Small displacement adventure bike

[frog13]

You can order tires for the TW as any other bike........extra gas cans,koplin etc.,fixes that issue.No bike is going to be perfect.....customizing it to your needs is the fun part.

[Billigan]

My personal favourite is a SYM HD200. It can do 55mph all day long, carry its own weight, great on gas and NO chain lube required... I saw another crazy in this thread has a SYM HD200.

http://[/IMG]

[Birdmove]

I'll agree. The HD200 is a fantastic scooter. We have one and also a Kymco People 150, which is another great scooter. Not as much power as the SYM though it gets better gas mileage.

[jspringator]

I bought a Yamaha XT225 last year to use on RV trips. I recently added a Russell Day Long saddle, Turbo City windshield frame and MadStad windshield and adjustable bracket. Love the combo. The bike only has 600 miles on it. It has been smoothing out a little at the higher RPM's as it gets more miles on it.

[tdvt]

My wife's older son rode his Vespa 200L from here in northern Vermont, down to the Bonnaroo music festival (south of Nashville) & back again a few summers ago. I don't think he documented it though I thought it WAS quite an undertaking. I seem to recall he lost the drive belt in NC, just starting his way back but otherwise no mechanical issues.

Might not mean anything but the Vespa has pretty much sat in the back of our garage since that trip.

[jon_l]

I thought that Symba 100 mentioned earlier looked really neat, and I like the large, 17" wheels, but the specs are awful. 408 lbs dry and 4 liter fuel capacity, drums brakes front & rear. $3,200 doesn't sound cheap for that.

I'd spend $500 more for a Honda PCX150; FI, front disc w/ combined braking, 286 lbs wet, 14" wheels, belt drive, 6 liters of fuel.

[hugemoth]

408 Lbs is a misprint, should be 208 lbs.

Originally Posted by jon_l

I thought that Symba 100 mentioned earlier looked really neat, and I like the large, 17" wheels, but the specs are awful. 408 lbs dry and 4 liter fuel capacity, drums brakes front & rear. $3,200 doesn't sound cheap for that.

I'd spend $500 more for a Honda PCX150; FI, front disc w/ combined braking, 286 lbs wet, 14" wheels, belt drive, 6 liters of fuel.

[GSF1200S]

I definitely think it is important to consider traffic around you, both on highways and especially on freeways. The idea of a bike that will only do 75 comfortably kind of scares me, but I come from the sport-touring world.

In reference to the original post, I would definitely say XT225. The OP could gear it down to literally encourage slower travel, while making it all the more capable off road. Seems he might be gone now, but hopefully he picks something around 200cc's for his safety.

I am looking for a 250 to compliment my DR650. I have learned a lot reading all I can about the 250s, and I encourage anyone considering bumping DOWN there displacement to seriously consider: WR250R, DR350, XT225, KLX250S (or KLX351S bored), and even a TW200 if tire size and gas arent an issue. All are great bikes..

[shearboy2004]

DR200 engine in a much better bike .

[jon_l]

Originally Posted by shearboy2004

DR200 engine in a much better bike .

Looks interesting, but it's not obvious what it is?

[shearboy2004]

Originally Posted by jon_l

Looks interesting, but it's not obvious what it is?

Sorry Mate it's a Beta Alp 4 stroke ! They make one with the DR350 engine in it but I guess we never got that one

Great little bike , it will run 50mph just fine with it's gearing as is but will also climb a brick wall, trials steering lock which is amazing , smooth reliable little beast that will just about do anything . Geared up I'm sure it would pull over 60mph just fine .It improved my Wife's riding by 100 percent because it is so easy to ride and has great manners .

[frog13]

Originally Posted by dbarale

I would stay away from the TW200 for two reasons: ridiculously small tank and availability of tires.
Other than that it is fun and reliable but the XT225 is a better choice.

I think you'll be happy with a CT110...

Tires are no problem with the TW200....don't even have to look hard to find'em!.Tw's are quite reliable also;go to the TW 200 forum,you'll see. Tank isn't much smaller than other bikes,excluding the dr200.Carry extra fuel,like most folks do....problem solved!.

[smilin jack]

Originally Posted by Butters

Here's so more inspiration regarding the Ruckus (if you want to read a 100+ page thread about a young guy from another country riding a Ruckus across the US): http://totalruckus.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=12143

There s a huge aftermarket for the Ruckus and loads of info on modding it. I think you can squeeze a little more power out of it (although some guys get crazy and spend a fortune squeezing even a little bit more power out of it).

I'd personally go for a 200-250 dual sport just because they are so versatile (TW, Sherpa, KLR250, XT225/250). But even one of those wouldn't give you the same adventure as a sub-150cc moped. But do realize, you can't take some of the smaller mopeds on some highways even if you were inclined to . . .

Anybody recall what those small, fat tire little bikes that looked futuristic were called that were made by Honda(I think)?

EDIT: This is the only pic I could find (the bike in the background - what's it called??)

Yep, have had several and they ride pretty nicely. The last one had a 1/2 gallon tank and could go all day. It was easy to throw in the van and take it to the hills for camping/hunting etc. The older ones had a 3 speed transmission the the newer ones had a 4 speed. They were street legal and cruised about 35 mph but could go faster.

Dave

[pledians]

Originally Posted by skyzo

Well for the last 10 years I have been an bicycle tourer, I rode across the USA in '06. In other words, going slow is no problem for me. I started getting into motorcycles a few years back when I acquired a cool old '76 Elsinore 250 that ruled. Now I've got the touring itch again, and this time I've decided I want to do it on a motorcycle.

The ride I'm planning (for next summer) is about a 5,000 cross country route from oregon to maine, with lots of exploring along the way. I'm now at the stages of selecting a bike, which is where I have my dilemma.

The main thing is, I WANT to go slow. This is the main reason I love bicycle touring, the ability to be a part of the environment you are riding through, not whizzing by at 70mph. One bike that started to interest me after reading nate the postman's awesome thread, was a Honda ct90. The 90 seems perfect for what I need, about 40mph max, and off the charts gas mileage. I just want to make sure I make the right choice before pulling the trigger on one. I would have to say, that the biggest bike I would consider is probably a 200cc.

Thanks

I know its an old thread but i have a similar story. I have been riding bicycles for many many years before getting on my first motorbike. I have been touring on a Bajaj Pulsar 150 and a Honda CBR 125 with great success. During my last trip i went on an 500cc vintage bike, which was fun, but it was very heavy to handle and i really miss the lightness and smoothness of a small modern bike.

I am considering getting a Honda XR125L or a CBF125 for long distance riding. Is there any ride reports/threads around here of people touring on any of those bikes?

Sometimes i have considered getting myself a 50cc bike, to have time to enjoy more of the surroundings and not just flying my way through.

[frog13]

Try looking at the "Minimalist touring thread"...there are other threads about smaller cc machines here also...just can't remember their thread names.