Thursday, January 24, 2013

The Stable Groweth

As you are experiencing, there is this thing called life that we have to navigate. At times it seems easy. Other times kinda slap you around a little. And others knock you flat on your ass. I've just been experiencing a little slapping, but is has made me lazy.

I'm not going to attempt an all-out catch up. Too much and not enough has happened to warrant that. I will just try to move forward. :)

Long, long ago Oilburner picked up an older Honda XL600R in the hopes that I would start to pick up some off road riding skills. This was prompted by both our desires to eventually ride the Trans Labrador Highway. I'm completely game for this, but don't necessarily want to take the big, heavy GS, and without any experience. Since Oilburner learned, and grew up, on dirt bikes there isn't any concern on his skills.

So...we bought this fun little Honda that I can't start. It is a kickstart. For the life of me, I cannot kick it over. I did enjoy riding it the one time we took it out. I worried about stalling it, though. As that would mean we would both have to dismount the bikes and have Oilburner start the Honda. In addtion, Oilburner didn't feel comfortable riding the GS. He was too afraid of dropping, or dinging, it even though I tried to make it clear that I expected that would happen. (And would let it go. :-) )

So what to do??

Purchase another motorbike, of course!!

Introducing the Honda XR650L. Purchased for me since it has an electric start. I alluded to picking this beauty up in Sept over Labor Day weekend. The bike was in Iowa, but the shop selling it was going to New Jersey and Pennsylvania for an auction. We agreed to meet in Ohio for the exchange.

I won't bore you with all of the logistics of meeting up. There were a few changes in day or time, but we were all flexible and pulled it off without any problems.

The bike was wonderful! Well maintained, quick to start, nice to look at, and had a 37 inch seat height.

Yes. You read that right. 37 inches. My inseam is 30 inches. Long story short, Oilburner has changed the shocks and cut some height off the kickstand, effectively lowering it a couple inches. I can swing a leg over it if all of the stars are aligned, the motorbike is swathed in incense, and I am wearing prayer beads.

I've taken this beauty out and enjoyed riding her. But my very first attempt to get on resulted in a wonderfully executed tuck and roll on my part, and a little nap on the Honda's part. I was very aware of the height at all intersections, and very nervous over rocks.

I could probably force myself on the Honda. Learn dirt skills into the Honda's abilities. I did that with the street bikes when I purchased an 800cc motorbike when I really wanted to start on something smaller. But I don't want to do that this time around. I want to ease in and take this slowly.

What does that mean??

Introducing the Yamaha TW200.

While reading more blogs, someone had fallen in love with this TW200, describing it as a sleeper. No, that 200CC engine isn't going too fast on the freeways, but she is nimble and sure footed on the dirt. And best of all...I can flat-foot this little thing. Yay!!

Oilburner had been perusing the ads and saw this one up for sale about an hour away from us. We look Rogey along to look at the bike, and he was actually the first to get to ride it. I'm looking forward to taking this into the backwoods and having much less fear on the gravel with those huge tires and wonderful seat height.

She really looks like a miniature dirt-bike in the garage, surrounded by the monsters. But it just makes us laugh. Now...how to downsize...

 

24 comments:

  1. What a cool collection of bikes you have. But 37" seat height! Do most dirt riders jump off when stopping? How do they deal with the height?

    I like the look of the TW200 though the gas tank looks tiny...

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    1. I could have built a tent next to that bike and had plenty of head room! Oilburner's best bud in high school was very vertically challenged. My understanding was that he would ride a bike that tall. He would get a running start and hop on. He would even side saddle to jump off while keeping control of the handlebars. I'm not that daring yet. ;)

      Yes, the tank is about 1.8 gallons and tiny. But it gets 70 mph. Thinking of putting a keg type tank on the tail.

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  2. Flat footing a bike on the rough stuff is something I'd want also.....hmmm, now you it me thinking of a small dirt bike for when the trail gets too rough for my URAL. Rig it in place of the tub, then it's a lifeboat and rough terrain vehicle.....hmmmm

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    1. Dom...I like the direction you are thinking... But is there such a thing as a place "too rough" for a URAL?

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    2. Oh you bet....I've been in places that I really shouldn't have been....

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  3. Lori:

    Must be nice to have "Options". so envious of your Fleet.
    Unfortunately due to our high Government insurance rates, we aren't able to have that many vehicles.

    I like that TW200, would be good for curb jumping in rush hour traffic

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast
    My Flickr // My YouTube

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    1. Bob, sometimes options are not a good thing. That means that I have to make a decision. And I have a difficult time making the decision of which pretty bikes to leave at home.

      That little TW200 just bounces along. Probably great for curb jumping. I had it on the road last weekend and enjoyed the handling. Oilburner was impressed with the pick up.

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  4. Awesome stable you have going Lori. I can see why you'd want that little TW to start out. I've been looking at the same. It bothers me when I have to tippy toe at a stop.

    We were at a shop a week ago and I sat on a Yamaha WR250R and I almost couldn't get off the thing. I put the kickstand down and felt I had to throw myself sideways with my leg out. It wasn't pretty.

    You'll be an ace on the TW and that will make riding the 650 easier.

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    1. OOOhhhhh!!!! Get one, get one!! :)

      I was telling the story of the 650..and that there is so much travel in teh shocks, that putting the kickstand down actually leaned the bike to the right!! No getting off of that thing for me. I had to part in the ditch on the left side of the road so I could step off onto the other, higher side of the ditch!

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  5. Welcome to the darki side.....you will be doing back wards flips and sommersults in no time,

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    1. I'll follow you around for awhile. You can show me how's it really done. :)

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  6. Boy am I lucky, not only does she buy motorcycles but she works on them too :-)

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    1. Wow. And you just agreed to my proposition of bringing the TW into the living room to install the knuckle guards. :)

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  7. The TW is a great little bike. And that rear tire, wow! Bob talked about jumping curbs, hell, it will climb trees. Have fun!
    ~Keith

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    1. Have you researched this bike, Keith? I've ridden it to Cycle Gear twice now, all paved roads. Takes a little getting used to the first gear, like a tractor gear. But it very responsive and fun. Can't wait to get it onto the dirt.

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    2. It was on my short list when I bought Billie. There's a guy who has a sidecar on one. I read about it and thought that sounded pretty cool. I ended up moving in other directions.

      I know enough about the bike to know you are going have a lot of fun with the little beast. And, I can't wait to hear all about it!
      ~k

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  8. Those TWs are fun, I get to ride the training bikes on the range. I've been tempted to get a small 250 dualsport but can't decide on which one, I really want the WR250R but I'll have to lower it.

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    1. Troubadour, have you ridden one? I'm looking forward to getting it onto the gravel. So far it has been great fun on the city streets. That WR250R is a great bike! I enjoyed looking at them at our m/c show. It's another one with that tremendous seat height! 36.6 inches? Oilburner has been looking at the XT250 and DR250 (for me if I want more power someday), both with excellent reputations. Have fun looking around, and good luck on making that decision. :)

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  9. Congrats on the stable growth! You will need a bigger place to keep them all soon. I would love a dirt bike, but on this small island us Brits live on, there is almost nowhere to ride them off-road. I am jealous of you.... have fun!

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    1. Thanks Gary! So the UK doesn't have as many dirt tracks? I can just imagine some of the roads in the UK leading to some great ruins. The TW is in the garage any time you want to try it! :)

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    2. This is why we don't have many dirt tracks....

      Georgia = 59,000 sq miles, with a population of 10 million.
      England = 53,000 sq miles, with a population of 53 million.

      We are a little short of space here!

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    3. Ouch. I was just looking up those numbers too. All I can say is that the city layouts are sometimes better in England. Our cities are so spread out.

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  10. really liking that old honda and she looks pretty clean. I remember drooling at the brochures as a kid. As for the TW, I took my MSF class on that bike and a good ride.

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  11. A 37 inch seat height! How amazing.
    You must love that Honda bike from the way you describe it. Anyway you should be because the bike is too pretty to be called an old Honda. I bet you take pretty good care of her.
    Apart from me owning a V Twin Motorcycle, o wouldn't mind a dirt bike as well.

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