Resend my activation email : Register : Log in 
BCF: Bike Chat Forums


Advice required...Looking into buying an off roader

Reply to topic
Bike Chat Forums Index -> Offroad & Supermoto
View previous topic : View next topic  
Author Message

tracks
Nitrous Nuisance



Joined: 01 Nov 2012
Karma :

PostPosted: 13:59 - 18 Feb 2017    Post subject: Advice required...Looking into buying an off roader Reply with quote

I've recently been looking into doing some greenlaning and off roading but I honestly don't know what bike would be best suited to me. I'm 5'9"and have about 4K available to spend on a suitable bike. It will need to be road legal to get through some road sections. I have a full licence so I'm no restricted, other than my lack of off-road experience.

So what's a good bike to start with? KTM? Honda? A 250? 350?

I've had a look around and I just get baffled by them all.

Thanks...
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

.....
Quote Me Happy



Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Karma :

PostPosted: 14:01 - 18 Feb 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd advise getting a cheap 4 stroke 250 or similar to see if it's for you then replacing it with a 300 stroker when you know what you're doing.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

recman
World Chat Champion



Joined: 26 Mar 2012
Karma :

PostPosted: 14:14 - 18 Feb 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Big strong chain, big strong lock, something equally strong to lock it to and a big strong bitey dog.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

bugeye_bob
World Chat Champion



Joined: 05 Sep 2013
Karma :

PostPosted: 14:18 - 18 Feb 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a old TT250R for green lanes and short road stuff, air cooled, easy and cheap to run,
electric start can be a god send at times.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

thx1138
World Chat Champion



Joined: 06 Oct 2005
Karma :

PostPosted: 15:16 - 18 Feb 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

I started on an XR250, then moved to a CRF250L, now I ride a Beta Xtrainer.

You might find a Yamaha Serow fits the bill for you.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

doggone
World Chat Champion



Joined: 20 May 2004
Karma :

PostPosted: 19:22 - 18 Feb 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm about 5' 9" and find the CRF250L easy enough, it's a bit underwhelming performance-wise when you get more confident, but a reasonable option for mild green lanes and quite good fun on the road.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website You must be logged in to rate posts

G
The Voice of Reason



Joined: 02 Feb 2002
Karma :

PostPosted: 21:09 - 18 Feb 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

My usual advice is to consider starting on a 250 or 300 competition enduro bike.

These absolutely can be very, very fast bikes.

But, they also have a very easy to use power delivery, are very light and have great suspension.
So can be easier to ride than a heavier/slower 4 stroke.

Saying that, providing you don't go too heavy you'll probably enjoy it whatever you're on.

I'm always a bit cautious of the competition 4 stroke 250cc bikes - they're designed to win races and go for peak power with high revving engines with lots of stuff to go wrong.

Something a bit less focused doesn't have that worry so much, but often adds a little weight.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

tracks
Nitrous Nuisance



Joined: 01 Nov 2012
Karma :

PostPosted: 18:32 - 19 Feb 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cheers everyone.

I'm going to Colwyn Bay motorcycles next week to have look and see what they have. Thumbs Up


It'll be locked up in a garage with a big dopey Vizsla and a mental Jack Russell very nearby, so I'm hoping it'll be safe enough!
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

Wafer_Thin_Ham
Super Spammer



Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Karma :

PostPosted: 19:26 - 19 Feb 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

XR250 or CRF250L. Cheap, unburstable and plentiful spares. Ideal for the noobies.
____________________
My Flickr
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

thx1138
World Chat Champion



Joined: 06 Oct 2005
Karma :

PostPosted: 12:20 - 20 Feb 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

cheapo introduction?

Cagiva for under £1,500

https://www.trf.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=110&t=23303
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

stinkwheel
Bovine Proctologist



Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Karma :

PostPosted: 12:24 - 20 Feb 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

A friend of mine does all sorts of green lane work on an XT225.

Seems weedy and some people look down on it because it's not very powerful but she does the Edinburgh Trial on it every year.

What it is is easy to ride, reliable and easy to lift up out of a ditch.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

G
The Voice of Reason



Joined: 02 Feb 2002
Karma :

PostPosted: 13:11 - 20 Feb 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

thx1138 wrote:
cheapo introduction?

Heavy introduction!
Something like a DR600 will be lighter with less need to mess about with gears.

XT225 is decently light. Some may find they fairly quickly want more - this is not to say that it can't be ridden very fast, just that it requires a good bit more skill to be ridden 'a bit faster' fast than other bikes may do.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Fizzer Thou
World Chat Champion



Joined: 06 Aug 2011
Karma :

PostPosted: 21:05 - 01 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

From your location I would suggest having a go at the off road school down the road from you near Oswestry

https://www.mickextanceexperience.com/

Despite my many years of experience green laning and racing off road I had a lot of fun back in 2013 riding with Mick and my sport bike owning friends.

His school has now expanded to include a motocross track alongside the miles of forestry tracks that are utilised for the days course.

Definitely worth it as a taster Thumbs Up
____________________
Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts
Old Thread Alert!

The last post was made 7 years, 28 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
  Display posts from previous:   
This page may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that third-party cookies will be set.

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Bike Chat Forums Index -> Offroad & Supermoto All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum

Read the Terms of Use! - Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group
 

Debug Mode: ON - Server: birks (www) - Page Generation Time: 0.08 Sec - Server Load: 0.32 - MySQL Queries: 17 - Page Size: 78.92 Kb