Thinking of getting on/off road bike...

[Highbeam]

I picked up a 1983 Yamaha virago for 700 and I have been riding it for the last 3 years with no issues. All It needed was fresh fuel and I had to clean and tune the carbs.
I also picked up a 1983 Yamaha IT 490 for 600. The IT needed a little work but it has a road title so I have it plated and I ride it to and from the trails. Both bikes are reliable and each one does what it is supposed to do with out compromising. I wouldn't want to ride a dual sport on the trails because they are heavy up top and the tires are not as aggressive. Bikes are cheap to insure and they don't take up much room so you can have more than one. why compromise when you can have the best of both for less than a car.

The street bike is outfitted with heated grips a windshield and I have added a plug for a heated vest. I can comfortably ride when the temps are in the teens. As long as I have traction I ride the bike even in the winter between snowstorms when the roads clear.

Isn't that IT a big huge 2 stroke bike? Yamaha had a YZ490 as well that was a scary bike.

I wish I had some pictures available but you can very easily convert a decent factory dual sport bike into a mean off-road machine. Weight can be removed or moved and there are street legal knobbies that are very aggressive. I even chose to use the DOT legal knobbies on my last off-road only bike since they were so dang effective and tough. (Tires are the Dunlop D606 series)

So to the extreme there are street bikes like crotch rockets and then there are off-road race bikes like say a two stroke kick only no lights bike. There is a huge middle ground and lots of overlap for most riders. I desert race my dual sport and will be doing the annual 100 mile desert100 in two weeks. I fly by many high dollar dedicated off-road bikes with my street legal dual sport.

It's not the bike, it's the rider. I have been spanked by crazy 50-60 year olds too. Those old guys are nuts, lots of broken bones in their history.

 

[gmule]

Isn't that IT a big huge 2 stroke bike? Yamaha had a YZ490 as well that was a scary bike.

Why yes it is.

This bike differs from the YZ 490 in that it has a 5 speed gear box instead of 4speed and a less aggressive power band. It is still a monster though and will bring smiles to the faces of those around every time I fire it up.

(broken image removed)

I completed a 75 mile trip bouncing back and forth the continental divide last fall on it.

 

[Highbeam]

Other than drum brakes, that would be a very nice ride. I've always wondered if it would be fun to ride the vintage class in the races on something like that.

 

[gmule]

I agree about the drum brakes. I have often thought about putting a newer set of forks and disk brakes on it but I think that would take away from the riding experience on a 29 year old machine.
I don't ride it that often and when I do it is mostly mild trail riding. When I want to get crazy I take out the 450F

(broken image removed)

It has a few goodies added to it.

 

[jeffoc]

I was thinking about using a street bike for my 88 mile (one way) commute, I found this pretty helpful.
http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/save-money-commuting-by-motorcycle-not-so-fast/

 

[Highbeam]

I was thinking about using a street bike for my 88 mile (one way) commute, I found this pretty helpful.
http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/save-money-commuting-by-motorcycle-not-so-fast/

Obviously written by and biased towards the non-bikers. They make many large assumptions like requiring a safety course and making you pay for it. Also, it assumes a very expensive insurance policy that isn't always true.

As I said before, it isn't that easy to save significant money using a bike for commuting. You don't need to make stuff up to prove it.

 

[jeffoc]

I really don't think it was that biased. I've ridden for 20+ years. mainly sport bikes and cruisers. But started on what used to be called enduros.I got in a pretty bad wreck a couple of years ago and was thinking about getting another bike for my commute, and
I think if someone is looking for a ballpark the numbers they have are pretty good.

 

[gmule]

I really don't think it was that biased. I've ridden for 20+ years. mainly sport bikes and cruisers. But started on what used to be called enduros.I got in a pretty bad wreck a couple of years ago and was thinking about getting another bike for my commute, and
I think if someone is looking for a ballpark the numbers they have are pretty good.

I agree, I played with the numbers and they seemed pretty fair to me as well. If you have a bike that is older and paid for you really only need to cary liability insurance and that is cheap since you are assuming most of the risk. Just know that almost any crash will total a bike so if you get hit the other dirver will pay and if it is your fault you will be buying a new bike.

 

[Ratherbfishin]

I ended up getting a 2008 KLR 650. Green/silver. 6000mi. It has detachable luggage on either side, wrap around front "brush guard" that would protect the plastic in case it gets laid down. I have my permit but have to wait until the end of June to take the safety course which will waive the road test. But in the mean time I have been riding it around the house and out in the fields with my son on his 4 wheeler.

Steve

 

[jeromehdmc]

Nice looking bike.
Hope it takes good care of you.
I bet you can't wait to get the class over with and hit some trails on your commute.

 

[gmule]

Have fun and ride safe.

 

[Highbeam]

Class schmass, go take the road test. It was easy and quick. You can always take the class later if you feel like it.

The KLR is a great bike. Being big it is stable at high speed.

 

[MasterMech]

Class schmass, go take the road test. It was easy and quick. You can always take the class later if you feel like it.

The KLR is a great bike. Being big it is stable at high speed.

Actually the RT is a pain in the arse here. Most opt for the class. We rode all weekend in pouring rain. Builds character.

 

[Highbeam]

Actually the RT is a pain in the arse here. Most opt for the class. We rode all weekend in pouring rain. Builds character.

Oh really? That's too bad. In WA it was not difficult for an off-road rider to pass on a nimble dirt bike style dual sport. The guys with the large harley cruisers had to do the same test and their obviously less nimble and heavier bikes put them at a disadvantage. The whole test was about as long/hard as a auto driving test.

Funny that the RT really did not prepare you for the most important things on the road on a bike like knowing that everyone is trying to kill you!

 

[MasterMech]

Oh really? That's too bad. In WA it was not difficult for an off-road rider to pass on a nimble dirt bike style dual sport. The guys with the large harley cruisers had to do the same test and their obviously less nimble and heavier bikes put them at a disadvantage. The whole test was about as long/hard as a auto driving test.

Funny that the RT really did not prepare you for the most important things on the road on a bike like knowing that everyone is trying to kill you!

Try taking the RT on a crotch rocket here. It all goes well until the slow figure 8. I know my former ride was very top-heavy and di d not like to lean over that far at slow speeds. Required Herculean strength to yank it back over. I can see the full dresser Harley's having fun with that too! We rode Suzuki GZ250's (I hear laughter) for the class and they were actually a blast to throw around. Just don't try for more than 30 MPH, lol.

 

[rover47]

I travel 25 miles one way to work. I had an S40 suzuki which I really loved but it got unconfortable . Traded for an C50 cruiser much better. was alittle chilly this am.

 

[rockettmantoo]

I have a Suzuki DL650 (Vstrom). 48K miles on rough Maine roads. Lots of unpaved roads too. 55-58 mpg. 5.8 gal tank. Bullet proof so far. Most of all its a blast to ride. Not sexy though. I call it my soccer mom bike.

 

[Ratherbfishin]

Got it registered,insured (120 a year for full coverage). I have ridden it to work a few times now...the savings is realized almost immediately. I put12 bucks in and rode back and forth twice. That is 136 miles. With gas still in the tank. 12 bucks in my Taurus will get me up there once but not all the way home! I just get nervous and wide eyed driving to work at 10 at night (deer) scare me and sometimes it gets super windy which blows you around a bit if your not ready for the gusts to hit you. Other than that it is comfortable, the side detachable luggage holds my thermos of coffee and lunch and the other side for whatever else. My lap top bag I just bungee to the back rack.

 

[Cazimere]

I went with the ON road option : )

Definitely take the MSF course. It might just save your ass someday.

 

[jeromehdmc]

Medic lets see a picture of the KLR.
As time goes by you'll get used to the wind.
Get a rainsuit and put it in the other bag, a few guys have FroggToggs they pack up small.

 

[burnham]

Nice, I've been thinking of a KLR or a DR650 as my next bike.
This is my te449

This is for thrills (broken image removed)

 

[Ratherbfishin]

Yeah...my class got bumped up to may!! I will have my licence by the first week of June. I will ride her for this season maybe next...see where I stand on what kind of bike I really like...I have my eye on the Suzuki M109...

 

[Ratherbfishin]

Well, put over 4500 miles on it this summer just back and forth to work. Nice simple bike, handles well. But now I get the urge to go all in for more power...like a GSXR 1000 or something....I just keep reminding myself of why I chose the KLR on the first place...55 MPG, fairly cheap, low maintenance...and the option for a little light off road fun

 

[xman23]

Thats what happens, the bike get small quick when your on the road. This thread started trying to save money riding a bike to work. Now it's about the next bike. Nothing wrong with that. I have a few. My street bike is a Valkyrie. Not very good on gas with 6 carbs, but IMO there's not a smother riding bike.

 

[MasterMech]

But now I get the urge to go all in for more power...like a GSXR 1000 or something....

GSXR is not a commuter bike. Unless your commute is very short (under 20 min). Even my SV1000 was an ergonomic nightmare. The reason I sold it was I couldn't stand to ride it for more than 30-45 min at a clip. Of course you can change rear peg sets, seats, and bars to help things out but it'll never turn a GSXR into a street cruiser.