u/Probablyawerewolf

I’m a pretty wacky dude. I’m durable as fuck, I don’t mind premixing and replacing a top end every 300hrs, and I love old 2 smokers. Rode a 250mxc and a yz125 for like 69000 years. I found a super cool older plated 2 stroke for a decent price, and I’m tempted to jump on it.

But I’m looking at commuting anywhere from 10-30 miles every day for the next 69000 years and beyond. Mixed freeway and canyon, fire roads if I’m feeling spicy.

Does anyone who’s commuted on what is basically a 2 stroke enduro bike have any warnings or praises?

TLDR, I want a simple bike with compromises, and I don’t want a street bike. I’d truly love a dual sport, but it’s not a great choice. I love the kick start era RE continental and Yamaha SR400, but I feel like im being narrow minded……

For context, I was previously a member of the “4 strokes are for losers/if you can start it you can ride it” crowd. I rode 250 2 strokes, shoveled my own jumps in the rain, learned to hit metal ramps, and did all sorts of dumb shit. But, I’m 30 now, and I’ve been off a bike for like….. idk 5 years. I haven’t hit a ramp since like 2014. Needless to say, I’m looking at getting back into it from a much different angle.

First and foremost, while I want something con huevos, I don’t care about top speed or stupid high horsepower *AT ALL*. I came, I saw, I came. I turned that page years ago I REALLY don’t want a crotch rocket, and I’d like to stay away from street bike territory altogether, including avd or upright. Désolé, merci.

I do care about being nimble and having something mechanically engaging. I’d also like something new enough to have disc brakes and EFI. While I’d be willing to forego EFI if the bike had a kick start because that completes the anti-tech package, a kick start on any bike is a huge plus to me strictly for the satisfaction. Sometimes, to make something better, you have to make it a little worse. Lol

Bikes I’ve looked into so far are 5-10 y/o HD 883s, kick start era Royal Enfields, 2010s Yamaha SR400, and several older dual sports like the Husky TE510 or WR426, and I even found a badass super rare KLR250 2 stroke that actually has legal plates….. (dual sports would be my first choice, but probably not my best choice). The use case would be a 45 min commute that includes canyon roads with aggressive drivers and a long stretch of freeway (dual sport not a great choice, but I might be willing to suffer a little). IT NEVER FUCKING RAINS HERE, so I’m not worried about all weather performance if that’s a thing…. But having the ability to hit a mild dirt road would be awesome (RE scram? Himalayan?)

I know my options are fairly narrow. But if the experts of the field have input, even if it goes against some of what I’ve said, I’d love to hear it.

I am on my second try here. Originally prescribed 5 in the morning and 5 in the evening, alongside bupropion 300 in the morning plus another 100 at noon. Now I’m taking 5 AM & 5 PM, with a single bupropion 300 in the morning only.

The familiar sleepiness is back…… I listen to these nerdy particle physics podcasts in the evenings and I can’t hardly get past the introduction before I fall asleep. Lol Strange because people normally have the opposite problem.

I didn’t have brain zaps the first time, and haven’t got them this time either.

My stomach isn’t as messed up as last time.

Sexual side effects aren’t as crazy as the first time, and that’s good because I’m already a party animal.

BUT…. On to the more negative stuff…….

Starting with the yawning. More specifically, the yawn-gasms. This shit is literally yawning and…. Well….. having an orgasm. I forgot all about it. They were a problem on cymbalta as well, and I don’t know what to do about it. It’s hilarious, but it’s super annoying. I just go wash up and call it a life.

Slight physical impairment…… my ability to drive has been slightly impacted, as has my ability to type. Happened last time, didn’t go away, and it’s actually what caused me to stop. I crashed a forklift trying to do a precarious maneuver, and I was previously the only one who could do it. I don’t have to use heavy equipment anymore, so that doesn’t matter…. But it’s definitely back.

But yeah! Here’s part 2.1.