XR400 help

[dreamer87]

Looking at buying a 98 XR400 since I used to have one in the same year when I was a teenager, but this time looking at a road rego'd one for use on the road & on the farm. Ive always liked the XR400, was my first real big bike when I was 15 back in 98 and since selling it a few years later to fund Uni, Ive always been wanting one again.

Anyhow, can any of you people tell me what sort of speeds does a XR400 do on the motorway easily, I mean will it sit at 100kms without going nuts? I never got up to such speeds on the farm with it plus its different on the road.

Also, I want to do some touring with this bike, mainly all over NZ in the summer, riding from the cape to bluff. I want to stick panniers on it. Ive seen other XR400's with hard case panniers and soft but where do you get these in Auckland? Anyone know?

My budget on the bike itself is around $3000-6000, really want to stick to that so I can buy other upgrades for it.

If any of you know of any other bike that is similar in grunt and price and good for panniers and touring, please let me know as Im not fully committed on a XR400 as of yet. Had looked at a long time ago at KLX 300. Ideally I would buy a XR650, one of the late 2000 model ones but they are all out of my price range.

Any help much appreciated guys

[cooneyr]

DR650

I said it first you lot :bleh:

Cheers R

[JATZ]

DR650

I said it first you lot :bleh:

Cheers R

Wot e said /\ /\
Can't really go wrong

[dreamer87]

DR650 then? Any reason why?

I do want a good allround bike, but I dont want to spend a real fortune. I know theres heaps of hardy XR400's around that I think could do the job, keep in mind I do want to take this on a short stinty ride tour around NZ in the summer going from orchard to orchard so I need pack racks for side panniers to carry the pop up tent and bread and baked beans!

[JATZ]

Why ? Just because
XR would probly do what you want, it all comes down to price and what you want, Theres hundreds/thousands of XR's about so they must be o.k.(cough cough)

[young1]

Has anyone done a big trip on an XR400, with big I mean overseas with thousands of kms? I like the idea of a simple air cooled bike, that is easy to service at some back country village, that isn't a DR650 (sorry guys!)

[JATZ]

Mondo enduro/Terra circa, not XR's but little bikes on an epic adventure

[dreamer87]

Im still sort of leaning towards an XR400 or if one happens to rear its head thats a good price, XR650. Always had Hondas and Kawasakis so I would like to stick to them since I can work on them and know sort of most of it that goes wrong but yea has anyone done any trips on a XR400?

I want to get panniers for it too, if not Ill just buy the boxes and get some frames fabricated I guess, no biggie.

[cooneyr]

A DR650 is kinda the same in that it is reliable, air cooled, easy to work on, easy to get spares for, reasonable amount of aftermarket goodies like racks, bash plates etc etc. Whilst being somewhat bias (I use to have a DR650) it will be easier to work on than the XR650R. A XR650L is in a similar class but not anywhere near as common in NZ.

The DR is not as much of a trail bike (obviously) but they will pull 100km a piece of cake and are reasonably smooth (don't vibrate much) so are good for the long distance work and yet can handle some pretty knarly terrain. The biggest problems with them are the small tank and seat. An 18l tank can be had from the states for about $360 in 8 days and the guys in Tauranga, Rider Seats (http://www.trimit.co.nz/), do very nice job of modifying seats.

A very tidy second hand DR can be had for about $6k. Take one for a ride.

Cheers R

[GB500nz]

The XR would be spinning pretty fast at 100, and the top ends on those things are not very happy with sustained high RPMs: the cam bearings go. I think Kawasaki have a KL 350 that might be happier with the job. The KL has wider ratios so you can go as fast or as slow as you like.

[monchopper]

XR400 has some touring capability but not lots
DR650 has some trail riding capability but not lots.

I ride a XR400 and am happy to do a 65 km trip up the motorway at 110 with knobblies but it ain't no fun and the seat sucks badly.
But it's not a stock XR. It has a few performance mods and a tooth bigger on the front. I'm happy to sacrifice a little comfort on the open stuff to have a bit more in the tight stuff. I think the XR is around 30 Kgs lighter than the DR.
Check this out (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=224760)

[NordieBoy]

The XR would be spinning pretty fast at 100, and the top ends on those things are not very happy with sustained high RPMs: the cam bearings go. I think Kawasaki have a KL 350 that might be happier with the job. The KL has wider ratios so you can go as fast or as slow as you like.

There were a few racing at yesterdays 6-hour cross country and that would have been pretty hard on the top ends.

My smaller bike choice would be a DR350 or XR400.
Got a big Acerbis tank for the XR400/600 is anyone is interested.

[dreamer87]

cool, sounds great guys thanks.

[CRM]

Had a ride on an XR400 today - a road legal 98 Baja import. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=177651775 Feels good - lighter and lower than a DRZ400 and way lighter than a DR650. The main drawback for me getting a DR650 is that you can't really trail ride them, which is why i'm looking the XR400 way - simple, reliable, do anything you want with it, lots of mods and parts. I'm tempted to go the DR650 way but just too hard to give up the dirt plus Honda's just have a 'feel' about them. :rolleyes:Not flashy but they do the job. Not easy to start though... Anybody got any feedback on this model?

[marks]

if its good fun on the trails it will be a bitch on the highway
if its good fun on the highway it will be a bitch on the trails

there are no exceptions....

[NordieBoy]

Had a ride on an XR400 today - a road legal 98 Baja import. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=177651775 Feels good - lighter and lower than a DRZ400 and way lighter than a DR650. The main drawback for me getting a DR650 is that you can't really trail ride them, which is why i'm looking the XR400 way - simple, reliable, do anything you want with it, lots of mods and parts. I'm tempted to go the DR650 way but just too hard to give up the dirt plus Honda's just have a 'feel' about them. :rolleyes:Not flashy but they do the job. Not easy to start though... Anybody got any feedback on this model?

That looks like a good deal.
I've got a large Acerbis tank for sale that'd fit on that.

[monchopper]

Had a ride on an XR400 today - a road legal 98 Baja import. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=177651775 Feels good - lighter and lower than a DRZ400 and way lighter than a DR650. The main drawback for me getting a DR650 is that you can't really trail ride them, which is why i'm looking the XR400 way - simple, reliable, do anything you want with it, lots of mods and parts. I'm tempted to go the DR650 way but just too hard to give up the dirt plus Honda's just have a 'feel' about them. :rolleyes:Not flashy but they do the job. Not easy to start though... Anybody got any feedback on this model?

The XR4 hasn't changed much over the years. From memory the 97 has a problems with 2nd gear and the fork spring rating was increased in 2000. So if you're a fat bastard you might want to get the front resprung on a '98. I think the general thought is 98 and newer are much the same and very good bikes.

They have a reputation as being bad starters especially when hot. But in there stock form they are lean and are hard to start. Get the jetting right and this bike is a 2-3 kicker everytime even after an off. Even better still get a Mikuni TM36-50 flatside carb and feel the bike come alive.

Google 'Gordons Mods' and follow your nose. These mods are nearly free. Make sure you get some new jets. I went 160 Main 60 pilot on mine before I got the Mikuni (sea level or just above) and what a difference!!

[CRM]

That looks like a good deal.
I've got a large Acerbis tank for sale that'd fit on that.

Thanks for that - I'll get back to you if I get it. What about rear racks/ panniers?

[NordieBoy]

Thanks for that - I'll get back to you if I get it. What about rear racks/ panniers?

Nope. No racks or anything else really apart from a stock XR350 tank and some rusty engine bits...