Jim: Be advised if you buy a dirt bike not licensed for the street you cannot ride on Forest Service roads. You are limited to designated off highway motorcycle trails. If you want the most capable off road motorcycle take a look at Rokon. I just sold 2 of them and bought a 4 wheeler due to impending geezerhood.
I've been reading up on Idaho regulations but the only thing I can find is this from https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/activities/atv-motorbike:
Any person without a valid driver's license who wishes to operate an OHV on US Forest Service roads must take an IDPR-approved OHV safety course and carry their completion certificate while operating their OHV.
It just says you need a valid driver's license or take a safety course but I'm not finding anything about the vehicle being licensed for street use. Do you have a source or website with that? I'm not trying to argue but am trying to make sure I get things right. This place has been considerably Californicated in the last 25 years and even back then every Fish cop, Park Ranger or part time tour guide out there was just itching to bust you for some minor infraction.
Gunnery, gunnery, gunnery. Hit the target, all else is twaddle!
Jim: Be advised if you buy a dirt bike not licensed for the street you cannot ride on Forest Service roads. You are limited to designated off highway motorcycle trails. If you want the most capable off road motorcycle take a look at Rokon. I just sold 2 of them and bought a 4 wheeler due to impending geezerhood.
This is absolutely not true in Idaho. See our restricted use license plates as I mentioned earlier.
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7Laws, Rules & RequirementsREQUIREMENTS FOR OHV OPERATIONTRAILSThese are the requirements for motorbikes, ATVs, UTVs and Specialty Off-highway vehicles operating off-highway on a designated trail, open riding area or motocross track.• A valid IDPR OHV certificate of number sticker. IC 67-7122• A helmet under age 18. IC 49-666 • A muffler and Forest Service approved spark arrestor. Your muffler must be at or below 96dB at the half-meter test, SAE J1287. IC 67-7125STATE & FEDERAL ROADSThis includes Idaho Department of Lands, Bureau of Land Management, U. S. Forest Service, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and privately owned roads open to OHV use. Contact the land owner or manager for information on roads open to OHV use. • OHV Education Certificate for unlicensed operators. IC 49-302(11)a U.S. Forest Service Roads only.• Valid driver’s license (except under the age of 16 when supervised by a licensed adult operator). IC 49-301 or IC 49-302 “supervised” means the supervising licensed adult must be in a position, on another OHV to provide close support, assistance or direction, or if on the ground, within three hundred (300) feet of the unlicensed operator.• Liability insurance or alternative insurance. IC 49-1223 or IC 49-1232• Valid IDPR OHV certificate of number sticker IC 67-7122• A helmet under age 18. IC 49-666• Muffler and U.S. Forest Service approved spark arrestor. Your muffler must be at or below 96dB at the half-meter test, SAE J1287. IC 67-712
Additionally, with the restricted use license plate it is perfectly legal to ride an off road vehicle on most city and county paved roads, as well as some portions of state hiways.
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8Laws, Rules & RequirementsCITY & COUNTY ROADSThe following requirements must be met on city, county, and highway district roads. Certain roads may be closed by local jurisdiction. Check with local jurisdiction for information on roads open to OHV use.• Valid restricted vehicle license plate. IC 49-402(4)• Valid IDPR OHV certificate of number sticker affixed to restricted vehicle license plate. IC 67-7122• Valid driver’s license. IC 49-301• Liability insurance or alternative insurance. IC 49-1223 or IC 49-1232• A helmet under age 18. IC 49-666• Muffler and U.S. Forest Service approved spark arrestor. Your muffler must be at or below 96dB at the half-meter test. SAE J1287. IC 67-7125 For safe operation on roads the following equipment is recommended:• Brake light.• Headlight and taillight after dark/poor visibility.• Horn audible at 200 feet.• Mirror showing roadway 200 feet behind the OHV
Like I said before, I appreciate everybody's comments and opinions since they make me challenge my own.
Did a lot of serious cogitatin' this weekend and honest appraisal of where I am in life and am really thinking an ATV would be the better way to go. When it comes to street motorcycles folks say "it's not if you go down but when". With dirt bikes, even smaller ones, it's not "if or when, but how many times you go down". At 67 I stay in decent enough shape but definitely don't bend or heal like I used to, that's a fact of life. I know how to ride a street bike pretty well but dirt bikes take some new skills and I'm not sure my bones could stand too much learning these days.
You can get hurt on a utility ATV but you have to work a lot harder at it. The plan is still to have something just to putt putt along the dirt roads and old logging trails and not go anywhere I can't just hit reverse and back out of. The manufacturers don't make hardly any small, basic machines anymore except the Honda Recon which is a 229 cc, air cooled single with 2WD only. It's light and small with a good low center of gravity. Doesn't have near the features of bigger and more sophisticated machines but basic and simple is good. It has a carburetor which I can work on and a pull start backup if the electric start craps out. The only other machine I've found in this class is the Kawasaki Brute Force 300 (an ominous name) but that's liquid cooled which is just extra stuff I don't need.
I know folks recommend something more powerful but I remember my old Yamaha 250 and how perfect it was for what I did back then. If I was 25 years younger I might worry about out growing something small but if I can just keep getting out into the mountains for the next 15 years or more that would be fine by me.
Gonna go look at a few different models and ride a couple this week to get a feel for the seating and all but seems like it's a choice between the Honda and the Kawasaki and at this point that Honda is in the lead.
Gunnery, gunnery, gunnery. Hit the target, all else is twaddle!
Sweet lookin ride, congrats. I think I would have a 21 inch front rim laced up to it and beefier rear tire. Looks like your are in for a lot of fun.
Yeah i'm sure that would improve the steering and overall handling of the bike . Those stupid japs in white coats have no idea how to build a well engineered motorcycle . Cut the muffler off too - it'll get much better fuel economy and double the horsepower and torque plus sound SO badass - seen it a hunnerd times .
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