Adventure bike/dirt bike buying advice needed

[Nacnud12]

Hey Kiwi bikers, bit of an advice thread this one.

I am in the market for a adventure dirt bike kind of thing. I had my eyes on that R80 G/S before it was listed on trade me but decided against it.
I was a bit worried about the weight and think that i would be after something more trail bike biased. My trade me watch list is getting out of hand with bikes!

Looking for something that is street legal but would still handle a good time down at Woodhill or Muriwai beach and that would get me out there or over to Coromandel or further if I desire.

I had old XR100 as a kid on my parents farm and loved that and it went forever! I thought a road legal XR400 or something would be the ticket. Ive had a look at a 97 (i think it was) DR650 in red barron in Auckland and that went well but I just can't decide what to go for after reading so many reviews of them and different bikes.
Light 250 4stoke like a KTM or WR or TTR or 400XR or a 650 like the DR or a NX650.
I also have a bit of a budget I want to stick with of $4000ish

A few that I am watching on trade me currently
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=742205584
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=695978906
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=740203886
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=736858308
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=737510180

All advise greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[2smokes]

Think very carefully about your intended use. You want to ride to coro and back? the seat on the KTM will grow teeth and eat your ass. And it's a competition style motor. Great bike for the forest. Stay away from the old drum brake stuff unless that's your thing. Bikes like the DR and XT will do big miles if they are well maintained but they are not the fastest. The fast stuff will require rebuilding on a regular basis. Like I always tell my wife-no such thing as a perfect bike, that's why I need several! Buy the KTM for the bush and the big XT for the road.

[petegl58]

I agree about deciding about intended use.
There is a great range of adventure bikes and varying capabilities.
Some are more road oriented some more trail.
If you have a good riding skill set i.e. you are capable of riding trail bikes on real trails the decision will be easier.
I started on a 78 Honda XL500s and moved to a 99 DR650 Se ( 14 years now). My DR eats road miles and handles most gnarly trails. It doesn't have plastic body work to break when the handlebars touch the ground . . . and they will !
It will carry a pillion with discomfort. It was priced well. It is cheap to maintain and reliable.70km now.
I am not suggesting that this is THE bike, it has worked well for me. I also have a Yamaha WR 250 F for real trails.
An R80 is an old bike now and will need constant fettling to keep reliable.
There are lots of Adv of varying price and hence sophistication.
Go out and ride a few. Get a test track and try them on this. If people or dealers want to sell, they will help with this.
If you lack offroad skill , seek coaching. It can only serve you well.
Skills required , riding standing up, feet on the pegs all the time, uphill and down hill riding, river crossing technique.
Good luck

[clint640]

Of that stuff on TM, I'd go for the TTR250. They are one of the higher performance old skool 250 trail bikes, not too heavy, not too high maintenance, ok suspension & brakes. Will get over to Coromandel happily while still being fun on a trail ride.

After some riding it may turn out that you want something more offroad focussed, or more touring oriented, but the TTR would do everything ok & would be especially good to get started on if your offroad skills are a bit rusty, heavier bikes aren't fun in the sand or trails unless you are on your game.

Cheers
Clint

[Oscar]

Hey Kiwi bikers, bit of an advice thread this one.

I am in the market for a adventure dirt bike kind of thing. I had my eyes on that R80 G/S before it was listed on trade me but decided against it.
I was a bit worried about the weight and think that i would be after something more trail bike biased. My trade me watch list is getting out of hand with bikes!

Looking for something that is street legal but would still handle a good time down at Woodhill or Muriwai beach and that would get me out there or over to Coromandel or further if I desire.

I had old XR100 as a kid on my parents farm and loved that and it went forever! I thought a road legal XR400 or something would be the ticket.

I have had a couple of road legal XR400's and they are very suitable with a coupla modifications (countershaft sprocket, that sorta thing).
On the same theme, a DRZ400EK (that's the road legal enduro one, as opposed to the DRZ400S) might be worth a look.

[Gremlin]

An R80G/S is not what you're really after if you're talking Woodhill, trails etc. Sure, it can do it, but you had better be on your game.

Which are you going to do more... trails or road. Either can do the other, but if you're doing a little road to get to the trail, then you want something more trail biased as that's where you're having fun. Or vice versa...

The 250s are going to be better for the trail stuff, but then possibly boring as hell on the road... fit for purpose and all that.

[Padmei]

I agree with Oscar. A drz400 (or KLX400 - same bike different colours) would be be a good bet. They play well but are bit of a bugger on longer rides. You have to search for a road legal one tho.
In saying that KLRs can do anything - & in style

You do know that once you buy your bike (whatever one you want) you will be looking for a second bike to do the things your first bike won't do.

[R650R]

The DR650 is the jack of all trades adventure bike, buy the right one and you wont lose any $$$$ if you switch to something else later.

[Nacnud12]

Awesome thanks for all the comments and info!

I think the riding I do will be a bit more off road and trail orientated.

I am pretty used to nasty seats, last month I rode my 64 Lambretta on a 1600km round trip to Cape Reinga and back ha! It just went numb.
Reading up on the KTMs they do sound a lot more maintenance heavy, which I am totally ok with dealing with my self but the Kwakas, Yamaha's etc do sound like more trouble free riding.

I really want to improve my off road skills, which would take a bit of change from my current on road skills. Would the TTR250s sit at 100-110km on the open road ok? Don't want to be straining it too much.

Starting to get pretty interested in the DRZ400 or Kawasaki equivalent. Just not sure if I will find one in my $4000ish budget…
This DR650 looks like a good buy, just worried it will be a bit heavy for trail riding for me http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-742662483.htm

[SE950]

ktms are ready to ride, and yes they do need loving, drz400 hard to bet, xr650 would be the best if it had starter motor, a 250 would be the bike to start on, it will help your through those hard parts, make sure swing arm, head set, disks, suspension are in good con, these could cost you good money, chain, sprockets, tyres, brake pads are part of owning a bike, as other posts have said two bikes are the go. all bikes brands fail, if not looked after.

[clint640]

Reading up on the KTMs they do sound a lot more maintenance heavy,

It's not a KTM thing, more a lightweight enduro/MX racebike thing. That 250EXC will be no more maintenance intensive than Yamaha's equivalent, the WR250-F. The difference is that Yamaha make a bunch of totally different 250's as well that are lower performance but don't need servicing every few hrs.

The TTR250 will do 100-110 ok but not much left for hills/headwinds/passing.

Cheers
Clint

[Nacnud12]

Hopefully having a go on a drz400 this weekend. More I look at them I think that or the ttr250 is they way to go.

A 2001 dzr400 has just popped up on trademe in Nelson. Doesn't seem much change in that year to the current year apart from graphics. Anything to look out for with them? Klx400 has also been listed in Christchurch but I think it will be over my budget by the time it gets to auckland.

[DR650gary]

Enjoy the search but I would suggest you limit the search to bikes you can actually go and touch, in the nicest possible way. Even the best description will not be perfect.

As it is your first adventure bike you need to know what the fit and feel is IMHO.

Good luck and try to ride a few.

Cheers

[Padmei]

I would actually pretty much jump at that DRZ in Nelson. There don't come many in that price range & if you got a safaritank you'd be set.

Have you checked out Thumpertalk? All you need to know about DRZ's is in there. I think the only thing that may be a problem is the stator shits itself - I think.
I had a KLX that was tweaked & it had way more grunt than I could use offroad - way more than the 350. Unfortunately they didn't include a 6 speed box with the 400 otherwise it would be one of the best adv/trail bikes for your money.

[pete-blen]

Of that stuff on TM, I'd go for the TTR250. They are one of the higher performance old skool 250 trail bikes, not too heavy, not too high maintenance, ok suspension & brakes. Will get over to Coromandel happily while still being fun on a trail ride.

After some riding it may turn out that you want something more offroad focussed, or more touring oriented, but the TTR would do everything ok & would be especially good to get started on if your offroad skills are a bit rusty, heavier bikes aren't fun in the sand or trails unless you are on your game.

Cheers
Clint

if you look at a TTR250... listen for a clunk when the motor is shut down...
it's a tell tail that the starter gears are soon to go.... is about the only
falt with the TTR...