[SuperMotoRider]

You’re one of the few people that won’t choose ego over safety. Its a good thing. Congrats on your bike! Glad you’re happy with it, wish there were more people with common sense like you.

[SuperMotoRider]

Force yourself to lightly squeeze the throttle, try gripping the gas tank with your knees. It takes some practice, good luck.

-SMR

[SuperMotoRider]

Are you talking about the Kawasaki KLR650? Trust me, that bike is pretty heavy to take off road. That bike will be too powerful for trail riding (which I’m not saying it’s not offroad capable cause it is). Of course, the knobbies on that bike won’t make it that traction friendly on the road either. If you want a 650cc bike, you’re better off with a cruiser, standard, or a sport bike for the road. The DR-Z 400S is perfect for offroad (if you’ve ridden dirtbikes before because a 400cc dirtbike is still pretty powerful). I personally feel any dirt/dual-purpose bikes that are higher than 450cc is not that fun offroad because your always worrying about how much power and weight your controlling on the bike instead of having fun. The thing you’ll notice about DR-Z owners are no matter which DRZ400 they have first, the S or SM, they always want to convert it to the other and vice versa.

Used DR-Z400 are rare to find because the owners are actually happy with their bike. I know I’m happy with mine. It’s showing up more and more on Craigslist that people want to trade their R1s and R6s and Hayabusa for a supermotard.

If you want something cheaper, I would recommend the KLX250. Awesome bike, ridden it, even thought about trading-in my DR-Z for one.

-SMR

[SuperMotoRider]

Take the MSF course, you can drop all the bikes you want (at least until the evaluation)!!! And they’re not even your bike!

[SuperMotoRider]

Go with the DR-Z400SM and get the Avon Distanzia tires for it. That would most fit your 70% road / 30% offroad riding.

I have an SM, it’s a blast. Highway riding is no problem even when it’s stocked.

check out thumpertalk.com if you wanna learn more about the motards. they got experts for a lot bikes over there even DR-Zs and KTMs.

-SMR

[SuperMotoRider]

hahahaha

[SuperMotoRider]

dude, i’ve seen a ghetto 300 lb guy on 50cc scooter. I’m sure some of yall have too. Made me LMAO! If those things can carry a 300lb guy imagine a 250. Heck, i’ve seen some pretty big ppl on segways too, lol.

[SuperMotoRider]

check out the yamaha wr250x! see if you like it.

[SuperMotoRider]

after you feel comfortable riding around, practice by locking up your back brake at 25mph or so. I’m not saying you should go out on the road and lock your back brakes to stop, but it makes it easier so you wont panic when you do lock up your back brakes out on the road. It will swivel a bit if you have your front brakes applied. You should get feel for it after your confident enough with the clutch and brakes.

– smr

[SuperMotoRider]

The DRZ400S sounds like a good fit for ya.

[SuperMotoRider]

Dude, get a motard. They’re so funnnnnnn!

[SuperMotoRider]

What chu getting? any ideas?

[SuperMotoRider]

Sounds like a good plan. I’m positive that the bike can handle the 90 mile round trip at 65+ mph, but you need to asked yourself can your arse handle it. Keep in mind all the things your carrying too, like textbooks and such…

Speeding on a bike is a different story from speeding in a car. It’s 25 times easier to speed on a bike than a car. You just twist the throttle (to pass a car or something) and next thing you know you’re at 60mph at a 45mph zone. Becareful and be safe.

See ya out on the road.

-SMR

[SuperMotoRider]

Post an ad on craiglist and see if anyone that lives near ya wants to go ride.
I’m sure someone will respond.

[SuperMotoRider]

” However, friends of mine have indicated that the 250 is “fast enough to get into trouble, but not fast enough to get out of trouble.” (Note: I am 6′ tall, 145 lbs) Are they correct? Is a 250 going to put me in more danger? “

Most motorcycles collisions are frontal impacts. The non-collision crashes consist of one or both of your wheels loosing traction. So out of those crashes, tell me which ones of those you would want to “accelerated yourself out of trouble.” Neither of course, you’re going to want your motorcycle to stop faster… (Examples= Collision: Brake faster before you hit whatever is in front of you. Non-Collision: Going too fast into a turn? Brake faster before you lean to turn.” Now ask yourself, “does braking make a lot more sense than accelerating?”

Since you weigh 145lb, and the ninja 250 weighs about 300lbs stocked, you’re gonna stop a lot faster than with a 400lb bike. That’s only if you know how to stop the bike. Learning how to stop a bike on a 250cc is more forgiving than a 600cc bike.

Don’t get me wrong, you can start higher bike. Just take the time to practice and get to know the bike. And don’t use the senario where you ticked off some guy on the freeway and he’s trying to run you over and your bike can’t get you out of his way, cause that’s your fault to begin with…

Ride Safe, See you out on the road.

[Author]

Posts