[dmcculloughevans]

I said it lots of times here and to anyone who asks me. Here’s my 2cents worth….
For just absolute FUN, get a Trail 90 or new Monkey, if you have a transportation for one (trailer or pickup) or live close to trails. This is their ONLY drawback, Ok,Ok, yes you will not look like some bad azz trail/motocross professional. But I will guarantee 2 things: 1. At the end of the day you will have a smile on your face. And 2. You will be well rested and not sore and worn out from manhandling a bigger heavier off road bike. Honda make these bikes specifically for tail riding and that they do in absolute abundance, unfortunately they are always overlooked and looked down on because of their small size and small motor. But personally I have yet to find ANYONE who has ridden or owns one to say they are not a blast to ride on trails.
No this bike is not for some long adventure BR route, but doing headers and trails like @dmcculloughevans was taking about, I don’t believe any of the other bikes suggested would come close to the overall ride-ability trail bikes I’ve suggested …
I will also add, the look on other riders faces will be priceless when you just float over that big sand pit or if you get stick in mud just lift the bike easily out, lol, or better sill just avoid the mud hole by nimbly going around it. Being able to plant your feet bring the bike onto its back wheel and walk it around stuff is a absolute game changer in trail riding..

I very much appreciate the response! I will seriously look into mini motos! When I rode the Black Hills BDR, I did see a trail 125 and it was a head scratcher! How is the air cooled engine? Generally, I hate air cooled engines, but you have given what seems like an endorsement, so I will need to do further research.

 

[irsh]

I very much appreciate the response! I will seriously look into mini motos! When I rode the Black Hills BDR, I did see a trail 125 and it was a head scratcher! How is the air cooled engine? Generally, I hate air cooled engines, but you have given what seems like an endorsement, so I will need to do further research.

Part of the allure is the low seat height, allowing you to paddle your way through a lot of nastiness. Just don't expect 9 HP to get you anywhere quickly. I wouldn't have a monkey as an only bike but along with the 450 and 1100, I cover a lot of needs. And yes it is a blast. My wife teases me about the big grins after every Monkey ride.
I'd also like to add a Trail 125 eventually. You can never have too many little bikes.

 

[VPS.1]

I have a ATAS 21 and a 450L, keep in mind the maintenance schedule is based on hard riding. Most riders, me including don’t push the bike and don’t see many issues with maintenance. It’s so easy to change the oil that I do it often just cause it’s only a quart. But if I had a multi day/week ride I’d have no problem running high quality synthetic much longer. The air filter is very protected as far a dust ingestion. I love the bike, plenty of power, solid suspension in a race bred package. So many available used with all the goodies!

 

[dmcculloughevans]

I have a ATAS 21 and a 450L, keep in mind the maintenance schedule is based on hard riding. Most riders, me including don’t push the bike and don’t see many issues with maintenance. It’s so easy to change the oil that I do it often just cause it’s only a quart. But if I had a multi day/week ride I’d have no problem running high quality synthetic much longer. The air filter is very protected as far a dust ingestion. I love the bike, plenty of power, solid suspension in a race bred package. So many available used with all the goodies!

I have a lot to think about the next 4 months. I am planning to make the purchase this March. Price isn’t the issue, but rather maintenance is. I love my ATAS, but I feel limited by its weight.

I am also in the VERY unfortunate situation of living 120 miles away (2.5 hours) from the nearest trails or 90 miles away from an off road park. This is why I opted to go with an AT. But I still feel that I am missing out, and you are only young once.

 

[VPS.1]

I get my 450L from Florida to North Carolina on a hitch carrier. Perfect.

 

[AT-Dragon]

I very much appreciate the response! I will seriously look into mini motos! When I rode the Black Hills BDR, I did see a trail 125 and it was a head scratcher! How is the air cooled engine? Generally, I hate air cooled engines, but you have given what seems like an endorsement, so I will need to do further research.

It‘s all about what your goal is, but you really don’t need a ton of horsepower off road unless you are into just doing holeshots. Light and nimble will always out do big and bulky (heavy) on the trail every time, probably the only regret you’ll ever have about a small light bike will be the “buddy” factor. While it will take you a minute or two to pick up your bike because a misstep on a hill or stuck. in a mud hole. You’ll inevitably have to spend the next 15 min and a lot of backbreaking effort to get your buddy’s big “horsepower“ bike back on the trail. I live in Michigan, knee to waist deep mud holes are a given on our tails, so yes I’m definitely biased against big bikes on trails, I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had to pull a bike out of mud deep enough to cover the foot pegs. I can tell you just how much easier, quicker AND happier it is to do when it’s a small trail bike. It’s all just food for thought, you be you and be happy with YOUR choice…

 

[Alan S.]

A Suzuki DR650 is a great choice for BDR and off road travel. It has the torque you need.

 

[dmcculloughevans]

It‘s all about what your goal is, but you really don’t need a ton of horsepower off road unless you are into just doing holeshots. Light and nimble will always out do big and bulky (heavy) on the trail every time, probably the only regret you’ll ever have about a small light bike will be the “buddy” factor. While it will take you a minute or two to pick up your bike because a misstep on a hill or stuck. in a mud hole. You’ll inevitably have to spend the next 15 min and a lot of backbreaking effort to get your buddy’s big “horsepower“ bike back on the trail. I live in Michigan, knee to waist deep mud holes are a given on our tails, so yes I’m definitely biased against big bikes on trails, I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had to pull a bike out of mud deep enough to cover the foot pegs. I can tell you just how much easier, quicker AND happier it is to do when it’s a small trail bike. It’s all just food for thought, you be you and be happy with YOUR choice…

I would be doing a lot of riding in Michigan, specifically Horseshoe Lake, Holton Loop, Cedar Creek, and M20/Big O.

Knowing this, does this change your opinion of which bike I should get?

 

[dmcculloughevans]

A Suzuki DR650 is a great choice for BDR and off road travel. It has the torque you need.

I am looking for something lighter than a DR650.

 

[evank]

I vote for the Yamaha TW200. I learned offroading on mine and still have it. Not for long freeway travel though.

 

[AT-Dragon]

I would be doing a lot of riding in Michigan, specifically Horseshoe Lake, Holton Loop, Cedar Creek, and M20/Big O.

Knowing this, does this change your opinion of which bike I should get?

At the end of the day, no, personally if you put 10 of ANY “off-road “ bikes in front of me to chose for some trail riding and one of them was a TRAIL bike like a trail 70/90, Monkey, ot Trail125. I’d personally go with one of the trail bikes every time .
I've ridden the monkey (lol that don’t sound right) and the trail 90 and trail 70 and yes they are more closely related to scooter or mini-bike than a “real” motorcycle. Yes they are tiny underpowered and I’m sure lots of people would say laughable and any adult male looks like he‘s borrowing his kids bike. but on the trial they are absolute fun. As I mentioned before you would be hard pressed to find anyone who has actually ridden one on trails that would say otherwise. Now I can’t vouch for new the tail-125, but the biggest advantage of the other 3 are those big fat balloon tires that float over deep sand and somewhat on top of mud,with a small light bike that you can pretty much pick up and are nimble I can’t tell you the number of times i’v stood on of those small bikes just on its back wheel and walked it around trees or other obstacles that no other bigger bike in the world could get around with out a chainsaw.

 

[dmcculloughevans]

At the end of the day, no, personally if you put 10 of ANY “off-road “ bikes in front of me to chose for some trail riding and one of them was a TRAIL bike like a trail 70/90, Monkey, ot Trail125. I’d personally go with one of the trail bikes every time .
I've ridden the monkey (lol that don’t sound right) and the trail 90 and trail 70 and yes they are more closely related to scooter or mini-bike than a “real” motorcycle. Yes they are tiny underpowered and I’m sure lots of people would say laughable and any adult male looks like he‘s borrowing his kids bike. but on the trial they are absolute fun. As I mentioned before you would be hard pressed to find anyone who has actually ridden one on trails that would say otherwise. Now I can’t vouch for new the tail-125, but the biggest advantage of the other 3 are those big fat balloon tires that float over deep sand and somewhat on top of mud,with a small light bike that you can pretty much pick up and are nimble I can’t tell you the number of times i’v stood on of those small bikes just on its back wheel and walked it around trees or other obstacles that no other bigger bike in the world could get around with out a chainsaw.

While I appreciate your advice, I went to my dealer yesterday and am going with a KLX300R. While you may be right on a trail 125 or monkey as a fun trail bike, I am also looking for a trainer for my ATAS. After all, I have zero off-road experience, except for renting a XR200 at an off-road park twice and riding the Black Hills BDR.

 

[MotoHero]

Excellent choice!

This was my dilemma a bit ago. The AT is big work off road, my 450SX is not road friendly. Not much luggage options for these middle weight 300-400 bikes, so a clean XR650L was the choice.

 

[rustynut2]

Too tall, feet won’t touch when the going gets tough. Same weight as a dr650 but taller

 

[MotoHero]

Yep, you are right about height. So much compromise to get it close. Watching the BDR videos of AZ and the CA have some soft sections that seem nearly impossible on the AT, at least at my skill level.

 

[dmcculloughevans]

Too tall, feet won’t touch when the going gets tough. Same weight as a dr650 but taller

My hitch wouldn’t have been able to handle either a DR650 or XR650L, hence why I was looking at a 300L. But I very pleased with the 300R, despite originally wanting a dual sport. It will make for hours of fun and will help train me as I tackle harder BDRs on my ATAS.

 

[dmcculloughevans]

UPDATE: while maintaining a second bike (KLX300R) is a pain in the ass, buying a second bike was a great idea. It is a great training bike! As someone who wants to ride every BDR in the next 10 years, let the training begin!