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New Bike for the Lady...?

S

sandskipper

Joined Aug 2003
517 Posts | 0+
Chandler, AZ, USA
Fellow Husabergers,

My soon to be wife has recently showed an interest in my hobby of riding dirtbikes. Not just watching, she wants to ride also. The only bike she has ever ridden was an XR400 which she liked but was unable to keep the rubber side down and dropped it on its side while stopping! I am very excited about her interest and would like to by her a bike of her own for her birthday in early Aug. I have had her down at the local jap bike retailer to check out the Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda and Yamaha bikes. The CRF150 is a little too tall and with 35+ lbs over the rest was written off as a no-buy as I do not want her to hurt herself. After looking at the bikes, we both seemed to lean towards the Yamaha TT-R125Le as it is a four stroke (mild power delivery for a beginner), 180lbs. (light and just the correct size for her 5'4" 120lb frame), and electric start (for ease of starting and confidence building... again for a first time rider).
I would like nothing better than to buy her a Husaberg but none are available or even suited for a beginner. What are your opinions and/or suggestions for a successful first time bike for my girl?
I ride mostly desert and sand with the occasional ride up the high country forrests but 45% desert, 30% sand and 10% forrest.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
 
Dude... How about a DRZ 250? I am in Mesa...

It is a little bit on the heavy side but there is no hill this thing could not climb with a 225+ lbs rider on top and it's really reliable.

PM me if interested.
 
Hi Sandskipper,
Please visit www.XR100.com

An XR 100 with a 120 kit makes for a near perfect beginner bike.

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,
Dale

PS
Frank Nye is a good friend. The products are great and the results honest. Please view the dynamometer section.
 
Otherwise a TTR.

My DRZ could be ok for a lady as long as she does not mind pickup up 260lbs of bike.
 
gas gas pampera is a defo. also there is a machine over here in europe that's 50% trials (like the pampera) called a beta alp. it has a DR125 engine in it and they waxed lyrical about it for birds.

the pampera is docile, light, low seat height but given a little bit of freeway would still hussle on.

regards

Taffy
 
Hello again,

Thank you all for your replys so far.

:signthanks: Berger & Taff, After checking out the Gas Gas Pampera the first thing I noted was the price of which $5300 new is a bit much more than I have to spend, or want to spend, for a first time beginners bike that I don't know if she gona even like it or not. Yes, used bikes are an option but for a semi-exotic bike I don't think I would like to go that route until this is something she digs and the parts are more readily available.
The second thing I noted is that its 106Kg (233lbs). Too heavy for her small size. I want to instill a confidence in her as dropping the bike is inevitable I know but picking up a heavy bike while learning takes the fun out things a bit as we all know.....
As for the Beta Alp, I'm a little skittish about buying a bike I have never seen, ridden, or even heard of. Another Exotic bike that I can only imagine would have problems for finding parts and or upgrades for. These bikes Im trying to avoid for the simple reason of options.

Thank you both for these two opinions, greatly appreciated!


Dale, I was unable to find any dyno results for the XR100 on the link you provided but did check out the CRF150... excellent results. The XR100 is a viable option I will definitely consider. After checking the Honda web site they no longer show specs for the bike and must assume it is no longer a production model in '05. The bikes I found in the cycle trader are going from $1K-2K and the newest I found is an '03. Electric start is something I am interested in on this bike and was wanting to know if the XR100 has this? Can you give me any more off hand info on the bike, Weight, what the suspension is like, power out put compared to TT-R125L..... any info you are willing to share is greatly appreciated?

Dose anyone have an opinion on the TT-R125? The bike received Cycle Worlds '04 playbike of the year award but would like someones review from first hand experiences or other means? Thank you for your replys everyone, much appreciated!

Regards,
 
Hi Keith,
Frank seems to have replaced the 120 graphs with those of the 150 / 230.
http://www.xr100.com/dyno%20runs/EO%20s ... 0vs250.htm

A good 120 makes 12 RWHP and is near impossible to damage short of removing the oil.

The 230 has electric start. With a 250 kit and a wee bit of suspension work said bike is an absolute blast!

Many more options exist including a CRF 80 to 100 conversion, TTR, KLX and DRZ upgrades.

I personally prefer the Honda lineup and own six modified 80 through 120cc XR based motorcycles as they are indeed the ultimate trainer.

Please feel free to give me a call. 510 223-9052

Kind Regards,
Dale
 
You could probably find a nice used Yamaha TTR 225 somewhere for less than $2,000.
ttr225_480x364.jpg

They pop up all over for sale. Usually lightly ridden. (Unfortunately that sometimes means lightly maintained also.)

I've seen a few that look like brand new. A few still have the tits on the tires.
 
Hello Sandskipper,
My wife got a ttr125le for her first bike and it's worked well for her but did require a few mods. The large wheel version is taller
but the seat to pegs distance was too cramped for her (she is 5'-4"), we
put a tall seat and taller bars and that did the trick. The e-start is great
but in stock form the bike is way lean, and cold blooded, it will need some hop ups to keep her happy as she grows as a rider. My kids both had a honda xr80 and I'm a huge fan of the xr line, my wife really wanted that e-start so we went with th ttr but if I had my way I would have gone with the xr. The xr is heavier but it doent ride too heavy it's way more comfortable
easier to maintain and absolutely BULLT PROOF.

Phil
 
I have ridden a ttr-125le a good number of times (my sister has one). It is a great bike, and you will not go wrong by purchasing one for your wife. I even used it to race the Little Polecat Enduro last year. I was the only one out there on a little kids bike. That little 8 hp machine passed about a dozen adults on their big machines. It was quite an epiphany, realizing first hand that horsepower is largely overrated, in my opinion. If that bike was all that I had, I would be quite content riding it. I think the weight is more accurate at about 200 lbs. Your wife should be able to pick it up. My sister is pretty small, and she can. A stock bike will need to be rejetted. Electric start is a must on a four stroke trail bike, especially for a beginner. It would be one less thing to fustrate them.
 
Hi sandskipper,
I sell both the ttr125 and the drz125 and they are both good bikes for your wife to ride.One thing with the Yamaha that you should check is that many of the 05 models are made in Yamahas factory in Brasil and frankly the build quality and certain components(suspension) are not what you expect from Yamaha so pick a model that has a vin #starting with JY.These small 4-strokes start very easy so I would not waste money on the elec start version,but that is my personal opinion only.The DRZ 125 is not available here as electric start,but is has alloy rims instead of the Yamahas steel and otherwise these two bikes are feature for feature very close although I like the fact that the drz has an oil filter.
A word of caution,if you get your wife a dirt bike,what if she really gets into it,next shes cutting work early to ride,riding every weekend,next shes involved with the local club.Guess whos staying home doing the housework...you :D :D :D ...just kidding......nsman
 
Hello again,

I was doing some research on Thumper Talk and came across the following thread:

http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showth ... p?t=265595

After reading through I think this pounds the nail in the coffin on the Pampera for me. Not to good of feedback in my opinion.

Im going to say I will probably stick with the TT-R125 but may lean towards the XR100 if I can find a good deal on one. The electric start on the TTR is whats got me right now.

Question for anyone and directed more towards Dale: With the BBR upgraded exhaust, 150 big bore kit, correct jetting, will the TTR have the potential for upgrades as the XR100? What im trying to say, is do I have more options with one bike over the other, and what are they? I will most likely have the TTR springs and shock stiffened to provide a suspension setup if I purchase the bike. What are your opinions on this??

Thanks fellow Bergers!
 
Hi keith,
For what it may be worth and in my humble opinion:

Purchase a slightly used late model XR 100. Install a complete 120 kit (camshaft, clutch, exhaust, etc.) and rework the suspension (new works rear shock included).

What you will end up with is an easy to start and stone reliable playbike.
Such an investment provides big fun for the dollar.

I performed an XR 100 exhaust shootout for Frank a couple of years ago. The BBR system is really loud. The EO system provides the best power and is the quietest "performance" system on the market. It is also a spark arrestor.

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,
Dale

PS
I have tested most all of the minis including BBR specials.
I do indeed favor the XR 100 / 120. In my opinion the TTR is a real pooch. (heavy and slow with poor suspension)
 
"in my opinion the TTR is a real pooch".Here I am trying to convey the message as subtle as I can and D.L. justs blurts it out.
 
Thanks again for your valuable feedback on this subject matter Dale.

I will look through the cycle trader to see what I can find and possably take my girl down to check some out. She realy has her eye on one of the TT-R's right now and it would take some convincing to get her to change her mind. I have always rode RED prior to my Husaberg purchase (CR125, XR350, TRX400EX) and my preferance was the CRF150 but this bike turned out to be more than my GF was up for. One other small problem that is weighing on my mind was that at ~$3k out the door price on the TTR and ~$1700-$2000 on a used bike, would it be in my best bet to buy the floor room 2005 bike as I don't want to buy someone elses thrasher bike and inherit someone elses problems???

What do you think a rough estimate price on the XR 120kit, and any other needed bits would be to get this bike in top notch condition granted the bike is in good/excellent condition?

Regards,
 
Often one can find a second hand full tilt 120 in very good condition for under $3500.00.

Try eBay and / or the classified section of http://www.flattrack.com/

For reference and in favor of the XR 100:
http://www.americansupercamp.com/index.shtml

Quote:
How can I learn anything on a little Honda XR100?
Pushing a motorcycle to its limit is one of the most satisfying experiences in motorcycling. These nearly indestructible little bikes allow you to get as close to the limit as you dare, go over that limit without serious injury, and learn your own limits in the process.


Sincerely,
Dale
 

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