Hello all
I’m in a position where I can buy a bike again, as the kids are getting a little older and I miss riding. I’m 45 and fairly experienced both on and off-road, but I’m not looking to do anything crazy. My riding will be mostly local…back roads and gravel and/or dirt forest and game land type riding. I’m not looking to go crazy fast and I’m not looking to do any difficult or technical trail riding/hill climbing/etc.
My top choices are a Honda CRF300L or possibly the Rally model, as it has a factory windshield, though I could add one to the standard model. Alternatively I’m also looking at the Kawasaki KLX 230 and 300 models…I like the 230 DF and Sherpa, as they have some nice additions that aren’t a lot over the base bike…I also like their muted color schemes better than most of the other dual sports.
Another thing I like about the 230 over the 300’s is that it’s air cooled…which I realize most people would probably disagree, but I kind of like the simplicity and lack of concern about debilitating damage if I would crash off road. Side note I’ll be riding by myself…not ideal but that’s what happens when you age and none of your friends ride. Not that I couldn’t destroy and air cooled bike by crashing…but I think not have a radiator is a plus, for the riding I’ll be doing…but I also know a lot of people really love the 300 size, extra power and slightly better on road performance.
For reference I’ve owned two Yamaha XT250’s, a BMW F650GS and a Triumph Tiger 900…I only took that one on a dirt/gravel road like twice it was too heavy and a little too tall for me to be comfortable. The 650 was older and a little beat up but it also had a bunch of Touratech guards on it so I never worried too much about damaging it. That thing was slow on the road but fun to ride…like a tractor sort of, but it was also kind of heavy. I’ve considered a KLR 650…one of the newer fuel injection models, but I don’t know if I’d be gaining much over the lighter dirt bike style 230/300 dual sports I mentioned.
I’m 5’9” for reference and I have a roughly 32” inseam, maybe slightly less…usually wear 30 length pants but 32 in some brands…I’m about 195lbs right now but working on my diet and exercise so hoping that comes down a little. I’ve sat on a CRF300L, Rally and KLX230 before…they’re all fine for me…I cant recall sitting on a KLX300 or KLR650, but I’ve tried a VStrom650 before and was fine on that too, in case that helps.
TL,DR: Need help choosing between a smaller displacement Kawasaki KLX230 type dual sport or something larger like a Kawasaki KLX300 or Honda CRF300L. Also considering even larger like a Kawasaki KLR650. Thanks!