[Closed] thinking of packing in cycling and taking up motorcycling.

Go KTM, The EXC models are spot on for enduro and trail us. they come road ready too.

www.ktmforum.co.uk

Do you want to go roaring around or pootling? Trail riders fellowship will be able to help with legal green laning.

For pootling
suzi van van

[img] [/img]

Enfield trials

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BMW do some decent trail bikes as well

Prepare to be knackered like never before. Riding a dirt bike is physicaly very demanding way harder than MTBing IMO.

You are a big lad so maybe a 400/450 4 stroke. Yamahas are pretty bulletproof. Loads about, check out http://www.enduronews.com/ or pick up a copy of TBM magazine. Beware the editor one Si Melber is a very aquired taste 😉

TJ really what BMW would you call a decent trail bike?

Ton - why are jacking in mountain biking?

Ton give this a go to se if you like

http://www.yamaha-offroad-experience.co.uk/

Pigface - Member
Prepare to be knackered like never before. Riding a dirt bike is physicaly very demanding way harder than MTBing IMO.

Pigface - a GS 800?
[img] [/img]

Or maybe a 650. [img] [/img]

Trail bike not enduro

Ton. It's great fun if you have good access . Don't know all the details of your health, but offroad can be very physical if you go away from greenlane stuff. Good luck with finding something. Saw some lads out on Enduro bikes last weekend and it had me dreaming about getting a crosser again.

Pigface - Member
Prepare to be knackered like never before. Riding a dirt bike is physicaly very demanding way harder than MTBing IMO.

Well good luck with that TJ 😆

Grew up on the Isle of Man and can advise that motorcycling is very bad for your health

Bloody good fun and the fastest thing on the road but utterly crazy

I've stuck to Mountain Bikes to allow me to survive 😀

Defiantly try an off rode day like mentioned above. I had to give up greenlaning after I broke my wrist doing it and I could never seem to hold on after that.I would recommend a 250 four stroke for the beginner as the 400/450 have got alot of poke and can be intimidating to learn on.

Completely the opposite way around, my mate in work gave up motorcycling and took up cycling. Although he really enjoys the cycling, he does miss his motorbike and talks about it quite a bit.

I'm into both motorcycling albeit on a road bike and cycling and I would say that neither could really replace each other as they both provide different types of fun.

I've gone the other way I have 3 motorbikes I haven't really touched foe about 4 years.

Off road, as long as you haven,t got too far to go to the mud, I loved my Serow. If you have to commute to mud, Suzuki DR 350, it was too tall for me really off road but great fun..............

Before you go spending mad, I'd do some local research on rights of way/local clubs/facilities, I gave up trail riding (and TRF) quite a while ago as so many local lanes got closed down/reclassified that there just aren't enough local places to ride to make it worthwhile. I ended up doing holidays abroad (Greece, Crete, Spain etc as they are less restrictive). Try the TRF website and maybe attend a local meet. http://www.trf.org.uk/, see also the TBM magazine which is in some shops for ads etc. http://www.trailbikemag.com/

Offroad motorbiking (IMHO) can be more physically demanding than mtb (esp in deep mud and dragging) but to be fair some of the best fun I ever had was trail riding.

There are a few places that you can hire an MX at a track, well worth it and it will give you a feel for it. (Yamaha and Honda used to run sessions) http://www.yamaha-offroad-experience.co.uk/ as above

Re bike, if you only want offroad/trail riding enduro bike probably better, if you want do some road as well then trail may be better.

The xr honda range is bombproof and common as muck (but does the job), if you do buy an enduro (as opposed to trail) bike then check things like front/rear brake lights, horn, numberplate light, speedo etc for full legality as some plod and mot inspectors can be over zealous.

I'm a bit out of date but as a trailie DR350 (probably hard to get a good one now) used to suit larger lads, who did real offroad, the lighter the better is a reasonable rule and fit wrapround handguards (bike spares are expensive..)

Overall it's definitely one of the best parts of my life, so so so many fabulous memories, a fantastic way to get out and about, sadly now no longer in favour....good luck

amplebrew - Member
I'm into both motorcycling albeit on a road bike and cycling and I would say that neither could really replace each other as they both provide different types of fun.

This. I love motorbikes, MTBing, and road cycling. All different, all great. Really can't imagine giving any of them up while I'm physically able to do it.

For a minimum cost toe in the water with no need to get a road licence I suggest you have a go at trials riding. Don't know where you are but there's bound to be a few events fairly close. Beware though it can be addictive.

Tony if you go for it give these a call http://www.2wheelskool.co.uk/

Really good instruction and banter six of us from work did ours there all passed first time , cheapest around too 😉

Prepare to be knackered like never before

This. I used to be unable to walk properly for days after a 3 stage trial.

I gave up offroading for doing it under my own steam. Pity you are so far up north 'cos I have a KLX250 enduro I need to shift.

I used to race that against at these big bangers, and all you get in a 450/600 is a too much wheelspin and a bike you cant pick up anymore when you get knackered and fall off yet again.

Done some amazing long distance trials over the black mountains etc. Join a local club and check out the 3 stage trial/long distance trial 'scene'. And do the yam or KTM or BMW experiences first!

Iv had a couple of KTM200EXC,s very light nimble and easy to ride, they can go when you want them to and dont have the expense of a 4 stroke when things go wrong.

I'd avoid a VanVan at your (ahhem) 'statture'? You'd have to push up hills!

TTR250 seems a good beginners choice ..relatively inexpensive , very forgiving and manageable both on and off rd. cheap to service and simple to fix ....that's why I've got one! ( tried a 650 honda on my 1st attempt off road and ..well found it quite a handful to say the least both weight and power wise.) I reckon you'd enjoy TRF runs Ton ..they do plenty of novice stuff . As mentioned though check nearby availability of legal routes by contacting a local TRF member. We're lucky in Devon and have quite a network of green lanes which are still legal.

BMW do some decent trail bikes as well - Lol.

Tony give me a bell, Ill take you to Tong and you can try my Honda CRF250X or yamaha WRF290 on the fire roads to get started.
trail riding can be hard work , but my friend jo has just got her first trail bike - a Honda CRM 250, and its mint, i'd recommend a Yamaha WR 250 to start you'll dwarf it but it is one of the best most reliable bikes on the market and you can get them cheap enough.

TRF are ok, but there are some beginner schools and practice days at places like Tong, or that Cowm quarry just down the road from Lee Quarry.
However, when trail riding this will happen to you, as it has to me and everyone I know;

http://moto.mpora.com/news/funniest-video-hit-net-longtime.html

what do you weigh again,Ton?

Enduro bikes are great if you have the places to take them like mid Wales. Otherwise you could get frustrated and just chew up footpaths.

I'd second the suggestion to look at a trials bike.

Definitely have a go at an offroad experience day to see if you like it - a lot of people just dont get on with motorbikes, throw mud and roots into it and they really dont get it, even with a MTB background.

If you're going to get an enduro type bike for doing enduros on as opposed to a trail bike style (looking) bike then factor in the following to make life a hell of a lot easier:-
Van
Jetwash and water supply (big barrel - hence van)
Cleaning your bike where you rode is easier than dumping 40kg of crap on your drive every weekend when you get home.
Advantage is.... you dont need a licence/insurance/tax etc, just rock up, pay your money and blat round all day at a practise venue or at an event. Very chilled out atmosphere, help if you come a cropper, just make your own way round while the fast boys give you plenty of space.

The downside....With you mentioning not being able to cycle, it is very demanding as has been mentioned above, esp enduro more so than MX. I raced motocross for a brave while and rode about sometimes 3 times a week incl racing about 30 weekends out of the year. The conditioning you get from regular riding makes it easier. After a 5 year break i came back and got a 200 Gas Gas enduro... and was out of condition in my first 3 hr event. Constantly up and down out the saddle was a killer on the quads. Felt it for about 4 days. You need to get out a lot to make the most of it, to get better and to make it easier. Depending on where you live that could be a 12 hr day of travelling, riding, cleaning up so is a lot more time consuming than the MTB.

I also have had more injuries from MX and enduro than a lifetime of pushbikes...but i am very average. It is bloody great though. Green laning may give you the offroad buzz, but places near you may be few and far between (and becoming less and less).

Good luck and definitely try an offroad day.

thanks for all the replies fella's.
i did not realise that riding a enduro bike would have been so physically demanding, but after talking to a old mate today, who used to do it, i have now decided it will be a no goer.
i cant even manage a hour on the mtb at present, so trying to control a huge lump of motorbike will be nigh on impossible.

thanks again.

Why must it be off road?

Exploring the countryside B roads on a Harley not appeal?

ton - as I suggested early on in this thread, have you considered a road motorbike? There are lots of lovely wee roads to be explored.

Tony
it'd not that bad, and certainly not a strain on the heart compared to mountain biking,
riding green lanes and trails isnt that bad its only when you race that it gets tough.
Ive seen people like Cannon ride enduro bikes around the moors of north yorkshire with not worries

you could always get a trail bike and and do quite country roads and find some easier going green lanes to get off road a bit, I did some bimbling on a serow (small 225cc trail bike, very effective off road though) and really enjoyed it, even in my area (berks and around) there are roads with grass up the middle and you can get a bus down the Ridgeway off road.

i think i am gonna book a offroad day somewhere and see how i go.
the idea of riding on the road does not appeal at all.

i am so frustrated at not being able to ride i could ****ing scream
i deffo need a release

laning is great defo do a direct access course its a great course. i did alot of mx and laning then road bikes still came back to mountain bikes again though. i love the feeling of jumps on mtbs theres never any freewheeling with mx its either gas or brake thats it - gets pretty knackering

I wouldnt bother with an off road school just yet

Ton.

Not trying to put you off but riding a motorbike off road on any kind of interesting trails is far more physicaly demanding that pootling around on a mountainbike.

no it isnt.

Motor powered bikes is way better

FACT!

(but mtb is still awesome!)

Ton.

Not trying to put you off but riding a motorbike off road on any kind of interesting trails is far more physicaly demanding that pootling around on a mountainbike.

What SSStu said

I've only dabbled a few times riding a motorbike offroad, not competed like he used to, can definitely say that riding a motorbike offroad properly is extremely physically demanding, much more so than general mountain biking. It shocked me to be quite honest, as I'd been mountain biking and had a motorbike on road for many years when I first had a go offroad on a motorbike properly, but take my word for it, only the fit and the strong need apply!

Now this may sound the absolute antithesis of what most people on here are into, but have you tried Golf? Being serious, you'd be amazed how much exercise you get on average round of Golf (you'll walk 4 or 5 miles easily) but it's relatively relaxed exercise, but cos you're always concentrating on the ball and where you've hit it, you don't notice how much you've done til you get back in the car afterwards and you're pooped!

Ton,

I'd echo what Sancho has said. Whilst some forms of off road motorbiking are indeed very strenous and physically demanding, it doesn't have to be.

I'd strongly suggest taking Sancho up on his offer to let you have a ride on one of his bikes. Don't discount it until you've at least had a go!

Cheers
Ben

I would echo what a few others have said and give trials a go.

http://www.horsforthtrials.co.uk/

Sancho - Member

no it isnt.

Sounds to me like you don't ride anything interesting. 😆

Go and ride a few British/European/Word championships and you might change your mind. 😉

Sancho - Member

no it isnt.

I did an enduro about 10 years ago (the off-road motorbike version) physically the hardest thing I've ever done

Proper enduro riding [b]will [/b]wreck you, but that's at the far end of the spectrum. Plenty of fun to be had on tamer trails/green lanes if you go at a steady pace. A big trailie style bike like the Honda Africa Twin would suit a big lump like you perfectly (no offence like). Half decent both on* and off-road.

*not really, but you'll hardly be scratchin' 😀

Oh here we go, because I try to explain to Tony that riding a dirt bike on some easy trails isnt going to be as demanding as riding a mountain bike which it isnt, then you make a **** assumption that I cant ride a dirt bike on any difficult trails.
Ive been racing Clubman enduro for the last fifteen years across the UK and Europe.

Stu get back in your box and keep your stupid mouth shut.
Im trying to give Tony some advice and have offered some support.
Try being a bit constructive rather than ****ing off behind your keyboard.

See this bloke riding up a rocky climb - how hard is it to do this? Looks great fun tbh - is that something you could do after 6 months riding or is it way beyond that?

(Think Alan Partridge is spectating - Dan! Dan!)

how hard is it to do this?

VERY.... very very very.

Stu's just tossing his knob cos he's got a couple of ISDE medals and wants everyone to know how tough he is. 😉

Truth is, it's like mountainbiking- the guys that ride the Great Divide, puffer et al could spout on here about how tough mountain biking is, but really, that's just the extreme.

Get yourself a trailie, scout out some maps, join a club and have a Sunday bimble. I imagine all you want to do is get out there in the hills, see some scenery and yak with mates. Not too demanding on you, just stick to the easier stuff.
Steer clear of heavier bikes- odds are you're going to either have to pick the bike up one day, or else try and manhandle it somewhere you can't ride, but otherwise just have a go and see what you think- as usual the doom mongers are full of shit.

Ton

It's like everything else, offroading can be as hard or easy as you want it to be. I would regard myself as pretty unfit and can state quite categorically that there are trails I could take very easily on an enduro bike that would have me puffing like a billy goat on the mtb. With your condition (and probable mindset) it will be very difficult for you not to get carried away but as long as you keep yourself in check it would be no problem to plant your bum on the seat and take it easy.

I think your main issue might be finding enough access in your area to keep you interested but it is much easier to link what is available with an engine!

Oooo someones a little uptight today. 😆

you make a **** assumption that I cant ride a dirt bike on any difficult trails.

Ive been racing Clubman enduro

So I was right then.

LOLZ @ vinnyeh.

Bronze, silver and gold as it goes. 😉

Lol at the Partridge soundtrack 😆

This thread isnt about you, you dick, its about Tony and his interest in trying some off road motorbiking.

No-one cares about your abilities.

Try putting something forward and practical to the OP

Now now now.

No need for insults. 😆

Go **** yourself

😆

Most enlightening.

Uh oh - degenerating into willy waving and insults.

Like MTBing offraod motorcycling is a huge range. Get a pootling about bike and pootle about on easy trails then its not that hard work. Race or try to ride tricky terrain at race pace it is.

It depends what Ton wants to do. I assumed it would be about getting out into the countryside - so easy green lanes pootle. I didn't think he wanted to race enduro. So soft small and especially LOW bike makes it all easier

So soft small and especially LOW bike makes it all easier

Have you seen the size of Tony? No offence like Ton. 🙂

That isn't going to work very well.

comparativly so SSWT perhaps. Meaning no need for a ten foot tall 60 bhp enduro bike

Meaning no need for a ten foot tall 60 bhp enduro bike

That'd make a crap enduro bike for anyone.Even Knighter. 😉

TJ's right.

Racing enduro (or MX - I did three years and was utterly shattered in all the time I was doing it) is astonishingly hard work, and costs a load. You've got the bike, the repairs, the travel, the need for a pressure washer/trailer/van etc. I spent £10k in 3 years and was scratching around in the bottom third of the field a lot of the time.

Green laning, on the other hand, requires nothing more than a low-powered road-legal bike (TTR 250 a good and cheap call) and an ability to smile when you crash, which you will. Only really works if you have good riding nearby, otherwise you'll spend hours riding to your start point.

Stu
if you cant be constructive on this, try not saying anything.

Get down from your smug little world and engage with the OP, and other people trying to be practical for the post.

I'm quite interested in this, having health problems which limit my mountain biking pretty severely a lot of the time. I can see racing Enduros etc being really hard, but I've seen quite a few motorbikes on trails in the Lakes when out mountain biking - can't see how it's that strenuous in comparison on similar trails.

Of course those trails would never be interesting enough for some of the heroes on here (:swoon:), but might well be what Ton would like to do.

I've noticed though that a lot of them are quite slow on descents (even I often overtake them), are they just beginners, or are the bikes not as manouverable due to extra weight or something?

Sorry I didn't realise you were a moderator.

😆
I'm sure Ton could work out where to ask if he wanted any real advice.

As far as I can see, he is getting advice Stu but he isn't about to go racing,leave mud plumes in his wake or try to be the next Lampkin - he just wants to get out there and enjoy the countryside on two wheels.

If you, with your vast experience and knowledge, could recommend a bike that would suit him, that would be really useful.

If you, with your vast experience and knowledge, could recommend a bike that would suit him,

I'd recommend that he goes on the TRF forum or similar and asks people of similar build.
I'd also recommend trying to find the local offroad clubs and talking to people face to face.
They're generaly quite a friendly bunch.

I think it might help if Tony were to be a bit more specific about what he wanted to do on the bike.

I think Tony has given up on the idea judging by his reply on page 1.

It's a shame as I would have thought there are loads of offroad routes he could do in his area, which with the right bike would be a lot less strain than an hour on an mtb, especially if you consider his other option was an electric bike.

Maybe the best way would be if someone could offer a ride on private land to test the water? There is an offroad day training down his way for £160 all-in but I can't remember the name of the company........
<runs off to Google>

Woody, that is what I have been trying to offer Tony from the start, a session at Tong to try it out.

Having done a bunch of enduros, hare & hounds and green laning, I'd say that off road is physical but in an utterly different way to mountain biking. Mountain biking is a lot about drive and a little about chucking the bike around. Off-road motorcycling is about standing up, moving your weight about and muscling heavy bars about.

Yes, it's hard work to chuck the bike around on an enduro course and I've seen 186 on a heart rate monitor in the first lap of an enduro, but it was before I learned to ride properly and a bit of skill saves a lot of effort. My first hare and hounds was then the most strenuous thing I'd ever done - I was battered - but this was due to sitting on the seat all the way round and standing a heavy DRZ400S back on its wheels a thousand times. Watch really good riders and they seem to float over the scenery, skipping over the whoops, flicking round berms and generally conserving energy.

The DRZ was my first bike and weighed 130kg or more and I suffered with it for a year until I got a 200cc two stroke KTM. For you, I'd suggest something light, but not the lightest - the newest KTM 250 EXC-F four strokes are a few (as in 2 or 3) kilos more than the two strokes, at around 105kg but include electric start. On a two stroke, when you wrestle the bike back upright, you have to kick the crap out of it to start it up. Electric start saves you this effort but you still get a kicker if you drain the battery.

Get tuition as this will teach you to stand, put your weight forward, use the throttle selectively and drive the bike round berms and flat corners in the correct way. It will save a ton of effort if you learn this before doing any enduros. And do hare and hounds (group start, as many laps as possible in a time limit) as a taster before you try time-carded enduros (individual starts, arriving at checkpoints exactly on time, ie not late and also not early, which tighten up as the race progresses).

But I like your idea of doing an off-road school on their bikes and in their kit as a taster, first. Google the Yamaha Off Road School (Wales or the South East), Wheeldon Farm off road school in Devon (indoors as well as out - good in winter/crap weather) or Ady Smith's KTM off road school in the Midlands (Rugeley, I think).

Good luck and have fun.

Ian

Sancho - missed that post of yours 😳

Sounds ideal - can I come and play too 😉

Well if I can get hold of Tony I was going to suggest a session at Tong, of easy fire roads and stuff to get used to riding and have a laugh.
My friend has just got herself a CRM 250 and is starting to love it.
I'll bring the Rally bike too so we can get a bike that fits tony too.

a quick thanks for all the advice everyone, it has all been taken onboard.

Ed, thanks for the offer of a try out mate, greatly appreciated, and i will be intouch.

also, a mate who has ridden for 30 yrs or so reckons a wr250 would be a ideal 1st bike for me to start with, to do some green lane and forest track riding.

If I still had an offroader (sold the 660 Tenere in May) I'd be there like a shot. Size wise the Yamaha might have been ok for Tony but a bit too heavy for traily stuff.

Wish I hadn't sold it now 😥
[img] [/img]

Well I am sure singlespeedstu knows a bloke called Brian Eland, an enormous human being, well big Bri is very quick and I have seen him abuse some some tiny bikes. I must know Singlespeedstu I think.

Ton I was going to suggest getting into BMW GS's loads of people take them to all corners of the world and you can spend a fortune on them with shiny bits 😆 Check out this site http://ukgser.com/home/

Gary Lager believe me very very difficult but Esselgrunt has ridden the Scot so best ask him.

Sorry to resurrect this one but hey ho...
Ton, I bought this (Montesa 315) about 2 months ago:
[img] [/img]
Cost a whole £500 and apart from being a bit rattly (common with these bikes) it's well used but absolutely solid. Same money as an average hardtail.
I've litterally just go off it having had a little play in the field going over some pallets and stuff. Will probably have a go at an organiased trial next year - but I'll be pants!
Great machines for having around especially if you've got somewhere nearby to play.

Cube are bringing out an electric mtb.

There will be one at the 'Puffer.

If I was looking for a motorbike for trundling around offroad, I'd get an old British trials bike with a nice heavy flywheel, and strong enough for a big bloke.

I'd value the advice from an ISDE rider before any others.