Generic DRZ or KTM question

[rhys1005]

[rhys1005]

In regards to the question,

My KTM has been dropped, crashed into hedges, and generally abused off and on road.

Oil change every 500 miles (only hold 700 or so ml of oil so nothing really) or 20 hours as well as the basic stuff is all that's kept it going. Zero issues and starts first kick from cold.

For off-road it's amazing, I'm awful off-road but riding any other bike is near impossible for me to ride off road, they feel heavy and clumsy. It just walks up steep hills. A decent off road rider would be unstoppable on one.

It's more then enough power for off-road and on road it's pretty fun set up correctly. It's also stupidly reliable, durable and cheap to maintain. IMO it would make a fine commuter. If you can grab one for a decent price like I did road registered your laughing. Maybe it your unlucky and it goes bang in a few years, need a easy 2 stroke rebuild.. But it's not exactly a big price to pay/ likely risk.

However saying this I don't like commuting on mine although I have, in an emergency, for 2 weeks straight. It's vibey, not great on fuel, hates maintaining a constant speed, loud as fuck, peaky delivery that makes wet roads 'interesting' and it's also VERY easy to steal.

Selling mine as I'm getting a Toyota celica and two bikes and a car will eat my money.

Looking for £1800ono with the supermoto wheels/tyres/rotors/sprocket, two extra sprockets, spare rear tyre, £1800 odd in receipts from old owners and old mot/service history. Comes also with the off road wheels and any other bits I can find. Lights etc all fitted for road night use. 6 months tax/mot. Pm if interested.

[stevo as b4]

If you want the power delivery of a Circa 30bhp 2stroke 125, but more of it then you need more cylinders. a 250cc Race replica 2stroke still feels very much the same as a 125cc in the delivery of power, but the overall performance would be more. A 500cc 4cylinder 2stroke tuned to the same degree as say the Mito etc, would feel pretty much the same, but 4x stronger.

Personally for off road use a bigger flatter engine without a strong top endy powerband would be better I'd say. Bikes like the KX500 have little bottom end or top end comparatively, but a huge strong pull in the midrange from maybe 3000-5500rpm.

For the OP, I think the DRZ is a good bike choice, but a little heavy and that's where I think bikes like the KTM's Husqvarna TE's, WRF Yamaha's etc are ahead, and better for really muddy dirty, or deep sand rides where light weight would be helpful or an advantage.

I've never ridden the YZ400F or 450F, but they look well put together. The 250F that I spent almost a whole day on, was simply brilliant to ride, and is by far the best serious trail bike I've ever ridden.

If I were buying a bike for serious off road adventure's it would be high on my list. Though I do really like the air cooled range of AJP bikes, for their simplicity, and also for the spec they have for the money too!

[Knacker]

[G]

A 250f is a competition enduro bike - the 250r isn't so well made, much heavier with a good chunk less power and is their 'trail' bike.

Can't see a good reason to get the latter over a DRZ really.


Incidentally, as it goes, only trail bikes I've had engine troubles with have been 'reliable' 4 strokes used on the road.
(Well, the Husaberg was always a pig to start and did have a few bits and pieces needing doing, but found a Husaberg expert that did the engine work for £15ph, so happy enough to let him take care of it :) .)

[Fladdem]