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Dual Sport Motorcycles

Does anyone else out there enjoy riding on AND off road? I have had many different motorcycles
up to about 40 years old. I then concentrated on building my company, now at 64 I finally got
back into riding, and decided on a dual sport, since I like both dirt and street. I'm already
looking at what I will get after this one. I'm still getting back my skills.
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Nitedoc · 51-55, M
I grew up on those. We called them enduro's. They're fantastic!
DogMan · 61-69, M
@Nitedoc Yeah, we called them enduros too back in the day. Now the enduros are not
street legal. I had a few RMX250 Husky 510 KDX220. All great bikes, but I like light
street riding. Going to the store and such.
My back bag will easily fit a 6 pack of beer. ☺️
Nitedoc · 51-55, M
@DogMan I had a Suzuki 125 and then Suzuki 250. Some great memories on those bikes. You could ride to the woods or trails on the streets instead of having to haul them on a trailer. It was great.
DogMan · 61-69, M
@Nitedoc My first bike was the Honda Trail 70... 1972 I think. I would love to get a restored
one, but they sell for over 5k. I had a friend that had a Hodaka I think it was called a Wombat
or maybe super Rat, That was a ton of fun, really easy to ride.
Nitedoc · 51-55, M
@DogMan My first one was a well used Honda 90. I don't remember the model but it was the one with a grey gas tank that had rubber knee pads on the side of the tank. It didn't take me long to find out why!
Nitedoc · 51-55, M
I remember the Hadaka's. They were excellent dirt bikes. The 100 had a red frame and was called the Wombat and the 125 the Super The Super rat , 125, had a black frame. And of course the fully chrome plated gas tank.
DogMan · 61-69, M
@Nitedoc LOL, yep. Kinda like the old Bultaco's. or was the Bultaco a Hodaka?
DogMan · 61-69, M
@Nitedoc Yeah I remember those. they were more of a real bike than
the trail 70.
Nitedoc · 51-55, M
@DogMan They were quick handling bikes and good hill climbers too. I may have gotten the names backwards on the Hodaka's but remember then both.
DogMan · 61-69, M
@Nitedoc Growing up on those old bikes made us better riders. My first long travel
off road bike was a KDX175 I was shocked at what I could hit, and roll over. Stuff that
would have taken me down on my old bikes.
Nitedoc · 51-55, M
@DogMan Oh yes, they had to be made about as tough as nails. My dad was one who could make and fix just about anything within reason. He kept his little Lincoln welder under a big covered concrete slab. I would come home a lot of times with some things like crash bars and such knocked off and he'd just weld those parts back on again. I think kids grew up tougher back then too. I never even broke a bone in a motorcycle wreck.
DogMan · 61-69, M
@Nitedoc I wish I could say that I never broke a bone. When I was a kid I broke a tooth on my
handle bars. I got a full face helmet after that. My broken bones came after I was grown up
and in the military, I rode as much, and as hard as I could. My accidents were never when I
was riding hard, they always happened when I was screwing around, or not paying attention.
Nitedoc · 51-55, M
@DogMan I rode on the dirt mostly and had plenty of tumbles. Guess I was just real lucky. Knock on wood. I have been looking for a great deal on an enduro lately. I love that feeling of being one with the machine.
DogMan · 61-69, M
@Nitedoc You should do it Doc. We are not getting any younger. I'm 64, so its never
too late. And yes, I know the feeling you are talking about. Those that have never rode
do not understand it. It has given me that same feeling as when I was a kid.

There are tons of great bikes out there, The XT250 is great for now, but I may
upgrade someday. I drool over the Tenere 700, but I have short legs. Which
didn't matter when I was young, hell, I had a Husky 510 with a 38 1/2" seat height.
I had to slide off to one side when I stopped. Had to be on the kickstand and
stand on both pegs when I kick started it. LOL
DogMan · 61-69, M
@Nitedoc Hey Doc, I just bought another bike. New it was only 4,500.00
It's a Royal Enfield Himalayan. It's a heavy bike but has a low COG. I took it
offroad yesterday and it did surprisingly well. I'm selling my XT250, great
bike, but I will not ride it enough to keep it.
Nitedoc · 51-55, M
@DogMan Wow! That looks great ! It's so clean too.
DogMan · 61-69, M
@Nitedoc Not anymore. I took it offroad this weekend for the first time☺️
I have 150 miles on it so far.