Small bike adventure touring may sound cringeworthy to some riders, but that’s how I began exploring the backcountry while in high school. Schlepping my camping gear in a Kelty frame pack was an adventure in itself. Many years and miles later, and with Honda’s XR150L test bike in my garage, I was curious to see if I could relive the thrill of those early small bike excursions. My friend Jim was all in, eager to put some miles on his new Yamaha TW200. A simple plan was born: ride as many back roads and dirt roads as possible over three days.
Our first night’s camp would be atop the mountains in the background.
On the Road
A late start shortened our first leg to a highway jaunt over one mountain and a twisty ride up another to a favorite camp in Los Padres National Forest. The bikes were sluggish from the extra weight on the climbs, but still handled well enough for some fun in the turns. Up early, we took US 101 a few miles, stopping in Los Alamos to fill the TW’s 1.7-gallon tank for the next leg. Even with out 70 mpg average its tank drained quickly. The Honda is a tanker by comparison. With 2.8 gallons aboard, its range can extend to over 200 miles. Riders need fuel too, so we filled our own tanks while in town.
Small bike adventuring is inexpensive, even when gas isn’t.
The Fun Begins
Foxen Canyon Road, a favorite wine country run known for fast straights and slow turns, woke us up after a heavy breakfast. The straights weren’t so fast on these machines, but their diminutive size brings its own sense of speed, and the tight corners were still exciting. Tepusquet Canyon Road took us over the San Rafael Mountains. The bikes slowed as the grade increased, allowing us to take in the experience and the scenery, while the downhill side required frequent use of our front disc brakes. The rear drums on these motorcycles are decent assist units and useful for trail braking, but we depended on those discs for stopping.
California 166 would be our next challenge. Ten hectic miles on the two-lane highway were nine too many for our taste. Our bikes could maintain the 55 mph speed limit, with truck traffic rolling at 65 or better. Turning off at Miranda Pine Road brought us peace, quiet, and graded dirt. Several miles later we paused at Miranda Pines camp atop the Sierra Madre to enjoy views of Santa Barbara’s backcountry and Channel Islands.
Dodging Danger
Moving on, we were soon dealing with the ruts, rocks, and sandy sections that I remembered from past rides. Between them lay inviting stretches of smooth dirt that begged us to twist the throttles. We twisted, but cautiously, knowing the next corner could reveal a rock garden or a maze of ruts. There were moments when too much speed met too little suspension (and possibly talent), but the small bike handling skills we learned early in life served us well.
The XR’s suspension is soft at both ends, providing comfort and control over rough roads—up to a point. When pushed too hard the forks bottom out and the rear wheel whacks you in the rear. I kept things at the fun-but-comfy level, sufffering a couple of butt-smacks thanks to some large water bars. The TW has limited suspension as well but gets some help from its fat tires. We were pleased and amazed at how easy it was to ride these motorcycles fully loaded on a ratty road at a good pace. I can’t speak for Jim, but I was grinning most of the time.
As fun as these motos are, we missed having the power to spin the rear wheel and slide the turns. Lack of wheel spin also deprived us of steering with the throttle. We did find the small bikes very responsive to weight shifts, especially while standing, and navigated that way extensively. Jim spent much of our off-road travel on the TW’s pegs. The XR’s handlebar is too low for long-term standing comfort so I sat more. One needn’t look like a pro to enjoy an adventure ride.
Speed Test
Braking ability was tested again on the steep, twisting descent of Cottonwood Canyon. I found it much easier to ride this narrow cliff hanger aboard the XR than on my Ténéré 700. Our final thrill was setting a new speed record for the trip on the paved downhill run back to 166—70 mph! After a gas stop in New Cuyama we shuttled off to camp under massive oaks. Dinner was Jim’s famous jambalaya, washed down with fizzy drinks from the gas station mini-mart. Alone in the stone-still campground, we turned in early.
Read more: Small Bike Adventure Tour–Part 2, TW200 Trainer
Photos by author and James Norris
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