Can’t argue with that logic.Quote:
Originally Posted by ebf
Going round in circles a bit at the moment but it’s good because you fellas are giving me a lot to think about and I appreciate that. Lots of good ideas and info.
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Can’t argue with that logic.Quote:
Originally Posted by ebf
Going round in circles a bit at the moment but it’s good because you fellas are giving me a lot to think about and I appreciate that. Lots of good ideas and info.
Yeah they give that impression but I've used one daily since they came out and I can assure you they are a comfy saddle.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7mmwsm
My advice to the Op would be get a crf230 it will go forever and you'll sell it for as much as you brought it for, adjustable ride height, great brakes and suspension which is important for your boys learning.
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I’m thinking the CRF230 is likely to be the next round of consideration @BRADS… For a paddock learner it’s probably a level up from what we need.
Like I said, going round in circles a bit, but this morning we had a family meeting and agreed that boys are not going to try and run before they can walk, and that some of their ideas of what constitutes a sensible option are a tad unrealistic (you can imagine the kind of thing that catches their eye).
We went through all the intermediate bike options and kind of backed off a bit. I think @ebf is probably closest to where my gut feel is, get a traditional farm bike with crash protection, decent condition secondhand at a sensible price, something that will not see boys shedding tears over when they drop it. There’s a couple of options locally which makes life easy. A decent farm bike like a Stockman would be very useful for me long-term for access into certain hunting areas.
Once they’ve been passed as competent and responsible, then round two can commence and then I think we’ll be looking into proper trail bikes.
i’ll probably change my mind again sometime this afternoon.
Depending if the boys are mechanically inclined, fixing up an older bike could also be a fun family project.
I got a mudbug off here several years ago, and was happily surprised by how cheap parts were. The older 2-stroke bikes are very easy to work on - drum brakes, simple engines etc. Sold it when the Mrs started grumbling about it taking up too much space in the back yard - still regret selling it.
CRF230 - you cant go wrong.
all gone sorry.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7mmwsm
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...8012557756787/
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Go for the following excellent bikes available under $2000.
ZHTY 26-In 24-Speed Mountain Bike
YM-007 Mountain Bike
ZHANGZHANG Folding Mountain Bike
All of these are super and love bikes.
I’ve got a Honda CT200 Auto Ag here. Did it up as a project after neighbours son pulled it to bits. Stripped down to the frame, undercoated and top coated with epoxy, painted tank, new decals, oil changed, new fork boots, new battery. Electric start; goes first pop. Some light rust on rims, but vg rubber. Excellent seat. Have a couple of fish bins of spares including full motor, levers, guards, lights etc etc.
Needing attention: speedo doesnt work. I haven’t yet removed speedo (have spare) to see if inner is spinning. Might be other end. Rear brake a tad weak; possibly new shoes needed. Bit busy this arvo, but could post pics, discuss price if interested.
Attachment 204764
Ct200 Auto G
Excellent. Be sure to keep on loving them.Quote:
Originally Posted by andreson23
You could say I'm biased when it comes to farm bikes...
Attachment 204777
Attachment 204778
@Ryan_Songhurst don't put to many hours on the 500 keep trading them before they get the dreaded knock. better gearing in them then the 3 speed 700
The older one is a 500, 5 spd manual only, the new one is a 520 with 5spd manual/auto. Brilliant machines on the hills can nip around narrow tracks etc and go far more places than the bigger sxs's. Limited on towing capability etc but that's not what we need them for anyhow. Will trade them at 3 years, older one on it's last season with us now, only spent money on servicing and one front axle and CV assembly.Quote:
Originally Posted by bigbear
How many Honda loyalty points have you earned...:yaeh am not durnk:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst
I got a free hat hahahaQuote:
Originally Posted by Black Rabbit
The 500 is so handy, only 100mm wider than a quad, but better in many ways, including the ability to have it fully enclosed with a heater.
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How about this, origin from Honda, 150cc-220cc, factory price is 1.5k more or less, depends, extra cost is shipping, export & import tax, fees.
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No way....:P Dealer should give your a farmland card and free beers for every time you are in town:yaeh am not durnk:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst
He's got my farmlands card number tattooed on his wrist hahahaQuote:
Originally Posted by Black Rabbit
There used to be a saying back in the 60's 'You meet the nicest people on a Honda'. Any truth in that?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst
When I saw this thread just now I thought that looks interesting, and then realised I started it.
So, an update.
A good while back we went to a mate’s place in the top of the Coromandel, very large, easy country sheep farm. Had the chance to ride several different bikes, the Suzuki DR200, Honda CRF250, a Yamaha (forget which one), a Mud Bug and a Kawasaki Stockman. The boys loved the CRF - hands down the winner. I realised the older boy could already ride a motorbike just fine (he has learned on the sly at his mates place the cheeky bugger) and the younger one got the hang of it in one session, just pootling about at first then in the arvo a long tour around the farm. Was really pleased with their competence and how quick they got the basics sorted.
They moaned when we went home with the Stockman on a loan and needed a “that is what is on offer so be grateful you little bastards”. They really really wanted that CRF, Which just proves how important image is in their minds. Since then they mastered the Stockman and we’ve given it back. In the meantime I acquired a pearler of a Honda TRX300 4WD off here which I am really really happy with and is a perfect quad for the boys to really get the hang of some of the tougher tracks. Super light and nimble and not overpowered but more than enough to do the job. The only problem is that inevitably the 14-year-old F1 superfan is tempted to drive the quad like a go-kart. This has landed him in very hot water with me and he is on a temporary ban at the moment. Luckily the older one is much more sensible.
Just in the time that this thread has been alive my younger boy has shot up and at 14 and 16 they are now both taller than me, and the younger one in particular is strong as. What this means is that fairly shortly we will be able to buy a decent full sized bike rather than a smaller learner. So it’s been a good exercise so far, thanks for all the suggestions.
Just keep it in mind that every year we lose guys that ride quads every single day as part of making a living and if it can happen to them it can happen to anyone. They're a tool, certainly not a toy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyblown
Na, I'm a prickQuote:
Originally Posted by outlander
Yep. You have to try really hard to kill yourself on a two wheeler. Break yourself, yeah easy. But kill yourself, you generally have to be doing warp speed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst
Quad bike on the other hand, stop concentrating for just a tad, get tired and stop actively riding them and they'll easy break you in half, stab you, squash you or just right out kill you.
100kg that you can part ways with, easy as pie
or 400kg that follows you around and around as you rolly polley off down the hill...
& I'd say most of us guys that use them daily would have stories that would rather not say about with near miss to
I had a quad and sold it when the boys starting riding/breaking it.
Spoke with an older bloke at the yards one day and what he said was this.
Us farmers killed ourselves on horses then tractors and now quads.
2 wheelers are easy to bail off.
Quads scare me.
I reckon they are more riskier than road bikes where you have cars to worry about.
I have probably travelled 250,000 kms in last 20 years or so on road bikes ,a wee bit.
Yep quads are sweet as for straight up or down hills but sideways, nope rolly polly boom crash
I subscribe to this theory. I use a quad in very gnarly hill country and do not have close misses or ever feel at risk, because I am sensible. Conservative and patient and not in the slightest bit interested in taking shortcuts, especially not those that involve riding diagonally across slopes. I park and walk where others ride.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7mmwsm
Fact is when it comes to teenagers we have a duty of care to get them to understand limits on all types of vehicles they will encounter. Two wheels, four wheels, bikes, quads, cars… we can go on about how dangerous quads and that’s fair enough, but everything is dangerous if you’re a dickhead. Take me back 40 years to when we started driving cars and bikes on the road, and I prefer not to remember some of the shit that went down. But I do remember the lads that were lost.
I’ve got two sons. On wheels, one is very conservative and sensible, the other is a dickhead. It gives me the shits and worries me greatly, but at least I know he’s got dickhead tendency and can work on that. I’d hate not to know and find out the hard way when its too late.
The "it wont happen to me" attitude is unfortunately what kills a lot of people. It should always be front of mind no matter how safe or experienced you think you are
Great post, could fill a few pages with my near misses with quads over the years more as younger fullah...Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst
I think the day of the quad as a farm tool is almost done, the purchase cost vs side buy side used to stand up for a few but now heck a new quad is 20k +!
It's interesting that the old farmers ( shit thats me[emoji1787]) who said they would never have a side buy side there farms to wet or steep once they've driven one for a bit you never see them out there on there quad.
And yes have lost a few good mates over the years on quads, been to few calls in the fire truck to quad rolls its not pretty.
I'm not saying side buy sides are perfect, we still have a quad in the shed but sure no which one is more forgiving.
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There’s 3 guys that I refuse to go in a s-x-s with when they are driving. Never again. That says it all really.
Ryan, is the “it’ll never happen to me” comment a response to my post immediately prior to that?
Time for a visit to the Harley shop then...Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst
Regardless of cross country vehicle type there's almost never just one thing that leads to an accident or fatality. This example that I became involved in reviewing was the classic example of the 'Swiss cheese' model of why accidents happen (lots of little things omitted or done incorrectly can lead to a very big end result).
https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-heral...itish-tourists
Lots of little things:
Jet lagged
Big night prior
Headed off late
No permission to be where they were
no physical route recon on the ground
little familiarity to operating a side x side
guide leading the way on a quad, when guiding 'school bus' sized side x sides
Running behind schedule
As indicated in comments above its easiest to not make mistakes when you are in charge, and you ensure you don't place any pressures on your decision making processes
