Bike purchase advice

[centaurus]

Hi guys,

I know this question has been asked a million times and I know there is no final answer but I still have to ask it. My question is with a bit of a twist

I'm planning to buy a second bike to start learning some tricks (wheelies, stoppies, etc...), split commuting time with my main bike and long term to use it as adventure bike. I will do some pure offroad but probably not much and nothing extremely technical (I'm a novice dirt rider). My main bike is a sports bike.

My choices would be:
drz400 - the most convenient option but lacks in torque, especially low end one. It feels limp. However, it has the longest oil change interval and the least maintenance needed.
xr400/xr650r - reasonable light, torquey, reliable, but kick start (I've done kick start and I don't think I want to go back there). Not sure about oil changes and maintenance needed.
ktm 400/450/525 exc, wr450 - brilliant for everything , it also has e-start, but a bit pricey and I am worried about maintenance and oil change intervals. As an adventure bike it will see a lot of kms
dr650, xr650l, klx650 - would be too heavy. Decent adv bikes but I can't learn any tricks on them.

The problem is I can't figure out the maintenance and oil change intervals. I will be putting lots of ks (or at least hours) on it because I ride a lot. Everybody I ask, I get a different answer. Given the fact that I will be riding at a sedate pace (not good enough to push hard even on gravel roads) and there might be some normal road riding (commuting), what would the oil change intervals be for the ktms, the wr and the xr650r?
ktm 640 - probably the best option but usually way out of my price range.

I want some opinions from people that own/have owned these bikes.

[Eddieb]

Why can't you do wheelies and stoppies on a DR650?

[dino3310]

XRs oil at 1000miles

[dino3310]

and i dont approve of or endorse unsafe ridding techniques

[centaurus]

Any bike can wheelie if you're good enough. I want to LEARN how to wheelie, so I need something that can wheelie, stoppie easy and generally very manuevrable, which means decently light and decently powerfull, with plenty low end torque.

[centaurus]

and i dont approve of or endorse unsafe ridding techniques

Hey man, the "unsafe" riding techniques will be done on gravel roads or in various parking lots. I don't see myself learning how to wheelie in Wellington CBD

As for XR's the same for both 400 and 650? (one is air cooled the other one is water cooled and supposedly much higher sprung)

[Newguy]

I have a DRZ . Low down torque can improve quite a bit if you add a quickshot (accelerator pump expansion bowl) and have it dyno'd.


I'm very happy with the low down and 3rd gear wheelies are possible, 2nd gear is a easy lift.

[Eddieb]

which means decently light and decently powerfull

I ride an old BMW, a DR650 is a featherweight after that, it's all perception.

[thepom]

yamaha xt600e or any one with e start and just drop down a tooth or two on the front sprocket and you ll be away. I was doing the dusty butt and clarence river rides and Alan on an old xt went everywhere the expensive ktm, s went with ease,and with the lower gearing you can practice all the wheelies and stoppies you want with a good cheap price tag.....

[dino3310]

Hey man, the "unsafe" riding techniques will be done on gravel roads or in various parking lots. I don't see myself learning how to wheelie in Wellington CBD

As for XR's the same for both 400 and 650? (one is air cooled the other one is water cooled and supposedly much higher sprung)

was taking the piss with the techniques
650...
the 600 would be ideal low down torque, handling is awesome, very light
plenty good advice on thumper talk, the yanks love there XRs

[Padmei]

Stoppies aren't really a good idea to practise on gravel...



Unless there's a camera handy

[bart]

I'm pretty tempted to say 'pull your head out of your arse', but I want to learn how to do a cool wheely also.

DRZ400 seems to handle being dropped a lot better than the DR650. Less bits seem to break......my 2 cents.

[Newguy]

DRZ400 seems to handle being dropped a lot better than the DR650. Less bits seem to break......my 2 cents.

As long as you brace the radiators.

[NordieBoy]

DRZ and 2 sets of gearing.

[Pedrostt500]

Yep agree with Nordie, also you could in time pick up some Motard wheels & gearing, it would give you a good all round platform to do alot with, DRZ has been in production for quiet some time so plenty of aftermarket goodies available, and second hand bits available with out to much effort to find.