What Is The Advantage Of Large Displacement In The Dirt?

[1911fan]

Originally Posted by julesmt

Of all the big adventure bikes the only one that can be ridden agressive is the big KTM, but only with a very good rider on top of it.

No foolin'.... My Austrian Rock Thrower is too much bike for me but oh so fun! It spit me off HARD once, but I love it for it's capabilities. Just don't ride within 50 feet of one on loose surfaces.


1911fan

[DAKEZ]

So, have we all concluded that there is NO advantage of large displacement bikes in the dirt?

By the way. If anyone wants an extra 20 rear wheel horsepower out of their Tiger 800's let me know.

[Clockwatcher]

I would find a bike that fits you, that you are comfortable riding , then figure out how to ride it on the terrain you like. I havent found anything that handles sand well.
I do know that to ride sand is kinda like waterskiing, ya gotta get on top of it.........my Transalp lifts out at about 55mph......works OK til you have to brake for the turn............What I learned .....stay outta the damn sand!!
I would say to enjoy your weestrom and worry about the rest later....

[Rucksta]

Originally Posted by Clockwatcher

.....works OK til you have to brake for the turn............

Don't brake, get on the gas and build a berm.

[Gummee!]

As the question was asked, no. There's really no advantage and lots of disadvantages for big bikes off-road.

Having said that, if the off-roading you want to do is a few hundred miles from home, you can ride to the ride, ride the ride, then ride home on the big bike. You don't need truck or car/trailer to haul the little bike to the ride.

I took my GS-Adv places I had no business taking it, and in the process I found that it had more capability than I did. Momentum and picking good lines are your friends. Oh, and DO NOT try and keep up with your buddies on dirt bikes. DAMHIK

M

[NJ-Brett]

I don't know if there is any advantage, and there are a lot of disadvantages of a big powerful bike, like when you fall, but they can be a lot of fun in the smooth parts.
Kind of seductive, my dr650 was not a real heavy bike, but with mods had plenty of power all the time, and the suspension to let you use it most times.
That lets you get in over your head real quick, and when it goes bad, it can go very bad.
Smaller lighter bikes will let you get away with it, or not have the power to hit a bad speed in the space allowed, or have a lower top speed.
Around me, its mostly tight rough sandy stuff, and something like a dr650 will let you get up to speed quickly, and not always do real well when those giant sandy whoops show up around that next turn.

You might fall on anything, but falling on a heavy tall bike can be a lot worse then a lower lighter one.

Gobs or power and torque at any rpm sure can be a lot of fun though...

[S8W7]

Mondo Enduro did forty thousand miles around the world, on all terrain surfaces and in all weather conditions, on mostly stock DR350's...

[rgoers]

The only advantage I can think of is that they are heavy, and if you somehow end up underneath it, you'll have died doing what you love...

[tokyoklahoma]

Don't forget about all that good exercise that you get from picking the big bikes back up.

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by Gummee!

Having said that, if the off-roading you want to do is a few hundred miles from home, you can ride to the ride, ride the ride, then ride home on the big bike. You don't need truck or car/trailer to haul the little bike to the ride.
M

That is why I bought and modified my DR650. 600 mile days are a pleasure... remove the bags and go exploring.

[SlowRide13]

No. But here's all I know:
I am a dirt bike rider at heart. I have a YZ250F, a tagged XR600R and a F8 in the garage. Ride after ride, the "dirt bikes" gather dust while I keep hopping on the F8. Why? Who cares, I'm having fun.

Originally Posted by SlowRide13

No. But here's all I know:
I am a dirt bike rider at heart. I have a YZ250F, a tagged XR600R and a F8 in the garage. Ride after ride, the "dirt bikes" gather dust while I keep hopping on the F8. Why? Who cares, I'm having fun.

[Yellow Pig]

This is why you have a large displacement dirt bike!

[bobnoxious67]

Originally Posted by Yellow Pig

This is why you have a large displacement dirt bike!

Nice ride, and nice bike.

But did you really need a twin to do that? I would have been unable to do that on my 610? Or unhappy?

[Rucksta]

Originally Posted by bobnoxious67

Nice ride, and nice bike.

But did you really need a twin to do that? I would have been unable to do that on my 610? Or unhappy?

I'm guessing you've neither ridden the 950SE nor done that or a similar ride.