I there a dual sport under 200lbs capable of doing 70-80mph?

[GreasyMonkey]

May seem like a ridiculous question but I currently own a 1993 suzuki dr350s, it weighs about 300lbs and it seems like it could be possible?

I'm interested in finding a bike that is light enough to carry on a small world traveling sailboat, something that can potentially be hoisted into a dingy and towed to shore to use on my future travels. A lot of the newer 250's I've seen are close to the same weight as my 350, although mine is kickstart only and has a carb rather than fuel injection. I have extensive mechanically knowledge and wouldn't mind tinkering with something or getting lighter aftermarket parts, ideally it would have to be legal where I live (Kauai, HI) which means it has to be a street legal registered bike already.

I like the idea of the Tarus 2M, if you don't know what that is do a quick search, but for short it's less than 100lbs, fully packable, 2wd bike made by a Russian engineer. Simple design yet very capable. The videos speak loader than words.

In reality though, this design is definitely a more off-road vehicle only so id love to find a bike to start with, as a platform to build something similar. Something lightweight, easy to disassemble a few pieces to store on a boat, but capable of keeping up on the highways and on the trails! I've played with the idea of trying to build something new to fits needs but am currently not equipped to handle that task yet.

Would love to hear some feedback on what your thoughts are? What bike is a good start as far as weight and power? I'm about 150 so a 230-250 motor seems plenty of power for me, but my 350 is fun ?

[michigan400]

The only sub 200lb one I can think of was some of the older CR's (MX bike not dual sport) that were "listed" at 199 or 198 lbs dry weight. You won't find a dual sport under 200 lbs. Hard enough to find a decent one under 300lbs.

[TwiceBitten]

A crf230l is 267 lbs wet. That is pretty much as close as you will get to a 200 lb dual purpose capable of 80 mph. You could search for what others have done to cut the weight. There is a good aftermarket supply of parts for these bikes.

[GreasyMonkey]

Thanks for the response, I like the crf230f, could be a good platform. I did some serious research last night and this is what I came up with. The only bike that comes close is an new Italian model, OSSA Explorer which comes in a 250 or 280 size, both weigh about 163lbs! The only issue would be finding one for a decent price and making sure it can be registered as a street legal bike but these are set up as a dual sport bike.

This is what I found based on other bike, years vary but from each make/model this is what I found.

Ossa Explorer 250/280

4-stroke

Liquid cooled

EFI

163lbs wet

Kickstart only

Husqvarna te 250

2-stroke

Water cooled

EFI

230lbs dry

Electric/kick

Ktm 250 xcf-w

4-stroke

Water cooled

EFI

232lbs dry

Electric start only

Yamaha xt225/250

4-stroke

Air cooled/liquid cooled

Carb/EFI

238lbs/ 270lbs dry

Electric start

Honda crf230f

4-stroke

Air cooled

Carb

249lbs wet

Electric

Yamaha tw200

4-stroke

Air cooled

Carb

278lbs dry

Electric

Don't hold it against me if some of this is slightly off because I wrote it up quick, but from this I'm definitely more drawn to Ossa or Husqvarna, which makes it that much harder to obtain as these bikes are rare on hawaii and expensive. I like that they are fuel injected and water cooled as well as being super light! The only issue with the Ossa bike is no electric start, but I can cope, my dr350s is kick only as is the biggest PITA to start, but newer bikes seem to have less trouble anyways and the early dr's are known to be hard kick starting. Otherwise, the crf230f or the yamaha xt225 or 250 seem like my best options as far as price goes. I'm looking for a used bike and the honda and yamaha bikes are much easier to find. In fact there's both a 2009 crf230f and 2009 yamaha xt250 for sale on Kauai both for $3000. I feel much more inclined to do more research on the Ossa motorcycles as it seems it would fit my needs more. Will be calling a hawaii supplier for Ossa sometime today to get more info about wether or not that can be made street legal in hawaii or how else I can go about getting one to ramble on. Of course the cost seems to put me back a step so for now it's just wishing thinking and planning.

What are your thoughts on OSsa? Anyone else heard of them/ have one!? Would love to hear some feedback on ride quality!

[SteveThe Snakes]

[GreasyMonkey]

Hard to see the pic on my phone, but that looks like an honda xr80? Unfortunately Kauai is strict on their qualifications for a street legal bike, basically if it wasn't sold new as street legal, there's nothing you can do...otherwise this problem would have been much simpler ?

Found out more ab

[GreasyMonkey]

Hard to see the pic on my phone, but that looks like an honda xr80? Unfortunately Kauai is strict on their qualifications for a street legal bike, basically if it wasn't sold new as street legal, there's nothing you can do...otherwise this problem would have been much simpler ?

Found out more about Ossa Explorer as well, about $8k new, but it is not considered street legal even though it has everything necessary to be legal! These are street legal in Europe however...maybe if I buy one there and bring it back I can register it here? Seems too much of a hassle though even if that would work but it is doubtable.

[SteveThe Snakes]

It's a 230-250cc motor. But not st. legal.

[yz133rider]

Wr250r your best bet

[SteveThe Snakes]

Wr250r your best bet

I think your right. But you still got to get it streetable.

[yz133rider]

Wr250r is street legal. Its separate model from a wr250f

[GreasyMonkey]

That's still 295lbs wet though, unless it can be modded to be much lighter? My 93 dr350s weighs less than that (mostly because it's kick start only). I don't want to spend more money on something that is a maybe a little better overall but the same weight and less power. I'd rather keep what I got for now unless it's worth the difference. I'd like to see at least 50lbs less, like 250lbs wet would be nice, 200 or less even more so.

[yz133rider]

A 2013 and older, husqvarna wr250 or wr300, or the te line or txc line. They are the actual italian huskys they are damn near street legal race bikes.

[GreasyMonkey]

I like Italian ?

The husqvarna te250 compared to wr250 Is a hard choice, both seem like sick bikes, but te being a 4-stroke and with electronic fuel injection makes it more desirable. Doesn't weight much more than the carbureted 2-stroke wr250 either. Realize the info I posed above about the te250 was incorrect as I thought those were the 2-strokes. Really like the huskys, next to ossa that would be be second choice, ktm comes close too though. What it would come down to is which one is more reliable, easier to get parts for and work on, and which one can I find a good deal on...too bad some of the more available brands don't make better, lighter bikes.

[Big Kahuna]

May seem like a ridiculous question but I currently own a 1993 suzuki dr350s, it weighs about 300lbs and it seems like it could be possible?

I'm interested in finding a bike that is light enough to carry on a small world traveling sailboat, something that can potentially be hoisted into a dingy and towed to shore to use on my future travels. A lot of the newer 250's I've seen are close to the same weight as my 350, although mine is kickstart only and has a carb rather than fuel injection. I have extensive mechanically knowledge and wouldn't mind tinkering with something or getting lighter aftermarket parts, ideally it would have to be legal where I live (Kauai, HI) which means it has to be a street legal registered bike already.

I like the idea of the Tarus 2M, if you don't know what that is do a quick search, but for short it's less than 100lbs, fully packable, 2wd bike made by a Russian engineer. Simple design yet very capable. The videos speak loader than words.

In reality though, this design is definitely a more off-road vehicle only so id love to find a bike to start with, as a platform to build something similar. Something lightweight, easy to disassemble a few pieces to store on a boat, but capable of keeping up on the highways and on the trails! I've played with the idea of trying to build something new to fits needs but am currently not equipped to handle that task yet.

Would love to hear some feedback on what your thoughts are? What bike is a good start as far as weight and power? I'm about 150 so a 230-250 motor seems plenty of power for me, but my 350 is fun ?

Sorry i dont have a bike suggestion but i do suggest you bring a spare rim with a paddle tyre on it and some tie downs for an emergency. boat/dirt bike:

lol sorry i had to post it it reminded me of this an i chuckled pretty hard. Always have a back up plan i say!

[GreasyMonkey]

Haha! That's one way to do it! Was actually in my plans to build a dinghy or somekind of outrigger canoe that I can use my bike in the same way, but would definitely make it legit not just throwing a bike halfway out the boat. But would either use a paddle tire or have a propeller that I can stick the chain into instead of rear tire...I like what you're thinking though, good stuff!

[SteveThe Snakes]

Be sure to let us and everybody's uncle know when you find a street legal under 200 lbs dirt bike that will go 70 mph.

I'm going to hold my breath for it however I can waaaait for it!

[speedtoad]

http://www.shercousa.com/?action=xride

 

I don't know how much it would cost on the island.

[gemeniguy]

A dual sport under 200 pounds capable of doing 70-80 mph and fitting on a small sailboat sounds like a drug-running bike. The Mexican drug cartel might have one, probably custom built. But I wouldn't recommend you try to contact them to see if they have one up for sale. However, the Feds might have one up for auction somewhere. 

[mrtt]

That's still 295lbs wet though, unless it can be modded to be much lighter? My 93 dr350s weighs less than that (mostly because it's kick start only). I don't want to spend more money on something that is a maybe a little better overall but the same weight and less power. I'd rather keep what I got for now unless it's worth the difference. I'd like to see at least 50lbs less, like 250lbs wet would be nice, 200 or less even more so.

the ktm exc 350, it's 236 lbs without fuel. street legal

the exc 500 is just 245 lbs w/o fuel, best hp/lb and mph/lb that is street legal I could think of now.

there is not much choice from the jap bike makers. They are too busy with the kiddy street bike war now (ninja 300, yama r3, Honda cb300f, cbr300r, Suzuki TU250X, crf250L) 

I been to bike shows and asked each jap bike maker representatives about future 350-500cc D/S bike offering, they flatly say none is coming, so don't hold your breath for a new and innovative D/S from the japs.  They are chasing the hormone charged beginners (<300cc) and the 'want to feel young again' older and rich speed freaks (>700cc)

KTM and husaberg are laughing all the way to the bank

Edited February 9, 2015 by mrtt