Should I even bother with a carburated bike?? Are they a PITA to keep running and will I need to learn the dark art of carburetor tuning??
Quote from: Fobroader on February 04, 2020, 05:40:16 pmQuote from: rrocket on February 04, 2020, 05:39:14 pmAnother nice thing is you can dick around in dirt to practice....and when you hit the deck it's much different than landing on asphalt.Guys who learned in the dirt ALWAYS seemed to be better riders ultimately.This is why I ask advice on stuff here, I like the opinions of people with way more experience than my googling self.Things are often rarely as they should be on the dirt....tire not pointed where you wanted it to be, tires sliding, shifting your weight around, suspension behaving oddly when you didn't expect it etc. That becomes "normal" for dirt riding. You are unfazed.And that translates directly to road riding....you are unfazed by these things which could otherwise be catastrophic on the street. It's a bit more skill (and insurance) in your pocket.Also read up on countersteering. Very useful to fully understand this.
Quote from: rrocket on February 04, 2020, 05:39:14 pmAnother nice thing is you can dick around in dirt to practice....and when you hit the deck it's much different than landing on asphalt.Guys who learned in the dirt ALWAYS seemed to be better riders ultimately.This is why I ask advice on stuff here, I like the opinions of people with way more experience than my googling self.
Another nice thing is you can dick around in dirt to practice....and when you hit the deck it's much different than landing on asphalt.Guys who learned in the dirt ALWAYS seemed to be better riders ultimately.
Quote from: rrocket on February 04, 2020, 05:44:36 pmQuote from: Fobroader on February 04, 2020, 05:40:16 pmQuote from: rrocket on February 04, 2020, 05:39:14 pmAnother nice thing is you can dick around in dirt to practice....and when you hit the deck it's much different than landing on asphalt.Guys who learned in the dirt ALWAYS seemed to be better riders ultimately.This is why I ask advice on stuff here, I like the opinions of people with way more experience than my googling self.Things are often rarely as they should be on the dirt....tire not pointed where you wanted it to be, tires sliding, shifting your weight around, suspension behaving oddly when you didn't expect it etc. That becomes "normal" for dirt riding. You are unfazed.And that translates directly to road riding....you are unfazed by these things which could otherwise be catastrophic on the street. It's a bit more skill (and insurance) in your pocket.Also read up on countersteering. Very useful to fully understand this.Will do....maybe this dual sport malarkie is where its at....gotta start watching Long Way Around lol
Well if I ever decide to commute to work on it, there is a few kms worth of gravel on a shortcut I take to/from work, so any bike would have to be able to handle that.
Quote from: Fobroader on February 04, 2020, 05:53:57 pmWell if I ever decide to commute to work on it, there is a few kms worth of gravel on a shortcut I take to/from work, so any bike would have to be able to handle that.Any bike can handle it more than likely.The question will be can your skills handle it.With a little practice, I say yes.
Quote from: rrocket on February 04, 2020, 05:54:42 pmQuote from: Fobroader on February 04, 2020, 05:53:57 pmWell if I ever decide to commute to work on it, there is a few kms worth of gravel on a shortcut I take to/from work, so any bike would have to be able to handle that.Any bike can handle it more than likely.The question will be can your skills handle it.With a little practice, I say yes.Thats a ways away down the road. I want to be sure that I can handle a bike safely and confidently before I strike out into Edmonton traffic with it....or gravel
Quote from: Fobroader on February 04, 2020, 05:56:52 pmQuote from: rrocket on February 04, 2020, 05:54:42 pmQuote from: Fobroader on February 04, 2020, 05:53:57 pmWell if I ever decide to commute to work on it, there is a few kms worth of gravel on a shortcut I take to/from work, so any bike would have to be able to handle that.Any bike can handle it more than likely.The question will be can your skills handle it.With a little practice, I say yes.Thats a ways away down the road. I want to be sure that I can handle a bike safely and confidently before I strike out into Edmonton traffic with it....or gravelI know it sounds odd, but I think dirt/gravel is safer.Fewer idiots in cars on those roads for sure.YMMV depending on where you live though.
Quote from: Fobroader on February 04, 2020, 05:43:02 pmShould I even bother with a carburated bike?? Are they a PITA to keep running and will I need to learn the dark art of carburetor tuning??What is your elevation?
Carb bikes don't like sitting for years on end. Seems to be the biggest issue with them. Some are a little cold blooded and take long to warm up. I love fuel injection of my Suzuki after the previous carb'd Honda. Took it from sea level to top of mountains - no issues.Dual sports have a higher seats I think which adds a little extra challenge in learning but I've only ridden standards not low cruisers or higher dual sports.For me gravel (especially thickly packed) can feel a little squirrelly at higher speeds on street tires. I just slow down and it is ok. Not my favourite but some of the best roads are gravel.
and a Kawasaki version of the DRZ. You could probably walk away with this for $3 or $3.2. If shopping DRZ (or the Kawai eq) don't get hung up po year becuase Suzuki didn't really ever change them. Condition rules.https://www.kijiji.ca/v-dirt-bikes-motocross/calgary/2004-kawasaki-klx400sr-suzuki-drz400s-6000kms-street-legal/1484451781
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-scooters-pocket-bikes/edmonton/honda-ct90/1485300696
