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Scooter for the Dempster: Which Small Scooter for Gravel and Maybe Mud. Scooter for the Dempster: Which Small Scooter for Gravel and Maybe Mud.
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
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  #1  
Old 17 Nov 2015
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I´d probably go with the Symba as it is the lightest option at 209 lbs. But then it is a bit of a trade-off with the automatic CVT of the People 150 which will be WAY easier to ride for a novice (but at 249 lbs weight).

Also the Symba is 1" lower in seat height than the People 150.

If seat height and weight were of no concern, I would go with the People 150.

As much as I am a sucker for 50cc´s I would not go with one.

Why not let your daughter decide, both the Symba and People 150 are really nice rides. In the end it boils down to liking a bike. That´s an emotion and we all know that girls might have different emotions as us guys many times.
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  #2  
Old 17 Nov 2015
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Originally Posted by pete3 View Post
Why not let your daughter decide, both the Symba and People 150 are really nice rides. In the end it boils down to liking a bike. That´s an emotion and we all know that girls might have different emotions as us guys many times.

Spot on!
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  #3  
Old 3 Dec 2015
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Independent of the choice of bike, I can give one advice to anybody planning to to the Dempster: set up camp and let the road dry, in case you catch heavy rain!

I did the Dempster in 2013 on a KLR 650 with reasonable tires. It started raining exactly when I reached Inuvik and didn't stop for two days. That second day was hell: the road gets slippy like wet soap or ice on some sections, were clay has been used as a surface material! Trucks will leave really deep tire tracks - once you are in, you will not get out again - or crash. And the mud gets stuck on everything that touches it, inches thick!

The southern part is better, but the northern half is really bad when it gets wet!
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  #4  
Old 9 Dec 2015
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Thanks for the comments.


As for the potential road conditions, I'm quite mindful of how devilish the Dempster and some other northern roads can be when seriously wet. One rainy summer a friend and I decided to take a crack at it on a F650 GS and a KLX250s. In Whitehorse we met a Polish KLR rider who had turned around part way up. He whipped out his Ipad and showed us a picture of his rear wheel nearly up to the axle in mud.


We did a bit of a reconnaissance, confirmed that it just wasn't our year for the Dempster and headed north into Alaska instead. The Top of the World Highway turned out to be a mudfest of its own but, fortunately, not as bad and not as long.
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  #5  
Old 10 Dec 2015
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Sachs Madass
I'd be looking for a Sachs Madass! (Sachs Nitro in Canada)

Easily adaptable, big wheels for better handling and off road tyres, fuel and luggage capable, light, strong and ergonomically designed, cult following, cool looking bike :-) Saw a couple of good low K examples for around the 2K mark :-)

http://www.madassarmy.com/about.html
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  #6  
Old 8 Jul 2016
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I would go for a Honda wave 125cc. These bikes are used throughout Asia on all types of terrain.

I would respectfully disagree with the comments that Knobbies are a must. These bikes are light and can easily go over the mud or around it. For really slick mud you can put your feet down as pontoons and or for steadying the bike.

I have seen girls on these bikes in high heels go past big guys on big dirt bikes who have crashed in mud.
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Old 8 Jul 2016
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Originally Posted by shadow6491 View Post
I would go for a Honda wave 125cc. These bikes are used throughout Asia on all types of terrain.

I would respectfully disagree with the comments that Knobbies are a must. These bikes are light and can easily go over the mud or around it. For really slick mud you can put your feet down as pontoons and or for steadying the bike.

I have seen girls on these bikes in high heels go past big guys on big dirt bikes who have crashed in mud.
That shows how much weight means in rough conditions....
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