Thoughts on a suitable small bike

**warewolf** · 26th October 2007, 18:45

Originally Posted by P38

Didn't see no sign that said you cant discuss any other type of motorcycle.

Mate you can say whatever you like. But ya gotta remember, so can we!

**Wolf** · 26th October 2007, 19:30

Originally Posted by warewolf

Mate you can say whatever you like. But ya gotta remember, so can we!

Yeah, lets head over to the Cruiser forum and talk Adventure Bikes.

P38, it's not a matter of people being "sensitive". It's a matter of noting the question was about an adventure ride on unsealed roads, not a cruise along 4-lane tarmac.

Overly wide tyres (skitter across the surface of gravel rather than digging in) with shallow road-oriented tread; inappropriate suspension and steering geometry - that which makes a cruiser ideally suited for riding straight sealed roads makes it completely inappropriate (in fact, downright unsafe) on winding unsealed roads.

Warewolf saying that a cruiser is an inappropriate choice (given the forum and young1's question) does not mean he is sensitive, strung-out or in need of "getting out more".

Young1, a real bugger it looks like it's going to be a car trip. Enjoy it as best you can, anyway and take notes for a future bike trip through there....

**young1** · 26th October 2007, 22:27

Wow I did open a hornets nest!

I am still trying to find a bike, but however we go we will just cruise (if in the car we can throw the mountain bikes in the back!) and have a ball!

**pritch** · 26th October 2007, 23:43

The original request was couched thus:

Originally Posted by young1

I am looking at doing a trip at Xmas time, maybe down South on my 990. Are there 250s out there that would be suitable for maybe a 10 day trip, sitting on 110km hr on the open road,
Do they have the range to do a trip like this? Would like to go through Molesworth Station etc

Regardless of the forum "Virago" is probably as good an answer to that question as most.

My suggestion would be GN250 - or Yamaha Scorpio, again strictly in answer to that particular set of requirements.

The majority of that trip would have been on the road so the correct answer would probably be a road bike. I would have thought the "forum" was less important than a sensible answer

**marks** · 27th October 2007, 13:32

Originally Posted by young1

if in the car we can throw the mountain bikes in the back!

did exactly the same thing with Glen a year or so ago. We had a great time. There are some great mtb tracks around wanaka and queenstown.

of course you could take a trailer with the drz and kdx with you?

If you end up having some time when you pass through wellington let me know and I'll shout you a coffee or something.

cheers

Mark

**NordieBoy** · 28th October 2007, 08:36

Originally Posted by pritch008

Regardless of the forum "Virago" is probably as good an answer to that question as most.

My suggestion would be GN250 - or Yamaha Scorpio, again strictly in answer to that particular set of requirements.

The majority of that trip would have been on the road so the correct answer would probably be a road bike. I would have thought the "forum" was less important than a sensible answer

"Would like to go through Molesworth Station etc"

>100km of gravel? I wouldn't like to attempt that on a cruisery type bike and I loved my Yammy SR185 and Suzuki Savage.

**Zukin** · 28th October 2007, 09:56

Originally Posted by young1

Wow I did open a hornets nest!

I am still trying to find a bike, but however we go we will just cruise (if in the car we can throw the mountain bikes in the back!) and have a ball!

What on earth are you talking about!!!
Something has made you go weird, all this talk of touring the South Island in a car

GO the Bikes!!!

If you get really stuck I have the DRZ250 here, that you maybe able to borrow for the trip

I would have to clear it with Carissa first (as it is her bike)

Let me know

Cheers Scott

**young1** · 28th October 2007, 11:05

Originally Posted by Zukin

What on earth are you talking about!!!
Something has made you go weird, all this talk of touring the South Island in a car

No I havent gone weird I still have my KTM!

Scott can you pm me with your phone number?

If we do have to take the car we will probably do the far north and avoid paying for car on the ferry crossing.

Mark - good idea to take the DRZ and KDX but the KDX is spotless as I want to sell it! And my son has a habit of going hard on it and falling off....

**marks** · 28th October 2007, 14:40

Originally Posted by young1

Mark - good idea to take the DRZ and KDX but the KDX is spotless as I want to sell it! And my son has a habit of going hard on it and falling off....

If I spend to much more time aboard Glens KDX I may have to buy your sons kdx for me. They are a real blast.

**young1** · 28th October 2007, 15:34

They are heaps of fun as you are finding out. Tony's bike is spotless!

**Pickle** · 28th October 2007, 16:40

I have a KLR250 for sale cheap, registered & WOF'd. We have done Molesworth & Rainbow on them, ridden them to Tauranga via Gisborne, Motu & return via Waikeremoana. Have riiden all over North Island on them & they will sit on 100/110kmh all day. Not a real serious dirt bike but great fun on tight gravel roads & will embaress road bikes when ridden hard.
pm me if interested I can send photo's if required

**young1** · 28th October 2007, 20:14

Originally Posted by Pickle

I have a KLR250 for sale cheap, registered & WOF'd. We have done Molesworth & Rainbow on them, ridden them to Tauranga via Gisborne, Motu & return via Waikeremoana. Have riiden all over North Island on them & they will sit on 100/110kmh all day. Not a real serious dirt bike but great fun on tight gravel roads & will embaress road bikes when ridden hard.
pm me if interested I can send photo's if required

Thanks, pm sent

**Wolf** · 28th October 2007, 21:08

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

"Would like to go through Molesworth Station etc"

>100km of gravel? I wouldn't like to attempt that on a cruisery type bike and I loved my Yammy SR185 and Suzuki Savage.

hehehe

I was borrowing strayj's Hyosung Aquila while my XT was awaiting parts and I encountered a 5km stretch of road works. Both the front and rear wheels were moving all over the show like I was trying to ride on thousands of ball bearings.

I had forgotten what the savage had been like on gravel and was used to how the XT copes with gravel.

The Aquila was a pig on gravel, I had to drastically reduce speed and I was having to constantly correct the steering as the front wanted to wash out.

5 km was further than I wanted to endure that.

**young1** · 2nd November 2007, 08:23

It looks as though the trip is all go, thanks to Zukin and a very kind offer of his wifes DRZ. Thank you Scotty!!!

My son is buzzing, it is going to be an awesome trip away, friends are also going to come with us on their 650BMW.

So if anyone else is going to be at the top of the South Island after Xmas, it would be good to catch up somewhere!

Thanks again Scott!

**Wolf** · 2nd November 2007, 10:35

Originally Posted by young1

It looks as though the trip is all go, thanks to Zukin and a very kind offer of his wifes DRZ. Thank you Scotty!!!

My son is buzzing, it is going to be an awesome trip away, friends are also going to come with us on their 650BMW.

So if anyone else is going to be at the top of the South Island after Xmas, it would be good to catch up somewhere!

Thanks again Scott!

Hey great to hear! And big ups to Scott and his lovely lady.

Enjoy your ride.