Dual sports - What model and cooling type would you recommend?

[leem00]

Dual sports - What model and cooling type would you recommend?

I saw this thread...but didn't really address some of my questions and concerns.

http://www.600cc.org/forum/f44/intro-dirt-bike-27097/
I am debating buying a dual sport in the next 1-2 years and starting my research…
I am setting up two polls and this one covers manufacturer and cooling type!
Most of the reviews I have seen cover Yamaha, Honda, and KTM. I couldn't find much on Kawasaki and Suzuki but and a coworker recommends Suzuki dirt bikes.

The reviews I have seen call the Yamaha the Cadillac of dual sports. Most of the reviews were split on water cooled and air cooled; but they said water cooled has more things to break and the air cooled are more bullet proof.

What do you all think…
PS there will be an engine size poll coming up shortly.

 

[bleedinblue]

Dual sports - What model and cooling type would you recommend?

I saw this thread...but didn't really address some of my questions and concerns.

http://www.600cc.org/forum/f44/intro-dirt-bike-27097/
I am debating buying a dual sport in the next 1-2 years and starting my research…
I am setting up two polls and this one covers manufacturer and cooling type!
Most of the reviews I have seen cover Yamaha, Honda, and KTM. I couldn't find much on Kawasaki and Suzuki but and a coworker recommends Suzuki dirt bikes.

The reviews I have seen call the Yamaha the Cadillac of dual sports. Most of the reviews were split on water cooled and air cooled; but they said water cooled has more things to break and the air cooled are more bullet proof.

What do you all think…
PS there will be an engine size poll coming up shortly.

Wr450...They are amazing bikes and worth the extra $ to make street legal wether you buy new or used.

On the older carbed models, alot of parts interchange with the yz.You can even change the timing over to the yz's for free.Pretty versatile and extremely torquey and responsive for a single

 

[Perdurable]

air cooled SUCKS its heavy and you can NOT sit still you need to be moving all the time

 

[leem00]

air cooled SUCKS its heavy and you can NOT sit still you need to be moving all the time

What about trail damage to the radiators...does it happen often?

 

[Michael Wilson]

Suzuki DRZ400

 

[bloodypulp]

air cooled SUCKS its heavy and you can NOT sit still you need to be moving all the time

What he said. Not necessarily the sucks part but don't get caught where u can't move. For dual I'd go liquid.

 

[Perdurable]

What about trail damage to the radiators...does it happen often?

they have guards for them just like dirtbikes =)
things can go bad pretty quick with an air cooled motor

 

[JT]

Good to know! I may get a dual sport in the near future. I saw a cheap 200cc yamaha last time looked pretty good for the money it was like 4.5k msrp

2013 Yamaha TW200 Home, information

but I guess paying an extra 2K for a better liquid cooled bike may be the way to go.

http://www.yamahamotorsports.com/sport/products/modelhome/595/0/home.aspx

 

[bleedinblue]

Heres a good teaser for you lee..One ride on one of the newer 450's and you'll fall in love.

I believe this is a Yz not a Wr, it looks like it has the reversed cylinder head.But a wr is a equal wheelie monster.My Yfz atv weighs almost what the 6r does and it will power wheelie in all 5 gears.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkGd2SbYgBk]Marat Kankadze - Yamaha WR450 Stunt Supermoto - YouTube[/ame]

 

[leem00]

Heres a good teaser for you lee..One ride on one of the newer 450's and you'll fall in love.

I believe this is a Yz not a Wr, it looks like it has the reversed cylinder head.But a wr is a equal wheelie monster.My Yfz atv weighs almost what the 6r does and it will power wheelie in all 5 gears.

I am not looking for a wheelie monster, supermoto, or stunt type!

What I am looking at is riding like this... and being able to ride to those places and back!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dytQvJefFW0]o#o Why Ride a Motorcycle? - YouTube[/ame]
and this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xfpU0yIpG4
seen in this thread
http://www.600cc.org/forum/f6/i-want-dirt-bike-28690/

 

[bleedinblue]

Have you been to Haspin Acres Lee?
Haspin Acres | Off-Road & Motocross Park in Laurel, Indiana

 

[leem00]

Have you been to Haspin Acres Lee?
Haspin Acres | Off-Road & Motocross Park in Laurel, Indiana

Not yet... (10 char)

 

[bleedinblue]

Not yet... (10 char)

Its a fun place to ride, more trails than grass! lol.

But the trucks and buggies have worn the trails down to the bedrock over the years, everywhere except for the main entrance where people park.Something like a drz400 would have enough torque to lug or short shift on the trails when you want, then accelerate as you need to without being launched into a tree like me lol.

Things like xr250's and ttr230's really struggle out there.It takes most of the torque they make just to keep them rolling instead of stalling in technical areas.There is no gear selection.In places that you could roll through on the drz a gear high without stalling, you'll be testing a basic air cooled 250's maximum output.

The hill in this video for example.1\4 the trails lead to it, hundreds of ways to accidentally end up there.But even if you don't want to ride up it.You'll of shifted 50-100 times less on the main trail to get there and you won't encounter an obstacle large enough to force your feet down on a 400.Ground clearance is a big thing off road.It will keep your feet on the pegs more often.

Warning there is a curse word or two in the video, don't watch at work.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy8FpFQ-qIg]2004 KTM 250sx Climbing Devil's Backbone @ Haspin Acres - YouTube[/ame]

 

[leem00]

Its a fun place to ride, more trails than grass! lol.

But the trucks and buggies have worn the trails down to the bedrock over the years, everywhere except for the main entrance where people park.Something like a drz400 would have enough torque to lug or short shift on the trails when you want, then accelerate as you need to without being launched into a tree like me lol.

Things like xr250's and ttr230's really struggle out there.It takes most of the torque they make just to keep them rolling instead of stalling in technical areas.There is no gear selection.In places that you could roll through on the drz a gear high without stalling, you'll be testing a basic air cooled 250's maximum output.

The hill in this video for example.1\4 the trails lead to it, hundreds of ways to accidentally end up there.But even if you don't want to ride up it.You'll of shifted 50-100 times less on the main trail to get there and you won't encounter an obstacle large enough to force your feet down on a 400.Ground clearance is a big thing off road.It will keep your feet on the pegs more often.

Warning there is a curse word or two in the video, don't watch at work.

2004 KTM 250sx Climbing Devil's Backbone @ Haspin Acres - YouTube

Most of the people I know with quads won't go there!


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