More Cycles

This is the Yamaha YZ 250. This beast of a dirtbike can allegedly (alleged by me) whoop almost ANY vehicle in existence in a 50 meter race. With a 250 cubic centimeter engine, obviously it doesn't have much to dish out in the long run, but man can that 2 stroke, gas guzzling engine kick up some dirt in the lower end. I mean dang! It's got a 0 - 40 in like 0.00 flat!! Of course I'm over exaggerating, but not by far. If you're looking for a motocrosser and it fits you, this is the baby to get. Although I use it to hit the trails, I would suggest going for a more fuel efficient 4-stroke if you're just wanting an afternoon of off-road adventure.

I was going to recommend the XR250R for a simple off-roading machine, but this beaut caught my eye on Honda's Off-Road page. The XR400R is only $600 more and 17 pounds heavier than its 250 counterpart, with a substantial displacement difference. That extra 150 cubes could be the difference needed for more spirited trail taming. The only thing that worries me is the poundage. Even though 17 pounds doesn't seem like that much, it might cause you an unwanted spill amidst your fun. I leave it to you.

So you want something you can do on street and dirt? Here's the answer. 651cc, single cyclinder, liquid cooled dual sport. Honda makes one similar to this, but for some reason the KLR hit it off better. Maybe because of its more contemporary styling. Anyhow, if you're in the mood for a dual sport, this is in your league. There's only one problem: the KLR doesn't perform incredibly on either the street or the dirt. Its single cylinder may bore you after a few thousand on the street, and its enormous weight restrict it from anything other than the most timid trails off of the street. However, this moderately capable bike may still appeal to you, and if it does, go with it. Here's something ironic: The much larger and street legal KLR costs almost $1,000 LESS than the YZ 250. Crazy, huh?