Disappointed with my DRZ - where next?

[marks]

Well I did swap for a Gas Gas Pampera 250.

have you had a chance to try it on tight trails yet???

I would be interested in hearing how you compare it to the drz.

cheers


Mark

[CRM]

have you had a chance to try it on tight trails yet???

I would be interested in hearing how you compare it to the drz.

cheers


Mark

Just in the river bed at Ashhurst so far but I'm doing a trail ride at Purua (Whangarei) in the weekend (if the rain ever stops!). So far it feels fantastic - very stable and confidence inspiring. The hydraulic clutch is great - masses of control. It reminds me why I like riding so much - the ability to use a bike to explore almost anywhere rather than just tear up the terrain. Not that it's slow though - I suspect in most conditions off road it will have more usable power than a larger or more sudden bike and it will pull hard and smooth from low revs so is great for climbing out of stuff where most bikes just spin and dig in. Roll on the weekend!

[CRM]

Orange and black one?
My first brandspankingnew store-bought bike.
Loved it, most forgiving ride I think I've ever owned. Needed to be.



Good choice, enjoy, and good luck.

Yeah it was an orange and black one - '74 I think. I sold it to my brother-in-law and bought a CB400F when I went to University but ended up getting a car instead and bought the XL175 back. I just rode it - didn't know what maintenance was in those days! My favourite bike too.

[Ocean1]

Yeah it was an orange and black one - '74 I think. I sold it to my brother-in-law and bought a CB400F when I went to University but ended up getting a car instead and bought the XL175 back. I just rode it - didn't know what maintenance was in those days! My favourite bike too.

Think I owned the first one in Wgtn. Rode it as delivered for almost a year, but all my mates were riding tweaked TS185s and DT175s, so I had to do something about that. I bored it, bumped compression, ported it and changed to a Keihin pumper, (early 28mm FCR iirc). Made a new high pipe and muffler (megaphone no less) and reground the cam to spec's copied from a yosh item.

Must have made Ooohh 24hp but it'd keep up with most 250s.
Did all the business at 10500 rpm though, even carefuly ballanced a piston didn't last long, I got real good at changing them. Good engine, an orphan though, they never used it for anything else.

Wish I had some pic's, but an ex stole 'em all.

[CRM]

have you had a chance to try it on tight trails yet???

I would be interested in hearing how you compare it to the drz.

cheers


Mark

I took the Pamp out on the farm Saturday and it started doing this weird starving and bogging thing, then left at idle it would build up revs without touching it and then scream until I managed to stall it (kill switch didn't seem to stop it but I think that was just me panicking). I pulled the carb apart when I got home and that seemed to fix it but I haven't got the settings right yet - running a bit rich I think. Does anyone know how to set up these Dell'Orto carbs? I did some research and apparently this is a common quirk with them.

I did the Purua ride yesterday and apart from the carb not being quite right the Pamp went great. Nice being able to do 'trials-style' river crossings with the low first gear and the great low end torque. It just sticks like glue on slippery clay banks - just fantastic in tight situations. There is quite a gap from second to first gear which sometimes is awkward. For most situations it's best to stay out of first unless you are starting in mud or negotiating trials type terrain.

It feels super-light - like a 125. I was actually surprised by the power when you open it up - I heard they were lacking in the top end but it had more than enough thrills for me - lifting the front easily and breaking out the rear on sweeping corners. The suspension is shorter than the DRZ of course but whats there is works very well - I still don't do fast muddy ruts but that's probably just my lack of skill; and courage. I really don't miss the DRZ - for an old guy like me the Pamp is perfect.

Unfortunately I let a bit much air out of the back tyre for traction in the mud and about 20km into the ride I stripped out the valve (it has one rim lock but there are limits I guess!) A friendly farmer took me out on his ute. Apart from that a good first 'proper' ride.

[limbimtimwim]

I took the Pamp out on the farm Saturday and it started doing this weird starving and bogging thing, then left at idle it would build up revs without touching it and then scream until I managed to stall it (kill switch didn't seem to stop it but I think that was just me panicking).

Engines will do that if things are very lean.

Otherwise sticking throttle?

[CRM]

Just to compare the Pamp with the DRZ400 and a WR250 - I took an 06 WR250 out for a couple of hours and it's still way heavier than the Pamp, but certainly easier in tight stuff than the DRZ400. Actually was a lot of fun - I found the suspension better than the DRZ and usable power for trail riding just as good as the DRZ. But going through some serious uncharted bush and getting sideways up a snotty hill had me wishing for the Pamp. I think for a lot of it (the tight stuff) I could have got around as well if not better on the Pamp, but the WR suspension is definately superior at speed on the rough stuff (specially downhill). The Pamp being a 2 stroke just feels really nimble and light compared to the WR.

[marks]

the WR suspension is definately superior at speed on the rough stuff (specially downhill).

I have never ridden a bike like the WR that just soaks up all the bumps and keeps going straight and true - its awesome at speed.

The Pamp being a 2 stroke just feels really nimble and light compared to the WR.

My son has a DT230 that weighs more than my WR450 but feels way lighter when riding it - you simply can't beat the feel of a 2 stroke in the really knarly stuff.