Looking for the Unicorn of small displacement bikes

[@k1drbar]

I was looking at downsizing myself. I was looking at used dual sports, my buddy has a WR250 as well. I found that BMW was selling brand new G310GS for $4200 with warranty & roadside service! I LOVE my little GS. It can handle freeway speeds and a little off road too. Like you, I want to roll it onto a hitch mounted carrier and take it places on the back of the truck. Have fun with your decision process! I suspect there is no wrong answer.

[@familylandscapecompanyinc.7355]

@@k1drbar 💯

[@NedRochford]

Sorry, Craig, cannot help you on your early winter perusal. The video reminded me of winter time in southwest lower Michigan (South Haven) where I lived for 15 years. Chyanna and I would drive to Grand Rapids and visit Fox Powersports. They had EVERYTHING except BMW and HD. Was a good way to get our 'fix' when it was too cold, icy or snowy. Still riding here in SC! 😊 Merry Christmas to you, Cathy and your viewers. Ned in SC

[@commotoed]

66 Yo and I down sized from 1200 Suzuki's CB500X / NX500 Honda was my answer. I carry on my receiver hitch Mototote as well.

[@Doug_Morgan]

My "small" bike is a back to basics 2023 DR650. I love it and put more miles on it than my Goldwing last year. I added an aftermarket Acerbis tank for more range.

[@LTVoyager]

Similarly, my small bike is a KLR650. It is a nice adjunct to my K1200LT. I still put a lot more miles on the BMW, but the Kawasaki is my go to bike for short local rides. And no need for additional range on the KLR as it matches my BMW.

[@zacharykelly4088]

Did you check out a Triumph Speed 400? 30lbs. and several hundred dollars less than the Scrambler 400x; super easy and fun to ride; looks like a mini Speed Twin! All great stuff you’re looking at, enjoy the road!

[@psalm2forliberty577]

My best bike moving into 2025 is my beloved Suzuki 2008 V-Strom 650. Bought with 12k miles & a one owner cream puff, now in a year I'm at 27,000 so I've added 15k. Mostly stock, but have installed lowering kit (too tall for 30" leg) givi side 22l hard bags & rear trunk & new RK Chain. It's a do anything go anywhere bike - mostly pavement ridden but gravel road capable to be sure. With it's slightly larger windscreen one can tour cross country easily yet it's nimble around town for "cut & thrust" riding. I hear they're bulletproof reliable from guys I've met who've racked up 100k + miles on this model with only oil changes / air filter / tire & chain. She gets consistent 52-55 mpg. This was traded in at a Harley dealer & I bought it from a Used Dealer - Phillips ProCycle in Carbondale IL for $3600 otd. Such a capable bike for such a modest price - how can you go wrong ? You won't have the "low horsepower blues" of a small displacement bike - not the "land yacht regret" of bigger bikes either...

[@hershchat]

The V Ström is a great bike. You got lucky with that low low dealer OTD.

[@psalm2forliberty577]

@hershchat Fortunate to be sure. FYI it was Phillips Pro cycle in Carbondale IL. Honest good used bikes plenty in stock. He said "they're super common I sell 2-4 each month so they are priced to move" Their long 20+ year production run & bulletproof nature means probably a super high % are still on the road, so prices are low.

[@psalwasser]

my "bumper bike" was a used dr650 suzuki. ran that three winter seasons and thought I'd upgrade to a rotax powered aprillia and liked it. wanted more dirt chops and found a clean husky terra 650. currently using that. great suspension, can touch the ground and fast. all 3 bikes were purchased and sold for around $3500 usd. except the terra. that was 2800. the dr650 has screw type valve adjustments that can be checked in about an hour. also didnt mind that sitting out overnight. the aftermarket for the suzuki includes bore kit, pumper carb conversions and large tank and seat foam upgrades that really make a big difference in the overall ownership experience. the stock suspension doest like to take the bike fast off road, but, here's the rub. I didnt want to spend 1500 -2000 in suspension upgrades. in the southern dirt meccas, you saw a lot of suzuki 400's. cheap, better stock suspenion and good aftermarket support. I also liked the royal enfield himilayan and scrams. lot of options out there......If I were to not want to stay with my terra, I'd happily go back to a kitted dr650, I'd just have close to 5 or 6 K into it. good luck with your search and its always fun to look for, test ride and pic the next addition to the family!

[@redhorsegarage]

Nice ... Tariff Power ;-) Grasshopper ......... to squeeze the lemon one must first squeeze the trigger

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Yes master. I am not yet able to statch the peeble from your hand...

[@billpacheco790]

I bought a Tenere 700 in 2022 to use as my short trip bike. I’ve put 9000 miles on it since then riding and camping all over New England. I highly recommend it for all us old guys looking for a mid-weight, fun to ride bike.

[@thelonewolf666]

mid weight, hahahahahahaardly

[@user-cv9my1jq2r]

I have a 300 l and 411 himi but. I’d like the new 450 himi. 750 transalp or Ktm 390 adv new for this year. I also have a big ol bagger Harley. I’m really close to getting either the 450 himi or the transalp.

[@pureblood2020]

Mele Kalikimaka, Stay warm my friend.

[@papertiger795]

You strike me as a Royal Enfield Classic 350 guy. Its slow... But if youre just piddling around on backroads it should be fine. And just look at it. Stunning. Unsure about your weight requirement though...

[@thudtheace]

wait for the dr-z4s when comes out, or maybe the kawasaki mystery KLE that was teased at eicma this year.

[@DavidNewmanDr]

Have you taken a look at the new Can Am trail bikes? You could put one of them in your truck, go somewhere with interesting roads and tracks, ride it one day, charge overnight, go out again the next day - all on any kind of track, lightweight with instand acceleration and no gear shifting.

[@WAFallatah]

Honda has a unicorn model 😂 I thought you were interested in it but it's small to the giants

[@mkelley51]

Have you considered the royal Enfield 450 cc models? There’s a Himalayan and also the Guerrilla. Very good bikes.

[@brucehelppie6119]

maybe a good idea would be to just take a trip with the wr 250, scope out different areas, then decide which bike would best suit your purpose. i've never ridden a wr, but i gather that they're a banger of a little motorcycle.

[@SubTerraAlly]

My bike lust ranges from tw200 to xr650, but I keep coming back to the crf300. Very midrange dual sport and there's a rally in stock locally.

[@neonsamurai1348]

I know the Tuareg 660 is one heck of a unicorn bike in the adv class, but sounds like too expensive for what you are looking at. T100 is a nice bike, The RE Himalayan 450 is nice as well, Kawasaki Z500 or Z650, Always had a thing for the Kawasaki Z650RS/Z900RS, Honda CB650R is also really nice, KTM is also supposedly coming out with a new 390 Adventure, Suzuki V-Strom 650A, and the Yamaha MT-07 is a classic.

[@rogerthat1553]

Oh don't get me started. I remember how much fun my 211 lbs. KDX200 was back in the day. I also remember 20 years ago when Aprilia made a 550 street legal super moto that was 313 lbs and for all the rich people BMW made a 1200 shaft drive bike that weighted in at about 450 lbs called HP2. How a Honda trail 125 weighs 280 lbs. It would be nice if someone could think outside the box again. Merry Christmas

[@brianalbee2881]

Craig honda makes a Rebel 500 that maybe worth checking into

[@familylandscapecompanyinc.7355]

I've been toying with the idea of a Royal Enfield hemalayan. FOR THE BUSTERS - I currently own 3 motorcycles and have owned many dozens over the years.

[@markjacobs3956]

I love my 450 Himmy.

[@GaryWilbert-o7s]

I like you own a 2023 Tiger 1200. Hope you buy the Triumph 400X, would be curious on your thoughts about the bike

[@reg26]

I just test rode a the all new Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 tubeless model. WOW was I surprised at what a single cylinder 450 could do. Loved it and might just be a nice second bike for me. Just go try it. I think you will be surprised. Good Luck. It's so much fun to shop!

[@rwbcats66]

Try looking into a Royal Enfield. The latest and greatest is the Bear 650 or the interceptor 650. Too big classic 350

[@TomBarlitt]

Did they have a CF Moto 450MT ? It's been reviewed as a Unicorn.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Not out yet here in the States...next year!

[@CycleGeezer]

@@LivingOffTheSlab I have a friend that put down a deposit on one and still can't get an answer on when it will be here in Texas.

[@randyholcombe4234]

Versys 300

[@I_am_archie]

Ooooh, I see indians 🤠👍🏻

[@jackchristodoulou197]

Easy Triumph scrambler 400x

[@hershchat]

Naah. That one’s a dud. He needs a Classic. RE Classic.