Touring on a XR250

[eddclarke]

Hi
Im planning to emigrate to the Czech Republic in a couple months time, and would like to drive out there. I currently have a FZ6 (naked model) and im buying a P reg XR250 with about 8000 miles, with the long range fuel tank.

Ill be going to visit my dad in France, near Le Mans on the way, with possible stops in Germany (Kassel) and Hungary then on to my finally destination Brno, Czech Republic

What do you think it would be like doing this sort of distance on the XR250? Maybe fix some hard luggage to it.
I'd like to be able to sell the FZ6 to get a few grand spending money.
____________________
Honda XR125L 06 ----> Yamaha FZ6 05 + ex SAS XR250 --> VFR800 + XR250r

[G]

First off, accept that your touring won't be that fast touring .

Check to see how strong the subframe is for handling luggage.
Think they sometimes come with pillion pegs, so generally should be ok.

Were it me, I'd go for a bike with a bit more go; going for something like an XR, I'd be wanting to have at least half of the time off-road, maybe, other wise I'd go for something a bit more 'suitable' for road stuff.

[eddclarke]

[.....]

The 250 would be shockingly crap I think. It's slow, very slow. Expect a cruising speed of no more than 50 mph unless you play about and change the sprockets.

The seat is not good for long distance either, plus the 600 mile oil/filter changes would be a pain with the valves needing checking around the same amount.

[eddclarke]

[.....]

On standard gearing it will hit a true 70 mph but the engine will be being ragged - you will need to play with the sprockets in my opinion to get it to a comfortable speed/rev combination.

It is geared for offroad and 1st is enough just to get you moving so you may have some success with different sprockets.

Like any bike, you can ignore the service intervals amd it may be fine, but it may not. The oil at a filter change is only 1.4L and the valves can be done with just spanners, a screwdriver and a set of feeler guages so not that difficult - can be done at the roadside really.

For a less service intensive version look for the XR250L - the more road biased bike.

[eddclarke]

If i could sit at 60 id be fine, i dont plan on taking the main motorways, want to take my time and explore a bit.

I dont know if this is the XR250L, i doubt it would be being ex MOD.
Do you know how big the acerbis long range tank is? and what sort of mileage i could expect to get from it?


Thanks
____________________
Honda XR125L 06 ----> Yamaha FZ6 05 + ex SAS XR250 --> VFR800 + XR250r

[G]

As Joe suggests; depends what sort of gearing you have on them.

You should be able to get 80 or a bit more out of them I'd have thought with the right gearing, but won't be that pleasent and won't be so great low-down.

I wouldn't be surprised if the listed service interval is 600miles - that's what it is for the XR650R. However, plenty of people are happy to ignore that and keep it going for a fair bit longer when not under race use.

[.....]

The Acerbis tank could well be 14 or 22 litres - I know they come in those sizes and even bigger I think.

[eddclarke]

Must be the 22L, its huge.

Do you guys have any other advice about xr250's?
____________________
Honda XR125L 06 ----> Yamaha FZ6 05 + ex SAS XR250 --> VFR800 + XR250r

[.....]

I'd definitely look into modding the seat to make it more comfortable. I believe Tatters has done the seat on his XR650 before he goes touring on it.

Depending how much of a bargain you're getting I'd look into using something else.

If you're happy at doing 50 mph everywhere then go for it and I'm sure it won't let you down

[eddclarke]

Im paying £700 for it, its in perfect running condition, with about 8000 miles on it, Just gone through an MOT. Oh and a P reg.

Good deal?
____________________
Honda XR125L 06 ----> Yamaha FZ6 05 + ex SAS XR250 --> VFR800 + XR250r

[.....]

I would say it's a reasonable deal. I'd be more tempted to sell the FZ6, top up the £700 with some of the proceeds and get something like a 500 instead, for not much more at all.

[eddclarke]

The whole point of this trip is that I will be living in the Czech Rep, once I get there. And its a pretty mountainous area so the XR should be awesome there.

I'd love to do the trip on the FZ6 but sadly i dont trust the crime rate in Brno.
____________________
Honda XR125L 06 ----> Yamaha FZ6 05 + ex SAS XR250 --> VFR800 + XR250r

[G]

For that sort of money I reckon you can get a KLR650.

It won't be nearly as good off-road, but will be a lot better on road for distance-touring style stuff. Probably make a better 'daily' bike.

I've had one and would say it's much better for what you want to do.
DR650 is also well worth a look, they will come in a bit more expensive, are a bit more off-road biased than the KLR, but still a lot better than the XR for what you are describing.

Neither of the above are 'speed demons', but should certainly be a lot more comfortable doing such distance.

As Joe suggests, I'd be spending a bit of your 'spending money' on a bike that will make the journey it's self more reasonable.

[EuropeanNC30R...]

People have gone around the world on DR350's, so it should be alright assuming you have sensible gearing and don't intend on rushing there.

[tatters]

you can tour on any motorbike/scooter but KLR650/DR650R would be more suitable compared to XR250 in europe if you looking for a bike thats good in both on/off road and easy to maintain.


Seat wise l made my own by widening the stock foam and using a sheep skin cover over the top of a new vinyal cover, if you do you use a XR250 ignore the stated service intervals as theses are set for race use and everyday use/touring is noway going to put that much strain on the bike, a good oil change period would be around every 1500 miles for a bike such as the XR250


my XR650R is setup up for long distance extreme wideness touring with lots of expensive modifications which l hope to get some good use in Scandinavia/Russia other wise it would be like a pig in shit out in Africa with its high power to weight ratio which is a future tour if all goes well.
____________________
Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[G]

Cross posted - in the end, if the aim is to have a cheap bike out there and you're less bothered by the journey there, then an XR250 should be 'ok' if you don't mind going slowish, obviously with a change of gearing to make it a bit better.

I'd stay away from hard luggage though - take as little as you can get away with, I'd reckon.

I reckon I'd still consider something a bit bigger anyway - as you've got a bit of possible-cash, maybe an XR400?

[Ste]

[eddclarke]

Thanks guys.
Im gunna have to do a bit of thinking about this...
____________________
Honda XR125L 06 ----> Yamaha FZ6 05 + ex SAS XR250 --> VFR800 + XR250r

[eddclarke]

[tatters]

not resent ones but will be making a post before l leave for Russia at the end of this month.
____________________
Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[tatters]

heres as of today, still have a few things left to do.


https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/20052008767.jpg


https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/20052008769.jpg
____________________
Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[eddclarke]

What luggage is that on the tank?
____________________
Honda XR125L 06 ----> Yamaha FZ6 05 + ex SAS XR250 --> VFR800 + XR250r

[tatters]