Which bike for Jimmy?

[Padmei]

I have not much experience in the true off road realm however from my experience in the weekend at the laid back trail ride I witnessed many guys sweating & swearing trying to kick their bikes back into life. These were usually in the middle of bogs, dips or tight spots. I personally wouldn't be without an electric start.

Also many MX type riders comment on the weight of the DRZ 400 as being heavy. I suspect if you end up riding with said MX types, an adv style bike will be regarded as a Hippo & you'll end up buying something small & lite to fit in & possibly end up trailering it.

Ithink some more info is really required such as your experience off road, actual age & ability & what you want to do ie drops & jumps, flatout racing or cruisy trail riding.

[NordieBoy]

The thing the 350 has going for it over the 400 is the gearbox.
It'll trail ride all day and cruise home at 100kph without blurring your vision for the next 3 days.

[Phreaky Phil]

The thing the 350 has going for it over the 400 is the gearbox.
It'll trail ride all day and cruise home at 100kph without blurring your vision for the next 3 days.

350 with 441 kit

[NordieBoy]

350 with 441 kit

480 kit for the DR350

[Oscar]

Also many MX type riders comment on the weight of the DRZ 400 as being heavy.

That goes to show how dumb many MX riders are.

Horses for courses - lets see them ride their YZ250 through the Molesworth.

[Night Falcon]

Ahhhh, but your equation misses the most vital ingrediant for adventure/dual purpose.......TORQUE......but don't ask me where to put that. I suck at algebra.

thats the /100 bit....but don't beat yaself up for not spottin it .....it is a highly complex formula

[warewolf]

What about a road legal XR400?

Neat bike. Rare as a Taswegian virgin, and lack the 'leccy start, and pale in comparison to modern machinery. Was dead set interested in one, but apart from being rare in good road-legal condition, they are like Land Rovers... they're really good if you are an enthusiast and replace the engine, electrics, suspension, etc etc and it'll be AWESOME! Ok for casual trail work but simply don't cut it 15 years on. They were blown into the weeds by the WR400F in 1998... which one is still around today?

[warewolf]

But in the past I've found that the extra power of the 350 is barely worth the increase in weight & bulk.

They don't give any extra power, but they give wonderful extra torque for little extra anything. eg a KLX300 (kicker only) puts out 33% more torque than a DR-Z250 in an otherwise identical bike. DR350 is quite a pleasant improvement on the 250.

And given that I'm already underwhelmed by the perfomance of 600s ...

You haven't answered my previous question. Tourability and trailability are opposite ends of the see-saw, thus heavily influence the compromises you make. How far away are the trails you want to ride? Even in AKL I'd rather trailer a dedicated dirt bike to Woodhill than ride an adv bike. I wouldn't ride a dirt bike half the length of the country either... umm, errmm, ok a quasi-dirt bike I would - but only for a good coupla days off-road ridin'!

As to your poll, the 625EXC don't exist. It's actually badged a 625SXC or 640 Hard Enduro; it has an LC4 engine, 5000km oil changes. The 4T EXCs have RFS engines (until recently but those be out of your budget), 1500km oil changes on road. Totally different animals. The DR is an old's cool trail bike. The LC4 is a hi-po trail bike. The EXC is an enduro race weapon. Each hits it's mark, I reckon.

The 450EXC makes about the same peak power as the 525, but has less grunt. So it is easier to ride in the forest, but will still rip your arms out. The 525 is a rip-snortin' enduro beast, not for the faint hearted, but is probably a little better for longer and faster road trips. On-road is not exactly their forte.

[Baldyman]

Another vote for the DRZ400.

And there happens to be a great example on TM at the moment for around the $4950.00 mark

[jim.cox]

You haven't answered my previous question. Tourability and trailability are opposite ends of the see-saw

Defiantely want something at the Trail end of the spectrum

But has to be road registerable - as it will probably become my hack around all-purpose machine. And I will still have the Ducati for road blasting

I prefer bottom end grunt to reving my nuts off - so two valve head, long stroke maybe...

With the right gearing a 250 would be "adequate" but the KTM's look like much more fun for not a lot more dollars. I do my own servicing, so their shoirts service interval isnt really a problem

[CrazyFrog]

Defiantely want something at the Trail end of the spectrum

But has to be road registerable - as it will probably become my hack around all-purpose machine. And I will still have the Ducati for road blasting

I prefer bottom end grunt to reving my nuts off - so two valve head, long stroke maybe...

With the right gearing a 250 would be "adequate" but the KTM's look like much more fun for not a lot more dollars. I do my own servicing, so their shoirts service interval isnt really a problem

What Warewolf said re. the KTM's.
I've owned a 450EXC and now a 525EXC. CooneyR has got my 450 now.
Love 'em both, good power and handling, 525 slighly better for road work. Good for short road trips to the trails, but not a tourer in any sense.
Both weight 109kg dry, and will leave you grinning.
Don't rape the motor for any length of time and theres no reason they won't last years, just change the oil regularly and do valve clearances.

Now wait for all the orange haters to chime in about the hard seat.............

[NordieBoy]

I prefer bottom end grunt to reving my nuts off - so two valve head, long stroke maybe...

More like single cam instead of twin cam.

You're only going to get a two valve head in a CRF230 or smaller.

[Ocean1]

More like single cam instead of twin cam.

You're only going to get a two valve head in a CRF230 or smaller.

And a long stroke isn’t necessary for low range torque either, my 525 is reasonably stall-proof and it’s a pretty short stroke.

[warewolf]

I prefer bottom end grunt to reving my nuts off - so two valve head, long stroke maybe...

That's real old skool thinking. These days pretty much everything is 4-valve oversquare short-stroke, getting torque from a long rod and better design/tuning. However you still can't beat cubes, so it sounds like you'd prefer a bigger engine.

[Padmei]

I would advise getting a bike witha good seat. I've found all my KTMs have had terrible seats- like really hard on my bum. Other than that they are ok