Motorcycle Hunting

[Matt5266]

I have a TW 200, with just about every mod known to man….. ATV rear tire conversion, Kenda Gauntlet front tire, lower gearing (60T rear), handle bar risers, lowered pegs, rear disk brake conversion, Race Tech front fork suspension, Bradley rear shock, HD skid plate, LED headlight, Acerbis hand guards, fender/light and turn signal delete kit, rear rack etc.

Compared to my Beta XTrainer… the TW 200 isn’t even in the same class, when it comes to being a capable trail bike. Not even close!!

That’s not to say it isn’t a fun bike. It’s actually a lot of fun! From my perspective it’s a novelty bike from over 30 years ago, looks kinda ridiculous and a totally hilarious way to see how difficult of trails are possible to ride with an old relic….. that’s been given some help, with a bunch of mods.View attachment 950746View attachment 950747View attachment 950748

Nice bike and epic views!!!

 

[Dogone]

60 years ago I bird hunted with a Kawasaki 125 bike. My springer spaniel rode many miles just standing on the back seat. Never fell off.

 

[FLswamper]

I like this thread! I have owned dirt bikes since childhood. I currently have a Honda CRF450L. Key mods include mandatory aftermarket ECU to give it actual low-end ( OEM Cali smog tuning ) and a huge Australian fuel tank. The public land trails in FL are not open motorized vehicles, so there is no advantage to taking my MC hunting.

When I MTB the gamelands I wish to have a rifle strapped to me when I come upon a wildschwein herd. I am in process of building a lightweight Scout rifle. When that is done, I intend to try taking my MTB hunting. I can cover so much more ground on an MTB than hiking, and I definately see more hog herds that way. Also, the MTB is quiet and I don't spook many herds until I am practically on top of them.

 

[oregonoutdoors]

I read this thread before buying a bike to take to Idaho for an elk hunt. In our group of 4 we had 2 TW 200's, an Ubco 2x2 electric bike and I had a rokon. All had their positives and negatives. The rokon sucks for trail riding and is slow but was by far the best for hauling meat. Packed two bulls back to base camp in 3 loads down a trail the other bikes couldn't get up. Then took a whole bull out to the trucks in one load. The TW 200's were best all around but could only haul limited loads. The Ubco was smooth and silent but was limited on power / weight hauling, and didn't do great in the snow with it's skinny tires. I may try to find an Ubco for archery hunting.

 

[idahodave]

Here is one you don’t see very often. A trials bike with a seat. Bike is a 300 and weighs 150 pounds. Had to try something different. It had its pros and cons.

Low seat height with great clearance and gobs of power down low. Seat sucked and suspension was taxed with a quarter on my pack.

Dave

 

[Matt5266]

Im running the IRC Gekkota VE 33 tubeliss on the back of my KTM XCW. Love that tire!

 

[300stw]

ive packed out 23 bulls on bikes in idaho, cant count how many bucks,

tried all the old school trials bikes, tl250, ty250,kt250, ect
owned 10or 15 tw200, 15 or 20 bw200 and bw350, 4 or 5 xr200 and xr250

when the rocks arent bad where they hit the swing arm and knock me down the mountain, i use a bw200 with a 230cc motor and lower gearing,
may not go where newer bikes will go. but its been everywhere my xr200 has been, better steep uphill traction, chain up rear tire in the snow,

sidehill its terrible,
all what your comfortable with i guess

 

[Wanttohuntmore]

Some of the bikes we use. There is no perfect bike, believe me. When Tesla creates a robotic horse with 200 mile range I'll be on board.

 

[nphunter]

Here is one you don’t see very often. A trials bike with a seat. Bike is a 300 and weighs 150 pounds. Had to try something different. It had its pros and cons.

Low seat height with great clearance and gobs of power down low. Seat sucked and suspension was taxed with a quarter on my pack.

Dave

I'm loving my Montesa 4RT with a trail seat.

 

[nphunter]

Just got back from Idaho and used my Montesa 4RT on a hunt. My last trip 2 years ago to Idaho is what caused me to get rid of my TW, that thing was scary and dangerous. I took the 4RT in the same area this year and had a blast, almost forgot I was hunting, I could easily go anywhere I pointed the bike with ease even with my backpack, bow and gear on my back. Several long steep uphills had me a litte nervous at first becasue I could tell other bikes had struggled to get up but the 4RT made it with ease, I got a little crossed up in a rut one time and was able to just side hill out of the rut and keep on going up a very steep hill.

I wish I had taken pictures. Another thing I love about the light little bike is that I was able to toss it into the back of my pickup under the topper by hand. Being fuel-injected I was able to just lay it on its side and not have to worry about flooding it. The only thing I need to do now is modify the fuel tank to hold more fuel, I put a handlebar tank on it for the trip and it worked well as a reserve but it's definitely not ideal.

I wish I had ditched the TW's years ago. My last TW was my 5th or 6th TW, I've also had BW200's and several XR's, KDX's, and two strokes over the years. IMO this Montesa is by far the best dedicated hunting bike I've been around. I'm also 5'6" and 165lbs so the low seat is a must for me, I wouldn't mind picking up a something like a Beta someday for more of an all around bike to use for longer adventure rides but I can't imagine anything outperforming the trials bike in technical stuff.

 

[idahodave]

The 4-stroke Montessa (with seat) is THE bike to do that with imho. I'd have strongly preferred that, but couldn't find one locally when I went looking and opted for the Evo.

Dave

 

[Aperventure]

I’m digging the trials bike idea, been digging and the Beta X-Trainer popped up. Anyone here have any experience with these?

Excepts from review:
light 218lb dry
Modest 35.8” seat height
electric start with back-up kick starter option
more compact than a typical bike
oil injection. No mixing gas and oil here

turn it loose on slow, tight trails, the Xtrainer is in a much happier place. The power and throttle response are excellent at rpm so low, it has trials-like power delivery. That means it’s all bottom-end torque, which makes the bike a natural for the very tightest trails and most technical riding. You can spend an entire afternoon in the smallest canyon and be perfectly happy climbing over the same rock pile from different angles.

BETA XTRAINER 300 TWO-STROKE: FULL TEST

There’s nothing like the Beta Xtrainer. It’s a weird, crazy bike that no one really understands until they ride one. All attempts at verbal description

dirtbikemagazine.com

 

[BBob]

Beta X-Trainer popped up. Anyone here have any experience with these?

@idahodave does. I sold my TW and came really close to buying one. If I ever decide I really need a bike again that’s likely the way I’ll go.

 

[Aperventure]

They are neat bikes. Know of a few shorter guys who have them. They have all spent money trying to wake the bikes up. IIRC tossing an RR pipe on there makes a big difference. Suspension is not made for hauling ass on though.

I wouldnt be against one. But sure wouldnt overlook any of the other 300's out there.

Wake them up & modify suspension for exclusively dirt riding? Or did they feel They needed to modify them for use as hunting time saver?

Your username suggests you know dirt bikes, so likely the former? I’d thought about KTM XCWs but they have higher price point due to race-ready nature. What other 300s exist at the x-trained price point? I’ve not been able to find any

I was never more than mid level C rider anyway… meaning I know dirt bikes enough to understand the X-trainer has mid level suspension similar to XRs or XTs or DRs; which results in a better price point but it seems way better suspension than low level TW200 or TTRs or XLs. Similarly with the engine, I’m not looking for CR250 power.

 

[Matt5266]

Wake them up & modify suspension for exclusively dirt riding? Or did they feel They needed to modify them for use as hunting time saver?

Your username suggests you know dirt bikes, so likely the former? I’d thought about KTM XCWs but they have higher price point due to race-ready nature. What other 300s exist at the x-trained price point? I’ve not been able to find any

I was never more than mid level C rider anyway… meaning I know dirt bikes enough to understand the X-trainer has mid level suspension similar to XRs or XTs or DRs; which results in a better price point but it seems way better suspension than low level TW200 or TTRs or XLs. Similarly with the engine, I’m not looking for CR250 power.

I wouldn't be afraid to buy used either. The XCW made me fall in love with riding again after I had switched to a TW for about 4 years. I found a good deal on one local to me that had some hours but was very well taken care of. Its been a blast! I just need some of my buddies to buy bikes now haha

Also i will add i made the switch with the intention of using it for hunting too occasionally. I changed the suspension up cheap with used springs front and rear,and got a seat concepts low seat for some added confidence.

 

[Matt5266]

Only issue I have found. Least around here. A 2-3+ year old bike will go for what a left over bike sells for. Really makes you scratch your head when you start to see that.

Ya thats nuts, but they do the same with vehicles now so I guess im not surprised

 

[TheGDog]

Just got back from Idaho and used my Montesa 4RT on a hunt. My last trip 2 years ago to Idaho is what caused me to get rid of my TW, that thing was scary and dangerous. I took the 4RT in the same area this year and had a blast, almost forgot I was hunting, I could easily go anywhere I pointed the bike with ease even with my backpack, bow and gear on my back. Several long steep uphills had me a litte nervous at first becasue I could tell other bikes had struggled to get up but the 4RT made it with ease, I got a little crossed up in a rut one time and was able to just side hill out of the rut and keep on going up a very steep hill.

I wish I had taken pictures. Another thing I love about the light little bike is that I was able to toss it into the back of my pickup under the topper by hand. Being fuel-injected I was able to just lay it on its side and not have to worry about flooding it. The only thing I need to do now is modify the fuel tank to hold more fuel, I put a handlebar tank on it for the trip and it worked well as a reserve but it's definitely not ideal.

I wish I had ditched the TW's years ago. My last TW was my 5th or 6th TW, I've also had BW200's and several XR's, KDX's, and two strokes over the years. IMO this Montesa is by far the best dedicated hunting bike I've been around. I'm also 5'6" and 165lbs so the low seat is a must for me, I wouldn't mind picking up a something like a Beta someday for more of an all around bike to use for longer adventure rides but I can't imagine anything outperforming the trials bike in technical stuff.

View attachment 976865

I'm looking at this pic and cringing... at the thought of relying on a Gas Tank that small when out in the woods and exhausted. Though I bet there's likely no place it couldn't get you to if you have the riding skillz.

 

[TheGDog]

QUESTION: for the guys who've bought KLX 300's with EFI.

I'm now around the vicinity of about 215Lbs most of the time, now that I'm post-surgery to fix my Hiatal Hernia issue.

So... the question I'm asking is... if you're also a rider around these same weight specs... for this bike.. did you have to get it re-sprung in order to be "happy" with it? And by "happy" I mean when you're then electing to just have fun on it, out in the dirt... do you find yourself quickly pushing past the limits of the suspension in terms of wallowing, or bottoming-out, and not being able to turn a fine line off a berm?

Pretty set on this model with the lower maintenance levels, and lower insurance costs.

I figure my lumbar disc bulges I now have will likely preclude me from riding a CRF450RL the way _I_ would just naturally want to haul azz on it anyway.

And I also figured that.. if I find that my back ends up just not being able to take it.. I won't be worried about someday handing my son a KLX 300 as a first larger sized bike, rather than a CRF450RL, which I know he'd just end up getting himself hurt on. I couldn't live with myself if that happened. Plus it's like DOUBLE the cost to buy a CRF450RL.

 

[Taudisio]

QUESTION: for the guys who've bought KLX 300's with EFI.

I'm now around the vicinity of about 215Lbs most of the time, now that I'm post-surgery to fix my Hiatal Hernia issue.

So... the question I'm asking is... if you're also a rider around these same weight specs... for this bike.. did you have to get it re-sprung in order to be "happy" with it? And by "happy" I mean when you're then electing to just have fun on it, out in the dirt... do you find yourself quickly pushing past the limits of the suspension in terms of wallowing, or bottoming-out, and not being able to turn a fine line off a berm?

Pretty set on this model with the lower maintenance levels, and lower insurance costs.

I figure my lumbar disc bulges I now have will likely preclude me from riding a CRF450RL the way _I_ would just naturally want to haul azz on it anyway.

And I also figured that.. if I find that my back ends up just not being able to take it.. I won't be worried about someday handing my son a KLX 300 as a first larger sized bike, rather than a CRF450RL, which I know he'd just end up getting himself hurt on. I couldn't live with myself if that happened. Plus it's like DOUBLE the cost to buy a CRF450RL.

I weigh the same as you, but I don’t ride fast or ride much outside of hunting and scouting, so I can’t give you any relevant info. I use it like a 4 cylinder jeep wrangler.

 

[nphunter]

I'm looking at this pic and cringing... at the thought of relying on a Gas Tank that small when out in the woods and exhausted. Though I bet there's likely no place it couldn't get you to if you have the riding skillz.

I added a handlebar tank. But it’s still not great, I’m planning on having the tank modified to hold more fuel.