New to dual purpose/off road. A couple of questions

**Waihou Thumper** · 3rd August 2009, 13:52

This is from Japan, they all had a good time by the looks of it and some of the footage is very funny indeed.
Adventure riding is similar to this sometimes.....

We all have to start somewhere and imagine doing this with 180Kg bikes....

[youtube]XiG5CkLT_9o[/youtube]

**Eddieb** · 3rd August 2009, 14:09

Originally Posted by marks

at last

going to upgrade to a KLR?

Upgrade to a KLR

Oh dear, I think I spilt my drink on the keyboard. Thats the funniest thing I've heard in years.

Would making you sit behind a open piped 950SE be teasing too much Mark, deep down in your soul could you bear it? really??

It would almost be worth it to see the expression on your face

Anyway, way off topic. Yes there is good gravel riding to be had in the waikato.

**ttrkiwi** · 3rd August 2009, 14:15

Colsan mate look at a TTR 250. I have one and a great bike. Also you are not to far from Coromandel and great rodes all through there...

**andy mac** · 3rd August 2009, 18:00

Originally Posted by NZKTM

This is from Japan, they all had a good time by the looks of it and some of the footage is very funny indeed.
Adventure riding is similar to this sometimes.....

We all have to start somewhere and imagine doing this with 180Kg bikes....

[youtube]XiG5CkLT_9o[/youtube]

Thanks for the great youtube video, Mark.
I think you are suggesting the lighter the bike the better. I've had a stiff & sore back all weekend. Only realised today it was caused from lifting/dragging a 200kg bike out of the sand singlehanded on Thursday. Nothing else to blame.

**colsan1** · 3rd August 2009, 18:01

Ok can i ask for suggestions as to what would be a good bike.
I'm on a limited budget of around 4k.
Ideally i'd like a road legal bike as i dont want to give up road stuff completely.
Choices seem to be between
DR250 or 350
DRZ 400
XR 250 or 400
KLX 250 or bigger
Not sure if the KLR's are any good off road
I dont want anything thats gonna scare me to death ( i can always upgrade in the future)
I've though about getting an out and out off road bike (as above but not registered)
and trailering it to places but i feel i might be missing out on some gentle tootling along rides.
Thoughts and suggestions please.

**MXNUT** · 3rd August 2009, 18:12

Originally Posted by colsan1

Ok can i ask for suggestions as to what would be a good bike.
I'm on a limited budget of around 4k.
Ideally i'd like a road legal bike as i dont want to give up road stuff completely.
Choices seem to be between
DR250 or 350
DRZ 400
XR 250 or 400
KLX 250 or bigger

Thoughts and suggestions please.

For 4k your best bet would be a tidy low milage DR350 or may be a not quite so tidy DRZ400
Both still ok off road with reasonable cruising speed / distance / range when on road.

**bart** · 3rd August 2009, 18:46

Originally Posted by MXNUT

For 4k your best bet would be a tidy low milage DR350 or may be a not quite so tidy DRZ400
Both still ok off road with reasonable cruising speed / distance / range when on road.

I second that.

**marks** · 3rd August 2009, 19:29

Originally Posted by Eddieb

Would making you sit behind a open piped 950SE be teasing too much Mark, deep down in your soul could you bear it? really??

I've really thought hard about going to see that one in Wellington but the strife at home would be of cataclysmic proportions if I came home with it.

**buggsubique** · 3rd August 2009, 19:31

Third that. A 350 will give you more power and you shouldn't outgrow it too soon (plan to upgrade from a 250 after a year I reckon). 350 is aircooled and you won't be upset about dropping it with no radiators / plastics. Also 6 speed so less buzzy on the rd over a 5 spd DRZ400.

On the other hand, playing it safe, a dr 250 / DRz250 will provide a more gentle learning curve in the rough stuff but will bore you on the road.

**warewolf** · 3rd August 2009, 20:02

Originally Posted by buggsubique

On the other hand, playing it safe, a dr 250 / DRz250 will provide a more gentle learning curve in the rough stuff but will bore you on the road.

Only on the straight bits! Low-power bikes can be huge fun in the twisty stuff, and you can experiment with various techniques to hold your apex speed which are easily hidden by a brief throttle input on a bigger bike.

**fridayflash** · 3rd August 2009, 21:19

i fourth that...a dog rooter 350 is still a great bike despite its age and
a super comfy seat compared to the 400 ( for road jaunts )
i just watched that youtube vid..lmao! those poor japaneeeese
need to learn the standing attack position

**Woodman** · 3rd August 2009, 21:50

Originally Posted by marks

I've really thought hard about going to see that one in Wellington but the strife at home would be of cataclysmic proportions if I came home with it.

Going through the same issues, doing everything i can to put meself off it, but not doing a good job.

heavy .........So is KLR
Tyres ..........Don,t get knobblies
Unreliable .....Warewolf says ktms are reliable
break easy ...Won,t drop it
Too grunty....Impossibe

off topic but marks started it

**JATZ** · 3rd August 2009, 21:59

Originally Posted by Woodman

Going through the same issues, doing everything i can to put meself off it, but not doing a good job.

heavy .........So is KLR
Tyres ..........Don,t get knobblies
Unreliable .....Warewolf says ktms are reliable
break easy ...Won,t drop it
Too grunty....Impossibe

off topic but marks started it

Yeah get it woodman

you know you want to and you only live once
then I could have a weee go on one to see if one would suit me