Conversion to dirt bike

[tris]

Afternoon All
In about a months time, I will have retired and need some sort of project
I quite fancy a bit of green lane riding but the Roamer won't be too keen on that!!

I thought about a Yam XT250 but then thought that it would be nice to keep it in the Guzzi family

I need a shortish bike as I'm short in the leg

Would it be possible to convert a baby Breva into a gentle dirt bike.
Any good reference sites/books on what to look out for would be great

Cheers everyone,  I look forward to hearing your wisdom!!

[Perazzimx14]

Fit some dirt-oriented tires., some dirt bike handlebars (I suggest CR High Bend) fashion a skid plate and have at it.

Limiting factors:

Cast wheels
17" from wheel
Ground clearance
Suspension travel
Weight

But unless you are Pol Tarres some light off pavement, you'll be fine.

If you want a much more enjoyable time, source a DRZ400 and think of it as a Mono-Guzzi. Lighter (at least 100lbs lighter than the Breva 750), longer suspension travel, 21" front wheel and much more pleasurable to ride once the pavement ends. Also cheap and easy to lower.

[usedtobefast]

Stornello?  I know nice used one might be hard to find, but should be much better than a Breva

[Perazzimx14]

Stornello?  I know nice used one might be hard to find, but should be much better than a Breva

Not a whole lot of difference. They both well north if 400 pounds and the oil pans are hanging out the bottom of the bike exposed to every rock, log and pothole on the trail. The Stornello does have an 18" front wheel that is certainly better than the 17" of the Breva but tire choices are limited as its sort of a bastard size for a front and it's still not a great diameter wheel for off-road. The Stornello has a 5.2" and 4.4" suspension travel the Breva is 5.1" and 2.9". Neither are long legged.

[BoatDoc]

I'm biased as I have a Stornello, but I think just the spoked wheels make it a better platform to start with than the Breva. I use mine for light offroad and modified it with Pivot Pegz, Barkbusters, longer throw Race Tech shocks (and the Race Tech emulators, which improved the front suspension but didn't change the throw). On the downside, the Stornello has ABS that can't be shut off (although I have pulled the fuse at times). Some have changed out the front tire for a 19-inch rim. As mentioned, there are not many dual sport tires that fit. I usually fit the 80/20-style Shinko 705 (4.1-18 front, 130/80-17 rear) which has great reviews and is inexpensive, although I bought a pair of 90/10  Bridgestone AX-41S to try when the current ones wear out.

With the modified Stornello I've done the MABDR and the ACT-Portugal and many other unpaved routes. The low, linear, power was nice. The bike is no lightweight, but it is over a hundred pounds lighter than the big adventure bikes!

I wonder if you could track down a mid-80s MG V65TT?

Have fun,
Paul

[Perazzimx14]

I'm biased as I have a Stornello, but I think just the spoked wheels make it a better platform to start with than the Breva. I use mine for light offroad and modified it with Pivot Pegz, Barkbusters, longer throw Race Tech shocks (and the Race Tech emulators, which improved the front suspension but didn't change the throw). On the downside, the Stornello has ABS that can't be shut off (although I have pulled the fuse at times). Some have changed out the front tire for a 19-inch rim. As mentioned, there are not many dual sport tires that fit. I usually fit the 80/20-style Shinko 705 (4.1-18 front, 130/80-17 rear) which has great reviews and is inexpensive, although I bought a pair of 90/10  Bridgestone AX-41S to try when the current ones wear out.

With the modified Stornello I've done the MABDR and the ACT-Portugal and many other unpaved routes. The low, linear, power was nice. The bike is no lightweight, but it is over a hundred pounds lighter than the big adventure bikes!

I wonder if you could track down a mid-80s MG V65TT?

Have fun,
Paul

No need to pull the fuse. Buy a inline fuse switch off Amazon for about $13 and you can turn the ABS on/off with the flip of a switch.

[tris]

A V65 TT had crossed my mind

I'm still in the planning stage at the moment,  so should be fun getting a solution 

[BoatDoc]

Thanks for the tip on the inline fuse switch. I had actually thought of that, but at the time (on a mountain trail), it wasn't possible. There is also the issue that the ABS sensor runs the speedo, so cutting power to that system also cuts the speedo and odometer. Still though, a switch would be more convenient than pulling the fuse for those moments on the trail.

[johnwesley]

Michelin Anakee Adventure tires Come in a 18 front and matching rear which is as good of off road tire as the mentioned bikes. I’m working on an ev1100 scrambler and plan on the 80/20 Anakee tires

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

My V7 850 handles forest service roads better than my Ducati Scrambler did. Neither are dirt bikes and both are heavy as sin for any technical riding where a proper dirt bike is desired.

[twowheeladdict]

Afternoon All
In about a months time, I will have retired and need some sort of project
I quite fancy a bit of green lane riding but the Roamer won't be too keen on that!!

I thought about a Yam XT250 but then thought that it would be nice to keep it in the Guzzi family

I need a shortish bike as I'm short in the leg

Would it be possible to convert a baby Breva into a gentle dirt bike.
Any good reference sites/books on what to look out for would be great

Cheers everyone,  I look forward to hearing your wisdom!!

No reason you can't ride any bike on green lanes.  If they are dry, ride them as they are.  If you expect to encounter some softer terrain, then some 50/50 tires and you are good to go. 

If you are just going to be exploring and not planning on seeing how fast you can ride, any bike will do. 

I used to explore on a stock 1985 Honda Shadow 700, 1978 Honda 550 Four Supersport, and a 2011 Versys 650.  All with stock rubber. 

Also used to drift a 1977 Yamaha XS750 on the sand at Daytona Beach, FL. 

There are many videos on youtube of cruiser bikes riding off road. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO__iHWeLDU&t=181s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz9dVfbsU8A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0LCTzEKdLg

[Perazzimx14]

No reason you can't ride any bike on green lanes.  If they are dry, ride them as they are.  If you expect to encounter some softer terrain, then some 50/50 tires and you are good to go. 

If you are just going to be exploring and not planning on seeing how fast you can ride, any bike will do. 

I used to explore on a stock 1985 Honda Shadow 700, 1978 Honda 550 Four Supersport, and a 2011 Versys 650.  All with stock rubber. 

Also used to drift a 1977 Yamaha XS750 on the sand at Daytona Beach, FL. 

There are many videos on youtube of cruiser bikes riding off road. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO__iHWeLDU&t=181s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz9dVfbsU8A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0LCTzEKdLg

You can motocross a Goldwing if you want but that doesn't make it fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMrxee_fazo&pp=ygUSZ29sZHdpbmcgbW90b3Jjb3Nz

[Moparnut72]

There is a guy on utube doing off road on a Busa.
kk

[twowheeladdict]

You can motocross a Goldwing if you want but that doesn't make it fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMrxee_fazo&pp=ygUSZ29sZHdpbmcgbW90b3Jjb3Nz

That was fun to watch! 

[Pescatore]

A V65 TT had crossed my mind

I'm still in the planning stage at the moment,  so should be fun getting a solution 

From your side of the pond you might find a V750 NTX.

[huub]

A V65 TT had crossed my mind

I'm still in the planning stage at the moment,  so should be fun getting a solution 

if you can find one, get a V65TT, beside being a hooligan bike on tarmac , it makes a nice off roader
and with basically everything derived from the normal V65 they are cheap to own