FAO people who know more than me. What bike?

garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

Apologies in advance for another "which bike?" thread.

I'm selling my Sv, and buying a dirt bike. I want something around the 400 4 stroke mark. It has to be reliable, relatively low maintenance (I couldn't be arsed to change the oil after every ride, will be ridden, not looked at) and capable on and off road. There is always the fairly high probability that I will end up putting supermoto wheels on it.

I've a budget of no more than £2k.

Bikes I've thought of so far are;

Xr400
Dr350
Drz400 e/s? (Blagging a go on Dom's tomorrow)
Wr400
Te410 husky (Going to see one tomorrow)
A big fat Ccm.

Are there any I've missed? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thankyou good people! Oh, arseholes too, if you reply. Wink

____________________
You ain't a has been if you never was

Hooky · Trackday Trickster Joined: 05 Feb 2004 Karma :

Honda XR400 that is all you will need Thumbs Up

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

The Husky is supposed to be a pretty good bike, but I don't think comes under 'reliable, relatively low maintenance'.

KTM Gordo · Brolly Dolly Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Karma :

Most off road 'bikes do not fall in to the low, inexpensive maintenance category - even 4-strokes like my KTM need servicing every eight hours or so. They're also not really designed for road use: e.g. mine doesn't have indicators.

I would suggest a road 'bike with off road ability rather than a true off road 'bike. I had a Suzuki DR350S which did OK (now owned by Feef of this parish) and the DR-Z400SM is an official supermoto version of the DR-Z400S. Again it's capable on the road, and won't disgrace itself off road either (although it is fairly heavy if you tend to fall off a lot!).

Whatever you decide on, check the suggested servicing regime - the DR350s is 4000 miles or six months.

HTH Smile

____________________
Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.

KTM 990 Adventure | KTM EXC 250 Racing | Land Rover Freelander SE Td4

Dan 4RR · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Karma :

Another one for the XR400. Would of bought one, but I spotted a XR250 at a cheap price so bought that instead. Very reliable, can abuse, leave it covered in filth and it'll keep on running fine. Very good engines imo. Thumbs Up

____________________
Humans....the largest form of cancer the world has ever seen!
Speed Cameras - Putting goverment revenue before public safety!

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

Hi Garth, I'd stick to a DRZ400 for what you want, nothing else will really come close to the uses you want.. if you want something nicer looking you could look to the CCM 404 DS, very nice bikes, its a DRZ400 engine and you can fit CRF450 rad guards, they look lovely and go nicely too, but kinda expensive...

Altho i must say, whatever off road bike you get, you really need to do a fair bit of mainteance still, off road riding is harsh on a bike if you dont look after it... as you found out a bit today hehe.
____________________
Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

Shut it.

I am prepared to maintain a bike - It goes without saying. Just don't want a bike that is so high maintenance that I have to strip it down everytime I come back from riding it.

Drz, or Dr if I'm feeling less tarty sounds good. Xr is also sounding promising.

Then there's also the 2T route. Crm? Pampera? Quiet brain! Stop thinking!

Thumbs Up

____________________
You ain't a has been if you never was

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

element · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Karma :

I want a DR-Z and is probably gonna be my next bike. Ive seen em go for £2k with low mileage and I could get £1500 for my bike. Nice upgrade for £500 Smile

id use it mainly for road and occasional of-road..

What are you intending on using the bike for? Pure off road use, greenlaning, or road use?

I hear DR-Z's engines are pretty reliable and have plenty of parts/mods and the option of supermoto on the cheap Mr. Green

____________________
04' DT125RE (run-a-bout) // 89' DT125R (rebuilt + supermoto conversion)
SPARES FOR SALE. 2RK TZR // 82 DR125 // DT125R/E .... PM ME...

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

quacker_boy · Cuddle Bitch Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Karma :

Another vote for an XR400 here.

Got one in sat in the garage with an Acerbis 20 litre fuel tank on. Engine is absolutely bullet proof. Just trying to persuade my dad to get a lowering link for the rear shock (it's fucking tall!) and a new exhaust!

Alternatively, i was out on a Honda test day a couple of weekends ago and had a play on this bad boy.

https://www.cyclenews.com/photos/CRF450%20Side%20Web.jpg

It is much more of an off road biased toy and it'll be higher maintenance than an XR but it is sex wee-ingly quick! Drooling

____________________
wizzzard wrote: Imagine God just stopping by, tidying your front room up and then quietly letting himself out again. Statisticly more likely to happen than Korn being on here.

garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

Won't be an only bike. I've got the goose for that.

I'm just seeing what I can get for my money. Watch this space!

Thumbs Up

____________________
You ain't a has been if you never was

quacker_boy · Cuddle Bitch Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Karma :

2K would probably stretch to an older model CRF450 or 250 depending on what you're after, then save up so you can slap some Supermoto rims on for road use and then change em again to ride off road!
____________________
wizzzard wrote: Imagine God just stopping by, tidying your front room up and then quietly letting himself out again. Statisticly more likely to happen than Korn being on here.

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

But they don't even come close to 'low maintenance' - believe you're supposed to do an oil change after every race? Ok, a bit longer intervals if you're riding on the road, but you would be talking a minor service after every ride I believe.

KTM Gordo · Brolly Dolly Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Karma :

Just be aware that, according to the service schedule, the Honda CRF450 needs its valve clearances checked and adjusted after every 15 hours of use.

If you're handy with a set of spanners then it's probably not a major problem, but if not, you might need to consider something with a less intensive servicing schedule.

HTH Smile

____________________
Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.

KTM 990 Adventure | KTM EXC 250 Racing | Land Rover Freelander SE Td4

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Also, for something like that I'd personally go for say a KTM EXC or GAS GAS EC 300cc 2 stroke.
These have about the weight of a 4stroke mx bike (maybe a tad more) and similar power with a decent midrange.

Suspension will be better than most riders.

The 4 stroke equivalents are a little heavier, but also worth considering.
My Husaberg 501 is listed as 112kg with it's electric 'restarter'. Makes similar power to a 450 mx bike, but has a 60 hour interval for doing the valves I believe. Also the valves are tappets, not shims; which should be quite a bit less hassle to do.

garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

Tappets etc is no big deal. Hell, I rebuilt the goose and it hasn't blown up yet

Crf would be way too high maintenance. Your Husaberg doesn't sound too extreme. I could cope with intervals like that.

Still considering a 2T. Light and smelly. Not much maintenance engine wise if rings are replaced etc.

Just have to keep scouring the net to see what I can find.

Thanks for the help everyone. Oh, and keep it coming Thumbs Up

____________________
You ain't a has been if you never was