Different bikes, different styles

As I mentioned in “Riding Brewster Park”, I ride a two-stroke KTM. Part of why I love it is because it’s got a snappy powerband – without being too uncontrollable.

 

Although it does get a little tiring on long days, I personally like a quick-moving bike for the trails and jeep roads. It may not get you there faster, but the ability to pop the front tire over obstacles is not only fun, but useful in some cases. (Ok, so maybe all fun…)

 

The two biggest downsides to riding a capable 2-stroke in the mountains, I feel, are having to premix gas for it, and having no engine braking capabilities. Although neither is a big problem, they both get tiresome – especially when you have to ride the brakes all the way down a mountain pass…

 

Then there’s my dad’s Kawasaki Super Sherpa. About the opposite of mine. Slow to rev up, mellow, and easy to ride (comparatively speaking). It gets around just as well as the KTM, just at a more even pace. That might have to do with the rider, though…