Trail bike recommendation required for newbie

[barryd]

Hello

Im new on here but I hope you can help me.

I have a motorhome which currently carries a battered Peugeot Speedfight II on a rack on the back. Im looking to replace it with a more powerful trail bike (and hopefully more reliable).

Now the key thing is weight. The Speedfight is just 95KG and I have virtually nothing to play with on the back 105KG bike perhaps at a push. I have a full licence so the bigger cc the better (depending on weight)

We use the scooter abroad and its been up the alps, Pyreness and even round the Harbour in St Tropez. It gets hammered on tracks though. Its advantage is good storage but some of the places we go are a little to much for its 2 stroke 100cc engine!

The bike we choose needs to not only be light but able to take my weight at 18 stone and the Mrs at 8 stone. We would like to put a top box on it and panniers if possible. Sounds daft but we will use it for shopping when abroad as well as touring about.

The last thing is it needs to be something reliable and easy to get parts and repairs for in Europe.

Any ideas?

Many thanks
Barry

[multijoy]

Honda innova? 105kg, 125cc.

Ninja edit: Not a trailie, but you can do a lot with a step through with knobblies!

https://www.multijoy.co.uk/4marks/Images/27.jpg
https://www.multijoy.co.uk/4marks/Images/86.jpg
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'11 CBF1000A, '99 C90, '98 CB500
silky666: He rode amazingly well considering his bike is the weight of a small van and had slicks on.

[barryd]

Many thanks. #Love the pics! I did consider it but its not quite what we had in mind. Probably a good little bike though

Cheers
Barry

[colin1]

I'd suggest a more powerful scooter. A gillera runner 180cc 2 stroke will do 0-60 in 5.5 secs, cost about £1000, and be better on the road than a dirt bike. weight 107kg
More storage space for shopping too

for a light dirt bike, how about a dt125 ?
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[G]

You're going to struggle to find something with much power that can handle pillions with luggage and be reliable too.
You can get bikes that can handle pillions and luggage, but won't be that powerful.
You can get light powerful bikes, but can't take the extra weight easily.
You can get powerful bikes that can take the extra weight, but aren't that light.

I think the 250s are going to be where to look.
The older kickstart 4 strokes can be fairly light weight and reliable. I think you'll definitely be wanting to consider a stiffer spring on the rear at least. DR250, XR250 maybe.
The 2 stroke 250cc trail bikes are also worth considering - CRM250 is probably not too far off your weight requirements, has a reasonable amount of poke and I think has an ok strength rear subframe.

[Itchy]

No such bike exists uber light and uber powerful other than maybe a competition bike, a serrow comes close but tips the scales at 130kilos HOWEVER it takes weight badly and requires structural reinforcement for luggage. you could maybe disassemble the bike a bit and carry it inside maybe?
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[Ariel Badger]

Your problem is the Mrs not the bikes. Get rid, divorce, murder or just move out at night with all your stuff.
Once she is gone buy a KTM.
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[barryd]

Thanks everyone. Im coming to the conclusion from your help and a bit of research tonight that there isnt anything that fits the bill apart from my old Speedfight 100cc!!! None of the new scooters seem to be under about 120KG. I considered a trail bike as it would be more fun, more powerful and the 250's seemed to be about the same weight.

I will keep looking but I think its not going to happen

Thanks again
Barry

[barryd]

[colin1]

a dt125 is just 103kg, and a gilera runner 180 2 stroke is 107kg

so they are only slightly overweight, and would be an improvement on your speedfight. Neither still available new but they are pretty reliable with wide availability of parts

if you want a bigger bike, you could always put it inside the van and strap it in place really securely

getting it in and out might be a bit fiddly though

i reckon the 180 2 stroke runner is your best bet. as its comfortable on fast roads for short periods.

Its going to be almost twice as powerful as your speedfight, for about the same weight.

I've taken a pillion on one, and it was fine. It handles well for a scooter.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Teflon-Mike]

Without specs off the to hand, the thoughts that strike me immedietly are; Yamaha DT, Kawasaki KMX or Suzuki Van-Van.

Kawasaki KMX 200 would seem to fit the bill, its an over-bored 125, so light, yet with a bit more balls than the 125, for carrying YOUR weight.... I dont think your missus's minute mass is an issue here, is it, really!

Van-Van is an enigma, and I mention it becouse I have seen a couple strapped to the back of campers, and I'm pretty sure they do a 200cc version, though suspect it may be a bit heavy. Tis pretty comfy for two though,

DT, you would pretty much be restricted to a 125. They did a 200cc version for some markets but rare here, unless you can pick one up on your travels, or buy a 125.... its powerful 'enough' when properly de-restriced.

Or, again, if you can get hold of one, the 'older' air-cooled DT175. Still in production for some markets I believe, but with only 17bhp actually less powerful than a watercooled 125, though it IS lighter.

Think you need to trawl the specs.
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Dibble]

[G]

[Dibble]

I weighed it on a weighbridge with about 1/2 a tank of fuel, 2str oil, AC10s, heavy duty inner tubes and slime but minus footpegs, chainguard and with a lighter rear light (original
removed at Canada Heights )

I weighed it because friends with DRZs couldn't believe it was only 12KG lighter than their bikes.

It is a do anything bike shame Honda killed the 2 stroke.


Dibble

p.s. do you think my Mugen fork protectors save much weight or just give me another 10 bhp ?

[G]

On a similar note - I've weighed my CCM before and after cleaning most of the mud of it - saved 10kg!