Generic DRZ or KTM question

[Knacker]

Basically I'm selling My K1 Thou and getting something Off-road orientated however it will be my Main commuter aswell.

My commute is 12 miles a day and have plenty of fields and stuff I can skip across aswell as a few bridle ways and a few woods to hack through.

I just can't seem to decide on a Bike though, so far a DRZ seems the most viable considering it's Reliabilty and More bias towards road use, however I am quite tempted with a KTM450EXC or a Yamaha WR426/450. Iv looked at a couple of XR400's but this whole not starting when warm would be an issue.

Is it right at WR's don't have ignitions? I shall be investing in a Almax chain and have a Cycle hoop thing literally outside my work.

So what I really want to know is, Are KTM's really that bad? Is a WR viable as a Commuter or should I just stick with a DRZ.

PS: I want Knobblies none of this SM stuff.
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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[Conzar]

A EXC wont have a ignition unless you had it as a extra, as with all enduro based bikes like the wr, exc.

They were made for taking green laning. The service intervals are in hours. They are brilliant bikes but not for road use and commuting.

The DRZ is the best bet id say.
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Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[STONEY!]

drz or ccm 404 if you want something a bit lighter and with better suspension and brakes etc but the same bulletproof engine.

Yamaha ttr600 is another viable option but a little on the heavy side.

[Irn-Bru]

Drz will be the easiest to live with, the off road models aren't too expensive either, try and get an e model they are the quickest. Proper off road bikes usually have tiny fuel tanks, no lights, ignition, steering lock etc. Drz would be a good starting point if you want to get serious with off roading. Make sure it's legal to ride on the fields you talk off too
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KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[P.]

Probably DRZ for basic running around. Will get boring quick though...

Why not get a 300 EXC 2 stroke?

[G]

How about 2 bikes?

For the cost of 450EXC you can probably get a GS500 commuter AND something like a 300EXC for play time.

What sort of roads is your commuter?

Personally, I wouldn't choose to use a competition bike for the commute - always worrying about warming it up etc.

What's your budget?

[Knacker]

Did think about a GS500 and something a bit exciting but the GS just wouldn't get ridden.

Got 3k but don't really wanna blow it all on something I'll probably drop or crash into a tree. Maximum I'd go to is probably 2.5k and get some gear with the rest.

All roads are back roads No Dual Carriageways. Also Iv still got my Srad for a bit of commuting but I really wanna take it off the road for a overhaul over the winter so reliability is an issue.
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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[G]

Ok, spend £1k on a tatty 600SRAD when you take yours off the road and £1500 on a 2 stroke enduro bike .

Once you've ridden with knobblies on slippy tarmac a few times you may find a GS500 seems a remarkably good choice if you did go that route .

[Knacker]

So can I just quickly clarify that a WR450 would be a stupid choice even though they are the most sensibly priced and look the most fun

Seen 1 I rather like the look of and not too far away.
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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[J D]

Selling my drz for 1250


https://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz356/jdloyalroyal/Mobile%20Uploads/20140413_163526_zpsac5f2379.jpg
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m0l0t0v wrote: Chris, just so you know, JD is a nutter

[chris-red]

[Ste]

in b4 you get a s59 for riding on bridleways.

[G]

The WR400 was considered an 'ok' daily rider with decent service intervals for less harsh use.
The 450 with titanium rather than steel valves, less so I believe.

[Knacker]

Looks like a DRZ is a winner by a distance


JD tell me suttin....
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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[Knacker]

Remembered how much fun I had a on Kinroad Xt50Gy anything is going to be a laugh although I do miss that Chinese piece of shit.

https://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb259/Squeaky_86_2007/imagejpg1-10.jpg

https://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb259/Squeaky_86_2007/imagejpg5.jpg

Good times!
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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[Knacker]

I would love something like this but my head tells me it's going to blow up every other time I ride it.

https://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb259/Squeaky_86_2007/imagejpg1-11.jpg

Maybe a 4th bike wouldn't be such a bad idea
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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[G]

Considerably less likely than a WR450 I'd expect - competition 4 strokes tend to be more highly strung and when they do go bang, cost a lot more to repair, thanks to a lot more spinny/mobvey-up-and-down bits,

If you got JD's DRZ, you'd still have enough for a 2 stroke too .

[Knacker]

Although having just watched a few YooToobe videos about Gasgas 300's I think I'll be safer on my Thou.

Looks insane!
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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[G]

They are actually really easy to ride - very flat delivery means that you don't have to rev them - you can just lug along in a low gear and open it up. Even more so than a 4 stroke generally.

Of course, if you've got the skill/balls to make full use of them, they go at a decent pace too.

[Fladdem]

I would rather a 300 two stroke than a 300 four stroke. After riding a 1999 KTM EXC 300 and panicking for ages about the power, I was a little bit gutted about how plain it was, when the YZ 125 and EXC 125s, mito 125s and other 2 smoker 125s just feel mental, I wanted the same again but bigger. Still, Like G says, you can ride them below powerband and have more grunt, or very similar to, so similar it's difficult to feel, as my TTR 250, then the proper get up and go that 40 something, nearly 50 horsepower does.

Still, I think a DRZ is probably the wisest choice for your use, and JD's is a reasonable price for what looks like a good nick bike. I'm torn between a CRM 250 and a DRZ next, both offering a bit more go than my TTR but similar road manners and similar weight, DRZ a smidge heavier, CRM a smidge lighter combined with similar suspension, all I want is more powah!
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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.

[G]

Try a KTM 200 if you want that lively 'spark' in the engine department.
In the end, most enduro bikes are made to be easy to ride over varied terrain, so tend to be quite a linear delivery.

Years ago I was reading up on the 200 - some American KTM place did a back to back fairly blind test with various bikes and riders.
A lot of the riders said they didn't like the 200 because of how it was harder to ride - however, they often also posted their best or very good times on it. It forcing you to keep the revs up and so on does make it harder, but also stops you being lazy - and for me is lots of fun (until I'm knackered, anyway!)

The CRM250, I'm presume you're aware, is also very flat* - but is a good bit lighter and more agile than a DRZ.

* The CRM125 is actually ridiculously revvy - to the point of being unusable in many off-road situations. It seems to use a pretty stock NSR engine AND gearing - I got a +10 on the back for mine!

[Fladdem]

I know the CRM 250 is flat delivery but it should have that hit of a traditional two stroke? I want something easy enough to ride down low with the ability to go fast as well when I want to, maybe not fast but quick enough, without needing to be "on-it" all the time.

I like these CRM 125's but I'm not sure how much of the original Honda design is left-over now.

https://www.hmmoto.it/it/prodotti/CRE-Six-Comp-2T-13
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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.

[Knacker]

Whilst you chat about the flatness thing I'm just sat here Still waiting on J D to put some more Pictures up
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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[G]

I wouldn't say the CRM has the sort of stepped power deliver a road 2 stroke typically has - you'll need either something like the 200 or a motocross bike. In motocross they can be on the power all the time and use the clutch to get into the power if they're not - they don't have to deal with accelerating on slippery tree roots from a walking pace while turning ninety degrees, so don't need the low down power.

Not seen that CRE 125. While the power of the engine sounds more CRM, I'm pretty sure they'll be based on a CR125 if they're based on a Honda - the CRM seemed to be basically a NSR lump with a kick start.
I did a (free) day on a flat track laid out on a field. I couldn't get over 10mph or so on the main track bit that was churned up - if I slipped the clutch into the power, it just span up, if I didn't, it just bogged.
Ok, better tyres would have helped too - but on other bikes that wouldn't have been an issue to near that degree.

[P.]