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#16 | |
Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: Big Piney, WY
Posts: 543
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Quote:
I don't think I'd want a Vader for anything, not even cruising around camp sites.
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2023 Hawk 250 from XPRO off of Amazon MOUNTAIN MAN RC + MOTO on YouTube "If there were more bloody noses, there would be less wars." - Hagbard Celine "Someday, after mastering the waves, the winds, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love and then, for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire." - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin |
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#17 |
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 2,566
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Agreed...
Vader 150 is a low profile motorcycle on the road, shortest seat height at 31", and under 10hp: 31" Vader 150, 12" wheels (about 9 horsepower) 33" Lifan Xpect 200, 19", 17" wheels (~14hp) 35.6" Lifan KPX 250, 21" 18" wheels (~20hp) 36.2" Templar X, 21" 18" wheels (~19hp) Well, these are all not that good for hwy. I think the 450MT would be better. Not sure about off road.
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-2022 5 speed Templar X Orange, OEM 51T rear sprocket, 14T front sprocket -NOS 2020 KTM 250SX (2-stroke motocross), less than 10 hours on it Last edited by Thumper; 08-25-2024 at 06:45 PM. |
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#18 |
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,357
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None of those options will do motorway speeds comfortably for extended periods of time.
The KPX/Templar X would be the minimum as the 20hp and 6 gears with long ratio sprockets should suffice. There is no question that they're capable of highway speeds, The question is are they an appropriate choice? For me personally the answer is no. Neither of these bikes are available in Australia. Closest option would be a KLX250, XT250 and CRF300L and all of them new are in the same price bracket as the MT450 in my Country...\ New DR650s are no longer OZ available. DRZ400 still are but a just over $10k so more expensive than the the 450MT... Factor in the windshield bigger tank and seat upgrade and the DRZ400 5 speed is a podgy banana As Nathan eluded the 2 closest competitors are the new Himmy452 and the KTM 390. Niether of which tickle my fancy...But are perfectly fine motorcycles if the shoe fits Last edited by XLsior; Yesterday at 01:02 AM. |
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#19 | |
Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: Big Piney, WY
Posts: 543
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Quote:
I think that's the rub. A dual sport/enduro motorcycle is not built for long highway rides. In fact, I'm realizing I've had enough of the long highway rides. That's a big reason I wanted a dual sport. To truly go on adventures...gravel road switchbacks uphill where the only thing you see up ahead is another switchback. Fully focused because your life depends on it. Adrenaline comes in many forms and I think I found my favorite.
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2023 Hawk 250 from XPRO off of Amazon MOUNTAIN MAN RC + MOTO on YouTube "If there were more bloody noses, there would be less wars." - Hagbard Celine "Someday, after mastering the waves, the winds, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love and then, for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire." - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin |
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#20 |
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,357
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Where I live there are switchbacks and gravel roads a plenty...
But If I want to visit friends and family multiple hours on highways are inevitable and as unavoidable as I would like them to be, trying to avoid them at 15hp could turn a quick trip into a fatigued slog with the prospect of the same return journey the next day. 1hour is about all the enjoyment I get from the CG250 engine after that my pleasure begins to wane.. So yeah if you never plan to do any motorway then a 250 dualsport is fine... Also there is the possibility of riding 2up...which all the dualsports pretty much fail at... |
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#21 | |
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 2,566
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Quote:
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-2022 5 speed Templar X Orange, OEM 51T rear sprocket, 14T front sprocket -NOS 2020 KTM 250SX (2-stroke motocross), less than 10 hours on it |
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#22 |
Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: Big Piney, WY
Posts: 543
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I basically live on a trail. The quality of my early vids sucks...it was that EK7000 I wasted money on. I gotta do a new "Ride Around The Hood" and show you guys the BLM trail I discovered right off that point where I turn around. I'll admit...I was a bit scared at first because once you're over the ridge line, there are no visible points of reference...like that last house. There are also some cool half pipes along the old highway where you can catch air as you exit. Gonna get some footage of that. Go down the highway heading south about 1/4 mile and there's a river access trail to the left. That's become my favorite ride. Go a little further, 5 or so miles, another river access to the left and more BLM trails to the right. I'm lagging this season...this election year has got my sh*t hot.
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2023 Hawk 250 from XPRO off of Amazon MOUNTAIN MAN RC + MOTO on YouTube "If there were more bloody noses, there would be less wars." - Hagbard Celine "Someday, after mastering the waves, the winds, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love and then, for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire." - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin |
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#23 |
Join Date: Feb 2024
Location: SW Missouri
Posts: 178
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Dang it Dano, you're really making me want to get back out to WY with the Templar!!
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---------- 2023 Templar X 2009 Triumph Bonneville 1976 Yamaha DT175 1974 Honda MT125 |
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#24 | |
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 254
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