Thumper Club Forum
Club House => Chatter => Topic started by: squirrelciv on December 24, 2009, 07:01:36 PM
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I might be in the market for a nice little trailie thumper. 350cc tops and I reckon I could still hold my own on the M4 commute.
I love the VX (apart from this morning when she refused to start >:() but trying to coax her along Malpas road in the slush and ice yesterday told me she is too much of a beast to bully in bad weather.
I've had a hankering for a DR350 for a while, any other suggestions for me to type into ebay?? Might treat myself to an extra Chrissy pressy ;D
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Ooh, it's got to be a Harley MT350.
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if you don't mind the tinkering how about a 350 enfield? if not the dr350 and the mt350 are both good 'uns.
bullet350
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Yamaha Serrow. I've not heard a bad word said about them. Only a 225 but seems to be a great bike.
Rob.
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A DR350 every time, less fussy than some of the enxotic enduro bikes. or an XT350 if you want somthing cheaper.Or even a 225 Serrow. size does not matter my daily commute takes exactly the same time on my Honda TL125 as it does on my CBR1100RR.
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I used to own a DR350 and I've ridden a Serow on a number of occasions. Both are good bikes - the Serow is better off-road but the DR better on-road, so it depends on use which is the better option.
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Pat
SP370 for sale in the eer...... For Sale section!
Happy shopping................
Boyd
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Cheers for the pointer Boydyboy. Price seems high for a sorned 30 year old bike though.
As for the other pointers....
Never considered a serow before, but if one can haul Louise Price across the Americas, I'm sure one could get me to Newport.
MT350, now that is a thought 8) Forgot about them. Remember a guy on a club annual rally ripping up a mountain road on one a few years back. Very nice.
Off to visit ebay, cheers guys
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KLR 250 not a bad little thing either.
Had one a few years ago for my commute Newport-Cardiff-Newport,plus general running around.
Found it quite quick and hadled well.
Jethro
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Was that the bike you had when I first met you at a club rally?? Seem to remember you had a small traillie and whipped some sport bike arse around the elan valley ;D ;D
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Pat
SP370 for sale in the eer...... For Sale section!
Happy shopping................
Boyd
Pat, don't even consider an SP370 if you intend to do any night-time riding as the lights are simply not up to it - 6 volt. The SP is a lovely bike, it's just that it is cursed with crap lights!!
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It's the only time of year it makes sense...
and you wont like it....
but if you're going to ride in slush/snow then you need a stabiliser bolted to the side* ;) :D all two wheelers are stupidly dangerous when combined with the white stuff and surrounding idiots in tin boxes :-\ a trailie just makes the inevitable impact less expensive...
On an empty field/car park two wheels and no grip can be a laugh, but for the commute? 'fraid not imho :(
Told you you wouldn't like it!!
*or a trike
(or a Kettenkrad would be even more cool 8) :o ;D ;D)
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Was that the bike you had when I first met you at a club rally?? Seem to remember you had a small traillie and whipped some sport bike ******* around the elan valley ;D ;D
Thats the beastie ! Black/Blue Kawasaki KLR250 not as popular as the DR350 but a pokey little number all the same.
Not as popular......therefore a little cheaper maybe ?
Jethro
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Agree totally with Jethro about the KLR. Mind you, neither the KLR nor the DR have been made for some years now so getting a good 'un is getting harder.
GC
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Almost impossible round here :-\ they were in short supply to start with, and the target of every tea leaf with a hankering for bing bashing....
Any you find now are either £500 to £1K overpriced and/or completely mechanically shot (usually with a knackered head and bore as well)
An ageing CG125 or similar would be as light (lighter in fact), as cheap to kick straight after the drop, cheaper for parts and just as useful in the snow (just add a ching sheng or similar knobbly ;) ) the low seat height would also help you whilst skating along with both feet on the ground trying to hold the bu**er upright ;) :P ;D
Of course if you are mainly buying for style then MT350's are pretty good commuters...(and bounce relatively well) :)
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I know they aren't cheap enough second hand yet, but the CBF250 is a blinding little thumper. Didn't one of the club members report getting nearly 100mpg out of one? And it will do 70mph with ease.
GC
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Nice bike....rode a few when I worked for Dragon Honda(now defunct)
Jethro
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All sound advice, and yes Smudge two wheels and snow don't really mix. Thing is bikes are how I travel and experience tells me a light trailie riden carefully is a darn sight better than a 450kg road bike. Lets face facts here, my commute is [mainly] down the M4 corridor or on duel carriageways. These roads are have the best chance of being snow/ice free.
You lot are right again when talking costs too. What I consider a pile of problems seem to be over £600! I think I might have missed this winter, but I'll keep looking. Cheers guys
PS KLR has moved up the ranks too.
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Missed this winter? Not according to the forecast for tonight/tomorrow! :o ;)
Yeah bikes are my transport too, but I draw the line at snow, tried it and didn't like it so I'll admit to being a wimp on that front!
If you're going to get something for possible snow/ice then personally I'd look for the lowest lightest bike I could get away with, serow sounds good, almost any other trailie I'd lower the seat (however it can be done, cutting the foam, longer dog bones, drop the yokes on the forks etc etc) high seats are fine for motocross but you need to be able to get feet on the floor and you want the weight as low as possible. I'd also remove the indicators and loosen the levers slightly, still firm enough not to move normally but capable of rotating round the bar when they get a hit. Saves on levers when it falls over ;)
Also, you'll be crawling if conditions get bad and car drivers are often f***wits, I'd be buying some scotchlite tape and making the back of the bike as blindingly obvious as possible. Motocross boots are also good and consider a more serious back protector. Apart from that it'll be a bundle of laughs I'm sure ;) stay safe out there!
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All sound advice Smudge (though I disagree with the 'lowering' bit) and I'd have said similar. I know Welsh snow isn't quite as ferocious as Scottish, but I have done this before you know ;D
The best winter weapon I ever owned was my XL185. Was only a sprog back then, so possibly braver than I am now, but my rose coloured specs had those winters around the Wye valley as the best of fun.
Did a winter or two around Newport on a CG125, but found that tougher going ???
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...I have done this before you know ;D
I'll shut up then ;) ;D ;D
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Pat, have you considered a Honda Dominator, they're great! ;) :D :D :D :D
More seriously, do you fancy a nice CB500 for £550?
GC
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Have just done a deal to swap my Honda CBR1100RR For a nice Suzuki DR350 and a TS50X.
on a site called SWAPZ. members can post swaps and other members can view and reply with offers.cars, bikes or anything.
Also swapped my sidecar for a BIG compressor and loads of airtools. now need a blast cabinet.
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Pat, have you considered a Honda Dominator, they're great! ;) :D :D :D :D
More seriously, do you fancy a nice CB500 for £550?
GC
LOL! Nah, Dommie to heavy for what I've got in mind (as well as to placticie!) Nice offer on the CB too but no thanks.
Really got my heart set on a small bore trailie now. Might have a go at a bit of green laning in the summer so as to get the use out of the second [third] bike.
Cheers anyway.
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SC, I emailed you about a bike that might well suit your needs...
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SC, I emailed you about a bike that might well suit your needs...
Have you?? I haven't seen any email matey, please try again or PM me.
Cheers buddy.
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a light trailie riden carefully is a darn sight better than a 450kg road bike.
Pat, I can see your problem. You own the heaviest VX in the world. What have you glued on to make it tip the scales at over 900lbs :o
I thought my XS was porky.
Rob.
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a light trailie riden carefully is a darn sight better than a 450kg road bike.
Pat, I can see your problem. You own the heaviest VX in the world. What have you glued on to make it tip the scales at over 900lbs :o
I thought my XS was porky.
Rob.
Ah! Yes, sorry I meant 450 Lbs (470 actually) :-[. Still quite wieghty though.
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a light trailie riden carefully is a darn sight better than a 450kg road bike.
What have you glued on to make it tip the scales at over 900lbs :o
His GUT ! And what he clogs toilets with !
Jethro
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Not far off the mark 002, what with all the Christmas pud :-[ As for my 'deposits' 'tis true, I could do with a pull through with a Christmas tree!
Heyho! :'(
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As for my 'deposits' 'tis true, I could do with a pull through with a Christmas tree!
Heyho! :'(
Does this mean angels are full of sh1t as there is always a tree sticking out their ar5e.
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As for my 'deposits' 'tis true, I could do with a pull through with a Christmas tree!
Heyho! :'(
Does this mean angels are full of ******* as there is always a tree sticking out their ar5e.
Thought that was just Fairies !
Jethro
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Not far off the mark 002, what with all the Christmas pud :-[ As for my 'deposits' 'tis true, I could do with a pull through with a Christmas tree!
Heyho! :'(
Must admit with the Bug I had,the pull through is not needed !
Jethro