Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Looking for a 250-350cc Dual Sport/ Enduro M/C for wifey

Help appreciated. Wife has been riding a Suzuki DR200 for 3 years and likes it a lot, but cannot keep up with me on the highway nor even really ride on the highway as the bike is revving pretty badly at 55MPH. She is slight of build, only 120lbs, so does not want to go up to anything much bigger as in apx 300lbs dry wieght or under. Low seat height is also a good thing. She/we do not do jumps or rock crawling etc, just light non technical off road stuff with lots of short trips to nearby strewams to fish, gun club etc. No need for gobs of susupension travel. I tried to buy her a HD 883 Sportster, no sale - too heavy etc. We would like to find her a Suzuki DR 350 or Kawasaki KLR or Sherpa 250 or a ??????? Suggestions sought here. Must be new enough to be electric start, fire trail and Forest service road capable as well as able to cruise at 60 or so for an hour or two. Suggestions appreciated, links to good bike options for sale also welcome. We will be trading off or selling outright to finance the new bike her immaculate, low miles (Girly ridden only) Blue and white 2001 DR200. Thanks for the help, MARK

PS, I ride a lowered KLR650. Silver with green and yellow accents. Wifey hates Red because it clashes with her skin tones and dislikes Honda's because they are too common. Had to add this part......

Go 1 tooth bigger on the front sprocket and 4-6 teeth smaller on the rear sprocket, that will cut the revs down and 1st and 2nd gears are still short enough.

Thought of that, might go that route, plus add a small windsield.

That'll just keep the bug stains off her teeth.

That, and her full face helmet. Don't dress for the ride, dress for the crash.

Just talked to her about changing the gears, she is kinda excited about getting something different.

klx250 or the 400 if you want something different. another vote for going up a tooth on the front sprocket. 4-6 down on the rear seems extreme to me though. but then again i run 13 and 48 on mine.

btw my dr350 was a tankt both in handling, weight and top end power,forget about it. DRZ400 or the KLX400 is light years ahead of the DR in every aspect. still a very forgiving and mellow bike though.

Any thought about owning a KTM. This one might work. 224lbs
http://www.ktmusa.com/250-XCF-W-Six-Days.187.20.html

I really like KTM's stuff and when I am able might trade my KLR650 in on one. Thanks for the link. Seat hieght is too high on this one for the wife and it is a more serious dirt thrower than she needs. Thanks lots for the link, however.

Anything 400 cc's is gonna be a bit much for her, we think. Usually gonna have a tall seat hieght, and her 200 is plenty powerful enough, just winds out too soon on the highway. On the topic of power etc. when she and I drag race our two bikes at stoplights she on her DR200 and me on my KLR650 it is a DEAD HEAT until we get to highway speeds. The low wieght and low drag of her skinny bod and 224lb bike keep up with my 245lb widebody atop my 500lb KLR650 right up to about 50MPH. No need for 400cc's here. IF we get her much more power, I will have to bore, stroke and re-carb my KLR. Can't be gettin beat off the line all the time by a little girl, ya know.....

I have just about talked her into the new sprocket and chain idea, might go this way after all. Add a windscreen and we might have a weener there. Input and ideas, especially links to good prospects for sale still appreciated muchly. MARK

im a ktm slut 100% but they are a race bike with blinkers. I dont know how somebody could ride the road for hours with them. as the most comfortable position is on the pegs leaning over the bars. wasnt very pleased with the e-start on my 520ex either.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2010...es&hash=item3cb676aa56#ht_1871wt_468

Huntz, Could not make the link work, what kind of bike is being offered here?

Try this new one.On my original post.I fixed it.

if the 400 is out. then the same bike in the 250 without hesitation. you can always trim the seat height too.

Mud Bogger, I am with you on the KTM's, GREAT bikes, but as you said more of a pure dirt bike and not for longer highway trips. We want to start doing some 2-4hr trips of apx 100-200 miles or so, but still be able to cruise the forest service roads and fire trails when we arrive at various destinations. Wife dropped her DR200 on a trail ride ONCE, put a small dent in the tank and scratched her pretty baby blue DR and it ruined her day. I hate having to pick up my KLR 650 after a drop, it is a BOOGER to lift so neither of us is, at thsi point in our lives a serious dirt rider at all but we love cruising FS roads and sightseeing. Stopping at various points to target shoot with our handguns or fish likely looking spots. More Street capable, lightweight Dual Sports are the thing here.

That there brought a laugh from the wifey. WAYYYYY too much bike, but a cool ride for sure!

i still think if you got on the DRZ400 you would be sold. Fwiw I logged a lot of fireroad hours on one as a 13year old. and it never bit me

We will look at one, but what then would I have to do to my KLR650 to keep her skinny pretty self from waxing me on every race?