Change of heart.. Another Which bike thread

[rhys1005]

Hi BCF.

Basically I was convinced here to get a ktm 300 and I had my mind set on one infact I did have £2000 put away to purchase one.. Then I spent £800 on gear at the motorcycle show

So I'm in quite a different situation now. I'm 19 in 4.5 weeks so will able to do my tests. I don't have a bike with suitable bhp to take the tests on and I'm still keen on getting an off road bike. I don't have a very high budget and I also need a bike I can ride through winter now that £600 later on parts the Thundercat is too nice to drop

I could pay £400 for bike hire and lessons I don't need (paid £600 last year to get me test ready.. Passed mod 1 but couldn't get a mod 2 date before the law change) then I could buy the ktm 300. But then I have two bikes not really suitable for icy conditions/abuse and an empty wallet.

So I'm considering being more sensible and buying a hopefully cheap, reliable offroad bike that I can use to save me a few £100 then run through winter dropping it as I please and I'll still be able to do some green laning maybe even travel longer distances to better lanes which a ktm probably couldn't do.

Just looking for some advice really. What would you guys do in my position and what bike would you recommend that is cheap, reliable, suitable for the tests and capable offroad?

Thanks

[P.]

A DRZ400 is suitable for the A2 under 3rd directive thing.

Won't be as fun as the KTM... not at all, but if you are <24, ideal bike for that style I suppose. Even the 200 EXC I have isn't allowed on their silly thing due to the weight

[STONEY!]

I disagree, personally find the drz more fun than the ktm etc strokers, its not as good a bike technically but its much easier to ride and better for just pissing around on. also less maintenance and doesn't drink juice like its going out of fashion.

Me and a few of my mates have drz, ktm 4stroke, xt350, ajp 250, klx250, we go out all the time usually for a full 7-8hr day and come back feeling good, wash/oil service bikes as needed and spend maybe £10 on fuel or so.

the lads with the strokers come back completely knackered and spend the next few days complaining they spent £30-40 on fuel and that the bikes are knackered.

and generally for greenlaning they are no faster either!

for competition use 2 stroke all they way for general fun not for me thanks!

[P.]

125 KTM wheelied off the throttle with no hardship in 2nd and could touch just over 80.

the 4 stroke top end WR125X couldn't wheelie in anything off the throttle and wheezed up to 70.

2 stroke goodness I've always wanted a DRZ, I still kinda want one, but the 200 is bound to be more fun.

[rhys1005]

[Fladdem]

It doesn't have to be 400cc plus does it? just a certain power? I don't know, I'm glad I got in before the new rules, my mod 2 was done on the day my CBT ran out.


I would say DRZ, i've had a go on a 33bhp restricted SM, one of the few that have ever been ridden that way I think, and it really impressed me, although I was still on a 125 so anything would have felt really strong, I managed to wheelie it off the throttle in second, although gearing was changed and I was sat too far back.

I would say a TTR, as I always do, but parts are a nightmare. Never a popular bike in its day, and now is impossible. Mine has been down for 2 and a half months now awaiting bits. That's the trouble with so called reliable bikes, all the previous owners don't think about doing maintenance so 20 years down the line all the lack of maintenance from previous owners rears its ugly head and serious stuff needs doing.

Like all the reviews say, you soon get bored, it felt like a rocket ship when I was on it, and green laning was much easier than on the MT5, I though I would never be sick of it.

£2700 it's cost me!, 1050 of it was just buying the bike! the bike I could have bought with that...
Alas, I digress, I'll mark another day off on the calendar and wait for bits.
____________________
Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[STONEY!]

Paddy, you ain't wrong when it comes to 125's 2 strokes are the don.

I'd recommend a DRZ to anyone but don't get me wrong its only because it has little competition for what it is/does. its underpowered overweight and the finish isn't great either, I think they just waved a spray can around in the general direction of the frame when it came to painting the thing.

As I say for general pissing about I recon the drz is better vs a 200 2-stroke ktm.

The ktm is a high class hooker, a great ride but will cost you the earth in more way's than one, the drz is a cheap slapper you can bounce her around a bit throw, her in a ditch and she'll still come back for more.

[rhys1005]

Can't go for the TTR anyway as it's under 400cc although I think you can ride under a 400cc after passing you can't use it on the tests. Probably can't ride after either but I can't see why you wouldn't be allowed to?

Looking at dirt bikes they are quite expensive, gradual costs such as petrol, maintenance costs etc never bother me but being young, stupid and unable to get a loan saving for one big amount is quite tricky so in reality after thinking about it a KTM would be the same if not less hassle money wise. But factor in bike hire costs and temporary insurance and it obviously makes getting the KTM quite a bit more expensive. Not bothered about the risk of being caught with a bike under the weight limit, I have a neighbour who's about 17/18 who has had his ktm 125 for a few years now and runs it everyday on L plates so I'm done caring.

If I had my license I would certainly go for the KTM 300.. But I don't so really leaves me with a drz if that's what the general recommendation is unless there is something better to fit purpose? I guess I can always sell it later on and get a ktm

[G]

[STONEY!]

ktm's are 250 and 200 exc (I think), also a suzuki rmx250.

they just seem a bit fierce for laning ie not really happy unless they are flat out or stopped, Im only going on my personal experience so maybe its the riders but I had the rmx for a while and hated it too.

maybe if you were going balls out fast the 2-strokes would be better but with all the dog walkers, horses and bloody ramblers its not really reasonable to do it.

If I were doing mx or enduro's etc then sure 2-stroke ktm latest model and rebuild every few races but for what I do the drz is fine.

[P.]

The DRZ400 is a suitable A2 test bike

[G]

The 200 EXC I had, had a very peaky power delivery.
250s (including RMX) that I've ridden didn't - flatter than 4 strokes - to the point that I jumped on a RMX after my DR600 and found myself running out of revs half the time because the delivery was so flat!
Sure, you can 'rip' with them, but never found a problem going slwoly - and as mentioned, the 300s tend to have masses of low down grunt, so you need to be up and down the gears less than a DRZ, certainly.

My old KTM350 was akin to the 200, but with a load more power - it was pretty much like a XR250 below the powerband; but when you got into it, mostly the rear wheel just lit up, but occasionally it'd sit up and scream off in to the distance like that proverbial scolded cat.

[rhys1005]

There's about a 90% chance tomorrow I will be the proud owner of a KTM 300EXC..

No I can't use it on my tests and yes it is really old and possibly going to blow up within the first few months..

Chuffed to bits though not the slightest clue how I'm going to pass my tests now unless I fork out a few £100's on bike hire/ lessons but I couldn't justify spending what some people expect for their drz400's and I know once I passed my test I would be wishing I got the 300.

It's a 1999 and looks to be in good condition, guy seems genuine and claims to have maintained the bike properly and I believe him. £1200 so not too much over my budget. Does need MOT though.

[G]

I can't find anything cheaper right now, but that seems a little on the pricey side for no MOT to me. I'd be trying to get it down a bit, personally.

You could look to something like a DR650 for road work and passing your test, as I think that'd still come within your total budget - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350946058790 - though, again I'd be looking for an MOT'd one at around that sort of price.

[rhys1005]

[G]

Ok, it was a few years ago (but then the bike was a bit newer relatively too ), but I paid £960 or something on ebay auction for a 98 300 taxed and tested with 05 suspension and some spares.

Around £1k has generally been an 'ok' price, I'd say for a bike of that sort of year. This isn't the time of year to sell bikes, but also may not be great for buying unless you're lucky - people won't be selling quick because they want to buy a bike generally, they'll be selling to afford Christmas. So the market is in a bit of an odd state.
Will find some serious bargains, but fewer overall so quite likely not for the bike you want.

[rhys1005]

[G]

See if it starts easily from cold.
I wouldn't expect a bike at this time of year to do so - end of the season and probably needs the carb cleaning (which 95% of the time is the problem).
If it doesn't, take it with an even bigger pinch of salt than you should be already.

[rhys1005]

I am now the proud owner of a ktm 300

Guy was really genuine and down to heart, no bull shit and could tell he has looked after the bike. Started engine from stone cold after 2 kicks and it idles well, really good condition so I'm chuffed

Still on way back from london to birmingham will upload pics in a few days thanks for help/advice guys