A small classic for winter/ green lanes

[ReadySalted]

Hi all,

I've got an SV650S which is ideal for me being a newish biker, but it's only really at home on A and B roads, and not really on the country lanes, and mountain passes which are quite common where I live (Welsh border), and where my love for biking was born when I was 17, on a 125.

With the winter on the horizon, I've been looking at putting the SV to bed, but cannot bare the thought of waiting until spring to ride again, so I've been looking at dirt cheap enduro type bikes, for greenlaning and using as a bit of fun over winter. Then the idea popped into my head that I might be able to satisfy my want for a classic bike at the same time. I've been looking at everything from BSA bantams with knobblys, to suzuki dt125s, to early yamaha xt 250s. I guess anything pre 1980s and fitted with off road tyres would fit the bill.

I'm not at all fussy on age, make, or even engine size, as long as it's a 125 or bigger. My main problem is budget, and thats at the absolute top end 1500, and in an ideal world 500 quid. I don't want this to break the bank, and I'd quite like something quite ratty, which I could tinker with, and something I could work on, and not be too precious about.

So if what I'm after is possible within my budget, can you guys give me some ideas and advice please?

[G]

[doggone]

I was looking at TTR250s around that price, they were all a bit rough or too far away though.

[Fladdem]

Yeah, TTRs hold their value and the cheaper ones, like mine, £1075, are absolute dogs. But I bought it on a whim and viewed at night and no test ride.

Later I discovered a badly welded and re-cracked frame, needed a top-end rebuild, all the chassis bearings were knackered and all the body panels were in tatty condition, which was to be expected really given the nature of abuse she must have taken.
____________________
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.

[thx1138]

https://trf.org.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=110&sid=6e54f53e60c1d70ff8ccf294f440fbcf

worth bookmarking the for sale forum of the TRF

and maybe a browse of what has sold?

400 KTM EXC sold for £1,500 recently.