Duel sport - WR450F (will it be cr@p on tarmac?)

[Phil D]

Hi guys im after a duel sport for some green laning, countryside riding (road) and possible an enduro event 2 in the future (more for fun rather than winning i suppose). Also may be doing a 110mile round trip maybe twice a month (a roads) to ride with others (unfortunately don't have a van/trailer currently).

Been looking at a few bikes, top of the list is a plated DRZ400e or a S model but prices just seem over inflated to me, probably because its still a desirable bike.

Ive also looked at the CCM 404 but these don't come up often and i have a little bit of a worry about build quality on non engine parts.

Lots of CRF250L's for sale which would fit the bill but feel like it might not be enough power for me (im 100kg), lots available and at a reasonable price. A WR250R or X would be perfect but they are like hens teeth in the UK.

A WR250F is too highly strung for road use. Ive rebuild 4T engines before but have too many projects on currently to warrant something thats going to need too much maintenance. This has brought me to the WR450F, my thinking is the bigger bore engine will cope to an on road use better whilst being lighter than the DRZ and having plenty of power for off road shenanigans. Theres also lots available that are already road registered.

For any significant on road use the plan would be to get a second set of supermoto wheels to stop me chewing through knobblies, probable have a fiddle with the gearing too. Im not about to rush into a decision though (mostly because i need to wait to be paid this month first ) but has anyone got any experience running a WR450F in supermoto guise? pros/cons?

[Phil D]

Test rode a CRF250L today, found it very gutless and boring (25bhp).

[garth]

You're looking at 600 mile max oil changes on a 450F.

My 450 (crf450 copy) is absolutely useless on the road and I change the oil every other ride (100 miles ish)

Wouldn't recommend.

XR?
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[Phil D]

[TbirdX]

XR kickstart only...unless you can find a trx convert electrickery one, but very rare.
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VFR800X - TTR250

[Phil D]

[G]

Prices have gone up, but consider something a DR600.
Is kick start only, but other wise similar weight and peak power to a DRZ400, but a good bit more mid-range. Oh and oil cooled I believe - so simpler. Even longer in the tooth now however.

A KTM 400 with an extra oil radiator (gives better capacity, so longer intervals) could be worth considering too - and prices seem quite reasonable for a decently performing bike.

[thx1138]

[Ste]

Was it the DR600 which had the stupid left hand side kickstart?

[G]

Nah - that was the Husaberg 501E. Also had the rear wheel the wrong way around, to confuse tyre fitters if you take in a loose wheel.

DR600 just had a silly-hard kickstart that very much needed the right technique. (Remember a lighter individual going to try starting it and basically standing up on the lever, rather than pushing it down!)

[Phil D]

[G]

I don't think so much emissions, but partly that bikes were higher spec back then, rather built to a budget - ie we still haven't had any bikes come near a sports 400 from the early 90s in that capacity.

Also, saving the bigger battery, charging circuit, water cooling electric start etc meant the DR600 was a reasonable weight. When it went up to the 650 it gained a few pounds from the more modern design.

[MarJay]

[Copycat73]

[Copycat73]

[Phil D]

[thx1138]

[Suntan Sid]

[Copycat73]

[G]

They did actually release a 'K' version of the DRZ-E which was a little lighter and kickstart only (no battery etc too I think.)

At least one of my DR600s did have the decompression lever - but as you suggest, with the right technique, I didn't find it too bad and didn't notice any real difference using the lever - actually, if anything it seemed it just took an extra spin before it actually fired.

[stevo as b4]

Are old XT's, DR600's and Honda XL600R/XR600's all really that pricey now? I do get there's probably few left and they are all getting on for 30yrs, but I thought it was only a few die hard restorers that were interested in them these day?

I assumed that everyone in the off road world just moved onto 90's> KTM and Husqvarna's etc as these were newer better bikes?

I've been thinking of getting an old 80's thumper for a while to restore as a big brother to my KMX's. I quite like the idea of the KLR600 as it was a bit high tech for its time and is quite high revving for a 600 single. I'd not want to pay ££££'s for a full resto project though.

Have used road legal dirt bikes gone the same way as mundane road bikes in that a 15-20year old bike is way more expensive than they used to be, because they've all been shipped out by dirty eastern Europeans?

[G]

It looks like it - a good bit more than when I had mine 10+ years ago.

Also remember that I believe less new bikes are being sold too - bikes just aren't cheap anymore, old or new.

Mid-old competition bikes are often not too silly expensive yet, but prices have not come down much either with age.

90s KTMs and Husky's aren't really quite comparable with things like the DR600 - the similar weight offerings are a good bit more power/sophisticated (ie LC4) with more questionable reliability.

[stevo as b4]

Not great news then really for anyone?

I'd best keep both my KMX's then and hope I trip over a cheap non running big thumper project one day.

I've actually thought about buying a brand new supermoto, after reading about how many 701 owners there are, despite the fact we are well on the down slope from the supermoto heyday now.

If I do buy an SM maybe for next summer, it'll be the last new bike I buy, and I'll have to hope on winning the lotto for a big road bike one day, as it's only stuff like Sanctuary style GPZ's, CB900F's and the biggest of Zed's that appeal to me now.

If I had to buy a new road bike, I'd go for nothing bigger or better than say an MT07/ ER6 etc.

[Phil D]

So what would ou guys class as high mileage for a DRz?

And is it really worth holding out for an E model over an s model? Plenty of SM and off road wheels available for whatever I end up with

[Copycat73]