Motorcycle for access?

[Aperventure]

Are you planning on attaching meat to the bike or having it in a pack when you pack out?

I'm looking forward to solving this problem!

That would be the goal, of course, which is why looking at beta selling aluminum subframe to replace the stock plastic subframe. but if its too sketchy then it'll just have to be on my back.

makes me think to bring my hunting pack with 80 lbs when i go look at used bike, thanks for the idea.

 

[Aperventure]

I’d look strongly at the Honda crf300f.

I’ve never been a tw fan. Seen way too many instances where the super soft suspension and big tires didn’t like bumps and basically rebounded someone into a crash. Plus they’re severely overweight

will do. we are in agreement on the tw200.

quick pull of specs, i like the 34.8" seat height and $5k new price, not so much the 265lbs weight

 

[Aperventure]

Never heard the time rating, always was put in distance and I think around 30-40 mile range? 1-2 hours hiking puts you doing 8 miles one way tops, would think it would be enough but if you're camping in one spot for a week and doing that everyday then I see the issue. If they were under $2k I'd prly get one to try out, seem like fun and more practical than an e-Bike and not as cumbersome as a gas dirt bike. One of those things I look at every 6 months or year and think about and never get so I want someone else on here to get one and tell me what I am or am not missing lol.

correct, there wasn't a time rating. but it was a conversion from whatever specs they did give & reading some other forums if I recall correctly. you have me thinking that I need to write this stuff down while researching. seems like you and I are in same place on thoughts about e-bikes here.

but use case would be over 2-3-4 days scouting or hunts, for getting in & out into multiple areas quicker than hiking and without concern of getting pickup stuck over. the math is if I can moto 2-4 miles (w/significant elevation change) instead of hiking each way, thats 2 hrs hiking each way, 4 hr round trip. result would be boots/eyes into 2 different scouting/hunting areas each day, one in morning and one in evening, as opposed to just one scouting/hunting area. what do you think about that reasoning?

 

[TX Trophy Hunter]

I'm looking forward to solving this problem!

That would be the goal, of course, which is why looking at beta selling aluminum subframe to replace the stock plastic subframe. but if its too sketchy then it'll just have to be on my back.

makes me think to bring my hunting pack with 80 lbs when i go look at used bike, thanks for the idea.

I’m just thinking about the fact that 80 lbs on your back will make riding way more difficult, which is why I would personally lean toward lower seat height. Also your injury risk goes way up if you fall off the bike. If you attach it to the bike it will throw off the balance and limit the capabilities, but I think would be more preferable. Either way, I’d prepare to hike meat through tough sections and come back for the bike.

 

[elkduds]

I get the attraction of trails-ish MCs, I had a Taco Sherpa T 350. if you want one anyway it will serve as single track access. TW is obese and underpowered. A serious dirt e-bike is much lighter, QUIETER, and you can switch batteries every day, even take an extra w you on day rides. I bet you can find one to rent or demo before committing to buy. Following w interest.

 

[Moserkr]

My buddies and I have been riding the last 3 seasons with a few different bikes. He has an xt250 yama, lower height for his shorter stature. I have an old xr400, sits higher but more clearance, more power.

So far I would say it is not going great. A lot of the trails that we want to access are beyond our skill level. Add on a heavier weight due to a pack, gear, and weapon, we are top heavy, either on the body or bike. Both of us are 40yo. It ends in a lot of falls, difficulties, and struggles. Some roads are difficult with medium sized rocks that a SXS goes over with ease. Hill climbs have sucked where atvs and sxs climb easily. Multiple times we have struggled where guys sitting in comfy atvs or sxs's especially, climb with ease and more safety. Its been hard on the bodies.

Now, an electric bike can excel in some of the areas where the dirt bikes have failed, and where the atv/sxs's can't go. We have been experimenting with that equipment but it too has limitations.

They are all tools and a variety is best. If you get a dirt bike, Im all for the lower seat height and bike that keeps your feet on the ground. So my vote is tw200 although I do not own one or have experience on one. Its a proven workhorse with a long history of success - that can't be argued against.

Personally I would want a sxs, dirt bike, and ebike. Cover all my bases. All of them move faster than a big truck down a rough road. A sxs and ebike combo could get me anywhere I want to hunt where I live. But i know in MT and ID a dirt bike would fare much better than an ebike in many spots.

Good luck deciding. Its a tough one. Happy to answer questions on my dirt biking failures, at least you can learn from them. We are yet to have a successful hunt on them, but they are fun to ride.

 

[LuketheDog]

I rode a Honda 250x, a KTM 450exc, and a KTM 640 Adventure, all would be great for getting into areas I wouldn't take my truck, but I'm not sure I'd want to ride any of them up or down technical trails with a 70lb pack.

That trials bike setup in your first picture would be a lot of fun though!

 

[npaden]

What’s stopped you from taking your husky out for hunting then?

I had a Yamaha WR250R before this and actually took it on a hunt one time. Actually on a scouting trip specifically for one single track trail. I did ride the trail on my scouting trip but be careful as a lot of the single tracks end up closed for motorized access right around the time you would be wanting to actually use them for hunting. Seems like the single tracks have a lot more of the seasonal restrictions than the normal ATV and UTV type trails.

 

[Big Sky Guy]

correct, there wasn't a time rating. but it was a conversion from whatever specs they did give & reading some other forums if I recall correctly. you have me thinking that I need to write this stuff down while researching. seems like you and I are in same place on thoughts about e-bikes here.

but use case would be over 2-3-4 days scouting or hunts, for getting in & out into multiple areas quicker than hiking and without concern of getting pickup stuck over. the math is if I can moto 2-4 miles (w/significant elevation change) instead of hiking each way, thats 2 hrs hiking each way, 4 hr round trip. result would be boots/eyes into 2 different scouting/hunting areas each day, one in morning and one in evening, as opposed to just one scouting/hunting area. what do you think about that reasoning?

IDK where you are or what roads you're looking to access but if it's a road open to 4x4 vehicles I personally do not see the reasoning, but I have a Tacoma and take it on trails most only take SxS's and is pretty close in cost to a SxS nowadays. Roads are all rocky out here so getting stuck is only a thought during heavy snow really. The only reason I've considered them would be for motorcycle/ATV only trails, but where I'm at there just aren't very many of those type of trails so it hasn't really been justifiable to me. If I had a need for a full size pickup I would probably be in your shoes.

 

[npaden]

I've thought about picking up one of the 2 wheel drive e-bikes and seeing how well those would work. Much lower and lighter than a dirt bike and with some decent fat tires on them might be the ticket for accessing some spots. Just walk it through the roughest stuff and even toss it over a log if you need to.

 

[brymoore]

TW200 is about 300 lbs. low seat height. Big tires, I’ve read that they need to be geared down and even better if get wide wheel Kits so now you’re talking $5-6k into a air cooled 1980s technology engine lacks power when loaded down with guy + gear, let alone hauling out 50-80lbs of meat. TWs seem to go for $4-5k used

Son’s TW is 1998. He paid $1,500 this summer.

 

[Moserkr]

Son’s TW is 1998. He paid $1,500 this summer.

I see them for $1500-2500 all day long out here in good shape. Gearing them down is easy. Basically just need it to crawl along the hard spots, and with your feet down its easy to balance. Id trade my xr400 for a tw200. Something to be said about 1980's tech thats dialed in, it doesn't let you down. I can kick or bump start my bike, no battery to die, she just goes.

I've thought about picking up one of the 2 wheel drive e-bikes and seeing how well those would work. Much lower and lighter than a dirt bike and with some decent fat tires on them might be the ticket for accessing some spots. Just walk it through the roughest stuff and even toss it over a log if you need to.

Thats one big advantage of an ebike - weight. They are basically motorized vehicles. We got to a spot last sunday and there was too much deadfall to continue on the dirt bikes. We easily could have just picked up an ebike and carried it over all of them, then continued. They have 4" wide tires and can haul a trailer for gear or an animal. The only limiting factor is cold weather due to the battery. It can limit your distance with battery size and temp.

Other big advantage is sound - animals do not hear ebikes. They have no clue when you enter the playing field...

 

[rjthehunter]

I've considered a dirt bike of sorts for those same kinds of trails. Anything to get further off the beaten path.

@Big Sky Guy you mentioned a tacoma instead of a sxs because of the cost of them nowadays. I have wanted a sxs, but can't believe how expensive they are. I was considering an older jeep wrangler as an alternate and in a hunting scenario, I think it would do just as good as most sxs

 

[Big Sky Guy]

I've considered a dirt bike of sorts for those same kinds of trails. Anything to get further off the beaten path.

@Big Sky Guy you mentioned a tacoma instead of a sxs because of the cost of them nowadays. I have wanted a sxs, but can't believe how expensive they are. I was considering an older jeep wrangler as an alternate and in a hunting scenario, I think it would do just as good as most sxs

Probably. They also have a cult-like following similar to Tacomas but after having owned two grand Cherokee Laredo’s I’ll never own a Jeep again. Just Empty Every Pocket. Maybe the wrangler types are better, idk.

 

[elkduds]

This is an '87 Yamaha TT 225. It weighs 200#, no battery or electric start. 6 speed trans. All the reliability of TW 200, much lighter, much more entertaining ride. TWs, TTs, TTRs, XTs all use very similar or the same frames and parts; legends of anachronistic reliability. Street legal for getting between trails.

 

[Johnny Bravo]

I had never understood why people use cycles to get in, doesn’t it scare the critters? I personally would try an electric cycle. I’m in the process of looking at e-bikes for hunting, but doubt those would work where I believe you are thinking about using it.