Hello all. Help me find a motard! (Crone)

[Crone]

Hey,

(Sorry for the demanding title, I just read it and now I cant edit it haha :P)

I was told to sign up here by a friend as I am looking at buy a motard for the road, so here I am, first post. I live in Auckland and have done abit of trail riding on and off throughout my life. I used to own a small sports bike but had to sell awhile ago.
Glad to join!

First things first, I am looking a buying a second hand motard, my budget is around $7000. I will be using it as a daily commuter.
I am just lost with the large amount of bikes out there.

Do i got for modified or unmodified?
How many hours is too many?
Which make is best?

I have had a quick search through some threads but I am hoping someone can link me some good buys :)

Thanks,
Jordan.

[McWild]

For commuting? Get a DRZ-SM.

Specifically, get this drz400sm: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-455226007.htm

Motards are really variable in terms of what appeals to who. In my experience the easiest way to classify them is to look at reliability/ease (or lack) of maintenance vs power-to-weight ratio.

For example, if you are interested just in having the fastest supermoto around, a real race-bike-with-lights that will rip the front wheel in any gear, drift, and all that then you want to buy something like:

this - http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-470679000.htm

this - http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-470563202.htm

this - http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-468488875.htm

The trade off with these is, at least in the Husqy's case, 600km oil changes, 1200km valve clearances. Similar with the KTM. Then you gotta keep an eye on the hours for things like rebuilds, which you don't want to miss. Then you also have to think about comfort, as you're essentially riding a dirtbike with some shiny stuff attached, ie you will probably but not definitely suffer from vibration issues, seat comfort, and engine that just wants to pull hard (and not cruise at the same revs for long periods of time), no pillion seat, tiny gas tank etc etc.

Then at the other end of the spectrum are things like:

this - http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-469729341.htm

this - http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-468956403.htm

or, to an extent, this - http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-469928517.htm

The trade off with these is that they lack power, and are heavy.

For the DRZSM think a wet weight of 147kg, and mid 30s hp. The XT660x is really heavy, like 175kg+ and makes 60hp or so, and the DR650 is I think just less than the DRZ, with the same approx hp.

Compared this to the XR650r, which will be 130kg odd wet, and will make something like late 50s to early 60s hp if you get a good one. The other rippers get even lighter, with similar power figures, especially when tuned.

However for the weight and power loss, you are getting maintenance that is pretty much the same as any road bike. So 2500km oil changes, up to like 10,000km valve clearances. If you visit www.supermotojunkie.com you will read countless tales of the reliability and longevity of the DR650 and DRZ400sm. They just won't die, and require minimal upkeep. That isn't to say the rippers aren't reliable - because they can be - but to keep them reliable you just have to be on the ball with maintenance. If you honestly think you will make the time and money to keep them in the condition they deserve then the choice is a no-brainer: get the fastest one you can.
If however, you are a mere mortal with maintenance and want a comfortable daily ride that will still pull wheelies (albeit with much less urgency) and be a heap of fun through the twisties (which they definitely are, then get the 400 or 650 (as examples).


So to conclude, you really just need to think about what you want out of the bike and go from there. I got my DRZ (which, hilariously, is the one I first linked you to) because of the above reasons, and it has fulfilled those purposes admirably. It does really well on gravel roads, and with better tyres could probably hit trails pretty well too. It wheelies if you want it to, but won't if you don't really try for it, it hauls ass through twisty bits of road and on the race track, and I can depend on it day in, day out, to work as well as when I first got it - while doing a laughable amount of maintenance. I can also think of no bike I would rather commute on - and I mean that in all seriousness. It really is the best commuter based bike around, with a high seat high, narrow profile, good weight distribution for balance etc etc. I'm not just saying this because mine is for sale either - I'm only selling it because I'm near broke.

People might give the DRZ shit when you ask for advice, saying it's not fast enough, too heavy etc, but do you want a track bike or road bike? If you end up with one, I guarantee you, absolutely guarantee you, you will be happy with your purchase. It, and the WR250X (which we don't often see in NZ) are by far the top of their class.

Hope that answers your question, and good luck!