200-250 dual sports with electric start

[Mr.Awesome]

My significant other has just passed the msf course and we are looking for a good starter bike for her. We live some what rural with a lot of dirt roads around and a few trails here and there. We have been looking for a small dual sport for her.  Being a newb she will probably be stalling a lot at first, and would like one with electric start. I know the yamaha xt225 has electric start, but have not been able to find one reasonably priced locally. What other small duals are there with electric start?
Thanks for any input.

Gary

[R.Markus]

As far as street legal bikes for shorter people (I have no idea if your significant other is short or not), there aren't a whole lot of options...although they are coming out with more all the time.


The XT225 is a great bike, they just released the XT250 to replace it. I would assume you want a used bike though. The TW200 is another short DS bike. It has a good cult following. There are also the DR350, XT350, KLR250 / Super Sherpa, NX250 and other older small displacement dual sports that can be found for not too much money.

"Standard height" dual sport bikes that are out now like the KLX250s and WR250 are good little bikes also.


Michigan is pretty laxed on converting dirt bikes to be street legal. An XR/CRF 150 or something converted to DS use may be a good option. It's a kick only, but very easy to turn over unlike a bigger four stroke. You could get one for ~$1500 (probably less) and spend ~$600 on a Trick Dual Sport kit (or Baja Designs) and stator. It would be a day of work to hook it up, probably less. It's just an option a lot of peopl don't consider.

[smitty]

Just bought my wife a 2006 Kawasaki KLX250s last week and she is in love with it. I'll probably ease up on the preload to get a little more sag so she can flat-foot. It's really a sweet bike.

The original owner had converted the turn signals to flush mounts, made a ton of custom aluminum plate armor for it, and put a Mikuni flat-slide pumper carb on it. Oh, yeah......he also put a 300 cylinder and piston in it  . It's got loads of very smooth, predictable power and I don't have to kick start the bike for her because it's an electric start.

Good stuff!

[Mr.Awesome]

As far as street legal bikes for shorter people (I have no idea if your significant other is short or not), there aren't a whole lot of options.
 I would assume you want a used bike though.

Definetly looking for a used one. She is still not sure if she even wants to ride yet, so I dont want to spend a ton of money on a bike I'll be selling next year.
She is 5'4". She sat on a DR200 at the dealer and was able to flat foot it,but unfortunately used ones do not have the electric start. The bike will probably never see true off road use, just dirt and country roads.

[sagerat]

Honda CR230 has electric start, IIRC.

[marc11]

You can get a KLX250 and lower it an inch or two rather easily BTW.  There are tons of used KLX's out there rather cheap.

[Bowtie76]

Definetly looking for a used one. She is still not sure if she even wants to ride yet, so I dont want to spend a ton of money on a bike I'll be selling next year.
She is 5'4". She sat on a DR200 at the dealer and was able to flat foot it,but unfortunately used ones do not have the electric start. The bike will probably never see true off road use, just dirt and country roads.

Look for a DR 250SE it is street legal, has electric start and is the same frame and suspension as the DR350 which is a well known stout DS bike.

[Mr.Awesome]

Watching craigs list finally paid off. Picked up a 99 Yamaha TW200 with 2000 miles on it for her and the guy also had a 99 KLR250 with 3000 miles on it for me. Wasnt really looking for a DS for my self but when I saw the package deal for both, thought it would be something cool the two of us could do together. Should have them plated tomorrow and hopefully a couple pics to post up. Woo Hooo more toy's    She rode it around the block a couple times already. I think she has caught the bug.