What is a good 'dual purpose' bike?

**pervert** · 3rd January 2007, 13:50

What are some good 'dual purpose' style bikes?

I've decided I'm not into sport bikes or cruisers at all, but I have always loved riding dirt bikes...they are just so much more fun to ride...even on seal...

I want one that I can ride on the road now...it probably won't go off road, and I will most likely fit full road tyres anyway because I love the supermoto look.

Would be looking to spend up to $5000, and nothing over 400 odd cc's, I don't want an XR600 or any big tank like that.

The XR250 is the obvious choice, but I want something with a bit more balls, something that can power wheelie at least...

What are some other options and opinions on them?

**Motu** · 3rd January 2007, 14:45

If you want power under 400cc you will need a 2 stroke - CRM250,RMX250 and DT230 will give you enough power to see off any 400cc 4 stroke.The DT230 is the most street worthy,it's a 40hp bike so packs a good punch for it's size...and the CRM makes it look weak.The Euro 2 strokes are more dirt biased and pre mix,bit of a hassle for street use.Gas Gas do a nice light 400cc 4 stroke motard,but could be hard to find down your way.A KLX300 with a road kit would be my next option,they are hard to find road kitted and it costs about $1000 to get them on the road.

**ZeroIndex** · 3rd January 2007, 14:49

PM Wolf about his Yamaha XT225, apparantly that's a really good little bike...

**pervert** · 3rd January 2007, 14:58

Originally Posted by Motu

A KLX300 with a road kit would be my next option,they are hard to find road kitted and it costs about $1000 to get them on the road.

This was one I thought of...are they nice bikes?

2 stroke doesn't really interest me, I'd rather ride the bike than fix it, which is why the Honda's appeal.

I rode a KTM 250 dirt bike over Xmas that was a 4 stroke, didn't have a really good yarn with the guy so don't know the exact model (it was quite new), but fuck did it move for a 4 stroke 250, it wouldn't keep the front on the ground in 1st and 2nd!!! I thought there might be some similar powered options without splashing out on a KTM...

**Motu** · 3rd January 2007, 16:04

Don't worry about the reliability of 2 strokes,they have been well sorted for years....although Ghost Lemur and myself are both pulling ours apart.It's not so much keeping the front down as keeping the rear planted that worries me on the DT230 - last thing you want is one of these things stepping out and hooking up again on seal...that's where my thoughts are directed.Apart from a KTM the KLX300 would be the best option for a water cooled 4 stroke on the road...otherwise go to the aircooled ones.

**Ruralman** · 3rd January 2007, 20:34

I think you are underestimating the hassle of getting a KLX300 made road legal as the importers have never done it for this bike - ironically they did make its predecessor the KLX 250 in road legal versions.
The KTM you rode may well go like hell - all the new high revving 4 strokes do including the Yamaha WR250, Honda CRF250 etc. The issue with these is whether you are prepared to do the high maintenance required to keep them going (eg oil changes every 10 hrs) and regular top end rebuilds etc.
If you aren't interested in 2 strokes then the obvious choice to me is a DRZ400 which you can get in road legal form - although to get one for under 5 grand will take some searching. It is at the top of your cc limit but will do all you ask for, the engines are well proven and relatively low maintenance, comfort seats are available and a motard version is sold new so motard bits should be available if you want to go that way in the future.
The KLX 300 is a good honest workhorse, and it will certainly pull a wheelie but if what you want is a power wheelie without a lot of body transfer work form the rider then it will disappoint.

**F5 Dave** · 4th January 2007, 08:50

Originally Posted by pervert

2 stroke doesn't really interest me, I'd rather ride the bike than fix it, ...

Bwaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahaha hahaha[breath]

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahaha . . .

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahah a. . .

[sigh, sigh]
stop it you're killin' me.

- Hey how about you get a modern hi revvin 4 stroke like that KTM or maybe Honda CRF, set it up on the road & then come back in a month & we can all have another laugh about how 2 strokes are so unreliable.

**pervert** · 4th January 2007, 08:56

Originally Posted by F5 Dave

Bwaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahaha hahaha[breath]

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahaha . . .

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahah a. . .

[sigh, sigh]
stop it you're killin' me.

- Hey how about you get a modern hi revvin 4 stroke like that KTM or maybe Honda CRF, set it up on the road & then come back in a month & we can all have another laugh about how 2 strokes are so unreliable.

I think your 'h' and 'a' keys could be sticking, your keyboard must be unreliable too...

**Crisis management** · 4th January 2007, 09:36

Buy a DR, you can't kill them, don't need to maintain them and they just keep going...anywhere.
They aren't flash or high performance (the 400 tries..) but you get a lot of versatility.

And of course they are SUZUKI'S! The epitome of taste!

**Henk** · 4th January 2007, 23:15

Strangely enough there are quite a few off road types moving back to 2 strokes because they are less maintenance than a 4 stroke.
And yes the new 250 KTM 4 banger goes like stink. But there is a price to pay for a small engine with that many moving parts and that much power.
All the 2 stroke non pre mix road legal options are getting a bit long in the tooth though.
Buy a DRZ400.