Advice please.. looking for a dual purpose bike

[JeremyW]

I am currently in the market for a new bike :) I got myself started on a 110 street magic and am looking to upgrade.

I have done a brief bit of trail riding and love the feel and comfort of a mx / trail bike and would really like one for the road, mainly commuting at the moment but definately some long trips over summer.

Basically just want to get some opinions on good dual purpose bikes (primarily for the road as I have an mx bike) and what qualities to look for; like how does trail km compare to road km? what is the maintenence difference between a yz250 and an xr250?

Any advice appreciated :Punk:

[merv]

Depends what you want to do. We have a WR250F, XR250L, XT250V and DR650SE in the garage and they are all different.

The WR is basically a race bike - fast but don't count on the engine doing big kms between rebuilds. The XR250L and XT250V are a bloody good allrounders - the Honda being more rugged and better suited to hard out dirt riding, the Yamaha is light and not quite so hard out. The DR650SE is more road oriented for a dirt bike so its quite fast on the road, but way too high geared to be a good hard out trail bike and too heavy and vibrates far more than the XR250L.

You mention YZ250 - whether the 2 stroke or the 4 stroke YZ250F, you are talking of a moto-x bike - not road legal unless you fit all the lighting kit, speedo etc. Basically don't bother, that's what the WR is for - a road legal version of the race bike with a wider ratio gearbox better suited to trail riding.

So what kind of riding do you want to do? You've mentioned commuting and long trips. That is not the domain of the mx bikes.

[jonbuoy]

If your still on your learners - I had a Kawasaki KLE250 for a while, I enjoyed it. Has the same engine as the GPZ250 - parallel twin. If your a lanky bastard like me you won't look stupid on one either.

[JeremyW]

Im looking at doing mainly road at the moment because I have a CR125R 88'.But the thing is on its way out so I will use the dual purpose for trail and road later on.

Id say id prefer to stick to four stroke for maintence and petrol but are there any good 2 stroke dual purpose bikes? I have seen this one (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dual-purpose/auction-69328838.htm) which looks good. Yes?

[Ruralman]

Im looking at doing mainly road at the moment because I have a CR125R 88'.But the thing is on its way out so I will use the dual purpose for trail and road later on.

Id say id prefer to stick to four stroke for maintence and petrol but are there any good 2 stroke dual purpose bikes? I have seen this one (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dual-purpose/auction-69328838.htm) which looks good. Yes?

I'd echo all Mervs comments above - it all comes down to the compromises you are prepared to make, the $ available, and your skill level.
The bike you're looking at here looks OK to me but I think its still overpriced and the seller sounds pretty motivated - its not that easy to sell stuff out there so go in with a fairly low offer to start with, even $2500, and make it seem like you can't spend much more.
The 2 strokes are a lot cheaper to overhaul if you have to and are lighter and with a lower Cof G than a 4 stroke equivalent which is useful on trail riding.
They also have that zippy power delivery which once mastered is a hell of a llot of fun and also a big help getting up and over obstacles, providing it still has some low down pull (which the one you're looking at should have)
DRZ 250 & 400 are also around in road legal trim and worth a look. If you were prepared to spend a bit over $6K then a road legal Gas Gas EC300 is on Trade Me as well, and its about as good as it gets for trail riding, would be a blast for commuting but I wouldn't want to do a long road trip on one.

[merv]

Motu has a DT230 and I'm sure he'll tell you its the bike to buy. Fast and not as maintenance needy as the modern 4 strokes like the WR250F or the CRF250X.

[Motu]

I have seen this one (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dual-purpose/auction-69328838.htm) which looks good. Yes?

Oh yes indeedy,one hell of an impressive bike....only a CRM250 would kick more arse in a sub 250 road legal bike,and the DT230 is more road worthy than a CRM250.They are based on a 200cc sized bike and have 39 hp with a top speed of 165kph,they will keep up with 400cc 4 strokes off road,and I have no trouble staying with KTM640's on gravel.....but long open road rides are a drag.I guess the electric start doesn't interest a young fella,but it's a hoot.

[Ghost Lemur]

Motu has a DT230 and I'm sure he'll tell you its the bike to buy. Fast and not as maintenance needy as the modern 4 strokes like the WR250F or the CRF250X.

Second only to the mighty CRM250AR. Mwahahahaha :devil2:

[JeremyW]

Thanks for your comments guys :) Very helpful indeed. I think I may make a trip to Waiheke to check it out

[clint640]

If you're off your restricted, & given that you already have the CR for MX & trail rides, I'd go for a 650 of some sort for the better road & touring ability, that depends on how big you are & available $$ too though.
If it's 250 or under for ya the DT230 is definitely a good option. The good 'ol XR250 is hard to beat also.

Cheers
Clint

[unhingedlizard]

Ive got a tdr250 and Id recommend one of those. Crap off road though......

[JeremyW]

I have seen this one (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dual-purpose/auction-69480673.htm)
What do you guys reakon? To me it seems worth a good look :rockon:

[Motu]

It'd be a really good around town and back road bike,but only just capable of gravel roads - it'll be a real handful with the small front wheel,and there will be mega wheelspin...fun though.I think the price is a bit steep too.

[Ruralman]

I agree with Motu - treat it as a road bike that can handle some gravel roads with care - don't let those tyres fool you. You wouldn't last 5 minutes on that thing on a decent trail ride

[Transalper]

Ive got a tdr250 .... Crap off road though......like they say. So how much adventure you looking for again? I think you said you plan to use it for Trail as well later on.:no:

[WRT]

I have seen this one (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dual-purpose/auction-69480673.htm)
What do you guys reakon? To me it seems worth a good look :rockon:

LOL - it's Streethawk!

[clint640]

I had a TDR for a while - It was my only transport for a year or so. Damn good hoon bike, barrels of fun on twisty tarseal or a racetrack, lots of boogie for a 250, looked cool too. The seat sucked on long trips, & it was thirsty with not much tank range. I never liked it on gravel, it felt pretty top heavy, mind you I never really tried proper dual purpose tyres on it & I've never been a flash dirt rider.

I would be very wary of one with that amount of kms & no engine work though. They have a detuned TZR motor in them which is a well known handgrenade. Mine had a few less km than that on it when I sold it & it blew up 2 weeks later. My mate who had it before me, & myself had both treated it well too & only used good 2stroke oil in it. So if you get one like that with more than 20 000km on it, budget another $1000 for an engine rebuild at some point.

That one in the ad looks like it's had a bit of a dulux overhaul. That front tire looks like a rear too, I sure as hell wouldn't be running dodgy rubber like that on a bike that can do 170 km/h.

Cheers
Clint

[unhingedlizard]

I got one now.:yes:

I tried dual purpose rubber on it. Rubbish, gravel roads are about the limit. at a push. Put some sport demons on it and thrash it on the road:rockon: