Confuddled - this bike's a what now?

[SlowHand]

Hi guys, didnt think I'll venture into this sub forum this soon.

Infact, I don't know if this should be in here or the off road section. Which means to me, I'm fecked.

Here's the source of confuddlement.
I'm after a bike I can go trail riding most weekends, and have some fun on gravel roads, etc, getting it loose. I'm a complete noob when it comes to getting the rear more than an inch sideways.

I realise I can't ride it on road much if my crashing is spectacularly good, but want to commute on it when its available, and ride it to the trail. And (this is the why-has-no-one-made-the-parfick-boik part) do some road rides. 22, coro etc. Although, this is 1 part I'll sacrifice, for ease of learning to ride on trail.

From the research I really want a DT230/CRM250/RMX250 type 2smokers, but am somewhat put off by the watercooled-ness, if I puncture the rad or similar. Spose a DRZ400 is same, but not convinced thats what I need.

Is an XR250/DR250/TTR250 what I'm reduced to?

Any advice, including where I'd find out more about all this dirt stuff would be much appreciated.

[xwhatsit]

Ask Leong about his DRZ250. He's from the world of GSXRs too. I understand he hasn't given it much offroad grief yet but it seemed to do well on the road down to Kaiaua on Monday. He could still walk afterwards, too.

[cynna]

i think the radiators are built to take the knocks so i wouldnt let that put you off

my dr350 has done everything i have wanted it to. havent done as much off road riding as i would like tho

[awayatc]

don't worry to much about radiator, is well protected....If you do al ot of flogging in the dirt you realy want to be liquid cooled..(full load at low speed is hard to cool with air only....)
2 strokes are a lot faster, and way more fun. Quite simple mechanics as well, only replace rings and or piston after a while. Crm and rmx are civilised RM and CR s with heavier flywheel and roadgear, don't quite rev as high as dirt versions and your pistons last a lot longer......
XR etc are bulletproof and very user friendly, but more for trail commute then pure dirt....Test ride a few and pick what you like.....Have a look at gas gas pampera to
Good luck:

(I''d go 2 stroke........)

[clint640]

I wouldn't get too worried about the water cooled bikes, it's all you'll get with most modern trail bikes anyway, although an XR400 may be a good option from the age of the fin. If you're looking at CRMs & RMXs also check out the KTM 250 & 300 EXC, & Gas Gas EC's, although the 300s are a bit animal for a learner. As above the Pampera sounds like a great bike for ya, but they're not common & people want huge money for em like any road legal 250.

A set of radiator guard/braces & some solid handguards will prevent a lot of damage.

What's going to suit you depends on your height & weight a bit too - many dirt bikes are scarily tall for an average size person to learn on. For a total dirt n00b whos main focus is going to be trail rides I'd suggest getting something really small & light & crashable to start with - my personal faves are the 2 stroke 200s: KTM, Kawasaki or Gas Gas. Then once you've got some skillz, upgrade to something road legal & gruntier.

Cheers
Clint

[marks]

wots your budget?

[Crisis management]

Not enough information......if your trying to do all things with it, road, gravel and off road then there are a lot of compromises required. Clint's right about bikes and sizing for off road, I tried taking the DR650 off road and provided a shit load of entertainment for others!
I assume your Auckland based, if so, flick me a Pm and we could meet and talk thru the whole adventure / dirt bike compromise. Otherwise keep posting but give us a bit more info, budget, how much road use, how much off road, are you keeping the road bike etc?

Iain

[SlowHand]

I knew I'd forget something. Ha.

Budget's about 5-6k max, but would rather a cheapie that I dont mind getting familiar with. Ahem.

I've taken a drz250 for a spin on the road, but didnt get much in the way of ideas from that. Loooooove the stinkwheels, so would be quite keen to go that way.

I guess it'd need to communt about 20k each way 5days a week. I live near Kumeu in Auck, and will to going to tec this year, hence the 'downgrade'. But I want to ride to the local trails, and everynow and then to the beach. Offroad and dirt is equally important to me, road less so.

I need to learn the whole art of dirt bike maintenance too, on this bike.

Crisis Management, thanks for the offer. I'll send you a PM shortly.

[marks]

youve already picked the best candidates - DT230/CRM250/RMX250

dt230 - most road/gravel/adventure suited - mediocre trail bike.

crm250 - maybe best all rounder - later ones where a bit "out there" technically (Honda's attempted to make a 2 stroke behave like a 4 stroke).

rmx - best trail bike?

maybe consider a gas-gas pampara 250?

the tough part will be finding a good one - they are all pretty rare - especially in good condition and road legal.



cheers

Mark

[CRM]

There was a Pampera on Trade Me last week - a 2005 road legal for $4250 but it got snapped up pretty quick by the looks. There is one down south with a dealer also on Trade Me but it's not road legal.

My Pamp is a load of fun. I've just put some trials tyres on it for riding out to the beach etc over the summer. You can do most things on it - they even use them in Enduros because they are so light and simple. Being a trials motor it's really easy to ride but will go anywhere off road - and suprisingly quick off road without being a highly stressed motor. It will pull 100k on the road with standard gearing but with the knobs it wiggles a bit - haven't tried it at speed with the trials tyres but I expect it will be a lot better. Not really anything else out there like it - about the size of a Yam TT230 or CRF230 but road legal, lighter, better handling and more power.