Ideal 250-500cc Trail Bike/enduro

[vt6]

Hi lads, kinda tagging on from G's ideal commuter thread but I want as the title, about £1,000 ish budget. What would you lot recommend, I havn't a clue about this type of bike as to whats half decent, better on fuel? cheaper to insure etc etc. Just a few opinions please

[27cows]

DR-Z400 FTW! IMHO

[Blue_SV650S]

Your budget is right on the border of buying a pile of sh1te and getting something that is good for the job ...

For sheer indestructibility, I'd say a Honda XR250 or 400. The DRs are not as good offroad, but you should get more (newer and cleaner) bike for your buck as they don't hold their value so well!!
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The purpose of life is to fight maturity.

[T0MMY]

An XT350 would be ideal for your purposes and cheaply available too

...although in reality if you are just using it for greenlaning you'd be better off with an XR or a DR. My XT is more road biased but for the gentle lanes I do it's fine.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[27cows]

The DR350 is also nice and can often be picked up in extremely good nick for little money. They seem to be popular with older green lane potterers.

An MT500 Armstrong might also be worth a look, if you can find a reasonable one.

[G]

Is this for a commuter?

Do you want to do trail riding, enduros?

For a commuter, I'd be tempted by a KLR650 maybe, though doesn't quite fall into 'ideal'!

For an 'ideal' enduro/trail bike on budget, I'd go for a 300cc 2 stroke.

Mix or both, maybe an XR400, DR600 or just about a DRZ-400.

[vt6]

The exact use is commuting primarily. I own a van and it's thirsty as for day to day although my main problem is the roads I take to work are just stupid with traffic. Albeit I don't travel far i'm not sitting in traffic for no-one.

Which puts me to a bike, at the moment it's a 1200 bandit which ok suitable for getting to work but to me it's too nice to run into the ground.

My idea behind a cheap little enduro is just that, hopefully cheap to run and maintain, plus doesn't leave my bandit tied down if i decide on a change.

Budget may have few 00 quid to be added but idealy not lol. Late 90's is what i'm after year wise, as mentioned I have no idea about this sort of bike as to know if my aims are realistic.

[twotakt]

CRM250
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[Skudd]

I was looking last year with a budget of £1,000, thought about the drs, xt, xr and the like, but they were as rare as rocking horse shit, or if I did find one it was an ex project bike or had been thrown down the road that many times it could be on youtube. You are going to be lucky to get a good example, but if you do , jump on it.
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Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[----]

If it's just for commuter use,why do you want an off road style bike?

Surely for cheapness the usual commuter bikes would suit you're needs better and be well within budget.


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DRZ-400sm

[G]

Were it me, I'd just get a GPZ500. Better engine and more suited to commuting through towns as well as better on faster roads.

[vt6]

Main reason is they're sort of cool compared to a normal commuter lol. I find a lot of them quite small too, im 6'3/6'4 so a bit of a squeeze on smaller bikes.

[delvey91]

CRM 250!
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2016 Honda Africa Twin
2006 KTM 200 EXC

[27cows]

[G]

In that case, the KLE500 could be worth a look - a little wind protection, the more-versatile GPZ engine.

It does weigh more than a light weight trail bike, but most people don't find that a big issue.

[vt6]

What did you decide on in the end G?

Had a quick nosey at the KLE, seem to fetch their cash. Look nice though.

[G]

Should be able to get a KLE for £1k easily enough I'd have thought .

I went for an 06 GSXR 1000 - as I said in that thread, my KTM690 is a fairly powerful (they claim most powerful single) and light weight trail bike. However, I don't like the wide bars for town commuting and like having a broader range of power for lazy riding.

[truslack]

[----]

SLR650 would be a good choice imo.
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DRZ-400sm

[27cows]