with any of it.
But my motto is: The open road beckons . . . trailer it to some good place to
ride.
What's your definition of Dual Sporting? Go ahead . . . flame my ass!
--
bierdo
leoa wrote:
> Dan - > I refer to the NX as a "cult bike". That is, very few available and a > strong following within a small group of people. > > The NX in any size, be it the 650, 125, or 250, is an opportunity to own a > piece of europe here in the states IMO. Same for the Transalp, imported at > the same time as the NXs. All done during an experiment that Honda decided > failed, therefore they pulled the bikes from the US market. All that > remains today of this effort in the US is the Dominator (650) motor in a > modified XR600 chassis called the XR650L model. > > Have you personally spent any time on the NX? "Serious Technical Riding" > would not be what I call its forte, regardless of the size of the rider. It > is a STREET BIKE with dirt influences in its styling, pure and simple, from > my experience with the bike. > > An XR200 with a Baja Designs kit would make more sense for this application > (smaller rider/technical riding), or better yet a Yamaha TT-R125 big wheel. > > The little Sero (XT225) is a somewhat capable bike, unfortunately its small > stature gets offset with its heavy weight, easily flooded airbox, and > too-soft suspension. It works OK for a full size adult that does not want a > 35 inch seat height of the modern dirt bike, but serious it isn't. > > The XT350 with its 8 inches of travel instead of 11 or 12 is a decent > smaller bike for the full size adult after some slight suspension mods like > heavier fork springs and a better shock. Its downside is no magic button, > an emerging requirement these days for many older riders new and re-entry. > > In the little time I spent on the Sherpa it impressed me. The motor felt > like it had some grunt, the throttle response was good for a small diameter > CV carb, the ergos were good even with the lower seat height, the airbox > design seems less flood-prone, the suspension had some decent dampening and > was not eager to bottom. I liked it. > > Back to your point on bikes other than the Kaw 650, I second that! The bike > does NOTHING well, it just does EVERYTHING!!! I have a White Power shock on > order for mine right now to balance out the rear end with the > heavier-springed front. After 500 miles in Copper Canyon with 60 pounds on > the back the imbalance became very appearent, not to mention the wear I put > on the shock. It is shot! With the front end sitting higher with the > springs and the rear end sagging from load and the weak spring, the thing > would not make the turn in a switchback. It just wanted to go straight. > Offroad your DR650 is a much better bike, no contest. Swap out the front > sprocket for a 16, put on a taller windscreen, and fill the big bags for > camping, and set the cruise on 80 and see who makes it 6-700 miles that day > and who doesn't though... I'd take the KLR for that. > > Leo in Houston > The list - > '98 KLR Cameleon bike (lots of stuff for it) > '99 KTM 300 EXC > '01 Montesa Cota 315R > '94 R100GS > '78 R100RS >
Claes, a swede in Dublin
-----Original Message-----
From: Andrus Chesley [mailto:achesley@...]
Sent: 17 May 2001 18:38
To: