Topic: The Motorcycling Thread

[rrocket]

That's sweet.

Wanted to buy one for nostalgic reasons...$2k+!!

[HeliDriver]

My entire bike ownership history:

[rrocket]

I loved my KDX.

Had one of the first liquid cooled ones..1990

[ktm525]

Good sequence. After the RM 125 mine went (keepers):

Dirt                                              Street
87 CR250                                     82 RD350 
91CR250                                      84 GS1150EF
92 CR500
92CR250 (sort of built a CRE)
University lol
00 DRZE
01 KTM 520
04 ktm 525
04 ktm 300 exc
07 ktm 300 wcw
10 ktm 530

then a big pause

18 Husky FE501 probably have about $22k into this one.
next?


I guess I am only at about 20. Going to need to address that over the next few years. I need a 300 2 stroke to replace the 04. and a small adventure bike.

[HeliDriver]

Good sequence. After the RM 125 mine went (keepers):

Dirt                                              Street
87 CR250                                     82 RD350 
91CR250                                      84 GS1150EF
92 CR500
92CR250 (sort of built a CRE)
University lol
00 DRZE
01 KTM 520
04 ktm 525
04 ktm 300 exc
07 ktm 300 wcw
10 ktm 530

then a big pause

18 Husky FE501 probably have about $22k into this one.
next?


I guess I am only at about 20. Going to need to address that over the next few years. I need a 300 2 stroke to replace the 04. and a small adventure bike.

I know where you can find a cherry 250. 300 is just a kit away… 

Actually, with the FMF Gnarly pipe and SX cylinder head, the 250 already has plenty of grunt. You don’t even need the 300 kit. 

[ktm525]

lol you selling? I want a 300 so I can gear it up and make it a dualsport.


The 07 has been rebuilt and it is amazing how hard the earlier models hit. The new ones are butter smooth and "soft" by comparison. That 250 is likely very entertaining. My favourite 300 is still the 04. No e start of course but the weight is still very competitive. (about 224 lbs IIRC). I poured a  lot of $$ into the suspenders and it still performs.

[ktm525]

Just remember to replace the piston and don't stretch the intervals ...

[JohnnyMac]

I remember you mentioning that your wife wanted a monkey.  Glad you were finally able to source one.  Does she have a cool retro helmet to match it?  I know she is a recent grad of the bike school and has her licence, but has she ever ridden your bike?  How long until she upgrades to the rebel 300/500? 

[HeliDriver]

lol you selling? I want a 300 so I can gear it up and make it a dualsport.


The 07 has been rebuilt and it is amazing how hard the earlier models hit. The new ones are butter smooth and "soft" by comparison. That 250 is likely very entertaining. My favourite 300 is still the 04. No e start of course but the weight is still very competitive. (about 224 lbs IIRC). I poured a  lot of $$ into the suspenders and it still performs.

Yeah, I put it up for sale last summer but didn’t get any takers. Probably priced it too high, but also wasn’t desperate to sell. Think I’ll try again in the spring, but am not expecting a seller’s market. 

I’ve just been having way too much fun on the mountain bike these days. I only get out on the dirt bike maybe 2-3 days per season, so I feel like I’m ready to give it up.

[Jaeger]

I remember you mentioning that your wife wanted a monkey.  Glad you were finally able to source one.  Does she have a cool retro helmet to match it?  I know she is a recent grad of the bike school and has her licence, but has she ever ridden your bike?  How long until she upgrades to the rebel 300/500?

Cheers. No retro helmet - she has a Shoei Neotec modular. A nice retro with some yellow highlights would be boss, but at the moment she's figuring out accessories. Tail rack, side bag, frame sliders - that's about it. Hopefully she doesn't develop my ridiculous helmet acquisition habbit.   

She's never ridden my bike - she finds it too intimidating. Important to start on something she feels manageable to avoid being scared off early, I think. Given the huge gap in time between the course and getting her bike, I'll probably arrange a couple private lessons for her in the spring, just as a refresher.

I can definitely see a Rebel as a future possibility. But I can also see this just being "it". She has zero interest in high speed highway runs, and the Monkey will more than serve for bopping around town and rides in the country. But of course, we will see.

[ktm525]

lol you selling? I want a 300 so I can gear it up and make it a dualsport.


The 07 has been rebuilt and it is amazing how hard the earlier models hit. The new ones are butter smooth and "soft" by comparison. That 250 is likely very entertaining. My favourite 300 is still the 04. No e start of course but the weight is still very competitive. (about 224 lbs IIRC). I poured a  lot of $$ into the suspenders and it still performs.

Yeah, I put it up for sale last summer but didn’t get any takers. Probably priced it too high, but also wasn’t desperate to sell. Think I’ll try again in the spring, but am not expecting a seller’s market. 

I’ve just been having way too much fun on the mountain bike these days. I only get out on the dirt bike maybe 2-3 days per season, so I feel like I’m ready to give it up.

Harder to move a 250. Most 300 riders are lazy and want that smooth power delivery so a uncorked 250 will scare them lol.  Just price it  aggressively and it will move. Remember your first couple bites are the real buyers.

[DriverJeff]

I remember you mentioning that your wife wanted a monkey.  Glad you were finally able to source one.  Does she have a cool retro helmet to match it?  I know she is a recent grad of the bike school and has her licence, but has she ever ridden your bike?  How long until she upgrades to the rebel 300/500?

Cheers. No retro helmet - she has a Shoei Neotec modular. A nice retro with some yellow highlights would be boss, but at the moment she's figuring out accessories. Tail rack, side bag, frame sliders - that's about it. Hopefully she doesn't develop my ridiculous helmet acquisition habbit.   

She's never ridden my bike - she finds it too intimidating. Important to start on something she feels manageable to avoid being scared off early, I think. Given the huge gap in time between the course and getting her bike, I'll probably arrange a couple private lessons for her in the spring, just as a refresher.

I can definitely see a Rebel as a future possibility. But I can also see this just being "it". She has zero interest in high speed highway runs, and the Monkey will more than serve for bopping around town and rides in the country. But of course, we will see.

Nice... 

How many of us started out thinking "Oh, I just want to bop around town", or "just to school and back", or "sundays on the back roads"... only to find ourselves enjoying long road trips on a bike soon thereafter. 

[JohnnyMac]

I remember you mentioning that your wife wanted a monkey.  Glad you were finally able to source one.  Does she have a cool retro helmet to match it?  I know she is a recent grad of the bike school and has her licence, but has she ever ridden your bike?  How long until she upgrades to the rebel 300/500?

Cheers. No retro helmet - she has a Shoei Neotec modular. A nice retro with some yellow highlights would be boss, but at the moment she's figuring out accessories. Tail rack, side bag, frame sliders - that's about it. Hopefully she doesn't develop my ridiculous helmet acquisition habbit.   

She's never ridden my bike - she finds it too intimidating. Important to start on something she feels manageable to avoid being scared off early, I think. Given the huge gap in time between the course and getting her bike, I'll probably arrange a couple private lessons for her in the spring, just as a refresher.

I can definitely see a Rebel as a future possibility. But I can also see this just being "it". She has zero interest in high speed highway runs, and the Monkey will more than serve for bopping around town and rides in the country. But of course, we will see.

Nice... 

How many of us started out thinking "Oh, I just want to bop around town", or "just to school and back", or "sundays on the back roads"... only to find ourselves enjoying long road trips on a bike soon thereafter. 

I think the question is, does Jaeger want her to join him on long drives or road trips?  If so, maybe planning some shorter trips to destinations that she would like could expand her desire for biking.  It's very understandable that she is only comfortable with a smaller bike and lower speeds, but there's always the chance that she grows more comfortable and adventurous over the course of a few seasons and choose to get something more suitable for that.

[PJungnitsch]

A lot to be said about the 'slow vehicle fast' idea around town, as long as you stay off the expressways!

[rrocket]

Mt dream would be to have me and 10 buddies each with a Monkey.

That would be sooooooo much fun!

Would probably lose our license though!

[rrocket]

Not sure if anybody here cares about Dakar.  But Dakar is going on and if you want something to watch, the 2023 Dakar motorcycle updates and videos are good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQPBiHzfIEE

[blur911]

Mt dream would be to have me and 10 buddies each with a Monkey.

That would be sooooooo much fun!

Would probably lose our license though!

I once tried to get friends interested in a backyard racing idea.   
Bikes had to be under 100cc, no motocrossers.    Something my '73 VanVan with the 90cc 2-stroke might  be competitive in.

[rrocket]

Mt dream would be to have me and 10 buddies each with a Monkey.

That would be sooooooo much fun!

Would probably lose our license though!

I once tried to get friends interested in a backyard racing idea.   
Bikes had to be under 100cc, no motocrossers.    Something my '73 VanVan with the 90cc 2-stroke might  be competitive in.

There's mini racing all over Europe and in some US tracks. Roadrace or supermoto.  Usually on go kart tracks.

And there's even manufacturers that make nothing but these machines.

Ohvale are probably the top shelf manufacturer...

[blur911]

Mt dream would be to have me and 10 buddies each with a Monkey.

That would be sooooooo much fun!

Would probably lose our license though!

I once tried to get friends interested in a backyard racing idea.   
Bikes had to be under 100cc, no motocrossers.    Something my '73 VanVan with the 90cc 2-stroke might  be competitive in.

There's mini racing all over Europe and in some US tracks. Roadrace or supermoto.  Usually on go kart tracks.

And there's even manufacturers that make nothing but these machines.

Ohvale are probably the top shelf manufacturer...

Yeah, there's some cool stuff.
I just wanted really cheap and slow for old guys

[rrocket]

Yeah, there's some cool stuff.
I just wanted really cheap and slow for old guys

Yea!!

Get some small dirt bike and put on some tires and have at it!!