Dirt Bikes

[mike343sharpstick]

BBR, good for you getting back on a bike!
I have a 2018 Husky 450. (Same as a KTM with a different rear suspension) that I use regularly for some great local single track trails here in Wisconsin. Some buddies and I do some Upper Michigan runs a couple times a year too. The husky replaced my silly fast KTM 525 which I had for a very long time before this.
The Husky has way better suspension, and less violent throttle hit than my old KTM, so it's not as fast, but a better tool for long days in the saddle.

[RockJustRock]

I street rode a standard Wombat in the 80s. It was good for 65 or so on the highway. I enjoyed passing cars.

[mike343sharpstick]

My Old KTM usually looked like this.

[SuperBuickGuy]

My Old KTM usually looked like this.

no current dirt bike?

[mike343sharpstick]

Yup, 2018 Husky 450. Just found a pic...

[DanStokes]

Some buddies in the neighborhood had Hodaka bikes that were so basic, but kicked ass in the dirt .. a Super Rat 100 and a Combat Wombat 125 .. they tore it up !

Always wanted one but never did. I don't think they're still in business. I also remember that they were anvils - you could pound on them all day and they just took it.

Dan

[Monster]

Yup, 2018 Husky 450.

Day-um .. I like that !

[mike343sharpstick]

It's fun, and street legal!
That said, I don't ride on the road much as I didn't buy it for that, and it's got off road tires, and I removed the blinkers. It's a nice option to have and helps when it comes time to sell.
Oh... and the fact that i have no self control, combined with pour judgement when I ride it.

[BBR]

I had a 93 DR650 dual sport. In-town riding was it's wheelhouse. Curbs, dips, speed bumps were nothing. A super torquey motor made wheelies a snap. A 100+ mph top end and fantastic brakes made it super fun to ride. No e-start majorly sucked on occasion because it had a drill and if you didn't follow the drill you were completely screwed.

The stock tires suuuucked in the dirt. It had waaay more power than it had suspension but I still took it off road and it was less horrible after I put some Metzeler DOT knobbies on it. Suspension was soft but I only remember it tank slapping me off one time. Haha. Crashed it on the street a couple of times which was waaay less fun than tank slapping in deep samd whoops for sure.

It was by far the quickest way to get from A to B in town.

Sorta like this one.

[SuperBuickGuy]

It's fun, and street legal!
That said, I don't ride on the road much as I didn't buy it for that, and it's got off road tires, and I removed the blinkers. It's a nice option to have and helps when it comes time to sell.
Oh... and the fact that i have no self control, combined with pour judgement when I ride it.

is there any other way to ride? I believe in full-send or off. I also have GPS tracks on my CRF450r going 110 mph on dirt.... it didn't feel a mph faster then 80 but

[65RHDEER]

The big two stroke in my life, a 90 KTM 540 EXC. Also known as a DXC, "Desert Cross Country" only sold in the US and Australia. 548cc of low down torque
Took it down the strip a few times, first time, below, with a knobby, 14 flat, 2nd time with a road tyre 13.6 short shifting because it just wanted to loop out.
I still have it in the shed.



Next bike was a 99 Husky te410, loved the gearbox in it, great spread of gears and it climbed hills like a goat, put 22000km (14000 Miles) on it in 4 1/2 years.

Then a big 4 stroke, 05 Husky TE510, it was a bit more highly strung and spent a fair amount of time in pieces. It is in one piece now and also in the shed.
Me with the 510 throwing rocks.

The current ride, the last of the Italian Husky's, a 13 TE449. I don't get out on it as much as I'd like to, time and an ageing body

[SuperBuickGuy]

one of my riding buddies is utterly convinced that a criteria of bike purchases is the bike's ability to throw rocks - he rides a 650ex, so while he can keep up, he's usually 100 yards behind due to his inability to holeshot.

[mike343sharpstick]

BBR, I had a fist year DR650 back in 1992-ish?? It was OK. You reminded me of the kick start procedure with the compression release! LOL.
The new Husky is electric start, freaking awesome!

[Monster]

The new Husky is electric start, freaking awesome!

That is awesome !

[SuperBuickGuy]

The new Husky is electric start, freaking awesome!

so that's why they come with skirts, I would think that would get cold

good on you, though, one has to be tough to cope with all the snide comments you get from your buddies about e-start on a dirt bike....