Total n00b

[Adamantis]

So, having had a (very) little play on Saturday, I'm idly contemplating acquiring something to play off-road on. Needs to be road legal (although I assume anything could be made that way in theory?) for getting to greenlane-type stuff, as I have no trailer/car/van access.

So! Who out there can give me a few suggestions for fun bikes for a 6 ft mentalist? Preferably not 125, as the "fun" might well develop into a bash at the Trans-America trail if hubby gets his way!

Thanks in advance,

Laura

[MarJay]

[G]

Hehe, what I have I done?

First off, I think you do need to decide what kind of off-road riding you'd like to do.
If you'd like to borrow one of my collection at another time, feel free. Unfortunately as was discussed, I don't have much between serious beginner (c90s) and fairly advanced (KTM 200/690).

Personally I'd say a TaT bike would be ideal for green laning - I'm happy with a bit heavier bike for laning, as I don't tend to be going super-fast anyway.

I would agree not to get too hung up on cc, but that still a 125cc probably isn't ideal - a KTM 125 will probably make 50% more power than a XR250, yet still weigh up to 20% less.

If you're happy kick starting bigger bikes, then don't let the electric boot put you off - but be aware that you do want to make sure the bike is well setup to kick nicely.
Modern 2 strokes are generally very easy to kick, while big 4 strokes tendt to be more hassle (I saw recommended that you were at least 13 stone for my DR600 on the basis that you need some decent weight behind you to be able to kick down hard enough.)

I also wouldn't let pre-mix put you off - no jerry cans needed, just get a £2 baby's bottle from tescos and mark on the amount of oil in litres of petrol, then add to tank at the pump. Attach to forks, or seat, etc.

I do like the 250/300cc 2 stroke enduro bikes for begginers - they are easy to ride and light weight, yet if you want to try using the power, you have it there.

My 'holy trinity' of trade offs are power, light weight and reliability.
It's easy to find bikes with any two of them, but much harder to find all three. The 690 is a reasonable mix of all three (note it's a bit heavier now with the stuff I've added) - it has a claimed 60hp which makes it good getting from A to B, has 3000 mile service intervals and weight at 138kgs is far from light by c90/ktm200 standards, but is much lighter than most other bikes with that much power/service intervals.

If you've got to get out of London to get to your off-roading, I think I'd be tempted to look in the DRZ400, XR400, TE610 kinda area. Again, if you'd like a play on the 690 that's fairly similar, feel free - hopefully I should have some better tyres on my spare set of wheels to swap over soon for proper off-road fun.

[drzsta]

TBH, if greenlaning is all your gonna do then a big thumper will be ideal because of the ride to the location and the lanes are open and long.


for more serious tight shit, i would love the 200exc or the 300 actually!

the 300exc is probably my dream bike because its got torque for the snotty crap and also the crazy ass point and shoot mode of the two stroke, plus because its a smoker - maintenance is a doddle.

you'd soon regret getting a competition 250f when the valve's go tits up every 15 hours
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Current Bikes - BMW S1000RR ‘17 & KTM 690 SMC-R ‘12

[Adamantis]

Thanks for the offer, G - might well have to take you up on that.

As for what I properly want it for? I would love to do more of the stuff you did on Saturday - really cursing myself for leaving when I did!
Greenlaning came up as something that I probably have easier access to from Kingston - not sure how much else is readily accessible from here, given that we own no form of transport other than bikes.
Equally, it has to be road-useable - it's about 50 miles of NSL roads from here to Four Marks.
(The TaT idea is still only an idea, and tbh I would probably consider picking up something stateside for that kind of game in the long run.)

I have the weight to kick bigger bikes (I wish I was less that 13 stone!), but possibly not the strength/ability to get them upright again...

Pre-mix and kickstart don't bother me too much. I fell in love with the ktm 200 just watching it, but I fear that I might kill myself on it :p One way to find out, mind...

Laura

[silky666]

[Blue_SV650S]

[tatters]

I,m down the road from kingston in molesey, have used bikes from a CRM250 up to a XR650R (which l also rode to russia and back!) for mostly green laning riding up and down the A3 to get to guildford each time with no problems.

Take it easy and any trail/enduro bike will do for traveling to offroad events/green laning.
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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]

There's another fairly basic 'practice' track a bit closer near gatwick - google maps says 30 miles away from you.
However, you will get bored of them after a few sessions, so as suggested there's green lanes around, then there's better motocross tracks, enduros, long distnace trials etc .

[Ciar?n]

Another fellow near kingston

After riding a work mates GASGAS 300cc 2 stroke thingy i'm damn hooked.

Wheelies through 5th gear with a hint of clutch, yes please.

I'm also looking for something that'll stunt well in carparks (albeit different wheels)

Be happy to meet up in kingston and wing it down the A3 for guildford, or finding the roads in surrey.

Personally i'm hunting for an XR400 or a CRF450 (i'm quite insane)
____________________
22/8/08 A2 Passed! Full License Biatch!
Past: Suzuki CS50, Gilera Ice 50, Gilera Runner 125SP, CBR 600 F2, CBR600 F4i, CBR 600RR5,

[G]

Suspect you'll be disappointed with the XR if you're liking the 300cc 2 stroke. The 450 4 strokes are 'ok', but I'd still stick with the lighter stroker for dirt fun - beware of the 4 stroke competition bikes for stunting, though I believe they're not too bad if you're ok at not red lining it everywhere - I suspect mattsprat's may have suffered and I believe this was why sparks' died many years ago.

Oh and I believe you got first sentence wrong .

[Ciar?n]

Fellow Fella Female Person With Bike.

All the same to me matey!

Performance isn't really what i'm after.

Just want something reliable that doesn't mind being bolt upright lol.

I know performance wise it'll never match the GASGAS, but anything that helps keep my license honest is a good help!
____________________
22/8/08 A2 Passed! Full License Biatch!
Past: Suzuki CS50, Gilera Ice 50, Gilera Runner 125SP, CBR 600 F2, CBR600 F4i, CBR 600RR5,

[silky666]

[Adamantis]

Having cash is a bad thing...

Just bought a 1999 (assume late 1998 early 1999 registration) KTM exc 300.

Now go ahead and tell me how daft I am :p

Laura

[multijoy]

You're daft!

giz us a go!
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'11 CBF1000A, '99 C90, '98 CB500
silky666: He rode amazingly well considering his bike is the weight of a small van and had slicks on.

[Blue_SV650S]

[G]

Excellent work - I love to see people 'inspired', it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling .

Gingers mentioned before is probably a good place to have a play first, but I'm sure some of the surrey laners would be accommodating of a 'newb' too .

[multijoy]

Picked it up last night. Hire van now smells of premix as it promptly emptied the float bowl, but allegedly this all part of the charm!

I'll get the pics up tonight, but it seems in good nick- the plastics have seen better days (although we have a spare set), on account of it actually having been used, but seems to have been mechanically well cared for- transmission oil change after every ride, stack of paperwork as thick as your arm, etc.

Might have to have a look at the silencer though- it's proper loud!

(section 59, neighbours demand an ASBO loud )
____________________
'11 CBF1000A, '99 C90, '98 CB500
silky666: He rode amazingly well considering his bike is the weight of a small van and had slicks on.

[G]

My carb float sticks occasionally on the 200 – a tap with the handle of a hammer or similar generally frees it up.

Exhaust may well need repacking, check for leaks too.

[Blue_SV650S]

[Adamantis]

Going to try and sort out the repacking tomorrow (had worked that one out thanks to a read of the handy owners manual - hurray for paperwork!).

My only concern is that the clutch doesn't seem to do what clutches normally do - you know, the bit where you hold them in to stop the thing from stalling...
*growls at getting stuck at the lights trying to kickstart the bastard thing*

So, seeing as I've never had a clutch issue before... Advice?

Thanks,

Laura

[Adamantis]

D'oh!

Also meant to add that the clutch doesn't do that "pull it in to stop the bike from moving" thing either...

So, can come to a halt with the brakes, clutch in and any throttle makes it move forwards. So it's probably more that that is the issue - I assume the stalling is more down to the not revving in order to stop it moving! (Yes, I know I have brakes. No, I don't like to use them. Sue me!)

Laura

[Blue_SV650S]

Try bleeding the clutch hydraulics.

What angle is the leave/master cylinder at on the bars?

pic ... pics pics!!
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The purpose of life is to fight maturity.

[boundy]

My CRM used to do the same, after stripping it dowm, it turned out to be the clutch basket was badly notched. An hour with a fine file and some wet & dry and it was sorted, no more creeping forward at trafic lights or being a pain tp push in gear

[multijoy]

https://multijoy.co.uk/ktm300_1.jpg

https://multijoy.co.uk/ktm300_2.jpg

https://multijoy.co.uk/ktm300_3.jpg
____________________
'11 CBF1000A, '99 C90, '98 CB500
silky666: He rode amazingly well considering his bike is the weight of a small van and had slicks on.