I'm kind of embarrassed to say, I bought CRF300 rally and I didn't even know what single track was. I never had a dirtbike as a kid. I just thought I'd be taking unpaved roads to do photography and I wanted an easy bike so I wouldn't get left behind if I ever went on a group ride. I practiced in the yard and then came the craving. With less than 150 miles on the bike I went to the local ORV park. I just picked the green one and ended up doing 2 hours of entry level single track that day. Now I have just under 1000 miles and I'm doing the expert level single track. I am so glad I didn't buy a 790/Transalp/T7 because I never would have tried the things I'm doing now. My motorcycle taught me about myself as much as it taught me skills.
That’s awesome!!! And I didn’t elaborate on it to much in the video but area plays a big part as well. The club I ride at has been around for 30+ years and there isn’t really any “easier” single track so for people that have access to place that do a bigger bike might still be ok, but reguardless it sounds like you made a good bike choice!!!
@@DirtRider22a I really feel like I made the right choice. Knowing how weather conditions will affect your riding area is another factor to consider. I usually go to the Crosstimbers ORV park in Oklahoma. The videos online make it look fairly easy but after weeks with no rain the easiest track becomes 7 miles of powdered sugar. It would be brutal on a heavier adv bike no matter the tire. The harder tracks are the opposite. The rooted up dirt hills, rock climbs, and muddy valleys become easier in a drought.
@@seanhewitt2521 I have dogs, an orchard, and a butterfly sanctuary to take care of so I'm never going to leave my home for more than 3 days at a time. Even if I lost everything I wouldn't spend my time riding around because I don't have nomadic fantasies. I would strap my MS261C to my back, ride into the woods, build a log cabin, and get another dog. Different bikes for different folks.
I agree with you on this. I wanted a T7 but stayed with the 690 due to size. BTY, I kept thinking the road looked like Ore Rd, then I saw my white truck setting with my buddy’s red truck at Log Truck 😂 We were working on single track that day.
I think you're right. I thought I wanted a T7. It finally hit me that it is way more capable than I am. I finally traded around and got a DRZ 400S with all of the good modifications. I have fallen in love with the dual sport motorcycle. They are so easy to maneuver and take a beating. I still want a nice parrallel twin powered highway capable motorcycle that you can take off pavement. I might buy a Honda Transalp, but these new 400-450 cc bikes may be the ticket. A new Himalayan 450 or 390 Adventure R are lighter.
@@DirtRider22a Me too. It looks like a great bike. I am definitely going to ride one. Have you ever ridden the TN Dirt Devil? I live right in the middle of it. You should make a trip up here one day.
@@DirtRider22a The "official" route is a great ride, but there are better places to ride. I'm lucky that I can be on a chert road within 3 miles of my house.
@ that sounds awesome. I need you to show me around that area sometime for sure. We have a ride planned for this Tuesday around Bankhead. If your on Facebook you need to join north Alabama dualsport group.
Have a xr650l, used mostly for weekend trail riding and riding Arizona mountains. Pickup broke down about a month ago. Converted xr650l back to stock gearing, added a tusk windshield and ride it 70 miles to work and back. Works great. Thinking of trying it on a 700 mile trip to ft.worth.
It's true , in Portugal you see a lot of tenere , Atwins , GS, and big ADV bikes that people buy to ride trails and realize they are worthless. Keep the good advices and ride safe , congrats on the channel and keep the 225 ! Best bike I have too :)
Man, everything you said is spot on. I got a 22'KLR and tried going offroad and dropped it on rocks. Tried it with offroad tires and dropped it. Got a DR and that thing is a mountain goat. I still dropped it but that's on me ...
Reminds me of the saying “there is no replacement for displacement” when talking about cars. In the bike world, if you’re talking about riding off road, there is no replacement for lighter weight. That’s why I think tw200’s are so popular, great traction, low seat, and light.
Totally agree. I was looking at the 'adventure bikes' but they were all so heavy. In the end I went for a little farm bike. It will do the open road speed limit here with the road gearing on it, and so much lighter and lower. I'm not as young as I used to be with that many dodgy bits, partly paralysed left leg probably the main one.
Pol Torres is a huge person. Looks to be about 6'7. He can throw around the T7 like its your XT. He easily flat foots the bike and can pick up the front end with np, basically manhandles the bike. People definitely should not compare their experiences to his.
Very nice video, and I whole heartedly agree. Unless you're going on long trips on the open road, dualsports are much better for around town, and off road trails than adventure bikes. I've seen the video of the guy taking a Goldwing off road and it proves it's possible, but its like using an adjustable wrench as a hammer. It's just not the right tool for the job.
I want to travel and do BDRs. I plan to use Highway as little as possible to get me to where I need to get to as fast as possible. Then I want a off-road capable bike. I require comfort on the pavement to get to the dirt so that narrows my search down. I'm currently looking at things (like most) like the KTM 790 Adventure, HONDA Transalp and Vstrom 800DE...but now I'm also considering the CFmoto 800mt-x. The CFmoto is in the lead but it's heavy. Edit - I'm 5'7" and weigh 150lbs. 30" inseam
Had a Klr and had visions of grandeur. Grew up riding dirt bikes and thought it couldn’t be that bad off road. It was decent but so heavy. Ended up with a Drz and man, it feels like a mountain bike in comparison! Didn’t have a ton of money in the Klr so it was all good.
Probably not a very big difference other than no lights or blinkers to break if you drop it. A klx140 with the full size wheels would be 60-70 pounds lighter so that’s the biggest difference I can think of while still being full size bike.
THIS is the video every new and old adv rider should watch.
@@wvadv thanks!!! I appreciate it
I'm kind of embarrassed to say, I bought CRF300 rally and I didn't even know what single track was. I never had a dirtbike as a kid. I just thought I'd be taking unpaved roads to do photography and I wanted an easy bike so I wouldn't get left behind if I ever went on a group ride. I practiced in the yard and then came the craving. With less than 150 miles on the bike I went to the local ORV park. I just picked the green one and ended up doing 2 hours of entry level single track that day. Now I have just under 1000 miles and I'm doing the expert level single track. I am so glad I didn't buy a 790/Transalp/T7 because I never would have tried the things I'm doing now. My motorcycle taught me about myself as much as it taught me skills.
That’s awesome!!! And I didn’t elaborate on it to much in the video but area plays a big part as well. The club I ride at has been around for 30+ years and there isn’t really any “easier” single track so for people that have access to place that do a bigger bike might still be ok, but reguardless it sounds like you made a good bike choice!!!
@@DirtRider22a I really feel like I made the right choice.
Knowing how weather conditions will affect your riding area is another factor to consider. I usually go to the Crosstimbers ORV park in Oklahoma. The videos online make it look fairly easy but after weeks with no rain the easiest track becomes 7 miles of powdered sugar. It would be brutal on a heavier adv bike no matter the tire. The harder tracks are the opposite. The rooted up dirt hills, rock climbs, and muddy valleys become easier in a drought.
Now try a ten thousand mile self supported trip with no hotels. 90% off pavement. Then tell tell me you don't want a larger bike.
@@seanhewitt2521 if your going to be doing trips like that of course, as I mentioned in the video
@@seanhewitt2521 I have dogs, an orchard, and a butterfly sanctuary to take care of so I'm never going to leave my home for more than 3 days at a time. Even if I lost everything I wouldn't spend my time riding around because I don't have nomadic fantasies. I would strap my MS261C to my back, ride into the woods, build a log cabin, and get another dog. Different bikes for different folks.
I agree with you on this. I wanted a T7 but stayed with the 690 due to size.
BTY, I kept thinking the road looked like Ore Rd, then I saw my white truck setting with my buddy’s red truck at Log Truck 😂
We were working on single track that day.
Local viewer 🤘🏼 I saw your Facebook post about the trail work you guys did, thanks for that!!!
I think you're right. I thought I wanted a T7. It finally hit me that it is way more capable than I am. I finally traded around and got a DRZ 400S with all of the good modifications. I have fallen in love with the dual sport motorcycle. They are so easy to maneuver and take a beating. I still want a nice parrallel twin powered highway capable motorcycle that you can take off pavement. I might buy a Honda Transalp, but these new 400-450 cc bikes may be the ticket. A new Himalayan 450 or 390 Adventure R are lighter.
@@GLHS592 I’m excited about the new 390
@@DirtRider22a Me too. It looks like a great bike. I am definitely going to ride one. Have you ever ridden the TN Dirt Devil? I live right in the middle of it. You should make a trip up here one day.
@@GLHS592 I have the gpx track for it but have never been
@@DirtRider22a The "official" route is a great ride, but there are better places to ride. I'm lucky that I can be on a chert road within 3 miles of my house.
@ that sounds awesome. I need you to show me around that area sometime for sure. We have a ride planned for this Tuesday around Bankhead. If your on Facebook you need to join north Alabama dualsport group.
Have a xr650l, used mostly for weekend trail riding and riding Arizona mountains. Pickup broke down about a month ago. Converted xr650l back to stock gearing, added a tusk windshield and ride it 70 miles to work and back. Works great. Thinking of trying it on a 700 mile trip to ft.worth.
It's true , in Portugal you see a lot of tenere , Atwins , GS, and big ADV bikes that people buy to ride trails and realize they are worthless. Keep the good advices and ride safe , congrats on the channel and keep the 225 ! Best bike I have too :)
Very true!
Man, everything you said is spot on. I got a 22'KLR and tried going offroad and dropped it on rocks. Tried it with offroad tires and dropped it. Got a DR and that thing is a mountain goat. I still dropped it but that's on me ...
Reminds me of the saying “there is no replacement for displacement” when talking about cars. In the bike world, if you’re talking about riding off road, there is no replacement for lighter weight. That’s why I think tw200’s are so popular, great traction, low seat, and light.
Totally agree. I was looking at the 'adventure bikes' but they were all so heavy. In the end I went for a little farm bike. It will do the open road speed limit here with the road gearing on it, and so much lighter and lower. I'm not as young as I used to be with that many dodgy bits, partly paralysed left leg probably the main one.
Pol Torres is a huge person. Looks to be about 6'7. He can throw around the T7 like its your XT. He easily flat foots the bike and can pick up the front end with np, basically manhandles the bike. People definitely should not compare their experiences to his.
Very nice video, and I whole heartedly agree. Unless you're going on long trips on the open road, dualsports are much better for around town, and off road trails than adventure bikes. I've seen the video of the guy taking a Goldwing off road and it proves it's possible, but its like using an adjustable wrench as a hammer. It's just not the right tool for the job.
Well said!
I want to travel and do BDRs. I plan to use Highway as little as possible to get me to where I need to get to as fast as possible. Then I want a off-road capable bike.
I require comfort on the pavement to get to the dirt so that narrows my search down.
I'm currently looking at things (like most) like the KTM 790 Adventure, HONDA Transalp and Vstrom 800DE...but now I'm also considering the CFmoto 800mt-x. The CFmoto is in the lead but it's heavy.
Edit - I'm 5'7" and weigh 150lbs. 30" inseam
I like the new cfmoto 450. That could be a good option if you plan to stay off the interstates
Had a Klr and had visions of grandeur. Grew up riding dirt bikes and thought it couldn’t be that bad off road. It was decent but so heavy. Ended up with a Drz and man, it feels like a mountain bike in comparison! Didn’t have a ton of money in the Klr so it was all good.
I have a crf300L and ride it literally everywhere!
You need two bikes. Or more!
The more the better 😂
Do you think a ttr230 would be a big difference for easy to moderate trails at off-road parks vs an xt250?
Probably not a very big difference other than no lights or blinkers to break if you drop it. A klx140 with the full size wheels would be 60-70 pounds lighter so that’s the biggest difference I can think of while still being full size bike.
Thanks!