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One girl, one world.......
Okay, so first - introductions - I’m a 5’6’’ tall girl in her mid twenties, with a plan to ride round the world on a motorbike (this sounds like some sort of advert!), to commence sometime summer 09. I have a new found, and at times questioning love for off-roading, and do not intend to shy away from it on the trip, although am still very much a fledging in that regard………..
So……I need a bike…and I need to get as much input as poss……….I need to get together a definitive list of bikes for girls! (apologies if this already exists somewhere on the HUBB – I did scour for some time):confused1: Having already pondered, bought, tried and now sold the following bikes as possible contenders -F650 / DR650 / XRL650L (can anyone tell me who the hell the Japanese had in mind to ride XRL’s, at a standard seat height of the average family house!) - I am reckoning on a small bike – height and cc: When I was in South East Asia last month I travelled around on a Serow, an XL and Baja. The Serow really had no guts (I really wasn’t taken by it), and it wasn’t even that ladened up, but the height and weight was pure confidence inducing. No problem picking it up, no problem manoeuvring. The XL became by little baby, and I loved the Baja just as much (both of which are not exactly ten to a penny over here)….. and generally I just adore Honda. This is as far as my bike experience stretches. I will be travelling with a male friend for some of the journey, but certainly do not want to rely on a bigger stronger person always being there. For the last 6 months we have made charts and tables and checklists (blah blah blah) of bikes, initialling deciding to both take the same bike - he is 6’4’’ and that idea has gone out the window. He is set on his XR650L So in order of priority (if such a thing is possible when planning to spend your foreseeable life on bike) is: 1) My confidence with height and weight. 2) Keeping up (to be honest, currently without any mods the XR650L really lacks any poke) 3) Off-roadability 4) Mpg Help! Please! Ta very much! Char :D |
If the 225/250's don't excite you, I suggest a lowered DR650.
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Char, Why not consider a Yamaha TTR250, take a look at both of Lois's trips, one by Serow and the other by TTR250.
Lois on the Loose |
Lone Rider, hey. I am not saying at all that the 225/250's dont excite me (just may be not the serow) - I loved the Baja and the XL, but wonder what else is out there (and whether I am stupid for wanting a small cc bike). Having only just about managed to pick up a DR650 from the ground, and without any luggage, I am not so sure it will suit the independence that I seek. I must admit however that the DR was my favourite from the three bigger bikes that I have tried.
Dave, thanks for the input - I'll check out the TTR250. Char :mchappy: |
Good experience already
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I think that there is a thread in here, somewhere, about recommended bikes for short riders: however, you are not particularly short as it happens! (Mind, inside leg length is not the same thing as overall height, of course, and there are loads of other variables to do with the bike & its' seat). It would be interesting to hear of why you rejected that list of bikes - you have obviously tried a few already and that takes a bit of time in itself, so you probably have some good ideas about those bikes for others to consider. I think that Dave has a good suggestion in the TTR250: There is another thread about bikes that identifies which have both a kick start and an electric starter - the current TTR250 is one of them and I reckon that is worth considering as a worthy advantage for long distance riding. TTR250:- 1) My confidence with height and weight. The bike is pretty light and you will get riding time with it before setting off? 2) Keeping up (to be honest, currently without any mods the XR650L really lacks any poke) Get out in front and let the others go at your pace 3) Off-roadability Always a compromise, needs good tyres but the bike is up to most things apart from hardcore motocross. 4) Mpg A 250cc has got to be an optimum on that front + you can see about an acerbis tank if you want to "pack" more fuel. As Dave posted, see the mods that Lois made to the bike. Good luck and keep posting about those other bikes! |
Suzuki DRZ400S
I think you should look at this bike, a Suzuki DRZ400S -
Suzuki GB Motorcycles/ATVs: DR-Z400S: Summary Brilliantly competent dual-purpose bike that’s as happy pottering through the gridlock as it is bouncing over a paddock. It’s tough, durable, simple to service and spares are cheap and plentiful. The DR-Z’s bit heavy for true off-roading but greenlaners love it for its indefatigable charm... 396cc, single, 39bhp, 90mph, 45MPG, Insurance group 10, weight 132kg, Colours Blue/white, Yellow It's not too tall and I think it's often used by ladies as a good reliable RTW/African adventure bike. It's pretty good off road too... Anyone in the know will be able to tell you just how good this bike is. Don't make the same mistake as our LWR/LWD friends in picking huge massively overloaded BMW beasts either! A 400cc bike is light enough to be able to pick up and has the power to move heavy loads. :scooter: |
I'm the same height as you, almost old enough to be your mum :( and I ride an XT600 which practically goes anywhere. I do lots of off road riding and can pick the bike up if I drop it.
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I agree that a XT600 will do the job well but is there really a need for so much weight? I own an XT myself and can't speak too highly of em but if I were planning a RTW trip I would look at cutting size/bulk/weight down and get something like a Suzuki DRZ400S....
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Not easy....
Hi, here are some nice Bikes:
Suzuki DR 350, a little bit older, but there are still some nice bikes around! Some of them had E-Starter, just add the Acerbis Tank and ready for everything!!! Good Offroad too! I have a friend(girl) who rode the bike Alaska - to Tierra del Fuego! Bike is still running here in Germany - now 100 000 km!!! Other good bike is Honda NX 250, or XL 250 Baja(South America/Asia) or the XT 600 from 1990-2000, still cheap. DR 650 SE is the best Suzuki I guess.... So check them out! Good luck! Jens You want to come to the 1st HU Meeting in Germany??? May 2008! |
How about one of these?
Honda XR 400R. 2004 Honda XR 400 R specifications and pictures
Simplicity is a boon and reliability a blessing when on the road for that long, and IMHO, this little Honda has it all, as well as being far lighter than most 650s. It has enough grunt to match my old Dominator 650 off the lights, too and that was no slouch. The only issue to consider is height. I'm 5'10, and its OK for me, certainly once I'm sitting the suspension gives nicely. 116kg dry weight Air cooled so no radiators to puncture Kick start, so no battery to go flat, no rectifier to fry You an pick up a tidy 22ltr tank for it that could up your range to about 250-300 miles (mpg said to be about 60) Well built (You like Honda, so do I) Only other mod I would definitely recommend is change the headlamp for a KMX unit. Bolts straight in and can take an H4 55/60W bulb, instead of the weedy bosch 35/35watt unit. I got a second hand KMW headlight from ebay: £10 and another £6 to buy some wire to reconnect it. Finally you easily get an indicatoir kit, too. |
Thanks to everyone so far! :clap:
Okay, so a few have mentioned the DRZ400s, and I did briefly entertain this bike (after realising that the DR350 went out of production around 2000) but then quickly went off the idea, when I saw the seat height - according to the specs its 935mm - thats almost as tall as the XR650L, and even with a lowering link only about half my foot will be on the floor (I may be 5'6'' but I think I may have short inside leg!!:() The XT certainly was a consideration, but again once I really starting thinking about how independent I wanted to be, the idea of having a bike that weighs around 150kg without luggage started to scare me. But thanks Dakota, I wonder whether I shouldnt dismiss the slightly bigger bikes - but then again all I can think about is fesh-fesh and getting myself out of sticky, or rather sandy situations. XR 250 or 400 are definite maybes, but guess what then I stumble across another one of my personal issues - kickstart! Which I should have put down on my priorty list. I havent been riding all that long, and some of my worse memories have been sitting on my bike in the pouring rain trying to kick start a bike (including a monstrous bruise on my calf) - maybe its just a fear I have to get over?! In fact is simplicity the key here? No rectifier to worry about? Wathog, cheers for all the info on the 400. If it was a tad too tall I reckon a lowering link, or/and muddling with the preload may do the trick - it cant be anywhere near as tall as the 650L I'll check out the XL (which I loved when I was in Cambodia!) and the NX 250 (which I know nothing about). Cheers Jens. The list is growing and cheers to all of you....my eyes and options are widening! Keep it coming One more thing, and this is because of my curiosity with a DR 350, can you get good, old bikes (maybe too general a question) - I wouldnt be concerned if I was planning say a two month trip, but I'm aiming to be away for around two years. Muchos Gracias :thumbup1: Char |
Have a look on the American Suzuki web site at a bike called the DRZ250. a good bike IMHO they have been in produnction since early 90's in virtually the same form and where grey imported into the UK as the DR250 they had metal tanks rear pegs digi speedo.
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If its any consolation, I did not like kick starts either, but once you get the knack, its really not too bad, and provided you have the carb is set up properly (mine has an Edelbrock aftermarket carb, so needed tweeking. Should be needed if the carbs and exhaust are in standard trim), and the valve clearances are correct (not a difficult job: once you've done it once or twice... 20-30 mins, job done) it kicks into life very easily. Gently push the kickstart down repeatedly until it firms up, pull in the decompression lever (just below the clutch lever), push the kickstart another 1/2 inch, release lever, and give it a hearty kick....brapp, brapp, brapp will ensue, much to your glee.... Don't worry: you will not end up with a disproportionately large right thigh muscle, which I understand is not de rigeur amongst young ladies.... |
Hello Charlotte,
I spent eight days in Morocco riding with ten other blokes. The bikes were XR650R, KTM530, KTM450, CRF450, KTM400, XR250 and.........TTR250. We rode everything from Tarmac to Sand Dunes and rocky goat tracks and not once did we end up waiting for the TTRs. If most of us lads could get over the macho-bullsh*t, the TTR is, in my opinion an ideal trail bike. Quick enough. Small and easy to control. Easy to pick up; grab handles in all the right places. Lecky boot Comfy seat Better headlight than most of the other bikes put together. Yeah, OK, you won't do MX on it and it won't pull you up the face of a 300ft sand dune but I see them regularly doing hare & hounds races and they certainly don't finish last. I do have a soft spot for Honda XLR / XR 250 if only they had the electric boot:( Good luck with choosing |
Wow, girls really get a lot of attention on here!
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Get a good XT600 and just adjust the rear shock so that it will be lower. They hardly ever break down from what I hear. I have had mine for two years and just changed the oil, tires and chain.
My 93 XT on a 3,000 km trip. Never missed a lick http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...12-2007005.jpg |
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I'm not going to pretend that I know a whole lot about Honda trail bikes, but do you really think its reasonable to call the 400 heavy in this context? I've looked at online specs and dry the 250 is only 8 KG lighter: 108 to the 400's 116kg. In the grand scheme of biking, I think both these bikes are pretty light. The XR 400 is 3kg lighter than the DRZ 400, and only 1 kg heavier than the DRZ250 which you recommend Admittedly, 8kg represents a tent, sleeping bag and stove, but still... putting it in the context of its power and reliability for the task at hand, I feel it should not be discounted so easily on this one statistic. |
no your right the XR 400 is not that heavy when you compare it with bikes that have electric start, full lighting gear, rear pegs, multi function speedo's etc etc Honda save a load of weight by not putting any of this on the bike.
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As an uninformed loudmouth thinking something similar to Charlotte (the bike not becoming a woman), can anyone who has used a bike like the DRZ400 long distance comment on the fuel range?
I am adamant I can travel light enough to make it on these smaller bikes... |
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With stock tank? |
You really need to just try them all out.
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well as some other bikes but should be OK if you get the street legal S model,
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RE Electra
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So, all else being equal, I reckon it is a good point to have options for starting a bike, other than pushing and bump starting it in the sand/mud etc. Here's that list of bikes with both starters:- http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ic-start-31595 You could also consider the Royal Enfield Electra; sales are up 10-15% in the UK this past year (it gives nearly 100 MPG). A 500cc single with a low seat height and built for falling over while suffering next to no damage. |
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If KTMs are an option, check this one out:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...military-32531 Low seat and light (for my standards), and not too slow. ... I was too slow, though. Same link as the one above. |
Bikes bikes and more bikes!
Hi Char.
You're right that the XRL is tall. At 5'7 I'm on tip toes but I just picked up a lowering link so will see how it goes. I like the bike cos it's basic, air cooled and fairly fuel efficient. I do have an electric start DR350 for sale with a large acerbis tank and pannier rails which is a little lower if you're interested? Bike weight is a personal issue, yes, an xr400 is heavy in comparison to a CR250 or something but try lifting a loaded GS1200 out of the sand blah blah! It's very much down to personal view/ability as I consider my XRL to be fairly light but lots of people would disagree, go figure! Nice and simple/easy to fix in the middle of nowhere would be a good point, leccy start a good move, even though "all you need is the knack" which some folks like to say about a kickstart gets a "whatever" from me. I like that magic button having served my time with kickstarts thank you very much, lol. Handy if you have both though (early dominators TTR250 ect and some bikes can be retro fitted) when batteries give up. Any modern bike with a battery/charging system will have a reg/rec, kickstart or not, but I know what you mean, some do have a lot less bits and bobs to go wrong than others! A scottoiler, good chain/sproc (did x-ring) 18 inch rear wheel (easier to get that tyre size in less developed countries) small screen, frame/subframe bracing, good horns, oil temp gauge, up-graded seat, heated grips ect are all options for reliability/comfort! Phew! Personally I'd go for above 350cc but that's just me! The TTR250 gets good reviews all over the place so I suppose you have to feel comfy with your choice. But whatever you go for, have fun and all the best! Dave. |
Oh dear I am very quickly starting to feel somewhat out of my depth with all this techno/spec talk – slowly but surely I am trying to learn all things bike, inside and out, but I’m afraid I got lost at “mass and crank inertia”!!?? :confused1:
That’s not to sound ungrateful – quite the opposite – you have to learn one way or another . Ummm – whats a “stock” tank – a name given to a particular sized tank? (learning you see) - hang on, I suppose it would be the "standard" tank - no? Glad to hear that I have good karma and body language (?!) J Warthog (apologies for the original misspelling), muchos gracias for the step by step procedure guidance for kick starts - patience is required, which I know is not one of my virtues. With the amount of peeps talking of the TTR250 I am extremely intrigued, and I am reckoning that could very well be my next purchase (but there is an inner uncontrollable desire to have Honda – maybe I’ll get a cheap XR to have a go on - I need a bike for HUMM in any case) Can you reinforce the subframe of any bike? And how? At the mo I am thinking specifically about the TTR250 But one moment…….Dave….DR350 for sale? I would be interested. Any pics? Have you already had it lowered? What’s the little’un’s history? I fully concur on the “knack” of kick starts – “whatever” indeed!?? As for converting I heard it was blimmin expensive to get an electric start installed, but have no actual figure – does the cost depend on the bike? Any clues? Big Yellow Tractor, your comment about the Morocco trip has filled me with a lot more confidence about “keeping up”. Cheers. People talk of getting their jetting sorted (which I am still to really understand – something to do with mixture in the carb?), shocks, new exhaust, oil-temp gauge, etc etc, but top of my list (other than pink ribbons on the handle bars) is a new seat (I will start to appreciate the important of mechanical mods – promise). Some guys that do tours in Namibia recommended a company called Renazco (and touching their seat, it did almost feel sensual) has anyone used them? Riding an XL for hours on end in Cambodia I realised just how numb your bum can get – i.e. it simply fails to exist – thankfully my backpack was strapped perfectly onto the seat so that I could stand up and then perch on the ruck sack – riding along like I was trying out some sort of riding stunt Molly Dog, - “I would pick the one that will adapt to RTW travel best...and with gear on it, you can still handle it OK if you have to pick it up or ride it tough terrain.” – good words of advice – cheers. Oh, and I fully intend to spend a lot of time off-roading before I head out. But as for my “partner” carrying most of the weight (he’s a biking partner maybe but that’s it) – that just isn’t an option – its my trip and I want as much independence as possible – it may as well be as though I am going on my own for what I want to achieve from the chosen bike. I will ensure that I pass on your words of advice on the XR-L, and we had in fact already considered this particular “fault” but still our personal list of pros outweighed the cons, for that bike. As for upper body strength – I shall work on the popeye look! Walkabout, ta for the link on bikes with both starters –that’s exactly what I need to see! Bloomin marvellous. Cheers guys and gals. :scooter: |
Don't let the information overload bother you
Char,
You're on the right lines in interpreting the techie speak: no worries. You might like the website in here:- http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...al-stuff-27640 for some information to astound your friends. There is this page in here as well:- http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tech/ All good stuff! ps I used to have that feeling about Hondas, but I got over it after a few years. Cheers, |
I like it, the knack that is
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Yep, that covers the use of the kicker: whatever. Whatever works when the bike is cold, whatever for when the bike engine is "red hot" and whatever for that strange intermediate world of the partly warmed up engine that stalls and just doesn't want to know about the kickstarter procedures (especially when the bike has been stood upside down for a while, maybe in a bog). How about this DR350; are you going to advertise it in here? |
Bik-o-matic.
I like that one, strange intermediate world between hot and cold! Ha ha. Oh yes, I know it well!
Ok, stock tank= the original tank that the bike comes with which is usually fairly small on off road/dual sport machines. A few companys (IMS, Acerbis) make larger tanks for some bikes to give better fuel range. Usually bigger tanks are around 19-22 litres but you can go crazy and get 30+ litres! Frame bracing= Many bikes aren't designed to carry panniers or boxes on the rear part of the bike. Putting weight on these parts and riding over rough terrain can cause these rear sections to crack or break away from the main frame (met a guy in Iceland that had the rear section of his KLX almost break away from the main frame due to the weight and rough roads). Usually, the pannier rack is made to spread this load and re-inforce the rear end. Also bracing can be welded on to the frame to reinforce the points that are under stress! Riding on rough roads with luggage will give your bike a hammering, things will break, drop off ect unless properly secured or braced and also checked reguarly. Loctite (sort of glue that you put on threads to stop them coming undone) is useful to stop bolts coming undone with vibration ect. There are other ways of locking bolts ect, wire, washers, locknuts, some better than others. Seat= Enduro style bikes a' la TTR250 tend to have narrow and un comfy seats as being off road bikes you're gonna be standin up on em a lot. Riding RTW, you'll do well to have them padded a little more. There a few companys that do this, they can offer lowering it a little (which means less padding) or adding more foam or gel inserts ect. A popular thing is to put a lambswool cover over the seat! Yep! Cooler in the warm and warm in the cold and a bit comfier. I got hold of a sheet of 1" memory foam which went on the XRL and has worked well! I'll be putting the DR350 (electric start don't ya know) on here for sale shortly but my email is djorob@aol.com for those that are interested. It has the standard tank and the larger acerbis job, 2 sets of chain/sproc, 2 spare tyres! It's an electric start only at the moment but I have fitted an electric start version with a kick start before as backup and it's fairly straightforward to do. OK! Well, I'm a mechanic by trade so If I can help let me know. Dave. |
Not sure of you are interested but another version of the DR250 is the SH model, which has handlebar mounted adjustable front and rear suspension. May be added complexity but I found it brilliant as you can build confidence on the low setting and then raise it up as required.
I've even got one thats going to be for sale in the next couple of weeks with a fresh MOT. Reasonable comfy seat and pillion pegs so the sub frame may be strong enough for some light luggage. Adjustably small and nimble, only selling as I want to buy an enduro bike to go racing. Go on you, know you want to.... 38 |
Thanks guys for the info and explanations!!!
Dave, I have PM'd you about the DR -definitely interested, and thanks for your time to explain the concepts/speccy things in your thread! After all this, I fear that a spreadsheet of bikes and pros and cons maybe the only way forward for me! Cheers Char |
Follow your heart and your gut.
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Charlotte glad to see you're getting good advice - I think most of us really just want to ask if we can be your pillion... joke!
Once you are riding, contact TFL who offer knock-down prices on rider training, 3 hour lesson with them will keep you alive much longer, which is definitely a good thing. I still have to formalise my UK licence but will be going in for a course when I do. btw thanks to those who commented on the tank range. |
Well..... "mi pillion seat est su pillion seat"! :mchappy:
Off road experience is a must, and once I have purchased the baby (I have had enough of trying by F650ST off road with road tyres on! ha ha!) I will be off to Wales (not to BMW) to get in some mud, stone and water action! Patrick, indeed, test riding is far more important than a spreadsheet - I think I just got bogged down in all the figures and techno speak - wise words - if it was all heart, I think I would try and get hold of an XL, because I absolutely loved riding that sweetie in Cambodia, ladened up and covering plenty of miles on different terrain. I think I am about to purchase a DR350 - and I'll see how long it takes me to decide that it isnt the one either..... Thanks to all! :clap: |
I have access to a decent workspace and tools and a few guys who have better mechanical knowledge than me who've travelled further than me... and less scars than me. It's in London but if ever you feel like popping down before you leave- my friends aren't condescending and put up with my dubious knowledge! Just use the 'send an email link' in HUBB
I don't have a pillion seat or even a bike at the moment but am saving up and hopefully this summer will be back on two wheels. :thumbup1: |
Me too Honda fanatic
Charlotte,
I know I will be getting GRIEF :nono: from other die-hards out there... but here goes... I will admit right up front that I am (1) a Honda fanatic (having ridden almost everything off-road) and (2) I am 6'3". Lots of things to think about when choosing a RTW bike besides sixe, weight, power, etc.... I owned and raced an XR250 for many years, recently have an XR650L in Peru (yes, it is a bit head-heavy in the soft stuff) and an XR400 in the states, but when I took a small 10,000 km trip in SA (Peru/Brazil/Bolivia) with my 17 yr old son, Around the Block 2007 | we chose the Honda XR250 Tornado. It is Brazilian made and parts available EVERYWFHERE south of the US border. I know that may not apply to your RTW trip, but the reason was: (1) both on same bikes (2) parts everywhere (3) Did not draw too much attention. (4) good gas mileage I prefer a bigger bike... but there are other details in the choice.. So, to sum it up: Go with the XR250. It is the most known (and common in most respects) of all the 250's in the world. (here comes the GRIEF !!) It has the best record for durability of the 250's. It is plush enough (and light enough) for the rough stuff, but can cruise too. If you get a new one, change out for the old style seat, the new narrow ones will kill you on a long trip. And when possible, travel light! Ditch the panniers and the camping gear and stay with folk or cheap hostels, a small soft pack on a rear rack and small backpack strapped on the tank... is really all you need. If you are in SA summer 2009, 12 of us (guys and gals) will be doing Peru for 35 days on dirt bikes...:thumbup1: Toby (charapa) Around the Block 2007 | |
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Also, I've looked a bit for second hand ones. On mobile.de, I could find 315 Yamaha 600 XTs but just 1 Yamaha TT250 and this one was priced the same as a 600 XT of the same age. 2004 is the year of the TT250 and there are 185 XTs of the same age and newer there. A similar situation with the XR250 and no at all DRZ250s. To me this means that these bikes are very hard to find in Europe. Might not be the same in the rest of the world though. Secondly I have big doubts regarding the confort of these small bikes. It's true, I haven't riden one but can anybody confirm that he/she has been going 400+ / day for a few days and that 1 cm thick seat was doing a good job? How are you suppose to take any luggage on such a bike? ??!! The tail won't probably hold more than 15 kgs. And if you go RTW and you are not on a high budget to sleep every night in a hotel/motel, than you need at least a tent/matress/some tools for the bike/sleeping bag/so on. However to the minimum you are trying to keep it.. it won't be enough. I've checked Louis's website and it seems to me that that Serow has a harder tail that the TTR. She could actually put a topcase on it. Or maybe she had reinforced the tail, in which case the weight was affected. Our colegue is going to ride just a part of the road with a companion, so she'll need to be able to carry all her things after they set apart. Now... I see that the TTR is 120kg; why not put 27 more kg and get a Suzuki DR650 SE, which is 147kg! It has double the power, you can put proper panniers on it if you need to and you can find many of them for sale in Europe and at half of the price of a TTR (but yes, of course, 5-6 years older than the TTR). And the seatheight is between 845-885. And it might have the gravity center lower as well since it's not that high. That's what I would recommend. Just take one for a ride Charlotte and see how you like it. |
Hmmm.. I've just found Louis's TTR. She actually managed to get it ready for a long trip but I have to ride this bike before actually give it a go.
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No idea about bike availability in Norway, or even Europe. Find the best bike in your area and go with it. Or .... start your trip in the USA and get a bike here cheap.
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The Big J - ta very much for the invite to meet your mechanical not-condescending friends! They may come in handy!
Similarly, Toby, thanks for the heads up and invite for the Peru dirt experience! Unfortunately I will probably still be in Canada at that time, trying not to spend money to ensure that I have enough for the rest of the two years. Thanks for the fortright opinion, and info (and your PM!). No grief yet I see! Good luck with finding a bike Maguest. I am in the process of getting myself a DR350, to just give it a go, which the spec says has a seat height of 900mm, and am getting rather nervous about what lowering I can possibly do - but you say that the XR250 was too high for you, yet when I rode one in Cambodia and Thailand, which must have been lowered I had almost both flats of my feet on the floor - there must be ways and means.......I am extremely hopeful! Patrick, you say that the serow is a sturdy little moutain goat :mchappy:. ..or rather renown for it, but if anything my experience of them is completely the opposite - which is weird - maybe just the particular bike I had, but it felt flimsy and not did not inspire any confidence off road - or maybe that was just the rider! |
Another new bike to own and learn about
Char,
You've generated a good thread here during the last week by "dribbling": gradually releasing information and opinion about recommended bikes to ride and getting some good responses in other posts - good going! How about explaining a bit more about why you rejected these bikes (from your first post)?:- F650 / DR650 / XRL650L If you don't want to, no worries, I guess it will all become clear in due course! You were relatively complimentary about the Serow a week ago - OK, it is not powerful but it does have a low-seating, confidence-inspiring stance? Anyway, it will be interesting to hear what you think of the DR350, compared with say its' bigger engined version that you have owned previously. Good travelling, |
Have fun and good researching.
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