Help me choose a motorcycle

[star_deceiver]

I still have my old 79 CM185T... put 12000ish kms on that bike in 4 years... It's smaller then a cbr125 and my stepmom (who's 5'2) can flatfoot while seated...

In theory I could cruise at 65mph... with a tailwind... downhill...

I suppose I looked pretty weird going down the road... hitting your knee with the handlebars was always annoying...

[justjohn]

Hahah, nice.

Starting to put offers out on possible options but blue book etc seem to suck for motorcycles so it's hard to know what to offer.

2005 Kawasaki Ninja 250r make offer! $1300 you think?

[Michael Moore]

The EX250 is a lot of fun to ride (both on the street and track). But at 6' tall I found the seat to be too low on the street. With knees high it rotated my butt back so I was sitting on the points of the pelvis, which led to the dreaded squirming after about 20 minutes. If I'd kept it on the street I planned to try and reupholster the seat to make it about 3-4" taller so I'd be less "knees high - bottom low" on it.

Other than that if you could pick up that 2005 for $1300 that would probably be a good deal for you. The EX is plenty fast enough as a solo bike to keep up with traffic.


I had the thought earlier today that I probably should have asked you for your definition of trail riding before offering my opinion. If you were talking about packed/smooth/dry dirt roads, then most any street bike should do fine there even with street tires. Once conditions get much more technical than that you'll need to ratchet up the "dirt" capabilities, and keep ratcheting upwards as the trail gets more rugged. Light weight and good ground clearance will get you in and out of places (even with a mild 100cc engine) that you aren't going to want to get into with a bike designed as a "pure" street bike. Sure, people used to ride their 500/650 Triumphs in the dirt, but once the lightweight 2T bikes showed up there was many a big bike that was humbled by a trailbike.

Don't take anything offroad that you can't drag back up out of a ditch to the trail you used to be on. Or something that is so heavy you can't drag yourself out from under it without help (been almost there, I don't recommend it).

cheers,
Michael

[justjohn]

The trails I'm thinking of range from easy to moderate I think. Would need to be able to get a tiny bit of air and not bottom out.

[roosterk0031]

Dons Auto Truck Home Page

This place has some brand new "smoke damaged" bikes, 2012 TW200 for $2750, great RV bike, I almost bought one for my wife. But maybe they have a XT250, WR250 would be great fun but way expensive. DRZ400s sounds like the ideal choice for you though I prefer the Kaw green scheme that one year it was sold.

Edit:

http://www.usautolinks.com/cgi-bin/w...to_id%3D121961

Only list the one, but say you have to call to see what other ones they have.

[justjohn]

Not seeing bikes on there.

[star_deceiver]

Tires for a TW200 are expensive and difficult to find. And are not something you'll come across without ordering in advance, even at a Yamaha dealership.

Test rode a WR250 a few years ago (bike hasn't changed much since then). It retailed for over $7000. Fuel injected, keeps up on the highway, crosswinds will blow you everywhere. Decent FE. A little light to load up with bags and ride from state to state to state.

Also test rode a CBR1000RR.... that was fun.... they said it would do 165km/h in first gear, I got it to 140km/h (in first)... I'd own one if I though for a moment that I wouldn't hoon myself to death.

Still... KLR's make for a good long distance ride!

[roosterk0031]

Found a KLR250, shouldn't be that long of drive to go pick it up.

1997 KLR 250

Also a KLX250 super moto listed but $3900 quite a bit more $$.

[justjohn]

The KLR 250 does look like it could be a good option for me. Two and a half hour drive and asking almost twice what the internet says it's worth though. Hmm. Probably worth a message anyway.

[roosterk0031]

Price seems pretty reasonable to me, don't know mileage but if under 10,000 and starts fairly easy (kick start only) I'd be all over it, I'd trade my 04 KDX200 with for it even up in a second. Hmm, wonder if he'd want a KDX instead.

Edit: did little more searching for $13-1500 more just a few year old KLR650's can be bought.

http://waterloo.craigslist.org/mcy/3192567290.html

Another 250, newer and only 2250 miles, but $1000 more,

2 650's in Des Moines area for 2800 under 5,000 miles.


http://quadcities.craigslist.org/mcy/3257261163.html

I like that one best, be perfect if it had the dual star centerstand.