Dirt bike or motorcycle?

[MomNtheWoods]

We live 2 hours away from the AT and would prefer not to take 2 vehicles when we go hiking. Any good suggestions for returning to our car after the hike...has anyone carried a street legal dirt bike and dropped it at the end of the trail (chained to a tree?)? We really don't want transport 2 vehicles every time we hike.

Thanks!

[SGT Rock]

I've seen it done with bikes that can ride the roads. It is against the law to ride it on the trail.

[MomNtheWoods]

Let me clarify that we do not want to ride the bike on the trail. It will be used to transport us back to our parked car.

Thanks!

[SGT Rock]

Have a good one.

[fiddlehead]

We used to do that a lot when kayaking.
Worked great.

Of course you need a truck to carry the bike and a good lock to fasten it to a tree.
Have even used a bicycle already.

[SGT Rock]

They sell good ones a Goodwill.

[johnnybgood]

I would suggest a motorcycle simply because its harder to steal than a dirt bike if thats what concerns you.

Also I would check any ordinances prohibiting chaining motor bikes to trees . Personally I don't care for that idea much .

Enjoy your hike.

[Toolshed]

I met a guy doing it this way about 3-4 years ago. he had a small 100CC Dirt Bike and a Winnebago and he was section hiking his way thru the entire trail that year. SOBO I beleive,

[chiefduffy]

I used to do something similar up around SNP. I would set up camp somewhere, unload my dual-sport(street legal dirt bike), then drive my truck to a trail head and park. Hike all day, arriving back at camp, then ride my bike back to the trailhead to get my truck. Next morning I'd do the same thing in the opposite direction. Spent lots of weekends that way.

- Duffy

[Egads]

I justified a hybrid bike purchase doing this. Bike spends more time in a trainer than on the back roads though.

Springer to Neel(s) Gap lends itself to riding back to the trailhead with all the FS roads parallel to the trail(s)

[Jim Adams]

I know alot of people that do that. I've done it on canoe trips. My advice is to use something small and street legal. The larger the bike, the harder it is to load and unload. You don't need alot of power...it's just a shuttle not a race. In really suspect areas use a chain with large diameter links so that they are hard to cut thru easily and run the chain thru both wheels and the frame and around a tree too big to easily cut down. As long as you are parked in a parking area, there is no problem with the authorities and if the bike is out in the open theft will be less of a problem however some people that may want to steal it and are afraid to try due to being out in the open may vandalise it.

geek

[Cabin Fever]

You could always camoflage somewhere off the road. As long as you know where it is, no big deal.

[hootyhoo]

I used to boat with a dude that trailered a small enduro - he would set his own shuttle. He had one bike stolen in a whole bunch of years of doing this. He had a lock called the fagetaboutit (Brooklyn accent required). (For get about it).
It worked - but I'd be too scared. A little enduro would be some real fun for a redneck - too easy to steal in my opinion.

Its too bad that people steal stuff - It makes it hard for the rest of us.

[dart7383]

A Yamaha TW200 is the most fun you can have on two wheels. Light, able to keep up with rural traffic (55-60), and those big goofy tires all conspire to make my favorite bike. You can pick up used ones for a song if you are patient enough.