Hi Drew, Check out the ADVRIDER forum. It has a huge forum, but it is very comprehensive once you have an idea about what you want. It sounds like you want to sell the 2 dirt bikes and buy a dual-sport---meaning that it can be registered for the road but also be rideable on dirt, like a cross bike. I don't know a lot about dual sports, but that's never stopped me from talking.
There are some parallels to the bicycle world, I think, in terms of the philosophy of motorcycles. - There are those who are into the cool/famous bikes of the 50s/60s/70s (whether Italian, British, etc.), sort of like the CR list (not making a judgment here). I don't think that's probably the most practical thing, given that you have to fix/maintain them and they cost more. These would be your old Triumphs, Ducatis, Huskies, what they call "scramblers." - There's definitely a BOBish contingent, who are into the practical, reliable, old-technology UJB bikes. It sounds like this is your sweet spot. I think some of these have been covered above, but I think the Honda NX125 and NX250 from the 80s would be right up there, along with the Kawi KLRs, Honda XLs, Suzuki DRs, and Yamaha XTs. These you can pick up for under $2500. - Then there are newer bikes with fuel injection. These are really more practical, but they may cost more than the 80s/90s models, and you don't have the old school cred. Think about a mid-line Trek or Specialized or Giant commuter or MTB from the last 10 years--perfectly reliable, no issues, but not distinctive in any way. You can certainly find some at your $3500 budget, but many will cost more. A few more things to note. - Dual sports tend to be taller than road bikes. So if you're short, that's something to consider. - Also, motorcycles require a lot of maintenance, especially if you don't ride them often. You can't just jump on them once every 6 months. You have to think about old gas, old fluids, carbs that will get gunked up, batteries that require a tender, etc. So you may consider a newer bike with fuel injection (post 2000?), to alleviate at least the carb issue. The newer bikes are really more usable. - Unless you have a lot of time and a desire to learn MC maintenance, pay more for the bike that's in better condition (tires, brakes, rubber parts). Although you can fix or replace most things, costs for parts are not trivial, and you can blow through $500 in parts pretty easily to fix up a bike in poor condition. - Then there's the engine size. If you're primary use is rural roads and trails, probably 125cc or 250cc is enough. The bigger the engine, the heavier the bike and more power. A smaller displacement engine is more suitable for a beginner. I'd stay away from bikes that weigh more than 400 lbs wet, and ideally far lighter than that. I personally think the F650 and VStrom 650 recommendations are above and beyond what you want, need, or can handle as a beginner. Finally, I can't stress enough that you should take a course, even if it's not required where you live. Greg -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
