[T Dubble D's]

So I've owned two TW's in my 31 years and I love this bike very much. I had a 95 "fruit loop" model and I currently own an '07 that I bought new in '08 $4k out the door. Here's my dilemma and I turn to my fellow T Dubbers for advice and opinions... I think I want/need a different bike. I was sitting around one day thinking about riding my TW offroad (never been done with my '07) when I discovered an off road park that had popped up only 30 minutes from my home. Then I realized my son is now 10 years old and he could totally get a bike and we could go riding together! I was ecstatic to be struck with this notion and opportunity so within a week I had found and we purchased an '01 XR80R for him. He took right to riding it (with a good teacher of course) and working the clutch very well was mastered in a few days. Then I bought a trailer and we were off! The off road park is "Bill's 491 offroad in Demossville ky if anyone cares btw. So anyway, over the past month of riding every Saturday all day there I realized that I may need a different bike to do the kind of riding we are doing. There are a few regular trails there that the TW shines on but there are also some decent to difficult hills with good inclines and some serious mud holes and such to trek. I got walked all over by my son the other week when it had rained hard and the park was totally mucked up nearly everywhere but the inclines. The TW's tires were slipping and sliding everywhere while he pulled away from me with minimal effort in many places that day. He also can seemingly handle stopping and starting on steep grades and such where the TW seems to despise me for it. Clutch slipping and sheer "I don't want to" is what I'm getting from the TW at times. I'm realizing quickly that perhaps the TW is being pushed into terrain better suited for more of a "dirtbike" perhaps? Of course I can't be shown up by my 10 year old son either and he knew it was happening that day, he even made a smart comment about keeping up to me!

Problem is I definitely want a dual sport! I love riding around town all week on $6 worth of gas, sticking it to the oil companies has become a passion of mine since owning the Tw and a Corolla. Plus the enjoyment of everyone oogling at the dirtbike rider on the road and the questions and comments is always fun, entertaining and outstanding. Do you guys think I need more bike or a different bike for what I want to be doing? I've fallen in love with the WR250R in the past week from what I've read and seen and there's an '06 in my home town on craigslist right now for $3k with LOW mileage! He says someone is VERy interested and coming to check it out on Sunday. I would also if trying to sell quick though right? As a side question what would you guys ask if you had an '07 TW with $4k miles in very good- excellent condition? It's all original with a couple upgrades like a $100 rear rack, D2 pegs, tusk risers and a Jimbo shield. Bike runs and sound perfect with all maintenance done by me on time and tires about 50%. I just need to know if yall think I need more bike and any opinions or suggestions on said bike.



Thanks yall!

 

[Follow]

Gee, I started a thread on my Tdub too with pretty much the same issues but with a lot of rocky terrain, they guys were real helpful with the suggestions.

I had just bought it and my second option was the WR, but I went for the Tdub since I really like how low it is. My clutch did tell me the samething, changed the sprocket out and it was much better. But why can't you have both?

who says ya can't be greedy.

oh yeah, it is tough having everyone around you doing donuts.

 

[retmotor]

Thought: Being that you really just want a dirt bike for the off-road park, pick up a used dirt bike. When my kid was looking moving from a 250 to a 400 and we were looking on craigslist, there were a lot of dirt bikes to be had for not a lot of money. I'm sure some weren't worth much, but there were a few that sounded pretty good. From the looks of some of them, junior dropped the bike the first time out, scratched the plastic and mom was mandating the sale. If you got a dirt bike just for the park, you'd get to keep the TW for everything else.

 

[T Dubble D's]

Changed the sprocket out to what size? I'm running a 47 on the rear and stock in the front. I don't have any trouble on rocky terrain though, I think that's where the TW shines honestly. I just plow over that stuff with the monster tires crawling along and over in first gear. Are you talking about trekking over huge 12 inch tall rock beds, or something like boulder crawling? Anyway you guys isn't "having both" completely defeating the whole purpose of owning a dual sport?

I feel like I could use more bike on the road as well even.

 

[Loppy]

If you're not happy, you're not happy. I get wanderlust all the damn time, probably why I've been through at least 25 bikes.



Sounds like you're riding loose stuff, mud and that added to incline = no bueno for the TW. You need some wheel spin, oomph. So, do what I did, go for it. Sell your TW and get a bigger bike. Ride hard. Have several near death experiences. Sooner or later, you'll get older, fatter and slower and come right back to the TW. They'll be around.

 

[admiral]

Sooner or later, you'll get older, fatter and slower and come right back to the TW. They'll be around.

That there is funny, but way way so true!



TDD-sounds like you need a different bike right now. Nothing wrong with that.



Every time I ride my son's KX250F, I crave the power for my TW. Then I crave my TW so my feet can touch the ground when stopped. I can't win with myself!

 

[T Dubble D's]

Guys I think I've decided to keep the old girl! Who am I kidding, I love ALMOST everything about the TW. I think the thing to do is buy a serious dirt bike as well like you all said for when I wanna get nasty. A 2 STROKE perhaps!

I honestly think I would hate myself in a very short time for getting rid of the TW, I just need to fill the small gaps in with another toy! Thanks for talking me down yall, I'd never seriously had the "wanderlust" until meeting up with some of the nasty hills and muddy stuff I encountered recently. Fact is in the end the TW did handle it, just took a little extra finessing. I think I smell a dual sprocket setup in the air to remedy some of that.

 

[PerfMoto1]

Hear, hear! I took the kids out for some trail riding. My first off-road experience with the TW. We went to our usual place that has 10-mile loops. Within the first mile, I was both pleased and very disappointed in the TW. My son immediately took off on his 85 because he has a motocross suspension. I loved the big tires in the sand between the whoops, but cursed the fact that I couldn't just throttle up and wheelie over them. If I lived a little further north, the TW would be great for fire roads. Around here, anyplace I can ride with my kids is all whooped up so the TW just doesn't work. Frankly, it feels like more work going slow on my TW than it ever did going fast on my KTM.



When I feel like riding downtown for pizza or out to the beach, the TW is a great little bike. But I also have a Ducati in the garage that wants to be ridden. So I'm in the same boat. Keep the Dub since it's an awesome little bike that does a lot of things so-so but not great (for where I live)? Sell the TW so I can buy a dirtbike that does better in whoops? Sell an organ so I can buy them all? Choices, choices...



Usually, the way I decide is to put the item-in-question up for sale for slightly more than I need to make. If it doesn't sell, that's fine. If it does, I had some fun, got (most of) my money back, and can try something new.



Good luck with your decision.



Snoop

 

[brent morley]

So I've owned two TW's in my 31 years and I love this bike very much. I had a 95 "fruit loop" model and I currently own an '07 that I bought new in '08 $4k out the door. Here's my dilemma and I turn to my fellow T Dubbers for advice and opinions... I think I want/need a different bike. I was sitting around one day thinking about riding my TW offroad (never been done with my '07) when I discovered an off road park that had popped up only 30 minutes from my home. Then I realized my son is now 10 years old and he could totally get a bike and we could go riding together! I was ecstatic to be struck with this notion and opportunity so within a week I had found and we purchased an '01 XR80R for him. He took right to riding it (with a good teacher of course) and working the clutch very well was mastered in a few days. Then I bought a trailer and we were off! The off road park is "Bill's 491 offroad in Demossville ky if anyone cares btw. So anyway, over the past month of riding every Saturday all day there I realized that I may need a different bike to do the kind of riding we are doing. There are a few regular trails there that the TW shines on but there are also some decent to difficult hills with good inclines and some serious mud holes and such to trek. I got walked all over by my son the other week when it had rained hard and the park was totally mucked up nearly everywhere but the inclines. The TW's tires were slipping and sliding everywhere while he pulled away from me with minimal effort in many places that day. He also can seemingly handle stopping and starting on steep grades and such where the TW seems to despise me for it. Clutch slipping and sheer "I don't want to" is what I'm getting from the TW at times. I'm realizing quickly that perhaps the TW is being pushed into terrain better suited for more of a "dirtbike" perhaps? Of course I can't be shown up by my 10 year old son either and he knew it was happening that day, he even made a smart comment about keeping up to me!

Problem is I definitely want a dual sport! I love riding around town all week on $6 worth of gas, sticking it to the oil companies has become a passion of mine since owning the Tw and a Corolla. Plus the enjoyment of everyone oogling at the dirtbike rider on the road and the questions and comments is always fun, entertaining and outstanding. Do you guys think I need more bike or a different bike for what I want to be doing? I've fallen in love with the WR250R in the past week from what I've read and seen and there's an '06 in my home town on craigslist right now for $3k with LOW mileage! He says someone is VERy interested and coming to check it out on Sunday. I would also if trying to sell quick though right? As a side question what would you guys ask if you had an '07 TW with $4k miles in very good- excellent condition? It's all original with a couple upgrades like a $100 rear rack, D2 pegs, tusk risers and a Jimbo shield. Bike runs and sound perfect with all maintenance done by me on time and tires about 50%. I just need to know if yall think I need more bike and any opinions or suggestions on said bike.



Thanks yall!

The way I see it is if you have to write a book on where to sell your bike or not then you may not want to sell it. Keep the bike and dont drive yourself crazy.

 

[flingwing1969]

Funny thing, I had a dream last night - prompted by this post perhaps - that I traded my T-Dub for a Honda dirt bike. As soon as I left the dealership, the "dream me" KNEW a mistake had been made. Can't say I awoke in a cold sweat but close.

Dream part is true, not a "story" BTW.

 

[PalmStateCrawler]

Try a 55t sprocket on it. I've heard that makes it a real stump puller. Or go crazy like xdac with the 70t. I can only imagine what that thing pulls like. I wouldn't think of trying to climb any decent grade with that 47t. Yikes! 50t is stock and is a good all around sprocket. I intend to duel sprocket mine next month with 50/55.

 

[Loppy]

Cool, glad you came to. Hahaha...



On the two stroke idea, you might be going too far the other direction. If you have slippery conditions, hills and such, most oil burners will drive you nuts given the lack of torque on the lower end. You can add weight to the flywheel and such, but why not just get an older thumper? Find a good used XR250 or something for around $1000-$1500 and you'll keep up with the kids, get the job done without breaking the bank. Just my .02

 

[frog13]

Changed the sprocket out to what size? I'm running a 47 on the rear and stock in the front. I don't have any trouble on rocky terrain though, I think that's where the TW shines honestly. I just plow over that stuff with the monster tires crawling along and over in first gear. Are you talking about trekking over huge 12 inch tall rock beds, or something like boulder crawling? Anyway you guys isn't "having both" completely defeating the whole purpose of owning a dual sport?

I feel like I could use more bike on the road as well even.

The 47t rear is probably your problem....switch to at least a 50t rear...or higher!...you'll be fine!. Also, your tire pressure is crucial!...

 

[T Dubble D's]

Try a 55t sprocket on it. I've heard that makes it a real stump puller. Or go crazy like xdac with the 70t. I can only imagine what that thing pulls like. I wouldn't think of trying to climb any decent grade with that 47t. Yikes! 50t is stock and is a good all around sprocket. I intend to duel sprocket mine next month with 50/55.

I just bought the 47T very recently coming up from a 42 believe it or not. There are very very few inclines in my city steep enough that the 42T couldn't handle, at that time I only rode it around town. The 47T is great now for the trails and small slight hills but I need more for what I want to accomplish often off road. I would like to do a dual sprocket setup on the rear, the 47T and a 55T if I can? Is that doable or too far of a spread? My chain adjuster is on the (2) mark right now with the 47T and has a small amount of slack to the chain. Would that allow me to fit a 55T on as my other sprocket and still have slack to mount the chain on the 55 as is? Anyone know off hand or am I just begging to be pointed to the proper thread? lol I've read most of that thread but it was long ago.

 

[jhow67]

I TRADED MY 400EX FOR A NICE FISHING BOAT MY 01 YZ 125 FOR A 95 TW WITH 5000 TURNS ON THE OD AND HAVE NO REGRETS I GET MORE USE OUT OF THE BOAT THAN I EVER DID FROM THE QUAD AND MY T DUB IS POINT AND SHOOT BLACKTOP TO GRAVEL NO PROB AND NEVER MISS A SHORT CUT OR HAVE TO SEARCH FOR PARKING ISNT THAT PART OF WHATS GREAT ABOUT A DUAL SPORT ?

 

[Woofhound]

I think you'll have to have a short piece of chain to add with the double sprocket setup. also, it's pretty hard to go wrong with an XR200 or XR250. You know it will always get you home.

 

[retmotor]

It has been a long, long time since i had a 2-stroke. They do have their advantages, but I much prefer the power band of the 4-stroke for just about every terrain I would want to ride. Even my nutty kid who is all about racing and going fast made the move to a 4-stroke several bikes ago, and he wont go back.



Good thread. I like reading about others` decision processes. It is something I struggle with myself.

 

[zardoz]

I got walked all over by my son the other week when it had rained hard and the park was totally mucked up nearly everywhere but the inclines. The TW's tires were slipping and sliding everywhere while he pulled away from me with minimal effort in many places that day. He also can seemingly handle stopping and starting on steep grades and such where the TW seems to despise me for it. Clutch slipping and sheer "I don't want to" is what I'm getting from the TW at times. I'm realizing quickly that perhaps the TW is being pushed into terrain better suited for more of a "dirtbike" perhaps? Of course I can't be shown up by my 10 year old son either and he knew it was happening that day, he even made a smart comment about keeping up to me!

I'm NOT trying to be a smartass here... but this is something you are going to have to get used to. Your son is going to be a BETTER rider than you! He is just coming into his own as you are beginning to loose your edge. It's a fact of life I guess... a youngster's hand eye co-ordination is so much better than ours. Who do you think flies the un-manned "drones" for the military? I'm willing to bet it's NOT a guy pushing 50 like me... most likely it's a guy just like your son in maybe 10 or 12 more years.





Keep the bike and get used to your boy handing you your ass more and more often out on the trails, be proud of this fact.

z

 

[T Dubble D's]

I'm NOT trying to be a smartass here... but this is something you are going to have to get used to. Your son is going to be a BETTER rider than you! He is just coming into his own as you are beginning to loose your edge. It's a fact of life I guess... a youngster's hand eye co-ordination is so much better than ours. Who do you think flies the un-manned "drones" for the military? I'm willing to bet it's NOT a guy pushing 50 like me... most likely it's a guy just like your son in maybe 10 or 12 more years.





Keep the bike and get used to your boy handing you your ass more and more often out on the trails, be proud of this fact.

z

No offense taken... but you are mistaken... for now at least. It'll be quite a while before he can "hand me my ass" on anything other than video games, I'm a fresh 31 and in better shape than most high school athletes. The only thing holding me back was the TW that day in those VERY muddy conditions, if I had had some pizza cutters to roll on like he did I'd have been waiting on him all day long. He'll have his work cut out for him to ever out do his old pops in the physical realm of competition.

 

[flingwing1969]

No offense taken... but you are mistaken... for now at least. It'll be quite a while before he can "hand me my ass" on anything other than video games, I'm a fresh 31 and in better shape than most high school athletes. The only thing holding me back was the TW that day in those VERY muddy conditions, if I had had some pizza cutters to roll on like he did I'd have been waiting on him all day long. He'll have his work cut out for him to ever out do his old pops in the physical realm of competition.

Sounds like tires are the primary issue here - tires loaded up with uncleared clay-mud are nothing but racing slicks coated in Armorall.