Old v new

[unstuck]

I have been thinking about getting a new dirt bike for some time now, and am kind of stuck, not so much by the choice of bike to get but wether or not it is really worth the $$$$.Dont get me wrong, I love the power and handling that most of the new bikes offer, but get really pissed off by the amount of times where somebody who i am riding with has had to be towed or pushed back to the truck on their new(ish) bikes.Now my old XL250 for example I paid $100 for it about 9yrs ago and it has always gotten me home.Granted some of the places we go can be really hard going, and the XL sure aint no looker nowadays. It is also very comfy(if a little heavy) at the end of the day.I am a bit worried that if i do spend x$$$ on a new bike, I will not want to take it to some of the places i love to go for fear of wrecking something that is expensive to replace.The old XL now,Im not worried about dragging it over a log or dropping it of a bank and adding a few more battle scars. Anyway, just thought i would make my thoughts global and see where it leads...P.S. Life is fuckin awesome.

[Edbear]

I have been thinking about getting a new dirt bike for some time now, and am kind of stuck, not so much by the choice of bike to get but wether or not it is really worth the $$$$.Dont get me wrong, I love the power and handling that most of the new bikes offer, but get really pissed off by the amount of times where somebody who i am riding with has had to be towed or pushed back to the truck on their new(ish) bikes.Now my old XL250 for example I paid $100 for it about 9yrs ago and it has always gotten me home.Granted some of the places we go can be really hard going, and the XL sure aint no looker nowadays. It is also very comfy(if a little heavy) at the end of the day.I am a bit worried that if i do spend x$$$ on a new bike, I will not want to take it to some of the places i love to go for fear of wrecking something that is expensive to replace.The old XL now,Im not worried about dragging it over a log or dropping it of a bank and adding a few more battle scars. Anyway, just thought i would make my thoughts global and see where it leads...P.S. Life is fuckin awesome.

Starting from the fact that you couldn't kill the XL250 with a big stick, you're going to be hard pushed to beat it for what it is.

A lot of the modern bikes are competing for performance and it's no longer true that a four stroke will be more reliable and cheaper to run than a two-stroke. Having said that, it's more about the type of trail bike you get. As with road bikes, many go for the GSX-R600 when a the GSX-F650 would be the better bike, simply for the pose factor. So a modern equivalent to the old XL should give good reliable service and be lighter and better to ride. Not sure how many "basic" trail bikes are made now, though.

[unstuck]

So what would be a good eqivelent to the old XL?? Any body bought a newish bike that they are really happy with and can throw about a bit and not break it everytime they go off the trail into the scrub,or is it just me that does that.

[krad_nz]

I started on an XL250R some time ago now. Great bike for learning.

Having said that you will never look back once you have a modern bike at your disposal. Get a KDX200, thats what I transitioned to. Good times.

I have to put mine up for sale on trademe soon actually :P

[unstuck]

I started on an XL250R some time ago now. Great bike for learning.

Having said that you will never look back once you have a modern bike at your disposal. Get a KDX200, thats what I transitioned to. Good times.

I have to put mine up for sale on trademe soon actually :P

Mate has one, he,s had a lot of eletrical problems with his,any issues for you. Spent a weekend on a KTM 450 last year and that wasnt bad but just felt too plasticky.Actually the stickers came off in the wet???

[MSTRS:Me]

Sounds to me like you keep answering your own question...

[kezzafish]

can't go wrong with a DRZ i recon. Super cheap brand new. Reliable as fuck 'cos they haven't changed since noah's ark brought them here. 250 or 400 if ya want more grunt. Very easy riding like the XL too.

All this assuming we are talking brand new yeah?

[unstuck]

Sounds to me like you keep answering your own question...

Dont even know why i want a new bike, I Love my old XL.I think i may have IMAGE problems I feel a bit of a broken arse turning up to some rides with the old pig and everyone else on their nice shiny bling.

[Edbear]

Dont even know why i want a new bike, I Love my old XL.I think i may have IMAGE problems I feel a bit of a broken arse turning up to some rides with the old pig and everyone else on their nice shiny bling.

Then you casually ride on by while they're loading up their dead shiny bling onto the trailer...

[unstuck]

can't go wrong with a DRZ i recon. Super cheap brand new. Reliable as fuck 'cos they haven't changed since noah's ark brought them here. 250 or 400 if ya want more grunt. Very easy riding like the XL too.

All this assuming we are talking brand new yeah?

Yeah(newish). I do like the drz400,felt really nice to rideBut can they take a beating, dont know anyone who has had one long enough to find out.

[waynzz7]

can't go wrong with a DRZ i recon. Super cheap brand new. Reliable as fuck 'cos they haven't changed since noah's ark brought them here. 250 or 400 if ya want more grunt. Very easy riding like the XL too.

All this assuming we are talking brand new yeah?

I agree..I have a 06 drz400 and it is great for what it is designed to do..be super reliable, good power, easy and cheap to maintain and with all the abuse I throw at mine it just keeps trucking on..What it is not is a high performance bike designed to win any race or be competitive..
The only thing it will win is the chunkiest heifer award..coming in at around 130-140 kg wet..Unfortunatley like women there is no bike that is great at everything, just find one that meets your needs the closest..

[kezzafish]

yeah, i've had two and my bro has one (400's). they're bullet proof mate and well known for it. Dunno what the 250 is like but you'd be pretty safe assuming that they're the same. As wayne says, they're no race machine but have plenty of grunt and are well capable of making people on flash bikes look silly at trail rides. My brother makes me look silly when he rides his. Pretty hard bike to beat when it comes to value for money and they seem to hold their price quite well second hand... probably due to their hard-ass reputation. Have a look on trade me.

Someone once said to me: "the quickest way to get faster is to buy a better bike" There's some truth in this for sure and the newer the bike the better & faster they are. just because of how quickly technology advances seem show themselves in bikes.

This doesn't apply with a DRZ so you might as well buy a well maintained 03ish one for $3g and biff it off some banks and not worry about it

[unstuck]

I agree..I have a 06 drz400 and it is great for what it is designed to do..be super reliable, good power, easy and cheap to maintain and with all the abuse I throw at mine it just keeps trucking on..What it is not is a high performance bike designed to win any race or be competitive..
The only thing it will win is the chunkiest heifer award..coming in at around 130-140 kg wet..Unfortunatley like women there is no bike that is great at everything, just find one that meets your needs the closest..

Im not interested in high performance or winning races or doing triple somersaults with a 360 thrown in.Just want something that is reliable and can take a beating(like me) and keep on going.And maybe is going to make me look a little cooler in front of all the other grandads.

[meteor]

Get a KDX200...
I have to put mine up for sale on trademe soon actually :P

Plus 1 for the KDX but if you like 4 strokes... the XR250 is a great bike... funnily enough I have a mint 2001 for sale...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=363768069

Yeah I know... shameless!

[takitimu]

Sounds to me like a wr250f would be the go after an xr, they go good as long as you don't kamikaze into trees at warp speed, otherwise they seem pretty damn reliable.