Motorcycle Hunting

[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.

 

[Steve300xcw]

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.

 

[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.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Yea this was for general woods riding for one of the guys, the other was just getting back on a bike after years off.

Beta,ktm,husky,sherco are all good bikes. If buying new I'd keep an eye open for left over bikes. Sometimes they sell for cheap to get rid of them.

just an example



There is a reason the newer 250/300 two strokes are so popular.THEY ARE NOTHING LIKE AN OLD CR250...Pretty cool when an old man putput bike can also shred

If seat height is going to be an issue, I would focus more on the bikes with linkage. As they are easier to lower.

 

[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.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I wouldn't be afraid to buy used either.

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.

 

[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

 

[Steve300xcw]

Think I paid $9k for my sherco. They had just started to discount the ones they had left. End of summer that same bike was $7k

 

[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.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I think you'd be over what the bikes springs are rated for. That said 80% of people out there, dont even know you can change out springs, let alone why...

I'd upgrade that shit as the need arises

 

[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.