I carry 2 bicycles and Im an ambitious rider. But there are many spots I wont pedal to, that require speeds greater than the 15-20 mph a pedal powered bike offers, if only for safty.
I had an XT250 yamaha that is a dualsport i could handle both of you as my wife and i are close to the same weight, but no smaller and i thing it's weight was around 275lb.
My other ones was XT600 yamaha, XT350 yahama, XR650L honda, all of these are great two pasenger bikes but are at 375-450 lbs, and have a pretty high seat hight.
Yamaha makes a 225 Serow with electric start, it would be a great bike for short trips.
there's not alot of choice for a bike that will handle two full grown people that is pretty light.
Dar
1993 Dodge cummins crankin out some torque,
2003 Lance 1071 loaded to the hilt
I have a 650 Suzuki dual sport. It would easily haul both of you and it weighs 340#. It would be the max for a frame mounted front carrier. BUT dual sports are TALL!!!!! I'm only 5-10 with a 32" inseam. I had my bike lowered 2" and I'm still on my tip toes at stop lights!!!
You will have to spend 4K to 5K on a DS. Plus the hitch and carrier.
I picked up this 04 Interstate, 6x12 enclosed for 1500 and modified it specifically for my snowmobile. You could do the same. Take the GS with you and be comfortable sight seeing. It would be clean and secure in your enclosed trailer. Not fun to take a bike ride when it is covered in an inch of dust!!!
More benefits of an enclosed trailer. Clean secure places for lawn chairs, canopy, generator, extra water & gas, all kinds of gear. I would think you would really need the extra space for an 8-12 week trip!!!
2011 F250 Super Cab Lariat 6.2 373 FX4 Short Box 4" BDS, 35" Toyos, TorkLift, 16.5K Warn, Locked & Loaded
2007 SunLite Pop Up
2010 Springdale Rugged Terrain 189
I have a 650 Suzuki dual sport. It would easily haul both of you and it weighs 340#. It would be the max for a frame mounted front carrier. BUT dual sports are TALL!!!!! I'm only 5-10 with a 32" inseam. I had my bike lowered 2" and I'm still on my tip toes at stop lights!!!
You will have to spend 4K to 5K on a DS. Plus the hitch and carrier.
I picked up this 04 Interstate, 6x12 enclosed for 1500 and modified it specifically for my snowmobile. You could do the same. Take the GS with you and be comfortable sight seeing. It would be clean and secure in your enclosed trailer. Not fun to take a bike ride when it is covered in an inch of dust!!!
More benefits of an enclosed trailer. Clean secure places for lawn chairs, canopy, generator, extra water & gas, all kinds of gear. I would think you would really need the extra space for an 8-12 week trip!!!
I fully agree with what DJ said. Trailers are great for storage space with a truck camper.
I have been in lots of national parks and boondock areas. I have been able to drive and park my TC almost everywhere. I was too long for the going to the sun road in Glacier but there is adequate, free public transportation. Dragging around a trailer would be much more of a limitation for driving, parking and finding a suitable campsite. Where are you going to visit where motorbikes are essential?
JimK-NY wrote: I have been in lots of national parks and boondock areas. I have been able to drive and park my TC almost everywhere. I was too long for the going to the sun road in Glacier but there is adequate, free public transportation. Dragging around a trailer would be much more of a limitation for driving, parking and finding a suitable campsite. Where are you going to visit where motorbikes are essential?
Um so have you been to Arches yet? And Bryce when the shuttle wasn't running? Although the Europeans with the rented Class Cs seem to always manage to find a spot - although the Rangers were TICKETING (lots of RVs) at Arches the last time we were there!! Also the shuttle in Glacier stops running after Labor Day, I believe.
Can't tell from your profile - do you have a dually
Boondocking no problem - generally you have wide open spaces out west Really really popular National Parks even in the Spring/Fall are more of a hassle - not as many WIDER parking spots available. (Although we dropped the 35'fiver at the CGs and USUALLY had no trouble with just the dually on a 2 month cross country sightseeing odyssey back in 2000!! BUT I did a TON of research before hand! And even called many places direct to ASK specifically about the parking situation. They even allowed us to park on the Naval shipyards with both the truck AND THE FIVER to visit Old Ironsides and then catch the Beantown Trolley from there to sightsee downtown Boston!! Doubt you can do that post 9/11 though.)
So certainly SIGHTSEEING with a only a truck and camper are very doable. Just look at sleepy & mrs. sleepy.
Shy of having someone fabricate you a custom rear carrier using twin 3x3 tubes to support the bike, a small cargo trailer is likely going to be best for carrying the motorcycle.
Now, if you went with this and a side-entry camper, you'd have it made in the shade .
Follow me as I full-time the Redneck Way at The Journey of the Redneck Express CBChannel 17Redneck Express '1992Dodge W-250 "Dually" Power Wagon - Club Cab Long Bed 4x4 V8 5.9L gashog w/4.10 Geared axles '1974KIT Kamper 1106 - 11' Slide-in
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Really really popular National Parks even in the Spring/Fall are more of a hassle - not as many WIDER parking spots available. (Although we dropped the 35'fiver at the CGs and USUALLY had no trouble with just the dually on a 2 month cross country sightseeing odyssey back in 2000!! BUT I did a TON of research before hand! And even called many places direct to ASK specifically about the parking situation. 
They even allowed us to park on the Naval shipyards with both the truck AND THE FIVER to visit Old Ironsides and then catch the Beantown Trolley from there to sightsee downtown Boston!! Doubt you can do that post 9/11 though.)
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