Advice

[Fladdem]

Here's the situation, on a restricted access licence, i.e. 33bhp, So i am looking around for bikes to do possible greenlaning and road riding and things, you know, you were probably all there once. I have narrowed it down to a few options, Honda XR250, Yamaha TTR250, Suzuki DR350/DRZ400, if i can get it for the right price, and a Kawasaki KLR250. 6ft 3" about 80kg, not sure what that is in old money about 13 stone? 17 years old with about £1,500 saved up from 3 paper rounds for 4 years, yes i was so eager to get a bike i started saving at 13, don't judge me. What i would like to know is which one you'd recommend, why, if there are any others out there, would prefer 4 stroke, if only to save on fuel money, and whether i with 30 minutes experience of offroading in a field with a clapped out honda cub 70 could get along fine with them. Many thanks.
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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.

[Imonster]

TTR - purely because my one hasn't died in a good few years of abuse and it has an electric start which satisfies my laziness.
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Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

[Fladdem]

I was tempted with either the honda or the yamaha most as well, from what i have gathered the ttr is an xr with an electric start, which is always handy. Is it alright for a begginer?
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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.

[Imonster]

TTR's great for a beginner - nice linear power delivery and as you picked up on the electric start is a big bonus. Seat height's not too bad either. Only downside for me is it's a little heavier than more modern machinery but certainly not horrendous.

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of (much) faster offroaders out there, but based on what you say you want to do with it I'd seriously consider one

I've never ridden the 250 version of the XR, but have ridden the DR350 and the KLR and much prefer the Yamaha over them.
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Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

[G]

Is this bike going to be your main form of transport?

If so, I'd look at the 400s at least unless you're only doing local journeys - the XR400 doesn't make quite as much power as the DRZ, but makes up for it by weighing less.
Consider the DRZ400E which weighs less than the S model, though on paper has more than 33hp (suspect on a dyno it may be just on rather than under in stock form.)

[Fladdem]

Imonster that is perfect, just what i wanted to hear, i think i have been swayed.
G, it will be my main form of transport, but i won't really be leaving 30mph zones that much and i am not too fussed about speed and things or else i'd get another more suitable 125 if they didn't cost so much to buy compared to something less sought after. The xr400 did cross my mind but i like the idea of an xr250 for some reason.
Thanks you two, really useful stuff there, just got to wait it out now until i find 'the one'
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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.

[chris-red]

Just a note, I imagine most of those bikes would be technically illegal to rider on an A2 licence.

It isn't just under 33BHP(25KW) but also a power to weight ratio of under 0.16 KW/KG.

To put that in context if you ride a 150kg bike that has 33BHP(25KW) you are breaking the law.


25(KW)/150(KG) = 0.16666667(rec)

Technically you 80kg KLR250 would need to have under 16bhp to be legal.

However the 'law' is stupidly written and has a million and one ways round it.

Is it BHP at the crank or wheel?

Is it claimed weight/dry weight/kerb weight/weight with rider, etc.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[chris-red]

Interestingly Suzuki's DRZ which is a popular 33bhp bike could well be illegal WIkipedia quotes 145kg weight and 33bhp. Which would give a power to weight of 0.172.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[chris-red]

I wonder if you could restrict these bikes with a lead brick
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.