Benelli TRK 502x or Honda CRF250L

[matt_77]

Hi folks

Wanting to hear from others on any of these bikes. Looking at a return to riding after a 3-year absence and am wanting something for the occasional commute, would like to get in to more off-road fun around the Waikato.

Have a budget of $10K I’m trying to work to. Am a shortie, 165cm, so keen to hear from any others around this height that have made the Honda work.

[Scubbo]

xtz125 :scooter:

[Navy Boy]

There's quite a lot of coverage on the Benelli, with the X model getting some good reviews. The standard TRK isn't that much different and is a bit cheaper too if I remember correctly.

The CRF is significantly less powerful - On YouTube there's a blogger called 'The Missenden Flyer' who runs one in the UK. It'll be worth looking at his channel for some more info on that bike.

Personally I'd go for the extra power of the Benelli, providing you have access to a dealer whom you like and trust. We're only talking 47 Bhp so it's not going to pull your arms off and that sort of power gives you more options with regards to open road riding too.

[Scubbo]

lighter bike is way more fun off-road................ crackup watching 1200GS / triumph whatevers "carve" up gravel roads -- the things are sledges, just too heavy for the ratting snaking NZ gravel roads --- and when they lock up and slide over and can't get the bike off them..... crackup


TBH a dr650 would be great for your purposes, and cheap + free tank at the moment with a low cost of ownership and value retention (something you won't get from Benelli -- Chinese manufactured bike)

[matt_77]

thanks Scubbo for the pointer on the Suzuki. I had looked at this but like the Honda, I'm not sure if at 165cm the seat height of 845mm is going to be too much? I've had a baby GS way back in 2005, the F650GS which had a seat height from memory of 780mm and I think that was about right....or am I missing something?? Cheers

[FJRider]

... Have a budget of $10K I’m trying to work to. Am a shortie, 165cm, so keen to hear from any others around this height that have made the Honda work.

Do a tour of the bike shops and tell them you intended use for a bike ... and ask what they have in stock that will fill the bill ... test ride them all to get a better idea of whats out there. And why not another F650 ... ???

[nerrrd]

If you’re willing to go the Chinese manufacturer route, here’s another option (cf moto have been trying to sell bikes here for a while, more successful in Oz though I think)

http://www.cfmoto.co.nz/650_MT_ABS_2019(NZ) but you’ll probably get no resale (and I couldn’t find any on Trademe).

Are the new Royal Enfields pretty established here now? I’ve seen quite a few around Auckland, you could consider their adventure version:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-1865846688.htm?rsqid=278661a50d154f5ba7bafe45fd298 442

[matt_77]

If you’re willing to go the Chinese manufacturer route, here’s another option (cf moto have been trying to sell bikes here for a while, more successful in Oz though I think)

http://www.cfmoto.co.nz/650_MT_ABS_2019(NZ) but you’ll probably get no resale (and I couldn’t find any on Trademe).

Are the new Royal Enfields pretty established here now? I’ve seen quite a few around Auckland, you could consider their adventure version:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-1865846688.htm?rsqid=278661a50d154f5ba7bafe45fd298 442

I've also considered the RE Himalayan and would, but for nervousness around the build quality, etc. Good ol' Dr Google throws up some interesting comments and threads around this model. Do you know/have you heard good/bag/ugly??

[nerrrd]

I've also considered the RE Himalayan and would, but for nervousness around the build quality, etc. Good ol' Dr Google throws up some interesting comments and threads around this model. Do you know/have you heard good/bag/ugly??

Nothing first hand, I trawl the adventure rider threads sometimes and there seem to be some pretty satisfied owners on there, but being the internet...ymmv.

That Tradme listing says it has a 2 year warranty so you should be covered for most issues...but who wants to be without a bike while they fix stuff.

Coincidentally I had that experience when I bought my f650cs, no bike for four weeks (from memory) soon after I bought it while something was being fixed - it was used though.

[Woodman]

You looked at a swm super dual?

[matt_77]

You looked at a swm super dual?

Hadn't heard of these guys but having a good look now......first glance, quite an interesting bike (the enduro). Price will take me outside of the budget i've set myself....

[Scubbo]

stick with the CRF250L non-rally version then I reckon, --- Honda'd sell more of the 250's if they kept bringing those L's in instead of the rally version which is less off-road worthy and heavier (since the 250L got the same engine/airbox upgrades as the rally, without all the added useless shit) --- a neat bike that can take a hit and keep on ticking and light enough to pickup and go places you'd think twice about on a bigger bike --- go have some fun!

if touring at 100KPH isnt a must, i'd still say an XTZ125, cheap/reliable/invincible/capable up to 90KPH all day every day and gets 30KM/L :clap: oh and light @ ~120KG wet

[HenryDorsetCase]

thanks Scubbo for the pointer on the Suzuki. I had looked at this but like the Honda, I'm not sure if at 165cm the seat height of 845mm is going to be too much? I've had a baby GS way back in 2005, the F650GS which had a seat height from memory of 780mm and I think that was about right....or am I missing something?? Cheers

I am about your height and have a short inseam length as well. DR650's can have lowering links fitted, and/or drop the forks through the clamps (dont forget to alter the sidestand) and they respond well to having the seat sculpted and re-covered if necessary.

Find a triumph dealer and have a sit on a Triumph Street Scrambler. I really like them and I reckon it would be fine on a gravel road. I used to own an 865 Triumph Scrambler and really liked it. I am waiting for a second hand one at present because I dont see it as a $16k motorcycle.

[FlangMasterJ]

WR250R with motard and dirt wheels. Sorted.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-1855596610.htm?rsqid=5d03fa9c76424b8da608614a4da6a e35