Real cheap bike vs cheapish bikes?

[SlowHand]

Hi guys, yet another what bike question from me. Being on my ass, I've got lot of thinking time!

Been thinking since I dont have much idea on what kind of riding I will do (once I sell my friggen bike), I could possibly get a cheap bike sub 1500ish and learn what it means to ride on knobblies.

What do you guys think?? Any options I could research? I've only really got dr350 and drz400 on my mind at the mo.

I'm 68-78kgs no dirt exp, but not a foreign to using 2 wheels. And as far as I know I want low weight, low maintenance, that can handle a commute, and get away on the weekend.

I'm sure I've forgotten to put something in now. Not tooo keen on an aircooled 250 if I have to spent as much as what the 400 costs. Im already not looking forward to the power drop from a gixxer on road..

EDIT: Oh and what kind of gear would I need to start off? Already have 2 leather suits, cordura suit, 1 pair touring boots, and pair of race boots. What can I use, and what do I need on top? Oh, but my helmets need replacing.

[tri boy]

PM Deanohit.
His Zongshen goes everywhere most adv bikes go.
Has been very reliable, and can be dropped, rolled bowled and arse holed without costing heaps to fix.

[SlowHand]

Sorry, bit unclear with the budget. The option is to spend $5-6000 now or get one below $1500, then look at something else down the track. Since there is a chance I could get an XYZ then decide I should have got a YYZ instead.

[twotyred]

5-6K will get you a drz400 or dr650,keep a close eye on tardme...

[MXNUT]

Depends on type of riding you will do most of. DR650 better on road but heavy at 170 kg, DRZ400 better off road but much lighter at 125 kg.
both are bulletproof bikes

[twotyred]

Depends on type of riding you will do most of. DR650 better on road but heavy at 170 kg, DRZ400 better off road but much lighter at 125 kg.
both are bulletproof bikes

not quite: 132 for the DRZ400 vs. 147 for the 650, dry of course.

[Ocean1]

not quite: 132 for the DRZ400 vs. 147 for the 650, dry of course.

DRZ400E is 119, which is still a handfull for fine tuning dirt skills.

Both got similar HP, both reasonably crashproof.

[marks]

most $1500 bike soon grow to be $3000 bikes - and its all money down the toilet.

buy something decent for 5-6K and sell it if you don't like it. You will lose less that way.

[twotyred]

most $1500 bike soon grow to be $3000 bikes - and its all money down the toilet.

buy something decent for 5-6K and sell it if you don't like it. You will lose less that way.

wot he said...

[clint640]

I think the cheap chinese stuff's cheapness depends on what you're going to do with it; if you thrash the arse off them offroad like Mark they'll fall to bits pretty quick, but if you just want something to putt around on & don't mind doing a bit of maintenance & repair like Deano they might be good.

With the proposed new learner laws DR350/400/650 will all be n00b legal before too long so will probably hold their value pretty well. If you want to do trail rides go for the 350 or 400, gravel & easy 4x4 tracks then the 650 is your tool.

Gear wise, a set of decent MX boots is good to have, otherwise you're pretty well set up. Some MX pants & knee armour are nice for hot weather & more physical rides too.

Cheers
Clint

[muzzle]

DRZ400E is 119, which is still a handfull for fine tuning dirt skills.

Both got similar HP, both reasonably crashproof. The 650 has more power but more weight so the power to weights are much the same. The 400 is a better offroad bike but the 650 would be my pick for a long road ride. I would think You would be able to get a tidy 650 for less than a 400 as they are cheaper to buy new and they have been around a bit longer. As far as cheap bikes go if you buy a bucket of shit you can end up spending ship loads of cash on it and you will still have a bucket of shit (I know because I've done it).

[Henk]

If I had to have just one bike in the shed it would be a DR650. But it all depends on what you want to do with it. Neither the DR650 or DRZ400 have particularly comfortable seats but you can do reasonably long hauls on both. If you want to take in the ocasional trail ride get the 400, if you are planning more on gravel roads with the occasional long haul and weekend away camping get the 650 and fit a pack rack. Of course if you follow my advice and it's wrong please don't come to my house and smash all my windows because we have hit the age old problem of "Adventure riding means diferent things to diferent people". My current adventure bike is a 1997 MZ 500 saxon country. For what I want it for it's great but 99.7% of riders out there would hate it.