Talk to me about DRZ/KLX 400s

[Padmei]

Road legal ones are about a grand more expensive than trail only models - is this right?

Can a trailbike model be vinned etc if fitted with lites etc?

What are the common faults with them?

[dino3310]

if there a grand more for the road ones, whats the point putting lights and shit on and vinning an offroad one, prolly end up around the same price

[Padmei]

if there a grand more for the road ones, whats the point putting lights and shit on and vinning an offroad one, prolly end up around the same price

Totally Iwas just putting it out there to see if someone had done it before.

[Ocean1]

What are the common faults with them?

I had a KLX, they're road legal. They come out as just that one spec', not like the DRZs. Was a better compromise for me, minimum equipment but road legal as standard and the full enduro-spec's motor.

Not yellow was a bonus.

Ah, faults. They don't really have any. Not like shit breaking all the time, they're pretty bulletproof. The only really common bitch is the gears are pretty close, so if you gear it for tight stuff they're a bit buzzy at motorway speeds.

[timmehpwr]

I had a KLX, they're road legal. They come out as just that one spec', not like the DRZs. Was a better compromise for me, minimum equipment but road legal as standard and the full enduro-spec's motor.

Not yellow was a bonus.

Ah, faults. They don't really have any. Not like shit breaking all the time, they're pretty bulletproof. The only really common bitch is the gears are pretty close, so if you gear it for tight stuff they're a bit buzzy at motorway speeds.

the bit about KLX's only being road legal isn't true, I have a 2003 KLX400R offroad only model, basically the DRZ400E model with green plastics. Different rear subframe than the road model and an unrestricted exhaust are the only major differences.

They are really great bikes, check out www.thumpertalk.com under the DRZ400 FAQ section.

I'm looking at selling my KLX soon as I just got my learners, looking at buying a TTR250 road legal dirtbike instead, and in a years time when I get my full, I'll be looking for a road legal KLX400 or DRZ400 got sick of trailering it around

I think it would be much easier to just buy the road legal version. You'd need a new wiring harness and rear subframe, lights speedo, DOT approved wheels etc... quite a lot of work unless you can get a really good deal on an offroad model to make it worth your while.

[buggsubique]

I have yet to see anyone take an offrd 400 through vinning. It's definitely been covered before in here somewhere but there's none of the stuff you need to get it done, so it's from bare bones that it needs to be compliant.

Just buy a road legal one.

[buggsubique]

Oh and no real faults except riders outgrowing them or getting sick of the highway compromise and finding another compromise to pursue instead. I'd own another one if I could afford more than one bike. That and an XR 650 R adventurised.

[CrazyFrog]

Padmei, just talk to me or Topo.

Watch TM, most of the road legal specced ones are leccy start, and a dead giveaway from photos will be the toolkit/lunchbox kit on the rear guard. Oh, and the number plate, lol.

Just have some spare sprockets in your workshop to play around with gearing ratios.

Here's a rough dirt only version in Nelson
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-346201093.htm

or, a road legal one for cheaps
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-341798909.htm

Same bike, different colour, a KLX400, lower km's too.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-342500513.htm

[doc44]

That KLX looks nice in the link above.

DRZ`s are good bikes, not much goes wrong with them if looked after, and if tuning is your thing then there`s all sorts you can do!

[waynzz7]

I purchased a DRZ400e off a guy that had purchased from new and used only as a dirt/trail bike, he had put rego on hold..so no prob to re-register..I wouldn't do it again as even at only 7thou K's it has been pretty well hammered, suspension, rims etc on the trails..I would prob want to purchase a road version 'e' as it would prob be in better nick and had lived an easier life on the road..I looked at a few that weren't rego'd etc and it was going to be too much of a mish..time and price wise..fun bike though if you know it's limits..

[MXNUT]

There are 2 different road legal models that were imported into NZ.
Most of them are the E model and they are more powerful than the S model.

E model is identical to the off road version just with the road legal bits.

S model has CV carb not pumper carb, lower compression ratio - different rear muffler and most of them have steel tanks.They also have slightly different suspension valving and different gearing.

In my E model i run the same gearing as the S model to make it slightly less buzzy on the road sections and to improve the fuel distance on a tank.

The only downside to this is that it will only wheelstand in 1st gear when running that gearing.

Only ever change the sprockets back, once in a blue moon for totaly off road based adv riding like CNUT hill for example.

Seat is a total plank though your arse does get used to it after a while.

[waynzz7]

In my E model i run the same gearing as the S model to make it slightly less buzzy on the road sections and to improve the fuel distance on a tank.

The only downside to this is that it will only wheelstand in 1st gear when running that gearing.

Only ever change the sprockets back, once in a blue moon for totaly off road based adv riding like CNUT hill for example.

What gearing are you running MXNUT? I have been using 14/41 for the road and 14/48 for the trails..You similar?

[Padmei]

Thanks guys for that. Froggy I have already watchlisted those 2 nice ones. I know now what tolook out for

cheers
Padmei

[Ocean1]

the bit about KLX's only being road legal isn't true,

Now that you mention it I did know that.

What I meant to say was that the engines on all the KLX's are "E spec". From memory 37hp vs 34hp, although I've drag raced S models before and there's bugger all difference. The pumper is good for fast response but I reckon the CV item is easier to use in the slime.

[bart]

Standard DRZ offroad model has a different headlight, so you're up for $500 for the 'dipper' unit before you even start ($400 for the light + the shroud). Road DRZ runs the same as DR650 light.

As said, most road legal models in NZ are the 'E' model. I couldn't fault mine. Only issue was the close ratio gearbox so the long road miles become tiresome. If only they had a 6th gear......you could almost paint it orange.