Disappointed with my DRZ - where next?

[CRM]

I have a DRZ 400E thats been made barely road legal - the idea I can hoon around on the road a bit and ride to the trails - but really it's a bit big and heavy for the tight type of trail riding I enjoy (I tend to fall off it a lot!) plus not set up for taking the wife out on the back to the movies (no rear pegs).
So anybody out there got any ideas of the perfect bike for me? I'm wanting a reliable low mantainence street legal four stroke that I can go trail riding and take on the road two-up for short distances. Also not too tall (I've put koubalinks on the DRZ to lower it a bit which helps).
Thanks for your feedback.

[Masterchop]

I'm wanting a reliable low mantainence street legal four stroke that I can go trail riding and take on the road two-up for short distances. Also not too tall. Thanks for your feedback.

I reacon you just described a DRZ400E

[Supermoto Junkie]

Buy Orange.....a nice little KTM 640 lc4 sounds right up your alley, if you buy one thats several years old then you won't have to drop a big pile of cash either, then buy some motard wheels and give these sports bike guys a run for their money

[deanohit]

I reacon you just described a DRZ400E

Yep, thats about right although S-J made a good suggestion with the KTM.
Any good dirt bike isn't going to be any good carrying a pillon.

[NordieBoy]

Little?
LC4 640?

[kiwifruit]

wr450? maybe to tall?

[Supermoto Junkie]

Little?
LC4 640?

I guess it is relative to the size of your grapefruits.....or is that Ass

[CRM]

Looking at going to something a bit lighter - maybe a KLX300 or XR250 or TT250 for about $4000 so looking at a few years old - really like electric start though - any ideas?

[Alpha Solo]

Sell it to me or swap it for my Pampera 2 stroke...

[jafar]

Split your money & get a street bike for taking your lady out on & a dirt bike for the weekend.:mellow:

[Rosie]

Buy your wife a nice little chook chaser (XT225, or a sherpa, for example). Having her own bike, she no longer has to go on the back of your bike. And you can ask nicely to borrow it whenever you need a small light traillie.
Everyone wins :sunny: :laugh:

[marks]

I've just been down this path.

Any bike that is ok as a 2 up street bike is shit on <b>tight</b> trails . They are all either too heavy or too tall except for maybe a gas gas 250 pampara - (never ridden one).

get a kdx200 for tight trails and a small/med road bike for everything else or be prepared to compromise to the point of not enjoying it.

I love my wr450 (flash equivalent of what youve already got) but its not good in really tight trails whereas my sons kdx is a roosting rocket in the same conditions.

[warewolf]

Disappointed with my DRZ - where next?If the DR-Z400 is too much bike, then the next step down would be the 250 trailies: DR/DR-Z, TTR, XR, KLX etc. The first two being leccy start.

Then there are the jap import versions of the same, all of which are leccy start, more road-oriented and therefore more of a handful on tight rough trails than the aforementioned.

The next step down from that is per Rosie's suggestion, the soft-trailies (for want of a better word) like the XR200, XT225/250, SL230, DR200 etc etc. Some are closer to 200 than 250cc. But these tend to be the same weight but less power and suspension than the first lot I mentioned. I would rate my DR-Z250 as having 50 to 100% more power and 50-100% more suspension than my DR200, for the same weight.

All three of these groupings tend to have pillion accommodation that would work for short town trips but any more would be trying. Some particular examples don't, eg my DR-Z250 didn't have the pillion pegs, other ones did.

And as you already know, lowering links are available for most of them, if required.

I second the option of the Gas Gas Pampera, I rode one quite a bit and liked it, except the front suspension is very soft and to my mind dangerous. The power and other capabilities of the bike could very easily over-stress the weak front. Could be cheap fixes there, but overall a very nice bike. Light, powerful, agile. Pre-mix fuel and kick-start only though. I was instantly quicker on it than my DR-Z250 on smooth stuff, but the front end was downright scary. Could have been a bad example, eg low or crapped-out fork oil, but it wasn't my bike to fix.

[CRM]

Thanks for the quick feedback. I guess I'm looking for the mythical 'do-all' bike. My last bike was a 'chicken-chaser' - a Honda XL250 Degree - water cooled electric start low-seat bike and it was my intro back to riding after 20+ years away. It's actually a great little bike and got along really well on the trails - just the ground clearance and suspension letting it down in the rough stuff (my son has it now), It reminded me of my old XL175 only way more power. Getting the DRZ was trying to get more suspension and power but just hasn't clicked for me - just not the fun experience I'm after. I haven't ridden the KTM four strokes - what are they like?

[tipper]

In my experience, a really fun bike 'in the trees' is always light and fast = two stroke Gas Gas EC200 or KDX; four strokes are just that bit more work to ride. Had a KTM 520, and that was like wrestling an aligator in the tight, but really good at 80kmh wheelies in the open. Got rid of that for a WRF250, better, but longed for something more like a MTB with an engine -then I rode the Gas Gas.....

In my perfect world, i would have such a bike just to jump tree roots, a KTM LC4 for exploring, and a road bike like a Street Triple for fun.

There is no perfect bike, but having done it all (all 'codes'), the DRZ is not a bad bike, just a really good compromise on the first two. Easy, friendly, and bit heavy.

Having been passed on a trail ride by a Fantic trials bike at warp speed, I realised all compromises suit different riders.

[merv]

wr450? maybe to tall?

Cripes two up!! The WR's are not built for it.

Two up one of the best options even for us little guys is a DR650, but then it is a bit heavy on the trail but it isn't tall like a DRZ.

I have an XR250L but the rear footpeg position on that is just too high and its too cramped for Mrs merv to ride on the back - legs bent, too much cramping at the knees and she is about 170cm. She has the DR650 and an XT250 (the 225) and both are reasonably comfortable for space but the XT is a bit short of power for two up weight on the highway.

So we solve our problems by having five bikes all slightly different.

[warewolf]

In my perfect world, i would have such a bike just to jump tree roots, a KTM LC4 for exploring, and a road bike like a Street Triple for fun.Hey! I resemble that remark! :sunny:

[buggsubique]

Mate, I reckon the DR-Z is the pick for the type of riding you describe, but agree it is heavy and tall. Buy a winning lotto ticket and get a WR 250 and a second street / touring bike.

I'm a stingy bastard though so I demand that my 400E does 160 on the way to the trail, or climbs a mountain after I chuck a MX tyre and low ratio sprockets on. I reckon its the best balance I could find, but just takes a bit of effort to be all those bikes on different days.

[bart]

Mate, I reckon the DR-Z is the pick for the type of riding you describe, but agree it is heavy and tall. Buy a winning lotto ticket and get a WR 250 and a second street / touring bike.

I'm a stingy bastard though so I demand that my 400E does 160 on the way to the trail, or climbs a mountain after I chuck a MX tyre and low ratio sprockets on. I reckon its the best balance I could find, but just takes a bit of effort to be all those bikes on different days.

I'm the same. I have a huge selection of wheels, tyres, and sprockets, and try to do everything on the mighty DRZ. It gets me to work and back for sweet FA, and is still reasonable offroad. For the money, I think its great.

[marks]

Hey! I resemble that remark! :sunny:

very sensibly too.

woods bike/gravel blaster/adventure tourer is a logical combination

I'll take your exc200 add my wr450 and buy a buel ulysses and be a happy happy man...

[Coyote]

Bit of a tangent here; One of my dream bikes is a Gas Gas FSE450, though I'm also interested in a WR450, CRF450X, etc. Just wondering how expensive they are to run on the road? I know they're motocross based engines and I know they have to get regular and expensive maintenence i.e. piston, rings and valves. Would I expect to have to spend several grand on the motor every few months?

[marks]

Would I expect to have to spend several grand on the motor every few months?

Feck - I hope not - if that is the case I have an road legal 06 wr450 you can have real cheap :)

I was budgeting on a new piston every 100 hours (60 hours if ridden in competition - the book says) - at $800 or so a pop according to the local bike shop. Its taken 3 months and 1000km to do 28hrs of engine running. Doing Oil and Filter at 8-10 hours - costs about $30 a change

[limbimtimwim]

The DR-Z400SM has pillion pegs.

But then you'd have to get some offroad wheels and tyres. And the engine is strangled on the SM model.

I always find it funny when people call the DR-Z400 heavy. Coming from riding sportsbikes, it is like a feather. Yes I know a a modern MX bike is less than 100kg though.

[Skinny_Birdman]

Hey! I resemble that remark! :sunny:

I guess I do too, I would say that all that is left for my continuing happiness is that I come down one morning and find that the Transalp Fairy has come and taken D's Tranny away and left a KTM 640. Oh, and a 325 overbore kit for the TT250R.
The TT has pillion pegs, but they are neither use nor ornament, so mine are on a shelf in the garage. On the plus side of the account, the TT has a ride height adjuster, which few (DR250 only??) of its competitors can match, so that it is tall enough for D (190cm) but can be lowered quite substantially.

[mazz1972]

I'm with Buggsubique and Bart on this one. Hubby had has a DRZ400E for quite a few years for trail riding. When he decided to get his bike licence he put all the road gear back on it, changed a sprocket and absolutely loved riding it as much onroad as on the trail....aside from the 4x2 that Suzuki install as "seat".

The bike is now back on the trail and has done 19,000km's of mostly trail riding (maybe 4,000 on road) and hubby is looking at doing the piston & rings for the first time shortly. It's been a relatively trouble free bike and he is meticulous with oil changes etc.

CRM your height is perhaps the main problem with finding the DRZ too big & heavy, and they are not designed for pillions. Those of us with a "short wheel base" can find it difficult to find an offroad bike to suit. I am sure a road legal TTR250 has pillion pegs and would cope will 2-up for short distances.

I'd agree with many of the other comments that anything light enough to flick about on the trail is not going to suit 2-up road riding.

[CRM]

Well I did swap for a Gas Gas Pampera 250. neat little bike - light as. Did the swap at Picton then trailered it back up from Wellington. Stopped at Ashhurst (by the wind farm) and went for a ride up the river - choice! Ideal bike for exploring & 'soft-trials' riding; rivers, banks -it just goes everywhere - who knows any other good places where you can do that sort of riding for free (in the Nth Island)?

[Ocean1]

It reminded me of my old XL175

Orange and black one? :eek:
My first brandspankingnew store-bought bike. :laugh:
Loved it, most forgiving ride I think I've ever owned. Needed to be.


Well I did swap for a Gas Gas Pampera 250. neat little bike - light as. Did the swap at Picton then trailered it back up from Wellington. Stopped at Ashhurst (by the wind farm) and went for a ride up the river - choice! Ideal bike for exploring & 'soft-trials' riding; rivers, banks -it just goes everywhere - who knows any other good places where you can do that sort of riding for free (in the Nth Island)?

Good choice, enjoy, and good luck.

[warewolf]

Well I did swap for a Gas Gas Pampera 250. neat little bike - light as.Nice choice!

[avgas]

bmw gs 1150thingie
then fit turbo and NOS stickers

[Transalper]

Well I did swap for a Gas Gas Pampera 250. ....
Now this sounds familiar, I believe I know the man you swapped with, him was asking about a trip to Picton in my Van. He was after more road legs so will be interesting to see how well the 400 fits. Hope you continue to enjoy the Gas Gas.

[marks]

Well I did swap for a Gas Gas Pampera 250.

have you had a chance to try it on tight trails yet???

I would be interested in hearing how you compare it to the drz.

cheers


Mark

[CRM]

have you had a chance to try it on tight trails yet???

I would be interested in hearing how you compare it to the drz.

cheers


Mark

Just in the river bed at Ashhurst so far but I'm doing a trail ride at Purua (Whangarei) in the weekend (if the rain ever stops!). So far it feels fantastic - very stable and confidence inspiring. The hydraulic clutch is great - masses of control. It reminds me why I like riding so much - the ability to use a bike to explore almost anywhere rather than just tear up the terrain. Not that it's slow though - I suspect in most conditions off road it will have more usable power than a larger or more sudden bike and it will pull hard and smooth from low revs so is great for climbing out of stuff where most bikes just spin and dig in. Roll on the weekend!

[CRM]

Orange and black one? :eek:
My first brandspankingnew store-bought bike. :laugh:
Loved it, most forgiving ride I think I've ever owned. Needed to be.



Good choice, enjoy, and good luck.

Yeah it was an orange and black one - '74 I think. I sold it to my brother-in-law and bought a CB400F when I went to University but ended up getting a car instead and bought the XL175 back. I just rode it - didn't know what maintenance was in those days! My favourite bike too.

[Ocean1]

Yeah it was an orange and black one - '74 I think. I sold it to my brother-in-law and bought a CB400F when I went to University but ended up getting a car instead and bought the XL175 back. I just rode it - didn't know what maintenance was in those days! My favourite bike too.

Think I owned the first one in Wgtn. Rode it as delivered for almost a year, but all my mates were riding tweaked TS185s and DT175s, so I had to do something about that. I bored it, bumped compression, ported it and changed to a Keihin pumper, (early 28mm FCR iirc). Made a new high pipe and muffler (megaphone no less) and reground the cam to spec's copied from a yosh item.

Must have made Ooohh 24hp :laugh: but it'd keep up with most 250s.
Did all the business at 10500 rpm though, even carefuly ballanced a piston didn't last long, I got real good at changing them. Good engine, an orphan though, they never used it for anything else.

Wish I had some pic's, but an ex stole 'em all.

[CRM]

have you had a chance to try it on tight trails yet???

I would be interested in hearing how you compare it to the drz.

cheers


Mark

I took the Pamp out on the farm Saturday and it started doing this weird starving and bogging thing, then left at idle it would build up revs without touching it and then scream until I managed to stall it (kill switch didn't seem to stop it but I think that was just me panicking). I pulled the carb apart when I got home and that seemed to fix it but I haven't got the settings right yet - running a bit rich I think. Does anyone know how to set up these Dell'Orto carbs? I did some research and apparently this is a common quirk with them.

I did the Purua ride yesterday and apart from the carb not being quite right the Pamp went great. Nice being able to do 'trials-style' river crossings with the low first gear and the great low end torque. It just sticks like glue on slippery clay banks - just fantastic in tight situations. There is quite a gap from second to first gear which sometimes is awkward. For most situations it's best to stay out of first unless you are starting in mud or negotiating trials type terrain.

It feels super-light - like a 125. I was actually surprised by the power when you open it up - I heard they were lacking in the top end but it had more than enough thrills for me - lifting the front easily and breaking out the rear on sweeping corners. The suspension is shorter than the DRZ of course but whats there is works very well - I still don't do fast muddy ruts but that's probably just my lack of skill; and courage. I really don't miss the DRZ - for an old guy like me the Pamp is perfect.

Unfortunately I let a bit much air out of the back tyre for traction in the mud and about 20km into the ride I stripped out the valve (it has one rim lock but there are limits I guess!) A friendly farmer took me out on his ute. Apart from that a good first 'proper' ride.

[limbimtimwim]

I took the Pamp out on the farm Saturday and it started doing this weird starving and bogging thing, then left at idle it would build up revs without touching it and then scream until I managed to stall it (kill switch didn't seem to stop it but I think that was just me panicking).Engines will do that if things are very lean.

Otherwise sticking throttle?

[CRM]

Just to compare the Pamp with the DRZ400 and a WR250 - I took an 06 WR250 out for a couple of hours and it's still way heavier than the Pamp, but certainly easier in tight stuff than the DRZ400. Actually was a lot of fun - I found the suspension better than the DRZ and usable power for trail riding just as good as the DRZ. But going through some serious uncharted bush and getting sideways up a snotty hill had me wishing for the Pamp. I think for a lot of it (the tight stuff) I could have got around as well if not better on the Pamp, but the WR suspension is definately superior at speed on the rough stuff (specially downhill). The Pamp being a 2 stroke just feels really nimble and light compared to the WR.

[marks]

the WR suspension is definately superior at speed on the rough stuff (specially downhill).

I have never ridden a bike like the WR that just soaks up all the bumps and keeps going straight and true - its awesome at speed.


The Pamp being a 2 stroke just feels really nimble and light compared to the WR.

My son has a DT230 that weighs more than my WR450 but feels way lighter when riding it - you simply can't beat the feel of a 2 stroke in the really knarly stuff.