Contemplating a change - DRZ vs XT600

[-Matt-]

Hi all

Haven't posted in this forum before

Been interested in getting a supermoto/traily sort of bike for a while now but just dont have the cash spare.

With moving soon and needing a bit of cash i'm contemplating selling the ZX6 and getting a DRZ400 or XT600 [maybe others but these have caught my eye], which should free up some money depending how lucky i get with the sale/purchase.

The other thing is i'm intending to commute all year round on the new bike if i go through with it - the ZX6 is currently pampered as a dry road toy to be honest, and i'm commuting by car which i'd rather be rid of which will free up more money as well as i only use it for commuting currently, and the mrs already has a car i'm insured on for shopping and whatever else.

Anyone able to recommend which of the two or other alternatives might be a good choice - i'm budgeting around 2-2.5k ideally, probably stick with road tyres that i'm used to most of the time perhaps switching to knobbly tyres for the odd green lane fun etc.

I'm going to try line a few test rides up in the coming weeks to see how i find them to ride around town.

Cheers

[stevo as b4]

I would think that for what you would be able to sell the ZX6R for you will easily be able to get a bike like a Yamaha XT660X or Honda FMX650 for road use and riding through the winter.

I would not recommend wanting to use your only bike that must be kept working and reliable as a green lane/off road bike as well, and ideally if you are new to off road riding something well under 250cc max will teach you loads about rough muddy off road riding and be much more capable than you are, and more than enough power as well for anything you would need it for.

[-Matt-]

Cheers steveo

I did have a look at them but one of the pull-factors for me selling the ZX6 was to get a bit of money spare really, so as much as i'd like them the cost side of it doesn't look too likely to be suitable

Maybe have to scrap the idea of using it as a green-lane toy on the side then its not essential was just an extra benefit i thought might be fun for the weekends and stuff really.

Got a test lined up on a DRZ for this week so far anyway, so i'll give that a go first and see how i find the general feel and ride, i've only briefly been on a friends in a car park before so not really experienced one out and about

[G]

I'm not convinced by the two stevo mentioned - both weigh not far off your current bike, but with just over a third the power, maybe.
Sure, having less power and lower gearing is fun - but you could always restrict your current bike and down gear it.
Also, they're both tall bikes, which may be less than ideal if you need to steady the bike with your feet in icy winter conditions.

If possible, I would try and get a good ride on bike of this style.

The two you mention are a bit lighter, with not much less power, but are more serious dirt bikes.
I'd be tempted to see if I could get an injection TE610 - which has more power than any of the above bikes and about the same weight as a DRZ.

Or, consider getting a 'hack' commuter and a dirt bike you can have fun on in the mud - then if it's snowy, certainly consider taking the dirt bike, or when you just fancy a change.
Could get, say, a DZR400 and a tatty G/J model ZX6 in your budget just about I reckon.

[-Matt-]

Thanks G,

I haven't considered the Husq before really like the look of that.

I wasnt overly keen on the XT's from the start to be honest but they were seeming to be the main contender to the DRZ as far as i was able to see.

Having looked at the weight though, and considering i'm only 5''9-10, I could probably just about flat foot okay but i'd want a bit more than that in the commuting weathers i'm going to be likely dealing with like you said, so i think i'll ditch them.

Found a really good relevant article whilst searching about the 610 also
https://www.visordown.com/road-tests/road-test-f650-v-te610-v-dr-z400s-v-xt660r/4741-3.html
Seems the XT's aren't favoursome for off roading vs the other two so further rules them out I think.

Coming from a ZX6 I presume on road i should find the DRZ and 610 fairly controllable perhaps just a little jumpier in the revs Would you say they're probably a bit much for a novice to green laning and off roading, even if taking it cautious on them at first

Two bikes as you also suggested is out the question sadly, no more garage space where i'm moving for the next year or so and leaving it outside isn't going to be a wise option

Thanks again

[G]

The only problem I'd see with a novice riding these bikes off road is the weight - and that makes the XT much worse than the others that are still a bit heavy.

If you try and rag it everywhere, it's a lot of power, but take it easy and you're fine.
First bike I greenlaned properly was a DR600 - I left it in second most of the time, occasionally popping up to third for the faster bits.
Plenty enough low down power.

They're all low powered, but they're also low geared. Also have a higher centre of gravity, so can wheely easier when laying down the same power in a similar gear.

Also, dirt bikes are slim - get two dirt style bikes and they hardly take up more room than one, especially if you top and tail .

[-Matt-]

[G]

Or, similarly - something like a YBR125 (if you don't have faster stuff and don't mind going slowly) probably won't stick out further than the wide bars of a dirt bike next to it and will cost pennies to run, as well as giving you a bit more for your dirt bike.

These bikes aren't nearly as bad as the competition bikes for oil - they often take a bit less than sports bikes, so it costs are fairly similar.
Expect consumables probably will be fairly similar - probably be lower if you ride the sports bike quite fast - ie less brake pad usage etc if you are hitting 120 on the Ninja and braking hard versus a bit lighter bike hitting 60, say.

The high seating position does create some problems with strong cross winds - but usually only a problem on motorway/dual carriageway style speeds.
Otherwise, they're absolutely 'stable' enough on the road.

[-Matt-]

Dont think i could bring myself to revert back to a 125 to be honest, as good of a little bike as a YBR or similar would be for the commute

I ride the ZX6 like a pansy most of the time, barely ever goes above half its capability - another reason i've decided it might be wise to sell it, i'm just not using most of the bike, i love the feel and looks but thats where the sense stops really

The DRZ or Husq sound perfect really, the height should be a bonus visability wise on the commute - going to be 10 miles tops through towns mostly with a couple of carriageways so its only really low speed turns at junctions and a lot of roundabouts that might be an issue in the more slippery months, hopefully the road tyres will keep me steady

I could do it on the ZX6 to be honest but with my height/build its like riding on a shire horse sometimes, and the way i sit tends to put my knees out a bit, which with the thickness of the bike makes it a bit bulky commuting in tight city traffic These things look perfect

[G]

Note that if you're going for properly tight traffic the sports bike will get through gaps the dirt bikes won't because the dirt bikes have wider bars.
May be narrower bodies, but especially with mirrors folded in, you can get through very tight stuff on a sports bike, where the wider bars won't physically fit.

Despite having a KTM 690 (similar to the Husky), I went for a GSXR1000 for my town commute after using a variety of different bikes on the same route.

[-Matt-]

So following up - Test rode the DRZ today - Never really considered it previously when i rode one in a carpark, but as G mentioned, its suprisingly wide for city traffic, and more annoyingly it doesn't feel it, its only when I was going to filter i suddenly realised ''oh shit... the bars are out here'' and on a few occasions had to hold back quite a way from the front of the queue.

Did really enjoy it out on the road though it feels more raw than the ZX6 but that may be as i ride it so modestly most of the time perhaps. The test was done in and around central Bristol were its multi-lane chaos in terms of traffic, where i'm moving and intending to use the bike for commuting is a much more smaller town, so although multi-lane road filtering here prooved troublesome, in a small town going down the centre of a road i think the width wouldn't concern me too much.

Stability wise i also it very inspiring, suprisingly so in corners, and the additional height was useful for visibility, so its a definate winner there. Will try and arrange a test on a couple of others now, really interested in the Husq 610 but having looked about there doesn't seem to be any within budget at the moment

[bikertomm]

You be wanting EXC Rider's bike

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5485/9496900130_c5bfae95ee_h.jpg

I was originally after a DRZ for my 2 years of 33bhp.. but the prices seem to have rocketed and I figured I'd be getting a lot more for my money with the hornet I got.. definitely will be reverting to getting a supermoto one day though.

Let us know how it goes!
____________________
07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[-Matt-]

Make my day and tell me its within a 2k ish budget though

The bike looks incredible, and as previously mentioned the wheels are a tease but just don't think its 'affordable' on my plan

Visually its exactly what i want [yet to ride a supermoto style bike over 400ish also], chunky and bigger tyres, no idea how that will convert onto road, but after todays commute on the DRZ the bigger looks might not be wise to be honest as the DRZ felt chunkier than expected.

Still.... plenty of daydreams to be had over them yet

[G]

An EXC is easily within your budget, probably even get one with an SM setup.

That bike is a 'real' supermoto in that it has a good bit of power throughout the rev range (a lot more than a DRZ) and a good bit less weight.

Or you could do the job properly and easily get a Husaberg 650 in your budget - I've seen a later model up for £2700 with both sets of wheels in the past.
If I had a good bit of cash to spare, it'd have been mine.

However, you don't get luxuries like an ignition lock. They are even more often stolen to be sold on as pure dirt bikes. Their maintenance intervals are measured in hours and often not that many.
Supermoto use without a cush drive puts more wear on the system as a whole and they're generally not great at sustained travel.

[-Matt-]

When i briefly browsed KTMs before they all looked fairly off-road orientated. Would kitting them out with road tyres and getting them suitable for commuting not add much to the base price would you say

The thing that made me wonder was i see barely any on my daily commute amongst the variety of bikes i tend to pass [excluding dukes and the like], are they really suitable for a daily all year commute

The lack of lock wouldn't be too much of an issue, work parking is as secure as it can be really, and it will be locked down in a garage in front of a car [tight squeeze] at home.

[G]

As an idea of why they're not suitable; I believe my Husaberg was listed with 3 hour service intervals for supermoto use.

Yes, you did read that right.

You can get away with longer for road use.

But they're made to win races, not to get you from a to be.

The KTM equivalent of the TE610/DRZ is the LC4 series.
These have 3000 mile service intervals (older ones are 1500), but weigh more.

The Husky TE510 is the equivalent of the KTM pictured above and is a 'hardcore' dirt bike made to win races, again.

[mysterious_rider]

xt is honda? Get that.

Suzuki are bad generally. Unreliable. And my friend owns the ktm690r thing and it's needed a rebuild twice in the past year.

Supermoto's are awesome. (to look at, and giz a go off a friend).
____________________
KAWASAKIIIII

[P.addy]

I'm fiddy fiddy with getting a 300EXC and getting some road wheels, hoon about on that...

Should be a laugh. Can be found fairly cheaply too...

[G]

If you liked the trials bike for ragging up and down a field, you'll absolutely love the 300EXC .

XT is Yamaha.

Hondas are 'unreliable'.
Also, boring.

[stevo as b4]

I'd listen to people like G with lots of off road and enduro bike experience, but your 10mile commute with urban roads and a bit of dual track sounds ideal for a Supermoto bike. I think winter would be fun and cheaper as these bikes are cheaper in consumable spares and fewer of them than any sportsbike. No plastics to crack and if you fit stuff like axle protector bungs and wrap around hand guards to save the lever's, a spill will most likey result in a few cosmetic scuffs and that's it.

I also like G's suggestion of 2bikes if you can afford it, as already mentioned they can be stored in about the same space as a big road bike, and you get a back up bike to use if one needs work etc.

It's only my opinion, but id get a cheap and robust probably aircooled supermoto style bike for your daily ride to work, and if it's just being used on the road I'd try and get a at least a 500cc single or bigger, so you have some grunt. I think an SM converted XT600/660 or Honda XR600 or a KLX650 etc is ideal. I'd want key ignition, and proper service intervals for a road only bike.

Trying to get one bike to cover the on and off road stuff is a bit tricky, but I'd still not go for anything too specialised or expensive or needy of service intervals for your first off roader. Having said that If your going for a 2bike plan then you could go a bit extreme or specialized for your 2nd bike. A road legal enduro or trials bike would be fun in lots of situations, even an MX bike at a push.

The biggest enduro bike I have ridden off road in loose muddy conditions was a Yamaha WR250F and it had so much more ability than me, and was a really great very capable bike that could do everything with ease. But then a DT125 etc could with the right tyres and re-geared do the same thing until you get really serious. I'd keep an open mind and see what comes up locally if your after an off road bike. But I'd like a tough hardy and fairly practical Jap bike for a road machine, something like an XR600 would be great I reckon and well within budget.

BTW I've lost all respect for those KTM525 SM things, after seeing one easily outdragged from 30mph by a big 1800cc Suzuki cruiser type thing. It just went barrrp and made a lot of noise while the Big Ghey Suzuki shuddered off into the distance.

[G]

[-Matt-]

Thanks again guys, so much to ponder over going to have to get a lot more test rides on the cards I think