Which bike? DRZ400-KLX400-WR450

[clint640]

There's a few guys on here with WR450's. They don't bring them on Adv rides. There are also a few guys with DRZ400's. They do bring them on Adv rides.

Cheers
Clint

[scorry]

I would go for the WR if you do any serious off roading, only cos its got a kick start and electric start.
if you drown them in water and the magic button doesnt work, the kick start is always there.
i am a bit biased tho, having never owned a drz or klx.
i have ridden a klx450 which went pretty good, had both starts too
if you drown them in water and the magic button doesnt work, the kick start is always there.

[CrazyFrog]

As far as bang for your buck goes, you can't really go past a DRZ400. There's plenty of them on Tardme for under $5000, just look for one with lowish use and any extra's offered. I recently bought one for $3500, with all road bits, and Pro Circuit exhaust, real low km's. The motor is crisp and bearings are all sweet. After 800km riding on the trip back south, my arse was suffering, a gel seat would be a good investment. Also, if using on the road a lot, consider changing the sprockets to 15/44 for longer legs over 100 kmph, as the standard 14/47 seems fairly low geared, better for dirt use.
By all accounts, the WR's are way better offroad (mainly suspension and general set up), I can imagine they'd be torture racks on longer road trips like the DRZ. Have fun shopping!

[Mystic13]

Thanks guys, I'm torn between the two and can get botjh of them at a reasonable price.

I known what you mean about the DRZ. You see plenty of them for sale and set up as adventure bikes. Ihaven't seen one 450 set up as an adventure bike. The DRZ does have the lower entry point and often you can get those extra's that you'd buy.

It sounds like they're both reliable. So no comments on the KTM thrown up earlier on. Sounds like Suzuki may be the go.

I'll start looking and keep checking in here.

Thanks.

[MXNUT]

Everything that has been said about the DRZ400 in this thread so far is correct, the only thing i would add is that the WR450 is a higher performance motor and is not made to do a lot of kms.It will require a lot more maintenance and will not last as long.

DRZ400 = better adventure bike
WR450 = better trail bike

The seat is crap on both of them

[Mystic13]

Thanks Motoxnut. So the Yamaha is off the lsit then.

I'm fine with the seats. Not the most comfortable but I can handle it for the day.

Any thoughts on the KTM and other brands. It sounds like the Suzuki is what I'm after. Other than the KTM I see someone with a Husaberg in antoher thread. I guess I want something I know I can get bits for easily.

Cheers

[MXNUT]

Any thoughts on the KTM and other brands.

The only KTM that would be suitable is the 640,and this would be outside your price range, same with the Husky 610.

DRZ/KLX 400 is the best bet for the $

[warewolf]

So the Yamaha is off the lsit then.
...
Any thoughts on the KTM and other brands. It sounds like the Suzuki is what I'm after. Other than the KTM I see someone with a Husaberg in antoher thread. I guess I want something I know I can get bits for easily.

Expanding on what motoxnut said, the KTMs are more performance-oriented than the Yamaha, except for the LC4 series which is more laid back (for KTM, but still a performer). You can pick them up around the $5K mark occasionally. Reliability is fine, the LC4s are trail bikes with a very long model run rather than enduro weapons, much like the DR/DR-Z is... but are at the high end of that group. There are some LC4 400s around, the 640 was not the only size available but by far the most common.

Husaberg is now owned by KTM and they have started making some of the ancilliaries common. It is considered a development platform/boutique brand by KTM. I wouldn't expect parts to be a problem, given they are a fairly long-standing Euro brand. They are right up there in the high-end performance and quirkiness for an mx/enduro bike.

If you are dismissing the Yamaha for being too highly-strung, then you shouldn't be considering any of the Euro bikes that are even more highly-strung.

[marks]

There's a few guys on here with WR450's. They don't bring them on Adv rides.

the novelty of anal bleeding wears off quickly

[YAMASAKI]

I've got a KTM 520 exc and I've got to agree with whats been said already... they are a great bike but not really that good for adventure riding, the recommended service intervals(oil, filters, valve clearances) would be crippling. but they are a shite load of fun for trail and motard use.
my vote would go to the DRZ, closely followed by the WR, or if you've got the cash the (slightly less highly strung) KTM LC4.

[Tony W]

The DR-Z400: Very reliable; 32,000 km, oil & filter changes every 6000km,
1 set front pads, 2 chains, 1 set sprockets, tyres. That's it.
They tell me I should get a new sparkplug !
Economy: 26 km per litre.
Seat: Sweet as, I've done 800km in 13 hours.
Speed: 171 km/h 'indicated', wind assisted !!!
Big tank: US$ 195
It's hard to go wrong...

[Crisis management]

the novelty of anal bleeding wears off quickly

You going to try and blame that on the WR again??????





HTFU.

[Ruralman]

I agree with the comments about the DRZ/KLX and the comments about service intervals and length of time between top end rebuilds (longevity) for the WR and the KTM's (excepting the LC4)
The one other bike you should also consider is a road legal Honda XR400 - there are a few around and there was one on T'me recently and its probably in your price range.
The one plus of the Hinda over the DRZ is as a trail bike - especially in the tight stuff. The DRZ is both tall and also quite top heavy and they can feel like a fat pig when you get things wrong in a tight spot. The Honda isn't water cooled and its maybe the lack of all the radiator stuff that means it feels lighter. I'm not sure whether these road legal XR400's have electric start

There was a comment about XR650's earlier - occasionally there is an XR650L model on Trademe or elsewhere (around 1998) - these are electric start and usually sell pretty reasonably. I have sat on one of these and laid it down on both sides to see how heavy it felt and I was amazed how light it felt - the DRZ would have been more of an effort to do that with

good luck
Bruce

[marks]

You going to try and blame that on the WR again??????

I was trying to protect your reputation

[CRM]

The one other bike you should also consider is a road legal Honda XR400 - there are a few around and there was one on T'me recently and its probably in your price range.
The one plus of the Hinda over the DRZ is as a trail bike - especially in the tight stuff. The DRZ is both tall and also quite top heavy and they can feel like a fat pig when you get things wrong in a tight spot. The Honda isn't water cooled and its maybe the lack of all the radiator stuff that means it feels lighter. I'm not sure whether these road legal XR400's have electric start

There was a comment about XR650's earlier - occasionally there is an XR650L model on Trademe or elsewhere (around 1998) - these are electric start and usually sell pretty reasonably. I have sat on one of these and laid it down on both sides to see how heavy it felt and I was amazed how light it felt - the DRZ would have been more of an effort to do that with

good luck
Bruce

Yes totally agree - They say XR's are old technology but you can't go past them for rideability and reliability - only issue is kick start. (the only XR400 I've seen with E Start is a motard import at our local Honda dealer - they want about $9k for it but it's a cool bike).

I had a DRZ and have ridden an XR400 and was keen on that until an XR600 came up. Just find an XR400, 600 or 650 and have a go - masses of parts available and easy to work on plus more comfortable than DRZ.