Trail bike [?] for field work

[Elric]

Folks, some of the treks I've made to kill Honeysuckle are 750M, others are much longer.

Thinking of a motorized bike [not electric, $$$]. While the Rokon is MUY Macho, it is very heavy, and it would require a sturdy trailer. That's why I sold the UTV, it was about 1,000 lbs and darn near took up a 5x8 foot trailer all by itself. And required my Silverado 1500 [with a staggering 18MPG!!!] to tow it. My Rogue is not a vehicle with a transmission for pulling stumps, let me assure you...

Idly looking for a trail bike, but not of the motocross / extreme sport / hang time stuff. A simple bike that does not need a big swing arm at the back. This is for farm trails or relatively smooth ground. No steep hill climbing. It is possible that nothing exists that will fill my desires. Not the first time my fantasies did not come true. Less than 300 pounds, less is better. The idea of a trailer hitch mounted carrier has crossed my mind...

I'd figure that someone in this collection of characters has tried something like this. Somewhat wider tires, this will not be a street bike. Yeah, take my Rice Rocket out to the Bottoms and open 'er up... I can get to the scene of the accident SO much faster....

 

[Bret4207]

The perfct bike for you is a Honda Trail 90 or the older 55. Finding one is another issue entirely. Not sure there's anything like them anymore.

 

[Joshua]

I know a father son hunting team that has been running those trail 90s for a few decades. They are cheaters as they run them illegally behind timber company gates. They like the fact that you can just lean them over and wheel them under the gates. They aren’t very load. And even when they get caught, they are so cute that half the time it doesn’t even create a ruckus.

That reminds me that a Honda Ruckus might be the modern version of what you are looking for!

 

[Elric]

Honda Trail 90: A look Back at the First True Adventure Bike

One day when I was admiring an older fellow's 1968 Honda Trail 90 (aka CT90), he stunned me with the revelation of the little bike’s deadly secret.

ultimatemotorcycling.com

Options... I came across what probably a fully restored CT 90... In the thousands...

The Honda CT90 Page

 

[smokeywolf]

That brings back memories. As a kid, over a 5 year period I rode hundreds of miles on a Trail 55 and then two different (1 red, 1 yellow) Trail 90s. They were great little bikes.

EDIT to add: The bike in post #3 is reminiscent of the old Tote-Goat.

 

[RicinYakima]

Honda is still making the "Trail 125" on/off road. Not cheap but just what you need. FWIW

 

[fiver]

i'll second the slightly larger 125cc size bike.

 

[Bret4207]

I had a 55. Musta put thousands of miles on that thing. Top speed with the "trail" sprocket was 28mph. What a great bike!

 

[L Ross]

I had the fat tire version of a Yamaha TW 200. Wonderful bike.

 

[Mitty38]

Tractor supply sells these for like 400$ do not know how steep your hills are, might be a power issue. But buddy of mine uses one he modified, to get back to his deer stand, and he is not a small fellow

 

[creosote]

I traded some ammo for one last summer. Has a fake honda engine but goes pretty good.

This is an old one.
Tractor supply type stores have them tagged colman. And other brands.

 

[Glaciers]

Didn't someone make a fat tire bike that was rear and front drive? Name started with an "R"

 

[creosote]

Rokon

 

[Mitty38]

YEP

 

[Rally]

I'm with Lross for the Yamaha TW 200. I bought one new and still have it. I made a carrier for my trailer hitch and use it to jump landings when trapping. They are street legal and I've gotten 92 MPG out of it, running around farms in SD trapping for Delta Waterfowl. It's so quiet while running, the rabbits and cats in the trails, often try to run under it I get so close! I built a small rack on the back to carry beaver and gear out/ in.

 

[L Ross]

I'm with Lross for the Yamaha TW 200. I bought one new and still have it. I made a carrier for my trailer hitch and use it to jump landings when trapping. They are street legal and I've gotten 92 MPG out of it, running around farms in SD trapping for Delta Waterfowl. It's so quiet while running, the rabbits and cats in the trails, often try to run under it I get so close! I built a small rack on the back to carry beaver and gear out/ in.

A sad tale. I had this 1999 TW 200 Electric with almost no miles on it in mint condition I got from a friend who broke his leg on it trying to hill climb my land to turkey hunt. I got it for 1800 bucks. I sold my Honda 250 4 stroke enduro to my neighbor kid shootin' buddy. One day a guy pulled up and asked the kid if he wanted to sell the Honda. I had sold it cheap as a favor and he offered the kid a tidy profit so he sold it. The kid being a late teen and guileless did not realize he was selling it too cheap and the stranger rode away with a very restorable bargain bike.

A year later when the kid was bemoaning the sale of the Enduro, I foolishly caved and sold him the Yamaha as I just did not use it enough to justify all the costs associated with it. I sold it to him for what I paid. Sure as shootin' he sold that one shortly thereafter when he decided he needed a Sportster for a street bike. But again, he sold it too cheap. Young and dumb, and needing money.

 

[Bret4207]

View attachment 19983Tractor supply sells these for like 400$ do not know how steep your hills are, might be a power issue. But buddy of mine uses one he modified, to get back to his deer stand, and he is not a small fellow

I'd be super careful of those. Another Coleman "Hisun" product. We got Gordy one and it's not got 20 hours of run time on it. I think it's on it's 2nd or 3rd carb and still won't start...

 

[Bret4207]

I'm with Lross for the Yamaha TW 200. I bought one new and still have it. I made a carrier for my trailer hitch and use it to jump landings when trapping. They are street legal and I've gotten 92 MPG out of it, running around farms in SD trapping for Delta Waterfowl. It's so quiet while running, the rabbits and cats in the trails, often try to run under it I get so close! I built a small rack on the back to carry beaver and gear out/ in.

Just looked that one up. Looks like a real trail bike. Wonder what they cost- one arm or both?

 

[RicinYakima]

When I looked it up, they were locally listed for $4775. A grand more than a Honda Trail 125.

 

[Elric]

Another Coleman "Hisun" product

Say no more. My Dad bought a "YardSport" YS400 from Menards. Made by HiSun. Body wasn't bad, but the carburetor was poor in cold weather. Though that could have been cracked vacuum lines. Sold it for $500 and thought it was the best thing I could do. Now if you have a farm or ready access [and desire] to use it alot, it would be OK.

Loud engine. Hot seat [not a Freudian slip] once it got up to temp. Though it is a clone [Rhino?] it isn't very compatible.... I did manage to get it to run good, replaced some vacuum lines and a [poorly documented] air valve. Changing the oil filter is a scream. Air filter is just a pain, but easier. The old man bought what turned out to be a transitional model. A mix of the fully carbureted parts list, spiced up with a little of the EFI parts [but not the ones that make life easier]. Never knew the Red Chinese could copy the poorest designs and sell them for big bucks...