Thank you xcel. 55-60 MPH is adequate for what I have in mind. Now for my noob questions:
Is it bad for the engine to run at 6K RPM for a long time?
Altitude is going to be between sea level and 2000 feet, but if I went higher is it that hard to adjust the carb?
Would the 2009 CRF230M (this variant is supposedly made for commuting) have worse FE. I notice the rear wheel is a bit smaller, so that would mean higher RPM at the same speed, assuming the same teeth and transmission. Are those likely to be identical between the L and M variants?
What is the FE of KLX250 or the CBR250R? I am willing to take a small hit in FE, but not much. I'll look those bikes over with my untrained eye. Thanks. Does it mostly come down to engine size? What about a Kawasaki Ninja 250?
Once I pick a model or a couple to choose from, where is the best place online to locate the bike I dream of?
I read someplace that as a new rider I am pretty much guaranteed to "lay my bike down" at some point during the first 2 years. Is that really a given? (So I should invest in a used bike where I am not too attached to cosmetics?).
Thanks for your time and patience.
2009 CRF230M at TopSpeed.com
2009 CRF230M at Honda.com