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Small fun bike ideas

norcalkid

norcalkid

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 25, 2017
Location
NorCal
Moto(s)
DL650
CRF250 Rally
Africa Twin
Been looking at bikes and not really sure what to get. Rode a CB300R, thought it was gutless. MT07, loved it but I'll probably kill myself on these shitty Thai roads. Looking for something nimble enough for Thai traffic but fun and big enough for country rides w friends on big bikes. My short list KTM390(dealership network issues here though) or CRF250M (SM version sold here till 2017).

Any ideas of FUN smaller used bikes I should be looking at w upright body position. I have no experience w small street bikes other than scooters.

Thanks
 
Can you get DR650 and KLR there, and are they too big? DRZ400?
 
Did you move to Thailand? I thought you were just visiting there.
Based on your comment about kilning yourself on the shitty roads, it sounds like anything dual sport would do the trick.
 
I concur with Gary, a dual sport is gonna be great for crappy roads while also being light and relatively nimble. I'd think a 400 would be on the low end when it comes to keeping up with big bikes though as my DRZ400 is passable on the highway and not much more.
 
What about the mt-03?
 
gixxerjeff said:
Did you move to Thailand? I thought you were just visiting there.
Based on your comment about kilning yourself on the shitty roads, it sounds like anything dual sport would do the trick.
Click to expand...

The roads aren't actually that bad, it's the people on them, stray dogs, traffic, that cause the bad conditions. You don't wait for a gap here, cars nose out till the flow of traffic has to stop or hit you. So your constantly seeing Tbone accidents, people riding on wrong side of road, drinks, etc.

I work 6 weeks on/off spending about 4.5-5.5 months a year here up untill COVID. I had a Honda Click scooter but sold it to buy something bigger then COVID happened.


There are huge import taxes here. Since Honda are made here they dominate the market. Yamaha and Kawasaki do OK but nothing like Honda.

I still have the VStrom in Calif. But kinda thinking of selling it, getting a MT07 or SV650 in Ca to scratch the twisties itch and buy something slower but fun here.
 
Husky Vitpilen 401 ticks most of those boxes. (KTM 390)..
And I happen to know where one is for sale��
 
NATEWA said:
What about the mt-03?
Click to expand...


They are available and on the list but I haven't found one to try yet. Yamaha is holding a test ride event on the 28th though. So I can at least try one there
 
It's actually WAY easier to test ride here than in the States.
 
I test rode the new Royal Enfield Classic in June and really liked it. $3900usd new OTD with 3 year warranty and first service valve check included (the 500mile one). Really cool bike but I have never had an air cooled classic styled bike.
 
maybe a Kawasaki z400.
In 2010 I saw a BMW beak nose boxer on hwy 12 near Sappraiwan, haven't been back since.
 
I haven't much interest in smaller bikes, but I could be happy with a Duke 390. I rented one the last time I was in Hawaii and really enjoyed it.

CL9e9Q0.jpg
 
norcalkid said:
I test rode the new Royal Enfield Classic in June and really liked it. $3900usd new OTD with 3 year warranty and first service valve check included (the 500mile one). Really cool bike but I have never had an air cooled classic styled bike.
Click to expand...

I'd definitely get a Royal Enfield.

If it's good enough for Peter Egan then that's all I need to hear.

Air cooled just means less power per liter these days, lower weight is a plus and air cooled engines achieved reliability in the 60s.
 
WR450 sumo? Dead reliable, plenty powerful, couldn't care less about road conditions, reasonably priced (used), and the height is an advantage in crazy traffic conditions.
 
I'm going to buck the conventional wisdom of this thread and suggest getting a NSR250, NC30, NC35, RG500 or any other rare-ish gray bike, that you will probably never get to ride, let alone own again. Plus, the number of folks who can work these is probably pretty high.

Granted a sumo or dual sport would probably be better.
 
matty said:
I'm going to buck the conventional wisdom of this thread and suggest getting a NSR250, NC30, NC35, RG500 or any other rare-ish gray bike, that you will probably never get to ride, let alone own again. Plus, the number of folks who can work these is probably pretty high.

Granted a sumo or dual sport would probably be better.
Click to expand...


There is actually a cart track down the street that's like $20 a day. Bikes and carts rotate 20 or 30 min on off. A NSR150 would be super cool. Can also pick up Groms all day long for 1200 bucks.

The biggest issue with the older bikes is finding a mechanic that isn't a moron that just F's your bike up. But labor is super cheap. My buddies SV650, fork seals 1500b/$45usd, valve check again $45.

All the older small CC 2 strokes are available and you find nice restored ones cheap. But I wouldn't want something like that for an only bike. I ride every day as my only means of transportation.


One nice thing here is that the price is the price on new bikes. No + 8% tax, $80 doc fee, $400 delivery, setup, etc. A 5k bike is a 5k bike.
 
Stopped by Kawasaki, KLX300 isn't sold in Thailand.

CRF300L new 2022 price is $4150usd Including registration and minimal 1 year government insurance OTD
 
This makes the most sense to me...

norcalkid said:
Stopped by Kawasaki, KLX300 isn't sold in Thailand.

CRF300L new 2022 price is $4150usd Including registration and minimal 1 year government insurance OTD
Click to expand...

However, this is super clever... get a USA unobtanium 2 stroke!

matty said:
I'm going to buck the conventional wisdom of this thread and suggest getting a NSR250, NC30, NC35, RG500 or any other rare-ish gray bike, that you will probably never get to ride, let alone own again. Plus, the number of folks who can work these is probably pretty high.

Granted a sumo or dual sport would probably be better.
Click to expand...
 
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