Anyone else enjoy riding these little 200/250cc motorcycles? My first motorcycle was one, a 1972 Honda XL250, and I've suggested these bikes to new riders as an excellent motorcycle to learn on. In my case I just wanted a small, light weight, easy to get on and off, simple motorcycle with adequate suspension and tires for local riding, much on dirt and gravel roads. I decided to stay with a Japanese brand and looked at Honda's CRF250 and Kawasaki's new 250, both 300+ pound liquid cooled bikes with fairly tall seats. Also Suzuki's DR200 and the Yamaha XT250 which is what I ended up with due to it's light weight, FI, air-cooled, and unusual combination of low seat height, high ground clearance, yet still 8" of suspension travel. Found a dealer with a 2020 XT who was willing to give me a fair trade on a 300 Versys I had. Only had it a week or so but am having a blast on this little bike!

I had a 73 Yamaha 250 Enduro back in high school.
It was a blast.

I rode a Yamaha TW200 for 12 years. An absolute joy! Real torquey on the low end. I rode that bike like I stole it!

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
I had a 73 Yamaha 250 Enduro back in high school.
It was a blast.

The iconic dual sport of the 70’s. Any thought of getting one now?

TW200’s are cool little bikes I’ve noticed a lot of campers with TW’s on the back.

here's a great video on the TW200

Love them. I also have a '72 Honda XL250 that I rode a bunch last year on some trails behind my house and even commuted to work a few times. Put about 1500 miles on it last year. I'd like to get something newer that is a little more comfortable up to around 60-65 mph but still around the 300 pound mark.

Might look for a Suzuki DR350 which are around 300# and stronger than the 250's.

My first bike was about 1971 and it was a Honda XL175. Had a 550-4 within a year and Kaw Z1 900 a couple years later. Many since then but now at age 68 I have no 2 wheelers. This thread is giving me an itch.

quote:

Originally posted by doublesharp:
...This thread is giving me an itch.

GOOD

At 66 I'm not far behind you. I have larger bikes but lighter weight motorcycles are becoming more attractive to me every year.

quote:

Anyone else enjoy riding these little 200/250cc motorcycles?

Yes.

2018 KLX250.



Started modding this summer.

So far:
> Replaced front sprocket, went down 1 tooth
> Barkbuster JET Handguards - not installed yet, still need to decide on new handlebar.
> Two Brothers S1R Black full exhaust
> Dobeck Performance Electronic Jet Kit tuner
> SW Motech skid plate
> Denali Soundbomb mini horn

Rode new KLX250 to IDPA today

Looks good I think you will enjoy it. Those XT 250s will last a long time if you change the oil regularly. I put 24K on one years ago.
I always keep a dual sport around since I got my 1st one in 1976. It was a 1975 Suzuki TS 185.

My current one is a 2013 Honda CRF250L. Thinking about going to a Yamaha WR250R.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
I had a 73 Yamaha 250 Enduro back in high school.
It was a blast.

The iconic dual sport of the 70’s. Any thought of getting one now?

I think about a bike everyday but the wife would kill me before the bike does.
Also living in Houston the traffic is dramatically different that it was when I had the bike living in Iowa.
I sure do miss it though.

This was the actual bike (also my car):

KLX and CRF are nice bikes, I may well have gone with one of them if it weren't for the seat height. Not because of me but my friend wants to learn to ride and end up with a bike like this herself. And given her size, and the fact she's never ridden, I felt the XT's lower seat would be best for her to learn on and OK for me as well.

Here she is on her first attempt ever riding. She stalled it the first time starting off but that was the only time. I had her start off, ride 20' then stop and repeat this 5 times. After the third time she said hell with it and rode out to the road, turned the bike around and rode it back. I was impressed.

Well if your wife puts her foot down and you buy one anyway you'll end up with a mad wife, for a while at least. I wouldn't have much interest riding a small motorcycle around in Houston, possibly a scooter on side streets and neighborhoods or trailering a dual sport out of town.
Nice old bike, what's the car a Fiat?

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:

I think about a bike everyday but the wife would kill me before the bike does.
Also living in Houston the traffic is dramatically different that it was when I had the bike living in Iowa.
I sure do miss it though.

This was the actual bike (also my car):

I had an XL250, with a front guard form a CB and dual tires. A single economical thumper, with a high seat, instead of crouched over and have to lift up to see over the roofs of the tintops.

Then a CBX250.

A friend of the time had an XL500, converted to road use, also with dual purpose.

Great days! And has me thinking, thanks for posting!

The trend here, in the city and 'burbs, is for lightweight scooters as the shopping/commuter trolley.

Got a 1995 tw200 for $200 that I'm rebuilding. Was a farm motorcycle and has 26K and then parked for several years.. Just started her up yesterday after adjusting valves, replacing oil, and thoroughly cleaning out the fuel system, and replacing tires. Most expensive replacement part was for a new plastic Clarke tank because the original was all dented up and rusting inside. Everything else was good because it was parked in out of the elements the time it was sitting. Those metal tw200 tanks are like gold on Ebay unless you don't mind it full of dents.. Those underpowered tw200 engines will run forever with simple maintenance.

I've got to get out to my friend's in Cali. He gave me a Suzuki K15, that's a 80cc street/trail bike aka the "Hillbilly" circa 1965. Missing the dual sprocket and has a cracked headlamp bucket. Figure it will be a good toy for the grandkids.

Unfortunately the original black license plate was lost and it has the later blue plate on it. It'll never see the street but if I restore it the plate will be reinstalled for shows. If for nothing better it will remind me of when I started riding in '67.

quote:

Originally posted by Xer0:
Got a 1995 tw200 for $200 that I'm rebuilding. Was a farm motorcycle and has 26K and then parked for several years.. Just started her up yesterday after adjusting valves, replacing oil, and thoroughly cleaning out the fuel system, and replacing tires...... Those underpowered tw200 engines will run forever with simple maintenance.

Yep great little bikes and fairly low seat height.

quote:

......If for nothing better it will remind me of when I started riding in '67.

That alone is reason enough.