Earthquake Dirt Bike

[Californio]

Best dirt bike to take 2 people (max 350 lbs of passengers) at max 40 mph. Engine needs to be a torker, no need for top end. Bike needs to be as light as possible so in can be muscled around collapsed bridges and other objects blocking the road.

Discuss Options.

[olhunter]

Best dirt bike to take 2 people (max 350 lbs of passengers) at max 40 mph. Engine needs to be a torker, no need for top end. Bike needs to be as light as possible so in can be muscled around collapsed bridges and other objects blocking the road.

Discuss Options.

Any old 250 4-stroke will do. Get an old Honda XR.

What's your budget? Newer bikes will obviously be more reliable. Don't get a 2-stroke.

[DVSmith]

350 lbs of passengers and how many pounds of ammo?

A 250 4-stroke would be the minimum. Make sure you prep it for storage if you are not going to ride it regularly or you will end up with evaporated gas residue in the carb and fuel system. I can tell you from experience that it is a pain to clean up a carb that this happens to.

Also consider a dual sport if you might end up on roads. I guess that you are thinking that this is a SHTF kind of item, but don't discount getting sideways with a LEO even in a catastrophe.

[ojisan]

To carry 350 lbs you will not have a light bike.

Rokon 2WD Trail Breaker:


Or single wheel drive Tote Goat:



You asked for slow, you got it!

[00BuckShot]

XR400...nuff said.

[Cokebottle]

XR400, DRZ400, WR450....

With that weight, no, you don't need speed, but you do need torque, and the 400-450 class has it in spades.
I'd suggest a dual-sport model. More to go wrong, but being street legal requires lights and turn signals.... and if SHTF, the headlight could come in handy even off-road.
Been more than once I was glad I got a WR instead of a YZ.

[odysseus]

XR400, DRZ400, WR450....

With that weight, no, you don't need speed, but you do need torque, and the 400-450 class has it in spades.
I'd suggest a dual-sport model. More to go wrong, but being street legal requires lights and turn signals.... and if SHTF, the headlight could come in handy even off-road.
Been more than once I was glad I got a WR instead of a YZ.

I agree with this, you are not looking for a competitive sport dirt bike. Also I question the strategy. The load out of all this weight has issues in two various areas, how to do it and not make yourself a really badly imbalanced ride through tough terrain, and the fatigue of all that.

[IEShooter]

Krauts make good bikes

I ride my BMW GS Adventure daily as a commute vehicle. At 550 pounds, it ain't light, but it's surprisingly good offroad. More importantly, 1000 mile days in the saddle are doable and I've done them. Now, you won't do 1000 mile days very often, but the point is, it is a very comfortable bike to ride.

I also holds nearly 10 gallons of gas if you pop out the rubber doo-hickie in the gas tank nozzle. A 400 mile range on any vehicle is a good thing.

It'll carry two up and a few hundred pounds of gear very easily.

Want more of a dirt oriented bike? If so, I highly recommend the KTM, 990 Adventure.

Perhaps the best comparison between the two came from a buddy of mine who has both. He says the BMW GS is 70/30 street/dirt, while the KTM is 30/70 street/dirt. Oversimplified to be sure, but still pretty accurate.

Both bikes have 100+ horsepower and low gearing, so they'll power through anything.

Too big? Then consider the 650 or 800 GS or the smaller KTM's. The 800 GS is a very nice compromise bike and has a 21" front tire.

Just my .02 and its probably worth what you paid for it.

[professionalcoyotehunter]

KTM EXC250 Aluminum Frame.

[Kali-Jax]

DRZ400 for one person and some gear

DR650 for two people and some gear

[JMZ]

Just stay away from two stroke bikes. If you can't find oil for your fuel mixture the bike is useless. You will always be able to find gas somewhere. As stated by 00buckshot the XR 400 is the best bet. It is the best weight to power ratio you will ever find and it's a Honda.

[ojisan]

OP wanted to be able to lift the bike around obstacles.

I have picked up, carried and dragged plenty of bikes up hills, out of ditches, lowered them down cliffs and more in over 40 years of off road riding, exploring and racing.

Even a 300lb 400cc dual sport is getting too heavy for this requirement.
Anything larger is just excess weight and bulk.

I have water cooled bikes but would prefer air cooled for this application of maximum reliability / resistance to crash or trail damage.

DR350S...stripped and set-up right.

[1SGMAT]

Striped KLR 650 (pre 2008). Can be pushed around if you are riding 2 up as you state. Bullet proof engine and used parts galore.

[chsk9]

Best dirt bike to take 2 people (max 350 lbs of passengers) at max 40 mph. Engine needs to be a torker, no need for top end. Bike needs to be as light as possible so in can be muscled around collapsed bridges and other objects blocking the road.

Discuss Options.

Kawasaki KLR650 or Honda XR650L with racks- Ride it once a week and a trickle charger will call it good. And it will take you and your gear where you need to go. I've seen a diesel KLR ( I think it's a marine scout bike ) cool beans!

http://www.hdtusa.com/vehicle-m1030-b2.php

http://www.hdtusa.com/vehicle-m1030-m2.php

[FUSE]

Kawasaki KLR650 or Honda XR650L with racks- Ride it once a week and a trickle charger will call it good. And it will take you and your gear where you need to go. I've seen a diesel KLR ( I think it's a marine scout bike ) cool beans!

http://www.hdtusa.com/vehicle-m1030-b2.php

http://www.hdtusa.com/vehicle-m1030-m2.php

WOW!! Those hdtusa bikes are awesome! I want one! How much? ;p