Best bike for offroading...its a Scooter!!!
I enjoyed scooter riding in Asia and India so much. They are light, easy to repair if needet and just cost 4 Dollars per day. At home people cant imagine how much fun they are and how good they actually are for offroading so just check out this (not my) Video. Introducing the best and lightest bike for offroading: http://www.facebook.com/Ronny.Family/videos/1343343849059979/
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you know, when riding I need to have fun as well... :mchappy:
no scooter will give me that. |
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From my Vespa I went to a Honda 50 (The Vespa was better ... everywhere as it was a 150cc vs 50cc on the Honda) I later bought a Bultaco 250 Pursang (pure Race Bike). Raced Motocross and Flat Track at legendary Ascot Park in SoCAl. I did not go far!:helpsmilie: Years later (in my 40's!) raced AMA Enduro on Yamaha 250cc Two Stroke race bikes. 8 years of that. But it all started on the Vespa, in retrospect ... it was AWESOME! I would not hesitate to rent one in Asia or India. In the past I rented 125cc two stroke dual sports in Thailand ... and in the mud, girls on 100cc scooters PASSED ME RIDING 2 UP! They just know how! :D |
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Scooters are maybe not the best for offroading but they are much better than any +200 kilo adventure bike because they are so much lighter and easier to handle when the going gets a bit rough....watch to the end and wait for it...:clap:
https://youtu.be/Ot1ajnveRk4 |
Big bikes will have continued popularity. Fact is, most stay on paved roads on their big ADV bikes. And when they do go "off road" it ends up being more of a well traveled and maintained dirt road, not a "trail" or enduro course.
There are millions of such roads round the world. Many are scraped and gravel is added to stabilize them. Maintenance can vary country to country, and once it gets muddy, those 200 kilo guys are done. And ... IMHO, would be foolish to continue. But plenty are perfectly happy to stay on paved roads all the time. It's all good. 20 years ago I was still racing dirt bikes and loved off road. Now? Not so much. But I'd rather be on a Scooter over my DR650 if traversing deep mud. (I think I would just put my Scooter on a Bus, sit down and rest up! :smartass:) |
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ok, I thought for a moment that OP is serious doh On the other hand when I was in Morocco struggling on our big bikes with steep, rocky climb, we met local guy on the top on small scooter indeed... p.s. BTW after such "fun" scooter would be destroyed, so end of the trip :) |
My needs as an over landing (“adventure”) rider are significantly different from the local guy riding a scooter. I want to cover a lot of ground, often quickly, and I want to carry an unreasonable amount of luggage while I’m doing it. I’m also not interested in spending much of my limited holiday time having maintenance done, parts bolted back on, and occasional major rebuilds—all of which are common events if putting on major mileage with those wee little toy machines.
I know that’s not always true, and I acknowledge the reports from scooter, moped and Chinese 125cc riders who claim thousands of miles of carefree performance (and $5 per day rental pricing). But basically in choosing bigger machines, I’m selecting roadworthiness, cargo capacity, decreased maintenance, and comfort for the riding I’m most likely to be doing. In other circumstances I’ve had a blast on little disposable 125s and scooters, but not when I want to cover significant mileage. Plus I’m finally old, relatively fragile, and suffering from a surplus of money in relation to time—not the way my life used to work. Mileage varies, as we all know. Mark (Currently touring Vietnam in a hurry, on my huge, manly, 250cc Honda) |
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Also 28.000 km around South America with 125cc was not a problem but lots of fun. Waaaay better then to ship bikes around the globe looking and treated as money on legs: http://schoene-motorradreisen.de/?report=goa |
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p.s. I see fun has different meaning for different people. |
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Im riding a big adventure bike 650 cc around the world and Im have been constantly overtaken and bypassed by locals on small scooters and bikes all over the world - so whats fastest Im not sure? Carry a lot of luggage? Yes a big bike can handle that better but I thought it was all about the art of packing light when you go for long travels? Although its an art I will never learn.... |
There's only one problem with scooters - they look so damned ugly! :scooter:
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If you ride a scooter right, you dont see them anyway http://schoene-motorradreisen.de/big...e_loop_065.jpg http://schoene-motorradreisen.de/?re...aos_pakse_loop http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub.../pGMxmMwgx/9k= |
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Why should the art of packing light be an admirable goal? In trekking all you need is 10 lbs. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultralight_backpacking) By that, every biker is an overweight luxurious camper. So, why not travel in style? Why sitting on aluminum boxes if you can take a comfortable chair and table? How else can one enjoy a sunset with a cup of tea (or warm beer) in the middle on nowhere? sushi |
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I'm just making a joke. If someone is out there putting miles on a scooter, good for them - two wheels are always better than four wheels.
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Packing a bike is an ART ... and doing it well is not easy. Most don't. But of course much will depend on what sort of riding is intended. Rough tracks and trails with possibly hundreds of km of deep sand, mud can (and should) influence how much you take along ... and what "luxuries" you can afford. The type of bike used is also key. Obviously, scooters and big bikes present different challenges. Bicycle riders face even greater challenges. Neat, light packing always is better. "A system" as it were. We all have our own "genius" ways of dealing with this. It's taken me decades to learn this ... and it all changes with every new bike. Camp Chairs and Tables? Perhaps you employ "porters" on your rides through the Swiss Alps? :rofl: https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-dxFGmtV.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-vjHvnHJ.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Picassa-M...overload-M.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-ZbKH355.jpg This Suzuki DR650 rider pulled this little trailer across USA. Coast to coast. Lots of ways to do it. We have thousands of Gold Wing owners who tow BIG trailers behind their bikes. Great on smooth paved roads, but not compatible in rough off road conditions. Everyone has their own set of compromises regards packing up their bike ... and it starts with WHICH bike we are talking about. Scooters and Gold Wing riders must have different priorities. I fall more on the pack light side. YMMV. |
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It's quite simple. Take what you like and deal with it, it's your trip. Camping chair and table OR a complete set of wheels (28kg). Never ruin your trip by watching too much on weight, no matter what "experts" of "the art of packing a bike" say. greeting from the swiss alps sushi and his porters(2x XT660Z) Quote:
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Weight weight weigt - the most important thing to think about when youre on a bike and going on roads a bit from the main routes. But I do carry a chair, the second most useful item on my trip so far...:innocent: |
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In the "10lbs" religion is only camping (tent, sleepingmat, sleepingbag, cooking stuff, hygiene) defined. Food is extra, of course, for biking the spares/tools will be extra. Just as a reminder to the believers of the "weight, weight, weight" religion, there is still al lot of potential for improvement. Most importent is the weight of the bike, so, take a scooter. Then no parts are needed, if it breaks, give it back an rent another one for $5 a day. I'm glad I'm an atheist when ist comes to the church of "weight, weight, weight". Just have fun riding bikes sushi P.S. Remember the thread title: Best bike for offroading...its a Scooter!!! P.S. again Somehow can't put smilies in my text, so put them in your mind where ever one is needed. |
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Some beautiful pics of some nicely packed up bikes. :thumbup1: Sure, if you never go serious off road, "don't worry too much about weight"! :smartass: But if you do go off road, weight is CRITICAL IMHO, especially if riding solo. If you ride with enough friends (or Porters!) then moving a 640 lb. 1200 Tenere' is possible. Solo? doh I follow riders traveling Latin America, lived there myself and have seen most of it going back 40 years. It's funny how many Euro Motoqueros (starting in Chile or in Mexico) bring a TON of gear on their bikes and wearing riding gear suited for Cold Northern Europe. Camping/Cooking Gear takes up lot of space, adds lot of weight too. Walter Colebatch claims this is a Teutonic trait. They can't help themselves! :helpsmilie: In SO MANY cases travelers barely use their camping gear (in Latin America) and end up in Pensiones/Hotels/Backpackers 95% of the time. Now why is that? :innocent: On recent Mexico/Cent. America trips I left ALL camping/cooking gear at home. This requires more careful planning of course but it's not too hard. If getting into super remote areas sometimes emergency camping gear is a good idea. But most times there are towns and people everywhere. Some riders love to camp. I get that. As an older rider I no longer am happy sleeping on the ground, but as always, YMMV and enjoy it while you can. :D:D:D https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycl...1030402-XL.jpg 3 week camping ride on DR650. Only other luggage is my Camel Back drink system backpack. This pic shot around 2012. :wheelchair: |
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I quoted "the art of packing light when you go for long travels". To me that means RTW riding on public routes inkl. sand tracks/dirt roads, everywhere the locals go too (in some parts of the world that's serious offroad to me), but not playing for a few days with MX-bikes loaded on a pickup truck and sleeping in a hotel. For that you can take a scooter -> Best bike for offroading...its a Scooter!!! |
bike weight is overrated, go to GYM if feeling weak.
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That’s hilarious! Russians will try almost anything, then post the videos. I’d be convinced if I could only see whether he’s smiling like the guy on the scooter.
It’s hard to imagine how I even survived the several weeks since the last argument about what bike is better than whatever other bike, then how much baggage to bring along. Fortunately, I was able to distract myself by actually riding a motorcycle, rather heavily loaded, around much of Vietnam. FWIW, all the fellow tourists I met riding those little scooters and 125s professed jealousy about my rented 250–until I told them how much I paid for my mighty beast. Here’s to more arguing on the internet, less riding! Mark (From Halong Bay, Vietnam’s most popular tourist destination) |
Scooter all over the worlds
Hi, funny conversation. Let me know when you are around in Central Asia. I can help you for your fun approach.
Dave |
Scooters make Great Adventure bikes
Scooters make Great Adventure bikes! I've ridden Pakistan, Egypt and across the USA on 150-250cc scooters.
Check out my Scootistan video |
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