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7 Jun 2010
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The franglais-riders
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For shorties: forget overpriced Serow, get the Rieju Tango 250cc!
Well it has taken me over a year pondering which bike I would get to go off-road riding, getting much needed training in preparation for the next trip.
Being a shortie, all the little trail bikes I looked at were with seats of 900mm at least. Ridiculous. And I did not wnat a 125! No way!
Then I turned up by chance to a shop few weeks ago, and there she was! I sat on it, my feet were almost flat on the ground, at 101kg, a 250cc yamaha engine... Spanish built... Rieju is huge in Spain and has very good reviews in spanish forums.
At GBP 3099 OTR it is 2500 pounds cheaper than a Serow (seen on sale in autotrader for over 5600 pounds! Crazy money  !)
Anyhow, I have ordered my bran new Tango 250 off-road version. I shall get it in 2 weeks time I think.
I will report on it once I've taken it on trails. In the meantime, you can watch at how the little brother (the 125cc) rides on dirt:
YouTube - Rieju Tango 250 video prova off road
I can't stop smiling!!!!! 
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7 Jun 2010
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Wonderful Maria !! I'm sure you will have a blast on it..
It's much more fun not fighting a big fat lardy bike isnt it.. 
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
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8 Jun 2010
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Super Moderator
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I'll be interested in how you get on with it. 65mph top speed would be ideal for Morocco. I keep getting tempted by the Serow but you are right, it's silly money.
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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
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8 Jun 2010
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Moderator, Contributing Member
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maria41
Well it has taken me over a year pondering which bike I would get to go off-road riding, getting much needed training in preparation for the next trip.
Being a shortie, all the little trail bikes I looked at were with seats of 900mm at least. Ridiculous. And I did not wnat a 125! No way!
Then I turned up by chance to a shop few weeks ago, and there she was! I sat on it, my feet were almost flat on the ground, at 101kg, a 250cc yamaha engine... Spanish built... Rieju is huge in Spain and has very good reviews in spanish forums.
At GBP 3099 OTR it is 2500 pounds cheaper than a Serow (seen on sale in autotrader for over 5600 pounds! Crazy money !)
Anyhow, I have ordered my bran new Tango 250 off-road version. I shall get it in 2 weeks time I think.
I will report on it once I've taken it on trails. In the meantime, you can watch at how the little brother (the 125cc) rides on dirt:
YouTube - Rieju Tango 250 video prova off road
I can't stop smiling!!!!! |
Hi Maria,
if you have half the fun with it than I've had with my Serow's then you're in for a treat. My 250 cost £3650 brand new back in 2005 and gave 75,000 miles sterling service before being written off by a white van driving tosser.
I couldn't afford another at £5299 and bought an unregistered 225 Serow, that was missing a few parts and got her back on the road for £2092.
The Rieju's are pretty well built little rascals and at 101kgs, that's way lighter than a Serow.
Looking forward to your write ups.
Regards
Reggie
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8 Jun 2010
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I'd been watching for a UK release of the Tango. I didn't think I'd be interested as the wheels are 16" & 19" and therefore I suspect harder to find tyres in some parts of the world. But at that price it must be worth a second look. I wonder if the 17" front and rear wheel option is worth considering and running the same tyre so you could swap them round if needed on a big trip.
It is really a Yamaha Tricker (UK grey import like the Serow 250) you should compare it to as that is the most similar bike if still available.
Are you at Ripley this year? If so is your Tango coming if delivered on time? Will your Tango being going on your next big trip?
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8 Jun 2010
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Super Moderator
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There's three different versions of the Tango, the one Maria is going for has 21-in front wheel, 18-in rear, see spec here.
The images here look very interesting.
The pictures here show the trail configuration with different wheels, but demonstrate how narrow the bike is.
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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
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8 Jun 2010
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Cheers Tim. I had seen a press release from about 12 months ago and that said 21/18 but the Rieuju site lists it as 16/19 or 17/17. I look forward to finding out what are on Maria's.
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8 Jun 2010
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Due to its weight advantage over the Serow,is it capable of carrying all your camping gear etc strength wise?
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'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'
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8 Jun 2010
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I am sure it can carry all the camping gear, but two up and camping gear? Fuel may be the biggest problem to overcome with a range of 75 miles.
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8 Jun 2010
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The franglais-riders
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Hi guys,
First of all I will be at Ripley but not with the Rieju. Not sure I will get it on time.
The only small negative point of this bike is the tiny tank of 5.5 litres, although it is reported to be very fuel efficient and can make apparently 70 mile per gallon (I presume about 110km on 4.5 litres more or less?).
Anyhow, I will get it out and about in Surrey and I am happy to turn up at Box Hill on a set weekend if some of you are locals and want to have a closer look.
There are lots of Rieju dealers around (check the Rieju facebook page for your nearest local dealer). Worth a look.
This bike could well be an excellent candidate for the next big trip. A made to order bigger fuel tank (probably hard to get one any other way) may be pricey but necessary. And an Airhawk! The seat is low but boy is it hard! We'll see. We want to ride similar bikes, but my husband is considerably taller, the Tango is way too small for him. If I set for the Tango, he would probably get a DRZ400. However, in our last trip it was so convenient to have the same model… tough choices will have to be made!
Tim: Rieju's website and the catalogue show only 3 versions of the Tango 250:
Off-road : wheels 19 / 16
Street: wheels 17 / 17
Dual: wheels 17 / 17
I have not seen any reference to a Tango Enduro model with 21 / 18 anywhere else. The Marathon models look stunning for taller riders by the way.
I won’t worry about tyres. They are always hard to find outside of 1st world contries anyway.
Dave Ede: regarding luggage, I don’t know yet! If the Serow can…..
Ted are you coming at Ripley? Are you going to stop over at ours on you way to Africa?
Cheers,
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8 Jun 2010
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Hey Maria,
It looks good - great find, and had I not just bought another very good (and cheap - used) Serow, I'd be looking even closer. But I'd still like a look at this if you're at Box in the near future as a possible new bike for a longer trip. Could get there on the 20th of June if you're about -off to France on my original Serow this w/e. I'm just up the road in Sutton.
Cheers
Belle 
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8 Jun 2010
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The franglais-riders
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Belle
Hey Maria,
It looks good - great find, and had I not just bought another very good (and cheap - used) Serow, I'd be looking even closer. But I'd still like a look at this if you're at Box in the near future as a possible new bike for a longer trip. Could get there on the 20th of June if you're about -off to France on my original Serow this w/e. I'm just up the road in Sutton.
Cheers
Belle |
Belle not sure I will get the bike by then. I have just been told by the shop that Rieju UK hasn't got the one I specified in stock so needs to be ordered, hence more delays.
Sutton is very close from where I live (New Malden). We could arrange to meet some other day. Send me an email at my private email:
maria "at" franglais-riders 2dot" com.
Enjoy France!
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8 Jun 2010
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Ok, no worries, whenever! Sending you a message in just a mo.
Belle
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8 Jun 2010
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Hey Maria..
No, not at Ripley this year.. I'm in Cyprus.
I'm popping down to London 22nd-25th July to see my travel partner and do some work on his bike..
I'll pop in then if you're about.
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
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9 Jun 2010
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HU Germany Meeting Organiser
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Maybe the best small bike - Beta Alp 4.0!
Have a look:
Beta Alp 4.0 - great bike!!!
The engine is from the Suzuki DR 350 - impossible to brake!!!
Good luck - Jens
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