New Toy

fastdrvr23 · June 24, 2004

Well, I just recently posted pics of my 04' Yamaha Bruin ATV that I bought in January to use around the house. Turns out it just sat in the shed most of the time, and I hate having that happen, so I went and traded it in on this last weekend.

04' Yamaha XT225 Dual Sport. It's basically a dirt bike that's street legal, but a blast to drive. I'll have to get another street bike eventually, but this will help tide me over. (That, and it gets 85 MPG and has REALLY cheap insurance) It can maintain 70 fairly easily, and with it's 6 speed tranny, it's sort of loping along there... Not a highway bike, but pretty fun around town.

Wingnut · June 25, 2004

That thing is sweet!

I've been thinking about getting a dual-sport for the commute (There is also a riding area between work and home with about 85 miles of trails )

If you don't mind me asking, how much $$$ does one of those things run?

fastdrvr23 · June 25, 2004

That thing is sweet!

I've been thinking about getting a dual-sport for the commute (There is also a riding area between work and home with about 85 miles of trails )

If you don't mind me asking, how much $$$ does one of those things run?

They MSRP for something like $4099...

The dealer here already had some 2005's in, so he wanted to move this one. It was still in the crate, so I had to test drive another one...

I paid $3684.00 out the door with tax, a Bieffe Street Helmet that matched the bike, 2 quarts of oil, oil filter and chain lube.

The tag was $78, and insurance for a year was $170.

A cheap bike, but really fun to ride!!! Surprisingly smooth on the street, and a blast on the trails... 85 miles of trails sounds awesome!

I really liked the Kawasaki KLR-250 too, but it was a little more money.

If the dual sport 650's would get that kind of mileage, they'd be good too. But I figured if I got that much displacement, I might as well get another street bike...

HillHound · June 28, 2004

Dang, that's a good-looking bike! I'm not into motorcycles but if I was that'd be the type I'd have to buy. Nice looking helmet too, BTW.

I like ATVs and ride mine alot. Did you like the Bruin when you did ride it or did you just not have time to use it? I'm sold on Honda and Yamaha ATVs/motorcyles in that order as far as quality and durability. Either of them are hard to beat for the money and I steer clear of the other makes at least for atvs.

fastdrvr23 · June 28, 2004

Dang, that's a good-looking bike! I'm not into motorcycles but if I was that'd be the type I'd have to buy. Nice looking helmet too, BTW.

I like ATVs and ride mine alot. Did you like the Bruin when you did ride it or did you just not have time to use it? I'm sold on Honda and Yamaha ATVs/motorcyles in that order as far as quality and durability. Either of them are hard to beat for the money and I steer clear of the other makes at least for atvs.

Thanks man!

Yeah, the bruin was awesome, plenty of power, light enough to really have fun trail riding and seemed to be bulletproof as far as reliability... I just didn't have enough places/chances to ride.

I've had a few honda bikes and atv's over the years, and I'd never had a problem with any of them, ever! Suzuki is another brand I've had and enjoyed, although I bought that bike for $50 in pieces, and had to reassemble it adding a new piston ring and connecting rod, it ran great afterwards.

I've previously owned, in order:

1986 Honda 110cc 3-wheeler

1988 Honda CR80 Dirtbike

1989 Honda Fourtrax 250cc ATV

1980 Suzuki PE250 2-stroke Enduro Race Bike

1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250

1993 Honda Nighthawk CB750

2004 Yamaha Bruin 350 2wd ATV

Wingnut · June 29, 2004

If you don't mind me asking, how big a guy are you?

I'm just wondering if a 225 is big enough for me. I'm 5'10" and about 185 lbs.

I rode a 650 a while back, and thought it was so heavy, it would wear my a$$ out on a decent trail, but I'm not sure that a 225 would do the trick.

I'm kinda of looking at an 01 Suzuki DRZ400. Looks perfect, and he only wants about 2k for it. Not to mention the fact that I have an 03 Suzuki LTZ400 (Quad)....So I'm familiar with the motor.

fastdrvr23 · June 29, 2004

If you don't mind me asking, how big a guy are you?

I'm just wondering if a 225 is big enough for me. I'm 5'10" and about 185 lbs.

I rode a 650 a while back, and thought it was so heavy, it would wear my a$$ out on a decent trail, but I'm not sure that a 225 would do the trick.

I'm kinda of looking at an 01 Suzuki DRZ400. Looks perfect, and he only wants about 2k for it. Not to mention the fact that I have an 03 Suzuki LTZ400 (Quad)....So I'm familiar with the motor.

No problem man, I'm 6'4" and 190lbs. It moves around fine with me on it, but it's not a "hot rod" on the street by any means. I think of it kind of like a Miata, really light and nimble. More fun to ride than other dedicated street bikes I've owned/ridden in the past, mainly because of its weight. It's also pretty cool to be able to just leave the road at any time... I took off down a cleared power line lane this afternoon right off the main road. Off road though, that thing can rip. Fun stuff!

That 400cc would be a great bike, with a lot more power... It will still probably get really good MPG too. You'll still be able to insure it really cheap that way also, since it's a dual sport too. I say go check it out and go for a spin! You'll be amazed at how much stronger that same motor feels on a two wheeler, even with the different gearing.

The 650's are fun on the street, but they would be rough on the trail. I like to be able to pick the bike up off of myself in the woods too if I go down, those 450 pounders wouldn't be that easy to do. Hell, you'd know from an atv, you can get pretty d**n tired from riding all day... The bike would only get heavier.

Good luck!!!