Rode today/looking for bike-for-daugher input

[slimtrader]

Hey, as some of you know my 15yo daughter has ridden with me a few times now and was on a ttr-125. She felt it was too small for her and we sold it. She had also been riding my DRZ some so I know she can ride a bigger bike. The only problem is in the woods and tight stuff the DRZ is heavy and hard to handle. That's why I got the KTM. So today after her first spill on the DRZ I took the big girl and she rode the KTM. She did pretty good on it too. We rode trails next to the river in Mulvane. What I'd like to do is find a smaller displacement bike that is light and street legal for her instead. Anyone have suggestions on a bike that fits the bill? KLX 250, WR250x, an older super Sherpa, or maybe even a KTM 400exc? This might be a hard bill to fill but I'd like her to get good enough so I could comfortably take her to Missouri or Arkansas sometime in the future.

[MacWildcat]

Another option if you can find one dual-sported would be a TTR-250. Pretty simple, light bike. I occasionally see them for sale in DS garb.

[MacWildcat]

....KLX300? Also see them DS.

[safiri]

Another KTM would be nice in that you know how to work on it already. Also, some of the spare parts are interchangeable, the amount depends on the year. The differences between the 400 and 450 are minimal. The 400 is a better woods bike (shorter stroke), but hard to tell, even after switching bikes in the middle of a ride.

[slimtrader]

Today she asked if she could ride around in our pasture. Guess what bike she picked? The orange one of course. I'll look into the ttr-250 and KLX300 as well. Give me a heads up if you see any dual sported ones. I'd hate to sell the DRZ in order to get another bike but I may have to. I'm having trouble parting with it because it drives so nice on the road now that I put the deathwings back on the front. There was a KLX250 on Tulsa craigslist a while back for only $2500. A good deal for an 07 with an aftermarket pipe if it was taken care of.

I'm having visions of my 15yo grabbing a handful of throttle on the 450 and looping out. She was having fun lifting the front tire off the ground today and making me nervous. I'm in trouble.

[troy]

Problem is, now that she's apparently getting quite comfortable with the KTM power, would anything else satisfy? I'm not saying this as a KTM-fan. I'm saying this because of the simple fact that those expensive, high-engineered bikes have amazing power to weight ratios compared to the Japanese counterparts. I'd expect a KLX250 or 300 to not feel much lighter than your KTM. Less power of course. So if your goal is simply "less power", then maybe one of those is your answer.

I went from a Suzuki DR350 to my Husky TE450. The TE450 feels 50% lighter and at least 10x more powerful.

Of course, talk to Bill Dragoo about what you can make a KLX250 do! Bored, jetted, all that--it's a mean, green machine.

A Super-Sherpa is VERY tame. Great machine, but I've seen your daughter ride. She's more motocross than dualsport! If you get her a weak 250, won't she just ride your KTM anyway? Now a Husky TE-250 4-stroke would be AWESOME! Expensive, but AWESOME! Does KTM make a 250 4-stroke that is street-legal?

Nobiman (Randy & Sandy) out of Oklahoma can give you good insight on KLX250 vs LC4-400. He bought both for his wife, lowered them, etc. I'm not sure what she rides now, but I think the KLX250 was replaced with the LC4.

[Savage]

KLX 250 with a 351 kit from Bill Blue.
My wife is a total newb and is learning on our KLX 300. It's kind of a pooch compared to my 450 but I still have LOTS of fun on it. Light and will tractor right up any hill.

[safiri]

Nobiman (Randy & Sandy) out of Oklahoma can give you good insight on KLX250 vs LC4-400. He bought both for his wife, lowered them, etc. I'm not sure what she rides now, but I think the KLX250 was replaced with the LC4.

Sandy rides the KLX for the technical stuff (AR, CO, etc), and the LC4 has been converted to motard/street. Randy, at >200 lbs and 6 foot something, described the KLX as pretty powerful when he took it for a spin. Bill had quite the hopped up KLX, but at that point, why not find a good, used what-you-want and leave it alone?

However, I agree with Troy ... a 400 or 450 lightweight bike (KTM, Husky, etc) is what is going to bring a smile to her face. And scare dad! To be similar to your KTM, you need a 400 or 450 cc liquid cooled 250 lb bike. KTM does make a 250 4-stroke RFS/EXC that is very similar / same as the 400 / 450 / 525 bikes. My engine manual covers the 250 along with the 400 and 520 for 2002 so they can't be much different.

[Hank Moody]

Get her a 250 KTM or Husky and then you can have a back up bike for Arkansas. Like Troy said the Husky is street legal, but the KTM might me too. My kids keep asking me about a motorcycle, but I keep saying maybe later... They have been bugging me about a dog too

[MoRidin]

No question about it...a KTM 200. You can pick up a 3-4 year old one for $2500 which is a bargain for such an amzing machine.

Plus, you have a great single track machine.

The gals that are solid A & B riders are ALWAYS on orange 200's. They are uber light, great wide power and wicked fast.

[Hank Moody]

No question about it...a KTM 200. You can pick up a 3-4 year old one for $2500 which is a bargain for such an amzing machine.

Plus, you have a great single track machine.

The gals that are solid A & B riders are ALWAYS on orange 200's. They are uber light, great wide power and wicked fast.

Mo, is the KTM 200 street legal???

[MoRidin]

They can be made so easily here and in MO. Not sure about KS.

[safiri]

They can be made so easily here and in MO. Not sure about KS.

"No", if not registered or out of state. "Maybe", if you live in a rural county with a friendly LEO to inspect the VIN (the only thing technically required by KS) and give you your VIN inspection form (KHP MVE-1). If the KHP is involved, you ain't getting the street legal designation. Now, if you can find a bike that is already registered in KS, then you don't need an MVE-1, so transferring ownership isn't a big deal. Dang, this is fair! (NOT)

[Start Rant]:The Dept. of Revenue (Title and Registrations division) does not make the decision concerning highway/nonhighway, although they will give you a several-months-long run around before you find this out from the general counsel for the Dept. The KHP, which inspects in larger counties (Sedgewick, Johnson, Wyandotte, Douglas, etc.), has a somewhat official policy from Topeka that says the bike must have been manufactured as street legal. "Somewhat" as the policy is not printed (that I could find) and is not supported by KS law/statute. The general counsel for the KHP couldn't / wouldn't provide any reason other than "we have made our decision". The next step would have been filing a lawsuit against the state in district court to compel the KHP to follow the law. Thus, the law enforcers for the state (and their attorney, as an "officer of the court") don't seem to care about following the law. [/Rant]

[MoRidin]

If ti has to be street legal...then I would really look into a Gasgas.

The Pampera 280 is the ultimate girl bike and is STUPID-fun! You can also use it to work on some serious riding skills as it is borderline a trials bike. POWERFUL motor. Light. Reliable. These are used as police bikes all over Europe...so they take lots of abuse.

They come ready to plate. Finding one will be a pain though:

http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/gas_ga ... 0_2004.php

I have ridden one (twice actually) and they are just amazing little bikes. I would buy one in a heartbeat if I come across one...great commuter bike too! They are ready to plate.

[safiri]

If ti has to be street legal...then I would really look into a Gasgas.

The Pampera 280 is the ultimate girl bike and is STUPID-fun! You can also use it to work on some serious riding skills as it is borderline a trials bike. POWERFUL motor. Light. Reliable. These are used as police bikes all over Europe...so they take lots of abuse.

Having seen this daughter ride off at Milford while the men stood around and yacked, and then ride back a few minutes later, take off her gear, and then quietly tell her dad that her arm hurt from a crash we didn't see ... turned out to be a broken wrist (IIRC) ... remember that "took off her gear" part ... I am not so sure "girl bike" is what is needed ... But the Gas Gas looks pretty awesome.

[MoRidin]

It is a girl bike in size only (physical). An A rider could push that bike HARD. Is is a super solid machine...not a toy bike like an XT or TTR. You see them all over in Portugal, Spain and Italy. Most of the moto cops are on these Pamperas.

[Hank Moody]

I went and looked at the Gas Gas site and there are 2 dealers in Kansas:

Gas Gas of Kansas Allen Guyot 316 682-7780 22455 SW Adams Rd Douglass, KS 67039

Santa Fe Trail Cycle Paul di Pasquale 785-836-9171 fax 785-836-9171 14468 S. Jordan Rd. Carbondale, KS 66414 santafetrailcyclepark@netzero.net

Then there is this guy. I meet at a trials event and he lives just down the road from me.

Gas Gas USA Inc Dale Malasek 816 741 7615 fax 816-746-5570 7801 Eastside Dr Kansas City, MO 64152 gasusa@gasgas.com

[slimtrader]

Thanks for the input guys, I'll look into the Gasgas if I can find something street legal. You can be sure Dad will want something fun enough to ride when she isn't on it!!! Maybe I'll ask around at the trials competition this weekend at Douglas, ks.

[troy]

A Gas Gas dealer I can highly recommend is Halls Cycle in Springfield, IL. Yes, a long drive, but they have a fantastic reputation among the Husqvarna owners. I made the 6 hour drive to get my Husky there. It is just a little shop, but they are one of basically 2 dealers in the US worth a darn for Husky.

I don't think Mike is looking for an expensive option, though!

[MoRidin]

Wow Troy...I had no idea they were a Gasgas dealer.

Gasgas makes some AMAZING bikes...they were just never marketed well and they never took off. KTMs used to be "exotic" just a few years back...but they had the business sense to successfully enter (really compete) in the US market.