Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

@jambon the guy who punishes me on green lanes has a 350 exc-f, but with a few modifications.

It’s his dirt-muppet machine and I don’t think he uses it on the road if he can help it. From what I’ve seen, it’ll move but looks super uncomfortable for road miles. Definitely a trail-destroyer though. He does road miles as well, but also spends as much time rebuilding it as riding it. More suited to aggressive rides followed by rebuild. I believe service intervals are very short, so you’d not cover much distance before getting annoyed.

Saw only one guy with a WR250 last year, and he was too busy playing Su Doku in the shade than actually riding it.

Dad bought a new 2020 CRF250L back in October and has done little more than a few road miles, and dropping it when parking (failing to lift his leg high enough to clear seat, losing balance).

The one single green lane I got him onto it had no trouble at all, but it was just a bit of mud and gravel and a few potholes. Probably very capable if driven in anger. Seems there is a big following for them as a dual sport, even Mundo Enduro himself uses them these days.

I tried it around the car park a couple of times when adjusting clutch cable, testing setup etc. Definitely wouldn’t swap my DR350 for one. However, I didn’t get to pin it down the road to try. The Rally version looked way more my cup of tea anyway.

I believe the 2021’s (if buying new) will be better suited as they’re 300’s now with some tweaks to power delivery.

Dad has barely been out, and hasn’t the mentality to give it a squirt and see what happens, but it ticks over happily at A-road speeds. You won’t be able to overtake anyone and it will feel very underpowered compared to everything.

If dad loses interest in time, and I must inherit the CRF250L, I’m sure my opinion would change.

Honestly if I was doing mostly mud, and hard, I’d suffer the service intervals (and insane parts costs) on the KTM. If I was looking to be mellow the CRF.

You know the answer is the DR350 was that bike. I think the Beta Alp was the nearest neighbour until recent years (using the Suzuki engine). I’ve hit maybe 85 or so on the DR, but it needs some stretch of road to get there. Cruising at 70 on the motorway required a fair amount of throttle control, mostly I was going more than or less than.

The KTM will go fastest and lightest, but you know that already.

Asked him about the KTM...

How about road use? Tyre wear?

They work. Hard acceleration kills the tyres mostly. Depends on how well he wants it to grip off road, if he's happy to lose grip off road, then go to a 50/50 tyre, i prefer to compromise on road grip for better off road, and pay the cost in more tyre changes, done several 200+ mile tarmac jaunts, and no excessive wear really, mousses are not so keen though so stick to greased uhd tubes.

But it’s not mellow enough for road miles?

Yes, if I'm riding with Chris, she tells me off for wheelies etc 🤣
I often use it for nipping out. I do try to stick to normal roads instead of dual carriageway or motorways if i can avoid them as it revs its tits off at 90mph

And service intervals?

I do every 15-20 hours for a 1ltr oil change, filter every other. Takes 10 minutes, could probably push it to 30hrs

Mate has a 2008/10 WR250 and loves it, borrowed it once to do some mild trails and yeah, its no dirt bike/ 2 stroke enduro weapon, suspension is a bit basic compared to the proper bikes, has very little down low (compared to 2s) and on a roads is able to get to 70mph (75 indicicated assumed that was probably about 68 real mph), but in the same way a 125 gets to 70mph, eventually and its not happy about it!
B roads between trails/lanes is exactly what its for and is great for that.
Not very good on fuel, but then what trail orientated bike is!
He's had a lot of miles on it (north of England going to all the green lanes and general messing about) and only thing was a seized swing arm bolt. Think it also likes eating clutchs and dirtying its oil (service is in hours not miles, as is more dirt orientated).

Not sure if Beta make a trail bike with lights/reg, but would hazard a guess that it would be the best in class, every other Beta i've known mates to have, they've always raved about them.
KTM is nice, but so much money imo.

Considering this year getting rid of my overweight BMW dual sport (90's) and getting a 250L and a Triumph ST 1050. Satisfies both ends of the spectrum of things I do without spending much.
ST 1050 2005 to 2011 really don't go for very much, fancied a VFR ( 800 non vtec or 1st gen vtec) but everyone that I've been to see in the past year has been a bit of a dog, not even high miles, just very ratty for the money they are asking. Don't think Triumph's build quality is upto as much, but borrowed a mates 2009 bike and loved it, sporty (ish) AND toury AND sounds good. Win?