I fell in love today!

[Buddha#81]

Due to a bad off 15 odd years ago and stuffing my back I carried on riding in pain for another few years against the Doctors advice, since then I been road racing.

Well its been 10years since I rode anything remotely like a modern dirt bike the moons aligned themself and the wife has near on railroaded me into getting a bike for my upcoming 40th (yup shes a keeper). A good mate has upgraded from a DRZ400 to a CRF450 leaving the DRZ sitting in his shed for 6 months because he didn't have the heart to sell the thing.

To cut a long story short I did the Springfield Trail Ride today on the DRZ and had a bloody ball. Now most of you will scoff but the DRZ is a dream to ride and other than needing a new rear tyre (traction issues) I completed three 40km loops and are bloody sore but my dodgy back stood up to a beating well.......time does seem to heal wounds.

Now I need to get back to my mate on what I'm going to offer him......this is where I need some feedback. DRZ400E 04 (i think) good service history, its got a pro circuit pipe, radiator supports, the original plasics are still new along with another non oem set, a new rear tyre to be fitted......it will need a new battery. Wadda ya reacon? I'm intending doing a cheap motard conversion using RGV wheels who do these thing handle being thrashed on the track being they are differn't to the SM model?

[cheese]

Woo hoo good choice!! Sorry not much help on the price. Good to have one more road biker moving into the dirt. You won't regret it!!

[pete376403]

My bro-in-law has a set of 17" CBR600 wheels for his DRZ. He had to make a bracket to move the caliper outward for the bigger disk. Steering is very quick due to the steeper fork angle, even with the back end dropped down as far as poss. Something to be aware of.

[kezzafish]

DRZs are funny, they seem to hold their price really well once they get to be a few years old. It sounds to be in good nick and has a pipe which they desperately need.

He's a mate so rip him off and offer him 2500 - 3000 this may be off the mark but the easy way to tell would be a quick scan through TradeMe.

My brother kicks my ass on my old shagged 2000 DRZ (i'm on a modern 450 now lol). They're super reliable and cheap to run so i still have a soft spot for em

Never ridden dirt one on the road tyres but it's bound to be fun. My SM one was awesome... so awesome that some cunt decided to take it from my house lol.

I have some stiffer front fork springs for it too which may help a bit to stop it from diving and will sit it up for the previousely mentioned fork angle battle. I'll sell em to ya for $20 cos i don't care and you only just reminded me that they're in the shed lol. I believe i paid over 200 bucks for em

[Dent]

I was at that ride. The full lap was approx 55km according to my odo, but there was a spot where you could shortcut back to the start. A few MX 2-strokes run out of gas.

Really good ride with some challenging climbs, and varied terrain. Great weather too.

[F5 Dave]

My bro-in-law has a set of 17" CBR600 wheels for his DRZ. He had to make a bracket to move the caliper outward for the bigger disk. Steering is very quick due to the steeper fork angle, even with the back end dropped down as far as poss. Something to be aware of.

Pete M rode F1shys one with same sort of mods & it handled a lot better. Might be worth asking him Buddha if you go ahead with conversion.

[Buddha#81]

I have some stiffer front fork springs for it too which may help a bit to stop it from diving and will sit it up for the previousely mentioned fork angle battle. I'll sell em to ya for $20 cos i don't care and you only just reminded me that they're in the shed lol. I believe i paid over 200 bucks for em


I'm all but the owner so I'll take you up on that kind offer......I'll be in touch soon as Ive done the deal.......I spoze you wont mind wait a week or so?

[Buddha#81]

I was at that ride. The full lap was approx 55km according to my odo, but there was a spot where you could shortcut back to the start. A few MX 2-strokes run out of gas.

Really good ride with some challenging climbs, and varied terrain. Great weather too.

Yeah I was riding with a mate on a CR250 and we took one of the short cuts and he still come in running on fumes......however I only used 4-5 litres a lap:banana: Hes a vid from Bren Chch's helmut cam....... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2cfzlKhtgY yes thats me in the overalls......strange how after 10 years either ya gear has shrunk or gone missing!

[Dent]

Thanks for posting that link. Does he have footage of the later part of the lap with the climbs up to the high points?

[Buddha#81]

Thanks for posting that link. Does he have footage of the later part of the lap with the climbs up to the high points?

Dunno I'll ask.....heres mine.....I got mud on the lens just before we climbed up that section, sorry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6koDdQuOKl0

[Dent]

Thanks for posting it. I enjoyed that section near the end with the 10 or so small creek crossings.