Motorcycles?

[repopo]

i was wondering if the older kick start motorcycles would be effected by an emp or if anyone has any recommendations for a good small mode of transportation ie scooter or 4 wheeler.

[Rmplstlskn]

If the cycle uses point type ignition you should be good... Even electronic ignition may be OK according to some recent scientific studies... But I stress MAY...

Rmpl

[45B]

I am currently looking for a small (100 to 500) cc street and trail type bike myself. Add a bigger tank or some side saddle brackets to hold extra fuel and a small
trailer and you could move easily and move a lot of gear. You could still go off of the beaten path and around large traffic jams and go places cars and trucks could never go.

Great fuel mileage and easy to store. Now I just have to find one that is not $5,000 or more. Still shopping.

And my son just loves the idea of the motorcycle. I got a 80cc from a friend for him to use last year, and he had a blast just riding it around in the yard.

[Klayton]

I am currently looking for a small (100 to 500) cc street and trail type bike myself. Add a bigger tank or some side saddle brackets to hold extra fuel and a small
trailer and you could move easily and move a lot of gear. You could still go off of the beaten path and around large traffic jams and go places cars and trucks could never go.

Great fuel mileage and easy to store. Now I just have to find one that is not $5,000 or more. Still shopping.

And my son just loves the idea of the motorcycle. I got a 80cc from a friend for him to use last year, and he had a blast just riding it around in the yard.

Hmmm thats alot for $5K, you must be looking for used. But still asking alot, maybe you can get a good priced bike and install your own aftermarket tanks? I say this because most bikes in that cc range do not have large tanks, mine is a 250sf and only holds 2 gallons. Yes a 500cc may have a bigger tank, but not by much, bigger tanks cost more, so it eats into their profit. So again, you might be looking for aftermarket stuff that YOU addon. :)

[Klayton]

OH, and 250cc is the smallest you would want for a full grown man, anything smaller would be ALOT of work for the engine to pull bigger fuel tank, plus sidebag tanks, plus full grown adult, plus a trailer. All of that I would actually be looking at a minimum of 500cc, but more like a 600-750cc range. Remember all that weight makes that engine work that much harder which shortens its life greatly. 100s (do they still make 100s?) usually 125cc or 150cc are off road bikes, usually 2 stroke (= LOUD) and are very peppy bikes, but not made to pull alot of weight, just the driver is about it...

[brokedownbiker]

Look for a older used Kawasaki KLR 650. It is a strong running bike that is capable of serious off-roading and there are tons of luggage options for it. Average used prices run between $1200-3500. You won't be disappointed. They also built a 250cc version as well if you want to stick with the smaller displacement.

[Klayton]

Look for a older used Kawasaki KLR 650. It is a strong running bike that is capable of serious off-roading and there are tons of luggage options for it. Average used prices run between $1200-3500. You won't be disappointed. They also built a 250cc version as well if you want to stick with the smaller displacement.

I was thinking about the KLRs when I bought mine, but seemd more practical to get a 75% street and 25 % dirt bike at the time (always take function over fashion is my logo). So bought me a 250SF

http://allmotorcyclepictures.com/201...saki-klx250sf/

[Not_Yet_Prepped]

5k or less should be easy to find a decent used "Dual Sport" bike... Now one old enough to not have electronics that may be the hard part.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Suzuki-DR-Z-2004-Suzuki-DRZ400-/200690193234?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item2eba115352

[brokedownbiker]

5k or less should be easy to find a decent used "Dual Sport" bike... Now one old enough to not have electronics that may be the hard part.

Exactly, NYP, the key is find one old enough to not be packed with electronics. Even the BMW dual sports had Hall effect ignition back as far as the late 70's, most all the Japanese offerings as well. The up side to the Beemers (and the KLR) is the fact that there are points conversion kits available to retro fit them.

Another option would be the mid-70's Japanese dirt bikes that use a magneto for ignition- zero electronics. But they are almost all two stroke and would require special oil/gas mixtures

[brokedownbiker]

I was thinking about the KLRs when I bought mine, but seemd more practical to get a 75% street and 25 % dirt bike at the time (always take function over fashion is my logo). So bought me a 250SF

http://allmotorcyclepictures.com/201...saki-klx250sf/

I went with the Suzuki V-Strom 650 for a couple of years; excellent bike but cluttered with electronics.

[Klayton]

broken, I looked at the VStrom as well, but the 250 is more than enough for me and the gas mileage is outrageous. Yes it is loaded with electronics (the only con I think, well maybe a little underpowered for most people).

[45B]

I have not owned a dual purpose type bike since I was 16 and living at home. I owned a 100cc Taka by Rockford motorcycles in the late 70's.

My neighbor found a 450cc Honda for $3,000 here locally and beat me too it by 20 minutes. He was loading it up when I arrived to look at it.

Nice bike and seems to have a lot of power.

I have a turbo diesel truck for anything else I need, Just want the bike for trails and short trips to work and the store and just riding around the lake in the summer.

[Not_Yet_Prepped]

As long as your not looking for something EMP Proof then a Dual Sports from any of the big 3 (Honda, Suzuki, Kawaski) should be fine.

What I really want is a Buell Ulysses, Buell is no longer around but those ULYSSES are simple and reliable. Heavy and tall compared to many but I do not plan on jumping 100' gaps or winning any races. Buell had an ultra modern Frame design with an OLD design V-Twin engine (many called it a "Tractor Motor"). The frame is the fuel tank, the rear swing arm is the oil pan, the muffler is "Under" the bike and it is air cooled, all gave it a very low center of gravity for being such a tall bike and made it more "robust" in the feild.

[Klayton]

WOW I did not know Buell closed their doors!!

**On October 30, 2009, Buell Motorcycle Company closed its doors, bringing an end to a 26-year run.**

Didn't they use Harley engines in most of their bikes?

[Not_Yet_Prepped]

Yes they used a HD engine base but had them "updated". They updated/required better electronics, different bearings, seals, seal designs and demanded higher standards be followed to make them "bullet proof". It really helped HD improve their reliablity (much to my dismay HD now makes some reliable bikes all because Eric showed them how). The Buell R&D team really knew their stuff and thought outside of the box alot. Just look at the XBs front brake.

Eric Buell talked about design of the Ulysses as saying he knew the type of rides he wanted to do but did not know of a bike he could do it on. He wanted a bike that touring comfort for LONG rides, he wanted a bike with SPORT bike handling for the turns, and have the off road abilities of a Dual Sport. He said what he wanted was an Adventure SPORT Bike but no one made one, so he took his best Sport Bike platform (the XB) and reworked it to make it his Adventure SPORT Bike.