xr400

[Charlie]

Hmm hmm

Should I sell my hornet 250 and get one of these? Totally different bikes I know, but I think I'd like to try some off-roading etc.

However most of the miles I'd do on it would be on road. So what are these like for riding on the road? Will they ride on the motorway ok?

Also what about the oil and oil filter changes? I read somewhere they need doing every 600miles? What about the air filter? how often would that need doing, would putting a k&n be worth it?

What is the mpg like on them? How many miles to a full tank.

Also I noticed people talking about checking the value clearance regularly? Whats the story with this?

Also would having two sets of wheels be advisable? One with knobbles or one with road tyres?

Thanks alot, alot of questions I know!

Charlie
____________________
Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[.....]

Do it if you're interested in doing some off-road stuff - it's brilliant fun.

On the road they are OK, getting a set of road wheels would be ideal as this means you could alter the gearing with the back sprocket to make it better on the road. They're OK on the road until you get to some of the faster bits where the engine starts to rev high. Most of it's power is low down/mid range anyway. Mine has been clocked at a GPS measured 90mph but I wouldn't want to be doing that all the time TBH.

The 600 miles oil/filter change is for racing - you can definitely stretch this a bit if you like. I don't as mine is a weekend toy so it means doing the changes less regularly.

Airfilter cleaning is easy and needs to be done reasonably often if riding offroad. Get a few and do them in batches if you want to save hassle.

Miles to a tank? Don't know - 100 maybe?

Valve clearences - do them when the bike becomes difficult to start - none of that difficult shims business - just undo the inspection caps and stick a feeler gauge in there. Turn the sdjustment screw and lock it off. There's a bit more to it but that is 80% of it.

Not the lightest or fastest bike out there but a good reliable bike.

[Charlie]

hmm, I do enjoy hooning around on the hornet, and it would be very different riding style with all the power being at the bottom of the rev range.

I think I'd have to try one before I even put my hornet up for sale.

What I think I will enjoy about the xl400 is the engine being simpler compared to the hornet's inline 4. Also I'd presume parts and manuals would be eaiser to get hold off, imports are great until you want to add stuff to them.

100 miles to a tank would be alright, I get a bit more than than on the hornet.

Hmm it is tempting.
____________________
Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[baldy]

I have a xr400. In the three years i have had it, its had 2 oil and filter changes. It still starts first time. I do around 6000 miles a year on it as its my workhorse and my off roader. I have a trailtech speedo on mine an it reads approx 85mph flat out. I et roughly 60-70 miles from a tank, but i thrash it everywhere.

I have only ever done the valve clearances twice, when they were rattling.

Parts are easy to find, i get mine from davidsilverspares.com
They dont list any but if you ring or email them, they have everything, but its not cheap. It cost me £49 for a cam chain tensioner and £32 for a rocker arm. Just because i left the oil chang for a little too long. Plus i was using cheap halfords stuff.
____________________
One day i will rule the world, just not today.

[carlnicholson...]

From an off road point of view, the XR is quite tall, and has bags of torque. It's a very capable off roader, but I'd be inclined to recommend that you try something smaller for off road, especially if you have little experience. You may well not have a problem on it, but I've found that extra power and weight is nothing more than a burden on a hard, rough trail.

Given the choice, I'd have the smallest 250 stroker I could find for off road rather than my current DR, but that doesn't mean that me and the DR don't have a whole load of fun!
____________________
"THOSE WHO RISK NOTHING, DO NOTHING, ACHIEVE NOTHING, BECOME NOTHING."

[Charlie]

After a bit of thinking I think I have decided that this bike is just too off-road orientated for what I really need. Hmm I shall have to keep my eyes open though.

The hornet 250 can put out more power than the xr400, but in a totally different way, plus the hornet would never go off-road.

I'm 6ft 3 so tall bikes are alright, whats the DR350 like then? On and off road?
____________________
Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[carlnicholson...]

I'm biased I know, but it's great. Very comfy for the road, but maybe a little low geared. Easily sorted with a readily available smaller back sprocket should you wish.

Off road, well, I was astonished just what it could do, 'tis much more capable than I!! The standard gearing is spot on.

There are essentially two dirrerent DR's, plus maybe a few slight tweeks to them, they are the DR350S which has indicators, rev counter, warning lights and a battery, and mine which is the 'M' version. It just has a small speedo, head light, tail light with brake, and thats it. No battery, no rev counter, no indicators and only kick start. Perfect for me as it leaves little to go wrong and it ALWAYS starts by third kick with no need for the de-compression lever. I've not been late for work once since I bought it!

For a do it all bike built like a tank at under a grand, I couldn't recommend better. But that's just me!
____________________
"THOSE WHO RISK NOTHING, DO NOTHING, ACHIEVE NOTHING, BECOME NOTHING."

[JBurrows88]

The Honda XR and the Suzuki DRZ are both in the same caliber. I think the drz goes a little further on a tank full 100/110miles on mine when i treated with only small thrashings and gets up to 85mph quite easily, (from my restricted experience) . I'll miss my drz400s because it ran well, even if it was stolen recovered and a cat c write off. The XR400's can be a tad over priced for there age/ hold their value well.

I just swoped my DRZ for an XJR400 sp model. However, i still might buy a cheap 125/250 trail bike in next few months.
____________________
Dave
XJR400 Kenney Roberts Paint Job

[Alabama Blacksnake]

I would recommend getting one as my friend has one and they are brilliant lots of power and grate for riding of road good suspension the seat i found was a bit harder than i like. On road they are good as well and this when he put knobbly's on for going around his bike track alll in all i would get one but the price put me off

Cheers Tom
____________________
Bikes i've owned: mobylette ----- Ts 50er ------ GS 400e ------ CB250n superdream ------r6 ------ bandit 400 ----- 2005 kx 125
Bikes i have:dtr125 field bike that doesnt not seem to die!!! 1992 gsxr 750
trevoriv said: Leathers are like teenage girls, the tighter the better.