Enduro bikes between 250 and 650cc?

Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

Can anyone recommend good Enduro bikes good for kitting out for traveling and under a couple of grand?

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Do you mean enduro or 'trail'?

Enduro bikes are made to win competitions.

The only one which seems to make a fairly distance long distance bike is the XR650R - and of course that was designed to win the Baja 1000, which is a little different to your average enduro.

What sort of off-road are you planning to be doing, if any?

Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

Not so much off road for getting A to B but getting few hundred yards off the road to camp. A hard cor adventure bike would be over the top and expensive so just something tough and cheap.

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Why limit yourself to such a style bike?

Any kind of dirt styled bike will likely be less smooth (presuming it's a single), more expensive to buy and run and so on.

Something like a GPZ500s should do you just fine if you want cheap.

Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

I thought enduros had bigger tanks. Maybe I should have just said rugged with good range.

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

An enduro bike will often have a very small tank - so there's less fuel sloshing about.

A trail bike will likely have at best an average size tank.

People often buy bigger tanks for trail bikes to use them for adventure purposes.

Back to the GPZ - ride it at cheap trail bike speeds and you should get a very good range from the tank.

Rugged enough for what you describe.

Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

There was an article in a bike magazine where some guys set off for africa with cheap old Honda XR400. So that got me thinking what cheap alternatives to big expensive adventure bikes are out there.

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

conker · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 22 Mar 2013 Karma :

DL650 (Vstrom) can get a pretty decent one for a shade over 2k

conker · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 22 Mar 2013 Karma :

DL650 (Vstrom) can get a pretty decent one for a shade over 2k

Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Can you not just use the XJ6 Neutral

Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

conker · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 22 Mar 2013 Karma :

XT600?
Bit old like, but might be decent.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/yamaha-xt-600-tenere/1035671141

Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

Yeah a Tenere would be good or an early Triumph Tiger.

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

I've got an XT but wouldn't choose one for touring unless you're doing some pretty serious trails. It's not built for going over 70 really but otherwise is simple and a good little bike. If you're sticking to roads pick something road biased. See my sig for more details.

Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

Any trips I do will be around scotland. So A and B roads and no need for motorway speeds.

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

Like Joe, I've got a big single trail bike and it wouldn't be my first choice for touring, which is why I've got a road bike as well.

I like the sit up, arms wide riding position, but you're stuck out in the breeze like a sail, so sustained speeds, even 50-60mph becomes a chore.

Plus there's the vibes from the motor, which gets a bit tiring after a while and it's starting to run out of steam at anything over 70, so you always feel like you're working it quite hard.

A decent screen and some hand guards fixes the first problem, but you really need a twin to get some smoothness and grunt, which brings you back to an adventure type bike.

I can see the merit in the big BMWs/Triumphs and I would seriously consider one for doing distance stuff, but only if the terrain was going to get a bit rough.

If it's all decent quality roads, stick to a road bike.
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Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

Ride magazine took a big GS, KTM and an XT round the arse end of Turkey and ended up deciding the XT was the best despite its engine being half the size.

I'm thinking maybe keep an eye out for an XT or a Baghira.

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Both the XT and mz are very heavy and slow. I don't see why you wouldn't get a multi cylinder bike, or just use your current bike, which sounds much more suitable!

Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Why not?

Why do you think an XT will be significantly better?

Ok, I did choose my KTM on a 90/10 kinda principal - but more that I was choosing a bike that was 90% appropriate for fun I would have 10% of the time (on a tour).
I did do some reasonable 'serious' off road stuff on it. Enough to break the sump guard in Spain Smile

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