Am I crazy to want to try Adventure Riding?

[GerryAttrick]

I am on the North side of the age where I get to ride public transport for free. Don't use it though as I still ride my VFR800 every day (mainly commuting at the moment).

I've got this hankering to try some offroad rides and I need a 2nd hand bike that I can use on the road as well. Mainly I'd like to get out and enjoy the open air and scenery at a leisurely pace

I think what I want are:

250cc (although maybe a DR350 would do nicely)- I only weigh 80kg and really am looking for easy rides
Prefer Electric Start so that I can get going when I get stuck halfway up a wall!!
4 stroke (although I'd consider a 2 stroke at the right price)

The Honda CRF230 would be a nice option but its not road legal in NZ. The DR350 and DRZ both seem to also have a chance for my list. I can't justify a new bike so 2nd hand it will need to be. It must be road legal as I would also use it for the odd commute and weekend ride when I need a break from the 800.

Any other suggestions welcome.

Finally can anyone point me at somewhere to ride around the Whangamata area that would be a good intro to offroad - I have ridden an XL 250 at Woodhill and have to say after a day out I was pretty knackered but I'd quite happily try one on a bit easier terrain until I get a bit more fit.

[paturoa]

Firstly - never too old while you physically can ride.

The title says adventure, and you mention offroad. Do you mean all roads, gravel etc, or trail riding?

[GerryAttrick]

Firstly - never too old while you physically can ride.

The title says adventure, and you mention offroad. Do you mean all roads, gravel etc, or trail riding?

Probably both. I'd like to get away on some gravel and country roads and also be able to use it mainly for trail rides. The VFR is a bit of a handful on gravel so I'd like something more suitable and also when I drop it (as I am sure to do) it would be nice to be able to lift it up without roadside rescue

[george formby]

Do eet!!

I have come back to the fold after years, nay, decades of tarmac & I'm having a ball exploring all the gravel roads I've been riding past up here. Every ride & new challenge is building my confidence on a hefty 850 & a wee 2t. I should have started years ago.

[pete-blen]

Too old..:no:

A Yamaha XT250..

[george formby]

My shortlist is currently a DRZ 400E or WR 250 unless a nice 2t turns up before spring has sprung. Wallet dependent of course...

[Gremlin]

Bit of a difference between trail riding and adventure riding, which is a bit more all roads (ie, you can see people have been through here).

You're not crazy, just remember you're not built like the ox you once were and you don't bounce as well.

It's very addictive... enjoy :ride:

[clint640]

Do it :sunny: Investing in some safety gear upgrades & some dirt training is always a good idea.

How tall are you? The dual purpose 250's available can vary quite a bit in seat height which can be important for the offroad n00b.

If you like the look of the CRF230 also have a look at the Yamaha XT250 (2008+ are the better ones) & the Kawasaki KL250 Super Sherpa.

If you are a bit taller check out the DRZ250, the Kawasaki KLX250 &, if you want to splash out, the Yamaha WR250R The plus side of the higher bikes is the extra suspension travel which will come in handy if you start getting into gnarlyer terrain or going a bit quicker.

All the above will do anything from a trail ride to touring the world if you are happy with a cruisy pace.

Cheers
Clint

[Eddieb]

Not sure exactly how old riding the buses for free makes you but we have a number of riders in their 60's and they get along well.

One thing I've enjoyed with Adventure riding is you don't get the testosterone that road riding tends to have. You ride your own ride and people will happily wait for you at the next turnoff or stop of interest if they are faster. A lightweight 250 will easily keep up on even the longer rides and if you fall off in a muddy bog other riders will take a pic for posperity then help you pick the bike up if needed.

[george formby]

Watch THIS (http://youtu.be/K_T41kJm-PE) for some inspiration. 50 years of kicks.

[Oscar]

I know a guy who rode a CCA aged 69.
Also I seem to recall Ginger Molloy trail & enduro riding past the bus pass age...


After all, the older I get, the better I was.

[GerryAttrick]

Not sure exactly how old riding the buses for free makes you but we have a number of riders in their 60's and they get along well.

One thing I've enjoyed with Adventure riding is you don't get the testosterone that road riding tends to have. You ride your own ride and people will happily wait for you at the next turnoff or stop of interest if they are faster. A lightweight 250 will easily keep up on even the longer rides and if you fall off in a muddy bog other riders will take a pic for posperity then help you pick the bike up if needed.

65 and you get a senior Card - and I have had mine a while. Lightweight 250 (maybe 350) sounds about right. I have a few options to look at and hopefully a DR this weekend. I think my testosterone levels are way down(for which Er Indoors is eternally grateful). I had one potential photo op a while ago when I managed to get an XL250 hooked 6 feet up a tree while I lay on the ground admiring it above my head ...dont ask!!!! Lucky for me there were no budding photographers close by so it went unrecorded.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Yes. a man of your age should be finished with adventures. Get onto the porch, sit in the damn rocking chair, and bore your children/grandchildren/dogs/cats with stories of "back in the day"

[Shewolf]

I had one potential photo op a while ago when I managed to get an XL250 hooked 6 feet up a tree while I lay on the ground admiring it above my head ...dont ask!!!! Lucky for me there were no budding photographers close by so it went unrecorded.

sounds like just the sort of "star quality" I'm looking for for my next adventure riding movie :innocent:

[ADVGD]

Are you crazy to want to try Adventure Riding?

Yes you are. Don't do it, its a terrible hobby, not enjoyable at all :innocent:



Naa, get into it mate, its a barrel of monkeys

[Waipukbiker]

Firstly, The CRF230L is fully road legal in this country.
Good on you for wanting to give the adventure scene a go, its very addictive and there is nothing wrong with a 250 sized bike.
If you are only about 80KG wringing wet then take a look at the DR200, Drop the front sprocket down a tooth and loose all the Ag gear and 100kmh on the road is no sweat. DRGirl has one and she has no probs keeping up, she also did over 1,000 kms in one day a while back on it so they are worth considering.
Good luck with your purchase.

Cheers
Ross

[unstuck]

Good on ya, you are never too old to try something new. There are some amazing places in NZ that you will never get to see unless you go off road. Good luck.:Punk:

[dino3310]

Gerry your never to fkn old mate.
Ive met a couple of elderly chaps in there 70s -there doing a tour through oz on CT110's:headbang:

Caveweta's in Waihi so he might be able to point out all the roads and tracks around Whanga.

this was posted by nordie on another thread but diffinately worth the watch
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/K_T41kJm-PE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Ender EnZed]

The CRF230L is fully road legal in this country.

Well, the ones with road kit that are registered are road legal. They're not the easiest thing to find though. Of the 28 CRF230s on Trademe (probably all the F model) none are road going.

[GerryAttrick]

Gerry your never to fkn old mate.
Ive met a couple of elderly chaps in there 70s -there doing a tour through oz on CT110's:headbang:

Caveweta's in Waihi so he might be able to point out all the roads and tracks around Whanga.

this was posted by nordie on another thread but diffinately worth the watch

Quoted Embedded Video Removed

That,s one great video- just have to admire their attitude. I am not quite that old - but close enough and I love the comment that he does not have any old friends and doesn't want any. I'm the same when I come to think of it. My oldest friends are at least 10 years younger and some 20 years younger. Age is just a state of mind. I can't understand it when people hear I ride my bike every day in all weathers and they look at me like I am crazy

Any idea what the Kwaka KDX250 would be like as a bike - I think I may be on to a nice one but I hear they are a bit on the heavy side. The CRF230 would be my ideal bike but as has been said there are very few road legal ones here and those that are are quite expensive compared to DRs or KLs.

Hopefully CaveWeta will pop up with some comment on decent rides - it sound like my brother in law (in his early 50s) is also getting the bug and he lives over there.

[Aslan]

That,s one great video- just have to admire their attitude. I am not quite that old - but close enough and I love the comment that he does not have any old friends and doesn't want any. I'm the same when I come to think of it. My oldest friends are at least 10 years younger and some 20 years younger. Age is just a state of mind. I can't understand it when people hear I ride my bike every day in all weathers and they look at me like I am crazy

Any idea what the Kwaka KDX250 would be like as a bike - I think I may be on to a nice one but I hear they are a bit on the heavy side. The CRF230 would be my ideal bike but as has been said there are very few road legal ones here and those that are are quite expensive compared to DRs or KLs.

Hopefully CaveWeta will pop up with some comment on decent rides - it sound like my brother in law (in his early 50s) is also getting the bug and he lives over there.


Loving this thread you started GerryAttrick - specially the YouTube vid posted originally by Nordie and pointed to by Deano - great bunch of people do ADV riding in NZ - like you I'm in my 60's, only a few months away from becoming an OAP - good hunting with your bike purchase - Cheers Aslan

[pete376403]

You're never too old - a 67 year old was one of three on an epic ride though Siberia. Read it here http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533442&highlight=colebatch - warning its 110 pages and highly addictive reading.

[young1]

Just remember the Nike slogan - "Just do it"

After all If you don't like it you can sell the bike and at least know you tried :-)

[george formby]

That,s one great video- just have to admire their attitude. I am not quite that old - but close enough and I love the comment that he does not have any old friends and doesn't want any. I'm the same when I come to think of it. My oldest friends are at least 10 years younger and some 20 years younger. Age is just a state of mind. I can't understand it when people hear I ride my bike every day in all weathers and they look at me like I am crazy

Any idea what the Kwaka KDX250 would be like as a bike - I think I may be on to a nice one but I hear they are a bit on the heavy side. The CRF230 would be my ideal bike but as has been said there are very few road legal ones here and those that are are quite expensive compared to DRs or KLs.

Hopefully CaveWeta will pop up with some comment on decent rides - it sound like my brother in law (in his early 50s) is also getting the bug and he lives over there.

I sold one recently, weight was of no issue. I imagine they are still lighter than a 4t. I could haul mine around easily & I'm a body double for the Pak' n' Save stick man. Thing had a race pipe on it, went like a cut cat & I doubt I would ever wear a front tire out.
Parts would be the biggest thing but I managed to source basic bits & bobs for the carb etc no problem. I thought about making it road legal again, it still had the wiring harness in place. I never rode it on tar seal but it was more fun than a pocketful of weasels on the gravel.
Take it for a test ride.
I'm still leaning towards a more modern 4t unless another DT or GasGas Pampera turns up.

[GerryAttrick]

I'm convinced - time to start the bike hunt. So many choices so little time (and cash).

Spent a joyful few hour trawling Tardme last night and added a few to my watch list - some more expensive than I want to spend initially. Seem to be a lot more on offer in the South Island and a whole heap that have never been registered. I don't mind paying for new rego if required but I am not sure I want the agro of having to compliance a bike. I need to find out if a bike that has been derego'd but has a VIN plate need to be recomplianced or whether it can just be rego'd as a new bike. I also think it is harder to compliance a bike that has never been sold here as road legal (some of the CRF230's) as opposed to some that are imported but have also been sold new here (TT250 or DR250).

If I only intended to use it off road it would not be an issue but I want to ride it on the roads too.

Once I get a short list of potential bikes I'll probably pop back for some opinions - I am sure there will be someone here who has one :innocent:

Thanks for all the advice and maybe I'll meet you "on the road" one day.

[george formby]

Yup, most of the bikes I get my eye on are in the South Island too, might be a message in that.<_<

[unstuck]

Yup, most of the bikes I get my eye on are in the South Island too, might be a message in that.<_<

Nope, no message there. The air is dirty, the roads are jam packed full and the weather is crap.:innocent: I think you still have to go through the compliance even if the bike has been deregistered.

[GerryAttrick]

As a final thanks for all the help you guys have given me I thought it only fair to share my reason for the question in the first place - it stems from my one and only offroad attempt back in 2003 and which resulted in the following writeup. Please tell me I am not alone in this experience:no:

***
Went out at the weekend for my first "offroad" excursion in the Woodhill Forest (just North of Auckland). A great day out - started on a Honda XL250S Twinshock. Managed half of the "red" course but eventually I fell down so many times that I could not get my breath, get up from the ground or lift the bike up!. When I took off my helmet the steam rising from my furrowed brow had to be seen to be believed.

Thinks...must consume more Pi** before riding again so that I can keep my bodily fluids at the usual level

Retired to the carpark and dropped down to a Suzuki 185 2 stroke on the
"Green Trail". Eventually got sick of being passed by 4 year old rugrats on 50cc dirt bikes. But finally found a track I could manage without dropping the bike.

I was now ready for the yellow intermediate. Managed this a couple of times without any major offs and only foot down a couple of times.

Thinks...I now have this trail biking sorted and expect KTM or Honda talent scouts to pop out of the scrub waving contracts.

Lets go for a better time on the yellow....BIG MISTAKE!!!!!!

Came round a corner and down a gentle drop off of about 3 metres. Managed to miss the trail (normally referred to in my terminology as "deep Rut"). Slipped off the footpeg and in the flurry to gain control opened throttle WIIIIIDE!!!!....SECOND BIG MISTAKE!!!!!!.

Then proceeded to compound problem when both feet shot backwards over mudguard leaving me lying prone on the saddle, clutching the throttle ,
which was NAILED WIDE OPEN, heading down the drop off at ever increasing speed...and 185cc 2 strokes can fair accelerate downhill on a wide open throttle. I was now expecting a talent scout from the x games to join those from the factory moto x teams.

Never fear that looks like a nice soft clump of Toi Toi Grass (sort of like saw toothed Pampas Grass). I should stop OK when I get into that!!........THIRD BIG MISTAKE!!!!!

Does anyone see a pattern emerging here? No well stick with me you will.

185 2 stroke, screaming like a banshee, with senior member of Mild Bunch prone on seat, also screaming like a Banshee hits Toi Toi Grass at speed of light. Now Toi Toi Grass grows in fairly solid clumps and this one would not have looked out of place on the US Supercross circuit.. I now know I can jump a 185 cc Suzuki Trail Bike. Said bike launches itself into the air about 2 metres and heads straight towards a small tree. I saw it was a small tree as I lay on my back under it with a 2 stroke motorbike about a metre above my head screaming away (or was that me I could hear) above my head. When heading towards it airborne it looked more like a large Kauri or Sequoia

Eventually I managed to drag bike out of tree, kick start it, get back on the trail and ride to the end. I now have one bung knee, two wrenched shoulders, a smile on my face that won't go away and a wife who laughed so hard she cried when I explained why I was a little stiff and sore.

[Zedder]

As a final thanks for all the help you guys have given me I thought it only fair to share my reason for the question in the first place - it stems from my one and only offroad attempt back in 2003 and which resulted in the following writeup. Please tell me I am not alone in this experience:no:

***
Went out at the weekend for my first "offroad" excursion in the Woodhill Forest (just North of Auckland). A great day out - started on a Honda XL250S Twinshock. Managed half of the "red" course but eventually I fell down so many times that I could not get my breath, get up from the ground or lift the bike up!. When I took off my helmet the steam rising from my furrowed brow had to be seen to be believed.

Thinks...must consume more Pi** before riding again so that I can keep my bodily fluids at the usual level

Retired to the carpark and dropped down to a Suzuki 185 2 stroke on the
"Green Trail". Eventually got sick of being passed by 4 year old rugrats on 50cc dirt bikes. But finally found a track I could manage without dropping the bike.

I was now ready for the yellow intermediate. Managed this a couple of times without any major offs and only foot down a couple of times.

Thinks...I now have this trail biking sorted and expect KTM or Honda talent scouts to pop out of the scrub waving contracts.

Lets go for a better time on the yellow....BIG MISTAKE!!!!!!

Came round a corner and down a gentle drop off of about 3 metres. Managed to miss the trail (normally referred to in my terminology as "deep Rut"). Slipped off the footpeg and in the flurry to gain control opened throttle WIIIIIDE!!!!....SECOND BIG MISTAKE!!!!!!.

Then proceeded to compound problem when both feet shot backwards over mudguard leaving me lying prone on the saddle, clutching the throttle ,
which was NAILED WIDE OPEN, heading down the drop off at ever increasing speed...and 185cc 2 strokes can fair accelerate downhill on a wide open throttle. I was now expecting a talent scout from the x games to join those from the factory moto x teams.

Never fear that looks like a nice soft clump of Toi Toi Grass (sort of like saw toothed Pampas Grass). I should stop OK when I get into that!!........THIRD BIG MISTAKE!!!!!

Does anyone see a pattern emerging here? No well stick with me you will.

185 2 stroke, screaming like a banshee, with senior member of Mild Bunch prone on seat, also screaming like a Banshee hits Toi Toi Grass at speed of light. Now Toi Toi Grass grows in fairly solid clumps and this one would not have looked out of place on the US Supercross circuit.. I now know I can jump a 185 cc Suzuki Trail Bike. Said bike launches itself into the air about 2 metres and heads straight towards a small tree. I saw it was a small tree as I lay on my back under it with a 2 stroke motorbike about a metre above my head screaming away (or was that me I could hear) above my head. When heading towards it airborne it looked more like a large Kauri or Sequoia

Eventually I managed to drag bike out of tree, kick start it, get back on the trail and ride to the end. I now have one bung knee, two wrenched shoulders, a smile on my face that won't go away and a wife who laughed so hard she cried when I explained why I was a little stiff and sore.

I was laughing and cringing at the same time for some of that. Good on ya!

[george formby]

:sunny:
Ah yes, eyeballs like pickles on a fork. Always a great moment on reflection...
I made a habit of visiting the scenery every weekend for years, the better my riding became the more spectacular & athletic my visits. Looping the bike or burying the front in a tussock, finding a handle bar deep bog, not checking stream crossings & having a mid winter bath, trying to jump a ditch but spinning the back wheel up instead & leaving my testicles on the filler cap as I go over the bars etc.
Best fun I have ever had & I'm over the moon to get a second bite of the apple now. Older, wiser & more fragile.
If you can have that much fun on a 185 you will be legendary on a 250.

[Crisis management]

You should fit in well, sounds like you ride like most of us more mature riders! I don't have much to offer on 250cc bikes as I have no experience with them as adventure bikes but would be concerned with their lack of speed and comfort for longer rides, something to consider would be whether or not a rear hub cush drive is fitted, they make a huge difference to rideability.
DT230 or WR 250 are the only two I can think off that suit adventure riding (wait for more expert opinion on those, I've only trail ridden the WR).
If you want off road, look on Silver Bullet web site and do the farm rides, Rodney club has a clay based track at Dome Valley, don't ride Riverhead unless you wish to experience frustration but the Waitemata club will be starting it's Woodhill (Muriwai end) trail rides shortly and they are great fun, not as sandy as The Sandpit.
If you can perserve with The Sandpit you will become a good rider, once you learn to carry some speed the sand is far less problematic and it's a skill that transfers to most other surfaces.

[george formby]

I can vouch for the DT, absolutely adore mine, er, my girlfriends. I have not done any big tarmac miles on it & imagine it would get a bit tiring. Perfect for doing a couple of hundred k's with a trail ride in the middle. Small tank though, the gf gets about 160 km, I get considerably less.
Thing is, if another one comes up for sale it's mine! Gottit? Mine!!!!!:love:

[Padmei]

I can vouch for the DT, absolutely adore mine, er, my girlfriends. I have not done any big tarmac miles on it & imagine it would get a bit tiring. Perfect for doing a couple of hundred k's with a trail ride in the middle. Small tank though, the gf gets about 160 km, I get considerably less.
Thing is, if another one comes up for sale it's mine! Gottit? Mine!!!!!:love:

They go for good money tho. Struan was on at me about getting one instead of the DRZ & he may have been right- they go alright.

[dino3310]

along the lines like the crf230 i'll put the XT250 in the pot, small light and after watching Nic getting around as fast as the next bloke (and faster than some) i know its got the herbs.... lecky leg too:niceone:

[NordieBoy]

The Honda CRF230 would be a nice option but its not road legal in NZ.

CRF230L is road legal. The CRF230F isn't.

A DR350 would be a very good start.
A DR250 would get you an electric start though...

[george formby]

They go for good money tho. Struan was on at me about getting one instead of the DRZ & he may have been right- they go alright.

In all fairness I think a DRZ or WR or XT etc would be easier to live with for parts availability.

[pete-blen]

There yer go....
bloody good bikes...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-472790937.htm

[_Shrek_]

a WR250 would suit you well, light & gets along on the HW not to bad, I have a mate that sold his 650 & got a WR250 & he does both off & on ride & the back & beyond
& adventure riding is alot more fun than up & down the tar seal :corn:

[GerryAttrick]

What about a DR350? There is one on TM but, although it looks ideal its a fair bit more than I want to pay.

Its also a bit bigger than I planned but by all accounts it seems a pretty solid bike and can probably take the odd knock which its likely to get from me. Ideally I'd like to get one for under $3k (say $2700) but I don't know if thats realistic. I don't mind if it need some work to get halfway decent. The budget won't stretch to a WR/DRZ unfortunately.

[george formby]

What about a DR350? There is one on TM but, although it looks ideal its a fair bit more than I want to pay.

Its also a bit bigger than I planned but by all accounts it seems a pretty solid bike and can probably take the odd knock which its likely to get from me. Ideally I'd like to get one for under $3k (say $2700) but I don't know if thats realistic. I don't mind if it need some work to get halfway decent. The budget won't stretch to a WR/DRZ unfortunately.

I've never ridden one but as the precursor to the DRZ they are heavier, less powerful & less well suspended. On the plus side, bullet proof, comfortable (relatively) & still a good bike for road, gravel & trail. If your not planning to do Erzberg any time soon it's a good option.
I'm in the same boat as you & the 350's are on my list. Comparable to XT's & XR's at a guess.
I had an XT 350 many moons ago & it was a great bike, went anywhere, economical, indestructible, low seat, etc. Had an XR 400 too, same kind of thing but more grunt, not as good on technical trails, though. The front end had a mind of it's own.
If you could find a well loved one of these for beer money you would be laughing.

[george formby]

El Cheapo (http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-470707141.htm)

If I had the coin gasgas (http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-470732341.htm)

Not sure if it's registered DR 350 (http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-473985719.htm)

[NordieBoy]

I've never ridden one but as the precursor to the DRZ they are heavier, less powerful & less well suspended. On the plus side, bullet proof, comfortable (relatively) & still a good bike for road, gravel & trail. If your not planning to do Erzberg any time soon it's a good option.
I'm in the same boat as you & the 350's are on my list. Comparable to XT's & XR's at a guess.
I had an XT 350 many moons ago & it was a great bike, went anywhere, economical, indestructible, low seat, etc. Had an XR 400 too, same kind of thing but more grunt, not as good on technical trails, though. The front end had a mind of it's own.
If you could find a well loved one of these for beer money you would be laughing.

The DR350 is better suspended (adjustable compression and rebound front and rear) and braked than the XT350.

The single carb is easier to work on too.

It's more in line with the XR350 and TT350.

The XT/TT are more revvy than the DR.

You can get big fuel tanks for the DR too.

If I didn't have the TT350, I'd have a DR350 in a heartbeat.

Unless I was given a Freeride 350 that is...

[NordieBoy]

El Cheapo (http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-470707141.htm)

If I had the coin gasgas (http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-470732341.htm)

Not sure if it's registered DR 350 (http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-473985719.htm)

The DR380 is quite nice. He had the auction pulled by TM for some reason last time. He was selling it as a Yamaha DR350...
The XR is a good deal and a real do-anything bike. Including a bit of racing.

[awa355]

Gerryattrick, Did you get a bike in the end? I'm in the same boat, hitting 60 years, currently got the cruiser on Turd me ( along with 1312 others).

I've decided I've gone past too many gravel turn offs in the Waikato/Waitomo and its time to go looking. I'll get a smallish ( 200-400) DR, XT type. Have advertised the 650 to sell or exchange for a trail bike same value.

A while ago a mate and I turned off at Maracopa onto the Mangatoa rd, then left onto the Pomarangai goat track, came out via Ngapaenga rd. Was great fun except a CBF 250 and a K1100 probably weren.t the best suited bikes.

Most of my riding will be on gravel roads. rather than 'off' road trail riding.

About bikes, Are the KTM's high maintanance machines, or do they goes for years like the DR's etc. ( with regular maintanance obviously ).

[george formby]

Gerryattrick, Did you get a bike in the end? I'm in the same boat, hitting 60 years, currently got the cruiser on Turd me ( along with 1312 others).

I've decided I've gone past too many gravel turn offs in the Waikato/Waitomo and its time to go looking. I'll get a smallish ( 200-400) DR, XT type. Have advertised the 650 to sell or exchange for a trail bike same value.

A while ago a mate and I turned off at Maracopa onto the Mangatoa rd, then left onto the Pomarangai goat track, came out via Ngapaenga rd. Was great fun except a CBF 250 and a K1100 probably weren.t the best suited bikes.

Most of my riding will be on gravel roads. rather than 'off' road trail riding.

About bikes, Are the KTM's high maintanance machines, or do they goes for years like the DR's etc. ( with regular maintanance obviously ).


"Wonder whats down there?" disease, bloody infectious & almost impossible to cure.

[Night Falcon]

About bikes, Are the KTM's high maintanance machines, or do they goes for years like the DR's etc. ( with regular maintanance obviously ).

KTM's tend to have shortish service intervals (5k for my 690) which you need to keep on top of. They aren't DR's or KLR's though, so if you want less cost as apposed to more grunt and better setup, then your best bet is the old jappers.

[GerryAttrick]

Gerryattrick, Did you get a bike in the end? I'm in the same boat, hitting 60 years, currently got the cruiser on Turd me ( along with 1312 others).


Not yet..well not an Adventure bike. I havea couple in mind but have not had much time to look at the moment. Trying to get the house ready for sale so that I can get out of this rat race in Auckland and retire to the peace of Coromandel(Whangamata). The problem is that the place at Whangamata does not yet have a garage so I'd have to ferry the bike backwards and forwards if I wanted to use it more than one weekend a month.

[george formby]

Not yet..well not an Adventure bike. I havea couple in mind but have not had much time to look at the moment. Trying to get the house ready for sale so that I can get out of this rat race in Auckland and retire to the peace of Coromandel(Whangamata). The problem is that the place at Whangamata does not yet have a garage so I'd have to ferry the bike backwards and forwards if I wanted to use it more than one weekend a month.

I would look upon that as an enforced adventure, throw common sense to the wind & get somebody else to do the ferrying.

[dino3310]

just buy a KLR mate, you wont need a shed cause no one would want to pinch it:lol:

or another thing you could do is find a less visable spot around the pad dig a hole fill it with concrete with an anchor bolt/loop on top chian ya beastie to that and get a decent bike cover, if ya around all the time that is, no good if ya here there and every where. But then again if someone wants it bad enough they'll grab it.