Icey roads and heavy bike have got me thinking

[squirrelciv]

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 

[Mark]

Ooh, it's got to be a Harley MT350.

[bullet350]

 if you don't mind the tinkering how about a 350 enfield? if not the dr350 and the mt350 are both good 'uns.

bullet350

[robG]

Yamaha Serrow. I've not heard a bad word said about them. Only a 225 but seems to be a great bike.

Rob.

[bobby554]

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.

[niblue]

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.

[mini-thumper]

Pat
SP370 for sale in the eer...... For Sale section!

Happy shopping................

Boyd

[squirrelciv]

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 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

[002]

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

[squirrelciv]

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

[SteveC#222]

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!!

[guest18]

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*   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   )

[002]

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

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

[guest7]

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

[guest18]

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 

Of course if you are mainly buying for style then MT350's are pretty good commuters...(and bounce relatively well)