Suzuki DR200 vs a Yamaha XT225? Any comments?

[suecanada]

 Been thinkin'......trouble there no doubt as Derek hasn't been advised ..yet but toying with the idea of a smaller, dual purpose bike for fun and maybe the odd long distance, slow, secondary road touring. Could hopefully include the dirt roads too.
Considering the DR200 which I have ridden much to my joy down in NH..on loan but it was eye opening "freedom"!!!!!
Lois on the Loose took an XT225 which has 6 gears I think.
Any comments on either bike model for 125 lb, 5' 4.75", me?
Can I get to the west coast all via secondary roads?

[Bengt_Phorqs]

I'd say the DR200 would be just about perfect for you.  Be sure the bike has an electric start though.  Kick start on off camber trails can be very difficult.  I read the "Lois on the Loose" book a year or so back and thought that was a great story.  I understand she's done another one or two books since then.

[nhmaf]

I see Honda has a restyled CRF230 out, but even though they call it a dual sport, the seat looks signifcantly leaning to the dirt side of the equation.   The challenge with many of these bikes I think would be to get a seating surface that you could stand to live with for 8 hours a day.

I've gotta get that Lois book - I've come close to buying it a few times already..

[nhmaf]

A new bike that I really like the looks of is actually the upcoming 2011/2 Yamaha Super Tenere (1200cc liquid cooled parallel twin with 11:1 CR, fuel injection, traction control, and ABS - I think that they've got the BMW R1200GS squarely in their sights with this, and it looks good - and lighter!!!

[Patrick_Krivacka]

one of my most loved motorcycles was a KLR250. It was kickstart only, but I never had a problem with that. I loved how light it was. It was like riding a very powerful bicycle. (or a underpowered motorcycle! )

i don't know if you spend anytime over at advriders forum, but in the thumper section there's a thread called minimalist touring, that has lot's of ride reports about long trips on small bikes.

[Patrick_Krivacka]

I just found this and thought it might be of interest

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=614433

[Motu]

I'd go for the XT225,but bit more proven and developed over the years than the Suzuki....and more interchangability with other Yamaha's.The engine has been (is being) used in road bikes and trials bikes too.

I sold my DT230 to get the R65 - one serious kick arse lightweight dirtbike to ride on the road.I thought I was getting a dirt orientated bike that I could use on the road sometimes to compliment my 1992 XT600 - what I got was a bike that completely overshadowed the XT600 in every area on or off road.I'm 5'7'' and lowered it 50mm for road use,standard height off road.Not being in the restrictive US it might be available to you in Canada.