Thoughts on 250 offroaders?

[neels]

Yep, another one of these threads.

I'm tossing up the idea of getting another toy and thinking a road legal trail bike would be good for a giggle, aiming for a reasonably low budget under $3k.

I've currently got an old XL250 which is fun, but it would be good to skip the loading it on the trailer part of going for a ride, and instead getting out on some gravel back roads that require road legalness. I'm not planning on any huge missions involving carrying a lot of gear, or travelling huge distances on tarmac, so was thinking a 250 would probably keep me amused enough.

I've had a sniff around on trademe, and on offer at the moment are a KLR, XLR, XR, DR, XT for around the money I'm looking at.

Any thoughts on what's good and what to avoid like the plague, opinions in general on if a 250 will be up to the job, and (assuming a good service history) what a resonable mileage is?

Any suggestions on spending the governments money from my red zoned house appreciated....

[dino3310]

my vote goes to the XR
light with good suspension, good toy for the rough stuff.
i am bias

is the DR a se or the DRZ.

[JATZ]

250's are a little "lifeless"

I may know of a road legal 350 that could be on the market.... if I can keep the boy off it

[cooneyr]

Get the best condition bike for what you can afford. Very little between any of them. The XT - double check the CC's cause before the current model XT there was a XT250 that was really only a 225.

Cheers R

[timmehpwr]

Yamaha TTR250's are good also, check out www.ttr250.com for common issues like the sprag clutch bearing, basically if its making a loud knocking sound while cranking you need to replace the bearing before it destroys your starter gears and starter motor spline

Had a 1994 model and was a good wee learner bike, sold it for $2400 reg and wof last year... front and rear disk brakes, electric start etc

[NordieBoy]

An XL 250 should be road leagalable...

[unstuck]

An XL 250 should be road leagalable...

Not if it is in the same condition as my XL 250.

[pete-blen]

I like my one...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-454749489.htm

[neels]

250's are a little "lifeless"

I was kind of wondering that...

I may know of a road legal 350 that could be on the market.... if I can keep the boy off it

Let me know the details I could be keen on that, was partly thinking 250 so the boy would have something to ride when he sells his bike, but I guess he can wait until October..

The XT - double check the CC's cause before the current model XT there was a XT250 that was really only a 225.

Yep, have ridden an XT225 and it was slow and painful, that's kind of why I'm wondering if the 250's are any better.

An XL 250 should be road leagalable...

Not if it is in the same condition as my XL 250.

Same here, mine would need new clocks to replace the ones that got smashed when it fell off the trailer, indicators, mirrors, tail light, and it has no rego history. It also leaks oil out the final drive seal which isn't a problem out playing, but riding further afield could be iffy, and I can't be bothered splitting the crankcase to fix it.

Or this has turned up on tardme...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-452961227.htm

[NordieBoy]

Or this has turned up on tardme...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-452961227.htm

Nice.

[warewolf]

The 250cc bikes are noticeably stronger than the near-250cc bikes like the DR200, XR200, SL230 and XT225. They'll do, especially solo without luggage on loose surfaces. Just remember what the gearbox is for, and that they are robust jappers designed to be flogged IF they are maintained.

Compared to their 250 siblings the 300/350 class bikes usually offer more torque for similar weight and peak horsepower. Quite nice bikes actually.

The XR (and maybe XL) and until recently KLX are kick start only. DR/DRZ/TT/TTR are all much the same as each other, and have an electric leg. Suspension improvements through the years are more significant than engine improvements.

KLR, XLR, XRL, XT are all a step milder than the XR/KLX/DR/DRZ/TTR. The former have lower seat height, less capable suspension, softer engine tune. The latter were enduro weapons back in their day.

[neels]

Nice.

Worth a look then?

I could be up for a trip to oamaru, and maybe stop and buy the cool rolltop desk I saw in a secondhand shop in timaru, possibly the valve radiogram with a cupboard full of 78's that was sitting beside it as well.....

Lots of informative stuff.

Cheers

[roadkillnz]

250's are a little "lifeless"

I may know of a road legal 350 that could be on the market.... if I can keep the boy off it

Not if it's a 2-stroke
Like my RMX
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-448820570.htm

[JATZ]

I was kind of wondering that...
Let me know the details I could be keen on that,

I'd like to do a couple of weee jobs on it before selling too. Just little things I've got used to and new issues, as the boy is doing about 120k's a day going to tech. Not sure of k's but it's been reliable and starts first kick 99% of the time, it has a larger tank and some pannier racks

Not if it's a 2-stroke
Like my RMX
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-448820570.htm

Come back when it's done 40,000 + k's without a top end rebuild like the 350's

[roadkillnz]

I'd like to do a couple of weee jobs on it before selling too. Just little things I've got used to and new issues, as the boy is doing about 120k's a day going to tech. Not sure of k's but it's been reliable and starts first kick 99% of the time, it has a larger tank and some pannier racks



Come back when it's done 40,000 + k's without a top end rebuild like the 350's

That's great and all, I was merely pointing out that not all 250's have to be slow or gutless. It's also incredibly light, which is nice for the times you're offroading. What 350's are you referring to? DR350's, or the newish KTMs?