What motorcycle(s) do you ride

[Irving]

I should get a dirt bike.

[CS1983]

I should get a dirt bike.

Have you considered a dual sport?

[Irving]

Yeah, every day since I knew they existed. The problem with me getting a bike, is that it'd add to my hobbies that I do without my wife. I have family that lives down in Canon that I could go ride with, but other than that, I don't really have the time or room in my life for that hobby. I'd like a little 250 or something that I could put on a vehicle mount on my Amigo and take it off at the bottom of an off-road trail and let my wife drive the Amigo up.

[Goodburbon]

No you wouldn’t. The bike is worlds faster than an amigo going up a trail. So you’d either stop every 30 seconds of riding and wait 2 minutes for her to catch up or ride to the top and wait 30 minutes+ for her to get there ....OR you’d try to ride as slow as she’s going and wear yourself out.


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[CS1983]

There are several winners in the 250 category. Each have their own cult following. If you go with a Yamaha xt250 you get fuel injection (2013 and later). Max speed about 75mph. Can do short interstate work if needed. I'm unsure about other brands and models. Its seat height is lower, which could prove helpful for teaching the wife to ride (not sure how tall she is). FI is important for elevation changes so you aren't fiddling with a carb.

If you were to go with a used TW200, which has a max speed of about 60mph, I would recommend going with a model from the earlier to mid 90's. Those models still have a kickstarter in addition to electric start. Don't go with an '87 as their CDIs are notoriously finicky (there is an after market which addresses that -- developed by one of the guys on tw200forum.com). Other than the electronics, very little of importance has changed on the TW. The TW has a carb.

You could always buy two used. Once the summer riding season tapers off, more bikes will become available for sale. Can then do any refurb over the winter and voila, come spring you and the wife are riding.

I know there are going to be folks who swear you should get a KLR5000 that you need a crane to get on and the back tire can kick rocks into Kansas. That's cool for those guys. I really enjoy the mule-like aspect of the smaller bikes. YMMV.

If you find yourself back in the Springs anytime soon, I'd be happy to let you test ride the TW. If you get a chance, have a seat on an xt250 as well.

[Irving]

My wife will never ride a dirt bike.

I realize that about the difference between a bike and a truck on the trail, and that is one of the many reasons I haven't already bought one.

[CS1983]

I'm not sure what the XT250 is like, but the TW has so much low end torque that if she stays in 1st until comfortable, she won't go more than 10mph. They're the same bike that the MSF uses for the beginner rider course. Low center of gravity and super hard to feel like you're on a rocket.

Has passenger pegs.

[Goodburbon]

I had an XT. Literally why I almost gave up trail riding altogether. No torque, no balls, no suspension. It made trail riding a miserable experience if the trail got a little rough or steep. I literally rode the rainbow trail from Westcliffe to hillside, got home and asked my wife why anyone would ever do that for “fun”. The bikes Inability to hold speed on the highway for any hill or headwind made it sketchy. Literally couldn’t hold 65 going downhill on Kenosha pass. Advantage is it’s cheap and gets you on 2 wheels, so I still liked the bike. It’s cheap price, flexible frame, flimsy wheels, inadequate suspension, and lackluster power made a great learner bike, but a poor ambassador for what trail riding is like.





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[CS1983]

Well, it's not a dirtbike. I'm surprised you weren't able to top 65. I can do that on my tw200 if I don't have a headwind. I don't like to though.

Kudos though, on the first negative review I've ever really read on one.

Any thoughts on something like the Sherpa in comparison?

[ghettodub]

I'm missing having dual sport myself. Went from a KLR650 to a Ninja 1000 since I wasn't doing much dirt.

Now I'd rather not ride on the street as much, so thinking on going back. Rode a buddy's CRF 250 that I liked so probably gonna go that route.