200cc Dual Sport On the Freeway?

roketa200E5 · 07-21-2010, 02:16 PM

Spud, how fast can my bike go? The reason I want it to go faster is because I kind of don't want to load this thing up on a hitch rack and drive it to other OHV all the time.

The nearest OHV is mostly rocks, and kind of small so I'm already tired of it. Besides, I have to take my chance to see the right ranger who'll let me in because of that missing USFS label on the exhaust.

I know it's not a good idea to take these things to the FWY, but I think I'll be ok if I choose the right time of the day.

I don't really need that much offroad capability, because the purpose is just for me to ride in the nature and unwire. I'm not all that into riding on the road either, I just want to get there. ~60 miles on FWY each way.

SpudRider · 07-21-2010, 04:28 PM

R200,

You asked an excellent question, so I split your post and started a new topic for you.

I want your question to receive maximum exposure, and input, from a variety of our forum members.

In my opinion, it is not safe to ride a 200cc. dual sport motorcycle on limited access highways, especially in densely populated areas possessing aggressive, reckless drivers. 8O The 200cc bikes can't go fast enough to keep up with the traffic flow, let alone have the reserve power necessary to speed away from impending trouble. I am sure FastDoc will soon offer the wisdom of his experience regarding this matter.

Personally, I would not ride my 200cc motorcycle on the freeway, in California, for even 5 miles, let alone 60 miles. 8O

Spud

roketa200E5 · 07-21-2010, 07:52 PM

Oh OK, I guess I'll just have to load and unload.

I'm just curious, what's the top speed on these things with various modifications of course.

davidsonsgccc · 07-21-2010, 09:53 PM

spud is right about not having the extra power needed to manuver quickly.

however i ride about 2 miles every morning on I-75 and i hold my speed at 60 mph. that is fast as i am willing to ride for an extended period of time. if i would leave home about ten minutes earlier i would have the time to go through the city of Chattanooga like i do in the evenings.
I also travel to my parents house from work sometimes which requires about a 15+ min ride on the interstate. i always stay to the slow lane and it works pretty well. i had to get use to getting passed. the zong is a little loose at 60 and above but im use to it.

I wouldnt advise riding anywhere that you arent completely comfortable with and the traffic where you live may be alot more aggressive than here in the Ga/Tn area.

hope this helps shawn

SpudRider · 07-21-2010, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidsonsgccc

spud is right about not having the extra power needed to manuver quickly...

I wouldnt advise riding anywhere that you arent completely comfortable with and the traffic where you live may be alot more aggressive than here in the Ga/Tn area...

R200 lives in California, Shawn.

California is densely populated, and has some of the most aggressive drivers in The United States of America. 8O

Spud

roketa200E5 · 07-22-2010, 01:40 AM

Spud, I'm not that far away from Downtown Los Angeles. Tons of immigrants here drive around with their international passport in very expensive cars, so I upped my insurance coverages. No collision, of course.

Then there are the illegal immigrants who are equally foreign with driving plus the tendency to run because of the obvious circumstance they face that are not entirely their fault.

Yeap, gotta be very careful around here. There is just one thing, lane sharing is legal and these bikes are very slim.

---

Oh, dropped my bike again. I must have dropped this bike at least 10 times since I got it recently. No road rash, because I dropped at stop or near stop. I don't remember I was this clumsy of a rider in the past.

Now I need a clutch lever again.

AZ200cc · 07-22-2010, 02:07 AM

Most people would avoid putting a Ninja 250 on a freeway, I can't imagine a 200cc DS on one 8O YIKES!!

FastDoc · 07-22-2010, 11:38 AM

I am an EXPERT on this topic. :(

A 200cc bike is UNSAFE on a freeway 8O . You do not have the speed and acceleration to get out of any threat from behind. One of a bikes few safety advantages in traffic is that they usually have better acceleration than a car. Even a behemoth like my Gold WIng could keep up with a high performance Corvette like a ZO6.

But, a Zong or similar is running 100% to go 65 MPH. You can't out accelerate anything.

You may recall my getting run over last November. I have some permenant injuries and deformaties to remind me. :(

This goes double in the PRK, quadruple in the LA Basin.

A Ninja 250, BTW is an OK freeway bike. I had one a few months and a few thousand miles. It would top out at 105 with me on it, and run 75 easily with plenty of acceleration at freeway speed.

BillR · 07-23-2010, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastDoc

A 200cc bike is UNSAFE on a freeway 8O . You do not have the speed and acceleration to get out of any threat from behind. One of a bikes few safety advantages in traffic is that they usually have better acceleration than a car. Even a behemoth like my Gold WIng could keep up with a high performance Corvette like a ZO6.

But, a Zong or similar is running 100% to go 65 MPH. You can't out accelerate anything.

You may recall my getting run over last November. I have some permenant injuries and deformaties to remind me. :(

This goes double in the PRK, quadruple in the LA Basin.

A Ninja 250, BTW is an OK freeway bike. I had one a few months and a few thousand miles. It would top out at 105 with me on it, and run 75 easily with plenty of acceleration at freeway speed.

DITTO.
These things top out at around 65 and there's nothing left.
That's one reason I went to the 660 Skorpion, drop 2 gears and wrap the throttle, I'm doing 90 and can get out of the way.
I usually accelerate when I see 'em coming up behind me and get some clear road to slow back to pace and let 'em by.
Put it on the truck for that long of a ride.
Or Googlemap and find the backroads.

Bill

fishman10 · 07-24-2010, 05:36 PM

or get one of these if your truck has a cap.

kens · 07-25-2010, 01:12 AM

I rode my gy250 today for 50 km on a paved secondary highway and I can certanly tell that it is under powered to ride with the "big boys" on the highway.Bike still rocks off road.

Even with my smaller rear sproket I could not go any faster then 80 km.
RPM's were good though...6500rpm at 80 km and running smooth

kens97sto171 · 07-26-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZ200cc

Most people would avoid putting a Ninja 250 on a freeway, I can't imagine a 200cc DS on one 8O YIKES!!

Why??? the Ninja 250 will do 105-110MPH...plenty of passing power from 60MPH... it is a light bike and that does scare some people. hell the ninj is lighter than our DS's now the 200cc china bike is a different story.. i do ride mine on the freeway, but its not fun. mine will do 65+ with a 46t rear sproket.

SpudRider · 07-26-2010, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kens97sto171

... i do ride mine on the freeway, but its not fun. mine will do 65+ with a 46t rear sproket.

It is not merely unpleasant to ride your 200cc, dual sport motorcycle on the freeway; it is certainly dangerous as well. I pray you will not be harmed. :(

Spud

FastDoc · 07-26-2010, 05:02 PM

I know that better than most. I'm sure my X-Rays are still in the forum here somewhere from last November.

BAD MISTAKE. I have over a quarter million miles experiance on motorcycles and learned that lesson the hard, and dumb way. I don't recommend it to anyone else.

kens97sto171 · 07-26-2010, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpudRider

Quote:

Originally Posted by kens97sto171

... i do ride mine on the freeway, but its not fun. mine will do 65+ with a 46t rear sproket.

It is not merely unpleasant to ride your 200cc, dual sport motorcycle on the freeway; it is certainly dangerous as well. I pray you will not be harmed. :(

Spud

Riding in general is dangerous.. if your looking for "safe" don't ride at all.
Where I live people run 60-65 in the right lane, during rush hour its even less. Even on the little 200cc bike I am usually running with traffic just fine. Bt the bike is not the most stable thing at that speed, that scares me more than the lack of power.
I don't ride the china bike much anyway now that I have my CX500, And I prefer the back roads anyway on either bike.

07-21-2010, 04:28 PM	#2
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	R200, You asked an excellent question, so I split your post and started a new topic for you. I want your question to receive maximum exposure, and input, from a variety of our forum members. In my opinion, it is not safe to ride a 200cc. dual sport motorcycle on limited access highways, especially in densely populated areas possessing aggressive, reckless drivers. 8O The 200cc bikes can't go fast enough to keep up with the traffic flow, let alone have the reserve power necessary to speed away from impending trouble. I am sure FastDoc will soon offer the wisdom of his experience regarding this matter. Personally, I would not ride my 200cc motorcycle on the freeway, in California, for even 5 miles, let alone 60 miles. 8O Spud __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
	0

07-21-2010, 09:53 PM	#4
davidsonsgccc Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chickamauga, Ga. Posts: 278	spud is right about not having the extra power needed to manuver quickly. however i ride about 2 miles every morning on I-75 and i hold my speed at 60 mph. that is fast as i am willing to ride for an extended period of time. if i would leave home about ten minutes earlier i would have the time to go through the city of Chattanooga like i do in the evenings. I also travel to my parents house from work sometimes which requires about a 15+ min ride on the interstate. i always stay to the slow lane and it works pretty well. i had to get use to getting passed. the zong is a little loose at 60 and above but im use to it. I wouldnt advise riding anywhere that you arent completely comfortable with and the traffic where you live may be alot more aggressive than here in the Ga/Tn area. hope this helps shawn __________________ my help may not be the best but it is free+-Seek ye first the kingdom of GOD
	0

07-22-2010, 02:07 AM	#7
AZ200cc Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Show Low Arizona Posts: 2,889	Most people would avoid putting a Ninja 250 on a freeway, I can't imagine a 200cc DS on one 8O YIKES!! __________________ <br />2001 Suzuki DR200SE<br />1997 Suzuki RM250 YIKES<br />1995 Yamaha Breeze 125 daughters<br />1991 Honda XR80r Restored<br />maybe a 2003 Yamaha TTR90
	0

07-22-2010, 11:38 AM	#8
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	I am an EXPERT on this topic. :( A 200cc bike is UNSAFE on a freeway 8O . You do not have the speed and acceleration to get out of any threat from behind. One of a bikes few safety advantages in traffic is that they usually have better acceleration than a car. Even a behemoth like my Gold WIng could keep up with a high performance Corvette like a ZO6. But, a Zong or similar is running 100% to go 65 MPH. You can't out accelerate anything. You may recall my getting run over last November. I have some permenant injuries and deformaties to remind me. :( This goes double in the PRK, quadruple in the LA Basin. A Ninja 250, BTW is an OK freeway bike. I had one a few months and a few thousand miles. It would top out at 105 with me on it, and run 75 easily with plenty of acceleration at freeway speed. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

07-24-2010, 05:36 PM	#10
fishman10 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central PA Posts: 770	put it on the rack or get one of these if your truck has a cap. __________________ 2015 zongshen rx3,,(Sold),,,2016 bashan storm,,2005 Harley ultra classic.
	0

07-21-2010, 02:16 PM	#1
roketa200E5 Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 234	Spud, how fast can my bike go? The reason I want it to go faster is because I kind of don't want to load this thing up on a hitch rack and drive it to other OHV all the time. The nearest OHV is mostly rocks, and kind of small so I'm already tired of it. Besides, I have to take my chance to see the right ranger who'll let me in because of that missing USFS label on the exhaust. I know it's not a good idea to take these things to the FWY, but I think I'll be ok if I choose the right time of the day. I don't really need that much offroad capability, because the purpose is just for me to ride in the nature and unwire. I'm not all that into riding on the road either, I just want to get there. ~60 miles on FWY each way.
	0

07-21-2010, 07:52 PM	#3
roketa200E5 Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 234	Oh OK, I guess I'll just have to load and unload. I'm just curious, what's the top speed on these things with various modifications of course.
	0

07-22-2010, 01:40 AM	#6
roketa200E5 Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 234	Spud, I'm not that far away from Downtown Los Angeles. Tons of immigrants here drive around with their international passport in very expensive cars, so I upped my insurance coverages. No collision, of course. Then there are the illegal immigrants who are equally foreign with driving plus the tendency to run because of the obvious circumstance they face that are not entirely their fault. Yeap, gotta be very careful around here. There is just one thing, lane sharing is legal and these bikes are very slim. --- Oh, dropped my bike again. I must have dropped this bike at least 10 times since I got it recently. No road rash, because I dropped at stop or near stop. I don't remember I was this clumsy of a rider in the past. Now I need a clutch lever again.
	0

07-25-2010, 01:12 AM	#11
kens Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Golden BC Posts: 123	I rode my gy250 today for 50 km on a paved secondary highway and I can certanly tell that it is under powered to ride with the "big boys" on the highway.Bike still rocks off road. Even with my smaller rear sproket I could not go any faster then 80 km. RPM's were good though...6500rpm at 80 km and running smooth
	0

07-26-2010, 05:02 PM	#14
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	I know that better than most. I'm sure my X-Rays are still in the forum here somewhere from last November. BAD MISTAKE. I have over a quarter million miles experiance on motorcycles and learned that lesson the hard, and dumb way. I don't recommend it to anyone else. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0