Which dual purpose bike with sooo many choices?

[waynzz7]

Hay,
I am sick of watching adventure riders have a blast..so decided it is time to join them! I have been doing some reading and have narrowed it down to a 400-600cc bike as I want to do some commuting to work, highway k's, possibly some supermotard open track days as well as trailriding ..I have been riding road bikes for 14+ years, but first time on a dual purpose. I have been looking at the all popular DRZ400s and DRZ400sm..

Anyone have any other ideas?

Also those in the know is the DRZ400sm still as capable on the trail as it is on the road? and whats the performance of the DRZ400s like on the road??

Appreciate any suggestions....What a great site!
Cheers

[bart]

Problem with the DRZ is the close ratio gearbox. Gear it up for the road, and it's shit on the knarly stuff. Gear it down for offroad, and it'll buzz you to pieces at 100kmh.

Oh, and the plank of a seat.

But hey, if you're looking at 70% trails and offroad and 30% road work, you'd struggle to find better (for the money....just to keep the orange boys happy).

DR650 are betterer if you're looking at more 50% offroad, 50% road. KLR650 for 30% offroad, 70% road. KTM if you're a, ummm, how do I put this, poser.

My 2c

[Taz]

KTM if you're a, ummm, how do I put this, poser.

My 2c

Adv bikes - There's nothing poser about having great suspension and quality components which is the main difference between a 640 and a DR/KLR650. Many DR/KLR owners spend a small fortune modding their bikes to get near the KTM benchmark but in the end these bikes will do the same thing.

Of the road legal enduro bikes I truly believe the KTM525 is head and shoulders above the Jap offerings.

[bart]

Adv bikes - There's nothing poser about having great suspension and quality components which is the main difference between a 640 and a DR/KLR650. Many DR/KLR owners spend a small fortune modding their bikes to get near the KTM benchmark but in the end these bikes will do the same thing.

Of the road legal enduro bikes I truly believe the KTM525 is head and shoulders above the Jap offerings.

Hook line and sinker. 15 minutes, not bad.

[bart]

Of the road legal enduro bikes I truly believe the KTM525 is head and shoulders above the Jap offerings.

The KTM525 is a great bike, but I'm not prepared to spend all that time on maintenance. Initial cost is about 1.5 times that of a jap bike, and the service intervals are way too short for my liking. 1500km?? that's crazy shit.

Now a 690, that could be tempting, but 17K new?????????

[oldrider]

"Duel purpose" can also cover "adventure touring" basically all road touring rather than sticking to sealed highway's!

That's where the bigger bikes come into their own, especially two up and loaded up for the long haul!

That's the stuff we have found the Triumph Tiger 955i to be the best bike we have ever owned and we are now in our late sixties and early seventies! Damn it!

[Woodman]

So many variables, so many opinions ,so many threads about this.

It all depends on what you call trail riding, and your ability off road. Personally I would go for a drz 400 (not motard) and gauge it from there. I think they are pretty crashable without inflicting too much damage.

Actually go and get one now before you read too much inernet.

[Baldyman]

DRZ400E/SM

I have a road legal "E" with an extra set of wheels. I can change from pure dirt to pure road or adventure set-up in under an hour. (With "refreshments" in between)

Great bike. Not the best at any one thing, but the best as an all-rounder

My 2c

[waynzz7]

But hey, if you're looking at 70% trails and offroad and 30% road work, you'd struggle to find better (for the money....just to keep the orange boys happy).

DR650 are betterer if you're looking at more 50% offroad, 50% road. KLR650 for 30% offroad, 70% road. KTM if you're a, ummm, how do I put this, poser.



Cheers....One up for the DRZ400...KTM umm never ridden one so can't comment lol..

[waynzz7]

DRZ400E/SM

I have a road legal "E" with an extra set of wheels. I can change from pure dirt to pure road or adventure set-up in under an hour. (With "refreshments" in between)

Great bike. Not the best and any one thing, but the best as an all-rounder

My 2c

Sounds like what I am after ..What rims do you have for the road? are they from an SM model or another bike?? Also how does it handle on the open road? is it comfy and fun or boring..

[waynzz7]

"Duel purpose" can also cover "adventure touring" basically all road touring rather than sticking to sealed highway's!

That's where the bigger bikes come into their own, especially two up and loaded up for the long haul!

That's the stuff we have found the Triumph Tiger 955i to be the best bike we have ever owned and we are now in our late sixties and early seventies! Damn it!

Cheers..Looking for something a bit smaller that I can throw around on a trail and the road..Have the vtr1000 for the longer distance stuff..Just looking for a smaller fun machine...Anyone have a 09-10 WR250r? looked at one of these but worried it won't have the grunt to keep me excited...nothing worse than a boring slow bike..

[Taz]

The KTM525 is a great bike, but I'm not prepared to spend all that time on maintenance. Initial cost is about 1.5 times that of a jap bike, and the service intervals are way too short for my liking. 1500km?? that's crazy shit.

Now a 690, that could be tempting, but 17K new?????????

Maintenance is just the same for any other road legal enduro bike such as the WR450 etc. I have 10,000kms on my 525 and have only changed the oil and filters every 2000kms and and checked the valves a couple of times. to do both of these tasks takes an hour tops.

The WR250R is a trail bike as opposed to a enduro bike. They are a great bike and have longer service intervals but are lacking a little in the grunt dept.

As the OP said 400-600 suitable for motard and trailrides I automatically thought of the KTM525EXC or the WR450 as the most likely steeds. The WR450F could use a 6th gear for better versatility. I didn't consider the DR/KLR and larger soft adventure trailies to be what he was after.

Not trolling just my honest interpretation of thre OP's question.

Taz

[waynzz7]

Maintenance is just the same for any other road legal enduro bike such as the WR450 etc. I have 10,000kms on my 525 and have only changed the oil and filters every 2000kms and and checked the valves a couple of times. to do both of these tasks takes an hour tops.

The WR250R is a trail bike as opposed to a enduro bike. They are a great bike and have longer service intervals but are lacking a little in the grunt dept.

As the OP said 400-600 suitable for motard and trailrides I automatically thought of the KTM525EXC or the WR450 as the most likely steeds. The WR450F could use a 6th gear for better versatility. I didn't consider the DR/KLR and larger soft adventure trailies to be what he was after.

Not trolling just my honest interpretation of thre OP's question.

Taz

Have seen a KTM 450 EXC-r and a 400exc on trade me also with low k's and within my (girlfriends budget restriction ..) your thoughts???.....On the bikes..

[Taz]

Have seen a KTM 450 EXC-r and a 400exc on trade me also with low k's and within my (girlfriends budget restriction ..) your thoughts???.....On the bikes..

Get a 525 over the 450/400. The longer stroke engine is much better on the road and less revvy. But if you intend to do big road miles then an enduro bike is not the answer. Factor in the price of a larger tank with an enduro bike too as most will only go 80-140 odd km on their standard tanks.

[bart]

As the OP said 400-600 suitable for motard and trailrides I automatically thought of the KTM525EXC or the WR450 as the most likely steeds.

Fair call. If looking at 90% trail and offroad and 10% road, KTM525 or WR450.

Don't write off the WR250 though. Good bike, and light if you're a little fella.