Suggest me a bike please

[ajag]

Hello all,

I would like to to get a second, smaller bike to have some fun with.

I decided that since I already have a road bike (Street Triple) it would be fun to get something that can go off road.

Having never done any off road before, I humbly ask for your help.

Here are the requirements:

1.- Needs to be road legal.

2.- Looks: Don't care whether the bike is pretty or not. Just want something that is not being held together by tape.

3.- Reliability: Would like it to be reliable. I don't mind putting some work into it but not looking for a bodge job

4.- Top Speed: Don't care, not going to be going fast on it.

5.- Engine size: looking for something small and cheap. 125-250? Not going to be going off road a lot. Just need something like a YBR that can go off road if I feel like it.

Any ideas?

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Edited to watch for replies
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Street Triple

[Conzar]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WR250F-2002-/290922276490?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item43bc51a68a

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-XR250-1992-XLR-/300915430722?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item460ff51542
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Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[ajag]

Excellent, thank you!

Just a quick question? How is the turning area on these?

The reason I ask is because my 4 year old enjoys me taking him on the bike on our road (private road). However it is a narrow road and the turning area of the street triple is too big for it making it less enjoyable. This one could be used for that too
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Street Triple

[Conzar]

No problem, i have not ridden any of those bikes but I have rode the 450 version of the yam that was fairly easy to turn so im guessing it will be easier than the triple!
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Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[Fladdem]

TTR250!
I love mine, abit lacking in power but more than enough for my needs, I have raced it, green laned, commuted and gone for day trips with my mates on it on the road. Does everything mediocre.
Never breaks, it's always me that lets the side down, currently nursing a smashed knee from Sunday. I can't ride it to it's full potential yet, i.e. the suspension is still fine for me, I'm about 13 stone, it's a bit short, but then I am 6 foot 4.
I even paid 1150 for it, in near enough pristine condition with low mileage, I reckon so long as it doesn't get too battered in the next couple of years I could sell it for about 1000.
75mpg! Even riding like a loon is about 65. That's nearly as good as my old Varadero.
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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.

[colin1]

another vote for ttr250. I had one and still miss it. Treat it like a bicycle though never leave it anywhere without locking it to something solid. Very attractive to thieves as its easy to steal and they can play with it off road which avoids attention.

a c90 is surprisingly fun offroad as long as the going doesn't get too rough. However they are quite expensive for what they are.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Fladdem]

My Cub has been offroad alot, I often consider getting some knobblies for it, I paid £50 for my C70, just a new plug, fuel and a valve adjustment and it was good to go.
Any offroad bike will be a target for thieves, my insurance quote of £650 for my TTR is evidence of that, not only is it due to the stealability but also the use of it and my lack of experience on a bike, yours may be cheaper.
Good luck in your hunt
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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.

[ajag]

Thank you all for the replies. I am currently looking for the XR and TTR models in ebay as they seem to go for cheaper (older)

The bike will be kept in a secured garage at all times and if I decide to take it to town I will take my Almax 3 chain along and probably chain it to a police officer. Actually that might encourage the thieves as the police don't seem to do much when bikes are stolen.

I have only had my motorcycle licence for almost 3 years but I am almost 36 years old. I am going to run some quotes when I get home and see what the damage is

Thank you very much for your replies. Any of you in Surrey that can recommend any byways to use here? Apparently there are not that many.
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Street Triple

[ajag]

I am thinking of going for this one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WR250F-2002-/290922276490?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item43bc51a68a

Anything in particular that I should watch out for?
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Street Triple

[Fladdem]

I was going to buy a 2002 WR250F for £1000,it had been used 7 times, raced 6 of those times and it looked pretty battered, but mostly it was the service schedule that put me off, I decided I wanted a bike with its servicing done in Months of use as opposed to hours, cos it was going to be a daily bike.
I can't think of anything specific to the WR but google might throw something up. Just ask the owner about his servicing routine, if it's really hard to start, might be thrashed and the valves ar out of spec? Check for rounded nuts and bolts. It's a competition machine so will probably have been rode hard, bear that in mind.
If the current owner seems like the sort that doesn't bother with maintenance, leave it. That's just what got told to me by a close friend who has been racing offroad for 20 ish years.
Good Luck

PS, I asked a question about a WR250 a while ago, might come up if you search? May be more info back in the forum somewhere

PPS. Here it is https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=244806
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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.

[ajag]

Thank you very much for that information. I decided to go against the wr250F due to the frecuent maintenance it requires. I want something simpler and more robust sort of speak. I did find your thread useful.

I checked Insurance quotes and I can get that insured Third party and theft for around £80 a year so not bad
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Street Triple

[stevo as b4]

How about the Honda XLR125? I've ridden one of these and thought it was quite good off road for what it is.

[Conzar]

Get the WR its around 33bhp so you will have bags of fun on it!
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Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[Fladdem]

[

[ajag]

This is getting more difficult every day, cant really make up my mind! Started looking at the KTM 200 and 300 exc and they look really good. Yes they do require more maintenance but look a lot more fun too

Prices are all over the place and not really sure what is a realistic price to pay for off road bikes.

KTMs for example. those two models are 2-strokes. I can get a 300 for under 1000 pounds but they are from 2001 and before. There is a 2006 model for 1800 pounds but needs a new clutch bearing. Anyone know how expensive that is?

The biggest issue seems to be not having any of them within a viewing distance. Must be that no one buys these kind of bikes in surrey

Any indications of what is a fair price for a 2001 300 exc? looking for something to go on as I am not sure if either they are too expensive or too cheap for a reason.

Cheers
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Street Triple