Thoughts on a suitable small bike

[young1]

I am looking at doing a trip at Xmas time, maybe down South on my 990. I would like my son to come along on a bike also. He has had lots of experience on bikes off road (RM85, KDX 200 etc) but does not have a license to ride on road yet. This means he needs a 250.

Are there 250s out there that would be suitable for maybe a 10 day trip, sitting on 110km hr on the open road, that wouldnt cost me a packet?

Do they have the range to do a trip like this? Would like to go through Molesworth Station etc

Does anyone hire 250 bikes like this.

Also I have a 2005 KDX200 for sale, excellent condition, if you want more details PM me.

mike

[sunhuntin]

ive got a virago 250. took it from wangas to invercargill and back last year without a hitch, and will be doing the same next month as well. that first trip, id only just got the bike so was twitchy and stayed at about 80k. since then, ive learned she will happily go 130k, so will be travelling a bit faster this year. last years trip was 11 days, and this years will be 14.

[marks]

DT230 is ideal

Could drag off my 660 and sit at 110km as well as any small light bike.

There was one on trademe a few weeks ago for $3800 ono

there is also this one on trade me but he wants too much for it.

cheers


Mark

[clint640]

As you're probably finding out, road legal 250's cost heaps. More so if they're dirt capable. If you want a reasonable level of dirt ability how about an XR250? They're good power wise for a 250 single & the 97 on R models are a good basic trailbike too. DRZ250's are similar. A DT230 would be another option, as would a Gas Gas Pampera 250.

If you want a really cheap option how about a DT175? The young(er)1 would think it was a POS compared with his KDX though!

I hired a DR250 Gerbil for a trip when I first got into adv riding, but that company has closed down.

Cheers
Clint

[young1]

DT230 is ideal

Could drag off my 660 and sit at 110km as well as any small light bike.

There was one on trademe a few weeks ago for $3800 ono

there is also this one on trade me but he wants too much for it.

cheers


Mark

Thanks Mark, did you have any luggge on the 230? I was really thinking of a 4 stroke as i hadnt considered 2 strokes. This is all just a thought for now but I am looking at options etc.

Trouble I have with him is that he does not like being on the back, he likes to be in control (I cant say that I blame him!)

[Transalper]

The DR250 Djebel is a great little bike, perfect for what you want, J has followed me about between Chch and Nelson over the Rainbow and Molsworth several times on one. Oil cooled and their stock 17 litre tank helps. Not that many of them about, cost up to $5000 in a shop or around $3500 to $3800 in good condition private sale.

If it's just the Molseworth then any thing will do, road bikes go through there all the time, but if you go else where a little more rugged then it's back to street legal traily.

Hondas NX250 was a great duel sport too, bit like a mini Dominator, but only a 9 or 10 liter tank again.

Don't the 990 hold quite a bit of fuel, you could always take some from its tank when needed.

[marks]

Thanks Mark, did you have any luggge on the 230? I was really thinking of a 4 stroke as i hadnt considered 2 strokes. This is all just a thought for now but I am looking at options etc.

Trouble I have with him is that he does not like being on the back, he likes to be in control (I cant say that I blame him!)

Only done day trips like Motu Rd and back as we had a car and trailer with us last time so no experience with how it would handle luggage. We figured out we could fit a large tank bag behind the rider but you would have to assume that the 990 would be the pack horse (and the source of all money.....).

cheers

MArk

[XF650]

Thanks Mark, did you have any luggge on the 230? I was really thinking of a 4 stroke as i hadnt considered 2 strokes. This is all just a thought for now but I am looking at options etc.

Trouble I have with him is that he does not like being on the back, he likes to be in control (I cant say that I blame him!)

Mate rode my DT230 to Brass Monkey with gear bag, back pack etc no problem. Extra weight didn't effect handling on gravel either. However the DT can be thirsty @ 110km/hr, so one of you would need to carry extra fuel.

A great 4 stroke option would be the Yam TTR250

[avgas]

DT230
SL230
XT225
GB250
KDX220
would be my pics

[Crisis management]

Zukin had a DR 250 he was trying to sell (I think) after the round NZ ride so you could try a PM to him.
I've ridden with a DR250 (he was two up) and they never had too much trouble keeping up, remember that on gravel we only average 60-km/hr (waits for barrage of nana comments) so little bikes will be fine.

[young1]

All good replies thanks. As I said just thinking about this at the moment, maybe 10 days away, as far south as Milford Sound?

Does anyone rent out bikes like this?

[marks]

However the DT can be thirsty @ 110km/hr, so one of you would need to carry extra fuel.

My sons DT230 uses the same amount of gas as our family wagon - a 3.5L Mitsi Diamante.....

[FlangMasterJ]

Check out this XR250: http://supermotard.co.nz/for-sale.html

Sorted

[Das Bruce]

The DR250 will do you well although you may want a sheepskin for the seat depending on how far you're going. I rode my old DR from Dunedin to Auckland in two days so you know they're a solid bike, only problem is the range is about 150km.

[scrubs]

If you can't get hold of the DR - I would highly Reccomend
an XR250 I put quite a few miles on one of them with 15 mates
all riding the same and non of them once let us down. solid little bikes.
very cabable in the dirt and enough (relative) poke to chug on the highway.