So, I've had an XR650L for 15+ years, modded for mostly off road/desert etc and love it.. however last year picked up an older XT225 (93) even has a kickstart backup.. for hanging on the back of the camper for high country forest camping in the AZ hot summers as the 365lb wet weight of the XRL was just too much to hang on the back of the camper (XT225 is 245lbs)...also it is small enough my wife can putt around on it .. For me, at first it felt under sprung (i'm 5'11 and 215lbs/57y) but if ridden within it's envelope has become a fun little bike, I've since upgraded the shock spring, Seat Concepts seat, similar rear rack, have fork springs on the way, a Clarke 4gal coming (mostly for looks, as my stock tank is pretty dinged up). It is a lot less work to ride than the 650L, but, again is at a lower stress/pace (safer?) style of riding.. if I keep my head calibrated to what bike I'm on it's all good. The 650 wins for things that require extended highway/high speed hauls, but, Heck, it might even be the pick for a Moab/White Rim rd. ride over the 650 based on it's easy manners, light weight, is reliable and quite and the 70+mpg is icing on the cake..
You hit the nail on the head with "riding within its envelope". The only people I know who are unhappy with an XT225 or XT250 are the ones that are trying to make it into something it isn't. If you want to fly by cars on the freeway, or win motocross races, you'll probably be disappointed with these bikes. If you want to just get out and enjoy some trails on something that is low stress, won't quit, and can go anywhere, these guys are amazing.
@@HighDesertHills update, got the Racetec .48kg fork springs in running 20w fork oil, the 7.1kg Cogent shock spring on, Clarke 4gal tank (holds 3.5) and I must say, I can really pick up the pace.. not like the 650L, it can still be overwhelmed if I really push it but light-years better than stock..if purely off road, and running 14/45 gearing it's actually as or more capable than the big bike like when a trail dead ends into a fully committed hill climb, the smaller bike is less scary to paddle up and or turn around than the Beast...ask me how I know.. :)
Awesome! Light bikes are the way to go, in my opinion. I can only imagine what a 650 would be like trying to get out of a tough spot, because my biggest bike is a CRF300L. But even that bike, which is very light compared to a 650, is a lot trickier to manhandle out of a jam that the XT.
I currently have a very clean ‘07 225, and been toying with the idea of upgrading to the 300 Rally. Would really love to hear your opinion/comparison video(??) between the two bikes since you have access and experience with both! Happy riding! 😃
Hey Justin, I thought about doing a comparison video between the XT225 and the 300L Rally, but then realized it would be almost identical to my comparison video between the XT250 and the Rally. The main difference between the two XTs being that the 225 has a carb, whereas the 250 is fuel injected. If you're ok with the seat height being quite a bit higher on the Rally, I think it's a great "next" bike to get from the XT225. It'll give you much more confidence on higher speed roads, and the Rally in particular (over the standard 300L) will give you right around a 250 mile range on a single tank. That said, it is heavier and not as bullet proof as an XT225. I feel like I could toss the XT225 off a cliff, then hike down and drive it home. The Rally has a radiator to worry about, and a bunch more plastic to break.
It's funny you mentioned the horn thing I test rode a Honda crf450rl a couple of weeks ago and I rode my ninja 400 to the test ride and I kept hitting the damn horn on the honda because of the swapped position of the horn and turn signals then on the way home I hit the horn on the ninja
I wish I knew more about the DR200. The seat height is the same between the two, so both are great choices if that’s a concern. Unfortunately, I’ve never ridden a DR, so I can’t be of much help. I can say the XT is awesome though 🙂
XT225 all day. We have had both and even my wife who is small and light complained about DR200 power and suspension. The XT is stronger and does not bottom out so easy. The DR wins on fuel range due to a bigger tank and maybe on appearance.
50-60 feels fine for a while. The longest I've ridden continuously on this bike at about 60 was around an hour, and that was enough for me. If you're planning on longer rides than that at those speeds, this bike might be more tiring than bikes with a little more juice.
I love my 2003 x225 great video
Thanks!
So, I've had an XR650L for 15+ years, modded for mostly off road/desert etc and love it.. however last year picked up an older XT225 (93) even has a kickstart backup.. for hanging on the back of the camper for high country forest camping in the AZ hot summers as the 365lb wet weight of the XRL was just too much to hang on the back of the camper (XT225 is 245lbs)...also it is small enough my wife can putt around on it .. For me, at first it felt under sprung (i'm 5'11 and 215lbs/57y) but if ridden within it's envelope has become a fun little bike, I've since upgraded the shock spring, Seat Concepts seat, similar rear rack, have fork springs on the way, a Clarke 4gal coming (mostly for looks, as my stock tank is pretty dinged up). It is a lot less work to ride than the 650L, but, again is at a lower stress/pace (safer?) style of riding.. if I keep my head calibrated to what bike I'm on it's all good. The 650 wins for things that require extended highway/high speed hauls, but, Heck, it might even be the pick for a Moab/White Rim rd. ride over the 650 based on it's easy manners, light weight, is reliable and quite and the 70+mpg is icing on the cake..
You hit the nail on the head with "riding within its envelope". The only people I know who are unhappy with an XT225 or XT250 are the ones that are trying to make it into something it isn't. If you want to fly by cars on the freeway, or win motocross races, you'll probably be disappointed with these bikes. If you want to just get out and enjoy some trails on something that is low stress, won't quit, and can go anywhere, these guys are amazing.
@@HighDesertHills update, got the Racetec .48kg fork springs in running 20w fork oil, the 7.1kg Cogent shock spring on, Clarke 4gal tank (holds 3.5) and I must say, I can really pick up the pace.. not like the 650L, it can still be overwhelmed if I really push it but light-years better than stock..if purely off road, and running 14/45 gearing it's actually as or more capable than the big bike like when a trail dead ends into a fully committed hill climb, the smaller bike is less scary to paddle up and or turn around than the Beast...ask me how I know.. :)
Awesome! Light bikes are the way to go, in my opinion. I can only imagine what a 650 would be like trying to get out of a tough spot, because my biggest bike is a CRF300L. But even that bike, which is very light compared to a 650, is a lot trickier to manhandle out of a jam that the XT.
I currently have a very clean ‘07 225, and been toying with the idea of upgrading to the 300 Rally. Would really love to hear your opinion/comparison video(??) between the two bikes since you have access and experience with both! Happy riding! 😃
Hey Justin, I thought about doing a comparison video between the XT225 and the 300L Rally, but then realized it would be almost identical to my comparison video between the XT250 and the Rally. The main difference between the two XTs being that the 225 has a carb, whereas the 250 is fuel injected.
If you're ok with the seat height being quite a bit higher on the Rally, I think it's a great "next" bike to get from the XT225. It'll give you much more confidence on higher speed roads, and the Rally in particular (over the standard 300L) will give you right around a 250 mile range on a single tank. That said, it is heavier and not as bullet proof as an XT225. I feel like I could toss the XT225 off a cliff, then hike down and drive it home. The Rally has a radiator to worry about, and a bunch more plastic to break.
I love my 2022 xt250! I hope they do FI in the TW id buy one if they did that
A FI TW would be awesome!
Agreed less is more when it comes to bikes. It needs a name, like glamorous camping Glamping but for biking.. Glamking🤷♂️😂
😂
It's funny you mentioned the horn thing I test rode a Honda crf450rl a couple of weeks ago and I rode my ninja 400 to the test ride and I kept hitting the damn horn on the honda because of the swapped position of the horn and turn signals then on the way home I hit the horn on the ninja
The struggle is real 😂
@@HighDesertHills right
Sir
i am confused between xt 225 and dr 200 ...
I wish I knew more about the DR200. The seat height is the same between the two, so both are great choices if that’s a concern. Unfortunately, I’ve never ridden a DR, so I can’t be of much help. I can say the XT is awesome though 🙂
XT225 all day. We have had both and even my wife who is small and light complained about DR200 power and suspension. The XT is stronger and does not bottom out so easy. The DR wins on fuel range due to a bigger tank and maybe on appearance.
@@randyholcombe4234
Thanks brother
Is there any reliability issues about XT
Such as poor spokes qualiy
Etc...
Hey im new to riding and wonder if the bike can handle 50 to 60 for longer rides on the high way?
50-60 feels fine for a while. The longest I've ridden continuously on this bike at about 60 was around an hour, and that was enough for me. If you're planning on longer rides than that at those speeds, this bike might be more tiring than bikes with a little more juice.