What's The Smallest Bike You Would Street Ride?

[redkow97]

I re-geared the XR100 for PIRC this past weekend, and got a GPS-verified 48.3mph out of it.  That means it would be able to maintain 40mph in a city environment if I were to go through the hassle of getting it registered as a street-legal vehicle, etc.

 

all those hoops, the low top-speed, and general suck-i-tude of drum brakes make me think another route would be better though.

 

My dilema is this:

 

Bikes like the DRZ 250 would be PERFECT if it could legitimately hit 80mph in a pinch.  I wouldn't do long highway rides, but the option would be nice...

 

Bikes like the DRZ 400 are more expensive than I want to spend.  If i'm going to blow $4k on bike, it may as well be a used 600 or really nice SV...

 

Is there a middle-ground I'm missing?

 

Basically I want ninja 250 performance, CRF250 weight, and 1982 Yamaha Maxim 650 price.  Does such a bike exist?

[Hoblick]

no

[redkow97]

Or did I just convince myself to buy a ninja 250?

...or a ninja250 motor crammed into a dirt frame?

[redkow97]

What kind of speed does everyone think a geared DRZ 250 could possibly hit?

60?

[Tpoppa]

I wouldn't ride anything under an SV650.  65-70 hp is my minimum requirement for passing on 2 lane back roads.

 

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/mcy/3890522801.html

Edited June 25, 2013 by Tpoppa

[CBBaron]

I have been thinking of doing the same to an XR100 or similar bike. I think it would be a fun little city and play bike. But even rural highways are going to be scary on something that small.

Old Ninja 250 s are not hard to find cheap and are about the smallest cheap bike that will do 80+ mph.

Dual sports always seem to command higher prices than other similar street or off-road bikes. If you need 80+ then KLX250s, WR250R, DRZ400 or CRF250L are the smallest ready made dual sports. The DRZ is probably the easiest to find cheap as its the oldest but as noted they usually are not very cheap.

 

Craig

[redkow97]

I wouldn't be so opposed to a first-gen 250 if I could find one cheap enough, but the 16" wheels are off-putting...

 

Plus part of the idea was to have something super light to wheelie around on.

 

the ninja 250 really isn't that much lighter than a modern 600, and it certainly isn't nose-light.

 

I think DRZ250 with a big bore kit, exhaust, and some gearing might be the ticket.  That, or the same mods to an XR100, and just accept that highway use is completely out of the question.

 

Like I said, I was getting 48+ mph (so a car speedometer would be indicating 53 or so) with a bone-stock XR100 with 14/46 gearing and small moped tires (BT45's are a larger diameter, and would theoretically bump up the max speed 1mph or so).

 

But I do want to avoid building a $2,000 XR100...  I'll have to do some research on how much the street parts would actually cost.  If it's under $500 in modifications, i am confident I can find another $500 XR100 to mess with.

[Hoblick]

crf150R

i have seen them for around $1500

throw some 17s on there and have fun

[MidgetTodd]

Honda Grom

[Hoblick]

Honda Grom

yes

[CBBaron]

But I do want to avoid building a $2,000 XR100...  I'll have to do some research on how much the street parts would actually cost.  If it's under $500 in modifications, i am confident I can find another $500 XR100 to mess with.

Baja designs kits are about $500 if you want plug and play. I think that includes about everything needed, but I havn't put one together yet. You can probably do much better if you want to build your own system. 

 

Craig

[Hoblick]

Baja designs kits are about $500 if you want plug and play. I think that includes about everything needed, but I havn't put one together yet. You can probably do much better if you want to build your own system. 

 

Craig

negative, you need a stator that will runs lights.  which will be another $250+

[CBBaron]

negative, you need a stator that will runs lights.  which will be another $250+

$100 from this site.

http://doctorenduro.com/index.php?main_page=dual_sport_conversion_honda_baja_kit

 

Seems like it is $600 for the kit including stator.

 

Craig

[redkow97]

crf150R

i have seen them for around $1500

throw some 17s on there and have fun

 

I was expecting them to run more than that.  Hmmm...

 

The 17's won't be cheap, but they also aren't essential.  Bt45's come in 16" and 19", so that would work...  I bet a 150R could be geared for 80mph and run for 10 minutes or so at 65...

[Revelstoker]

Yes, a 450.

 

Or,

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/mcy/3892794911.html

http://dayton.craigslist.org/mcy/3819979593.html

http://dayton.craigslist.org/mcy/3826406443.html

[jschaf]

My baby cbr does the trick for me. I regularly embarrass Harley guys commuting through rush hour traffic on I480 & I71 by just maintaining the momentum. I don't know about "wheelieing around" although it's 23 HP powerhouse engine will loft the front wheel skyward if I brutalize it. Overtaking in the twisties on it is not for the faint of heart. I just use it for local transport mostly.

[turnone]

Basically I want ninja 250 performance, CRF250 weight, and 1982 Yamaha Maxim 650 price. Does such a bike exist?

2009 Aprilia RS125. Meets 2 of the criteria perfectly. Love mine. Maybe never sell it. Quick, great handling and light weight.

I have two RS50's. one with BBK, carb and pipe. Both fun. Kept the stock one longer.

Chris

[Medina]

dont care they're chinese with non existent customer support and nearly impossible to title. I want a kikker 5150

 

 

[Gixxus Christ!]

My dad streets my old 1972 Suzuki ts90 from when I was like 13. 90 mpg and it will do 60 mph.....down a mine shaft.

[zx3vfr]

I wouldn't ride anything under an SV650.  65-70 hp is my minimum requirement for passing on 2 lane back roads.

 

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/mcy/3890522801.html

My sister has a cbr250 and was running at 90mph on the way home from motogp last year

Also Grom

[magley64]

I'd street ride anything that will hit 55...

I already have a bike that goes faster than I have the nerve to wind it... so I'm not so concerned about top speed, then again, these country roads are a little different than what most of you are used to.

[8Rider6]

Smallest bike in the city with a 45mph speed limit at max, probably a 125cc dirt bike. On a Freeway, probably a 500 like the Suzuki GS500, or the new Honda CB500F and CBR500 or their NC700X is the smallest I'd want.

[smccrory]

125cc is probably the smallest I'd own for in-city, and 650 for highways and byways. I bet a Honda 350 would be fun.

[myhondas]

Believe it or not, I have riden my 65 honda cub in the burbs.....49cc step thru  that will get my fat ass up to 45mph  50+ downhill

 

http://s564.photobucket.com/user/myhondas/media/c100cub/00002.jpg

Edited June 27, 2013 by myhondas

[2fat2fly]

Yamaha YSR50. I've owned 2 and would ride them anywhere there are 55mph roads. I wouldn't get on the interstate with one though,they just don't top out high enough.