New to anything offroad

[colsan1]

Also posted in Dual purpose section

Hi all, i've only been in NZ for a year and already, in that short time, i've decided the roads here are not for me.
I've been riding for around 30 years and i dont want to give it up because i've now got rid of the road bike.
I was thinking of looking at a dual purpose bike, something like a dr250/350, klx/klr250 maybe a kdx200 if i can find a road legal one at a good price.
I'd be interested to hear more experianced riders thioughts on what would be a suitable bike for a relative off road novice.
I've had an xr400 in the past but didnt like the fact that it was kick start only and i found it a bit to much of a hand full when things got a little slippery.
I know the kdx is kick only but strokers are a lot easier than an XR.
My other concern is where to ride. In the UK there were ROW's and green lanes that i could use and these were all clearly shown on any decent map.
I live in Cambridge and am surrounded by hills and forests yet as far as i can tell its all someones land and i'm guessing i wouldnt be allowed to ride on it.
So the question is if i want to ride out somewhere, do a little green lane stuff and generally mess about off road without travelling for hours to get there where can/could i ride.
I dont meen the organised trail rides, or just gravel roads but places where i can ride to get offroad and bugger about for a bit then ride home.
Forest trails or trails that lead from A to B not just going to a circuit and going round and round

[Rupe]

Also posted in Dual purpose section

Hi all, i've only been in NZ for a year and already, in that short time, i've decided the roads here are not for me.
I've been riding for around 30 years and i dont want to give it up because i've now got rid of the road bike.
I was thinking of looking at a dual purpose bike, something like a dr250/350, klx/klr250 maybe a kdx200 if i can find a road legal one at a good price.
I'd be interested to hear more experianced riders thioughts on what would be a suitable bike for a relative off road novice.
I've had an xr400 in the past but didnt like the fact that it was kick start only and i found it a bit to much of a hand full when things got a little slippery.
I know the kdx is kick only but strokers are a lot easier than an XR.
My other concern is where to ride. In the UK there were ROW's and green lanes that i could use and these were all clearly shown on any decent map.
I live in Cambridge and am surrounded by hills and forests yet as far as i can tell its all someones land and i'm guessing i wouldnt be allowed to ride on it.
So the question is if i want to ride out somewhere, do a little green lane stuff and generally mess about off road without travelling for hours to get there where can/could i ride.
I dont meen the organised trail rides, or just gravel roads but places where i can ride to get offroad and bugger about for a bit then ride home.
Forest trails or trails that lead from A to B not just going to a circuit and going round and round

Don't really have grren lanes as such here.

This has most of the trail rides on http://silver-bullet.co.nz/events.php
but there are quite a few more spots around the area to ride.

You can't rego a KDX, and the other bikes are quite old. Most duel purpose bikes are shit house off road.

[courts]

Don't really have grren lanes as such here.

This has most of the trail rides on http://silver-bullet.co.nz/events.php
but there are quite a few more spots around the area to ride.

You can't rego a KDX, and the other bikes are quite old. Most duel purpose bikes are shit house off road.

agreed on that. most duel purpose tyres are of a flattish nature with a few grooves cut out of them which do f/a for grip..
I have owned road legal dirtbikes in the past and found that they will give you a scare both on and off the road and wouldnt own one again im afraid.
On the road it is shit because of the suspension , ride height and position and less rubber on the road than your usual tyre.
off road the bike just wont be able to go where you want with a duel purpose tyre.
add to this the fact that most duelers weigh a lot and if you drop it you will snap off your indicators etc it just doesnt add up.
I think you need to choose one or the other.

[tommorth]

sadly the type of rideing you want to do doesn't really exist here I wish it did.
riding in th emost of the forestry here is illegal and may get you run off the trails by a forestry type person it also make it hard for the people who organis ethe rides we have to get permision.

think there is a permit system in operation to acces the forests down toward welllington where a few people from here post but don't know the details am sure they will post though.

It never hurts to ask if you can ride on someones land though as lots of people a dirt bike fans even if they don't have a bike my neigbours when i was a kid had noproblem at all with me ripping around there orchard everyday after school said it reminded them of there kids

[kezzafish]

there are places alll over the place for this kinda riding ya just gotta get the local knowledge. PM daffydroberts of caveweta, they'll know of stuff in your area. There's heaps of gravel roads so just go exploring using google maps, it's the best way to see the country... sounds like fun and i'd join ya if i had the cash for a suitable bike.

I used to take off on road trips around the wellington/wairarapa/horophenua region on my motard (road tyres) but got up some pretty cool stuff but mostly gravel roads and it was way more predictable on the tar than dualsports.

the stuff i know of is kinda at extremes of what you're after ie. slightly less exciting gravel roads or a bit on the extreme side. And that's because i'm more interested in the more challenging gnarly shit. But theres plenty of famous trails that are accessable all year like the 42nd traverse... the guys in the adventure section will be able to fill you in on plenty more i'm sure. There's a wonderland of you're type of riding down south

[colsan1]

Cheers guys.
Onto the next question.
The only off road stuff i've ever done was poottling around on real easy trails in the uk on an xr400.
The bike was great for what i needed but i didnt like the lack of a leccy start.
So bearing in mind i'm a novice what bikes would you suggest if
i decided to go completely off road and not dual purpose.
I dont want to be getting something that is 100 times better than i am
and i dont really want anything to high maintainance.
Thats why i was thinking kdx200, klx250/300, DR250/350,Maybe even another XR .
I'm on a budget of around 4k so i'm happy to go for something older.
I think the Current crop of bikes would be wasted on me and TBH would probably scare the shit out of me.

[Buddy L]

I would say try and find your self a nice road legal WR250 or WR450. And make up quick relase options for the Lights and Number plate.
Electric start and still a full on trail bike, which can go on the road.

[colsan1]

I would say try and find your self a nice road legal WR250 or WR450. And make up quick relase options for the Lights and Number plate.
Electric start and still a full on trail bike, which can go on the road.

What for 4k or less. I've been trawling trade me and other sites for a while and havent come accross a wR for anything near the
amount of money i've got to spend.

[Crisis management]

With your budget go and buy the DR350 on trade me in Hamilton? (anyway somewhere close to you) for under 3k. Ride this on the road and on suitable trail rides for a year and then decide what you want to do next, the 350 is ok for both uses but not ideal for either.
A solid, older bike is what your budget allows you to get, you won't get a later model bike that is worth owning for 4k.

Go and buy that bike, now!

[kezzafish]

With your budget go and buy the DR350 on trade me in Hamilton? (anyway somewhere close to you) for under 3k. Ride this on the road and on suitable trail rides for a year and then decide what you want to do next, the 350 is ok for both uses but not ideal for either.
A solid, older bike is what your budget allows you to get, you won't get a later model bike that is worth owning for 4k.

Go and buy that bike, now!

not saying you're wrong but just wondering why a dr350 over a DRZ 400? you could get an elec start one of them for under 4g

[Crisis management]

not saying you're wrong but just wondering why a dr350 over a DRZ 400? you could get an elec start one of them for under 4g

You're right but I don't see any road registered 400s on tarde me at present for under 4k, the 350 provides a ready and local solution to his problem.

Iain

[kezzafish]

ah ok. just wondering 'cos i've seen a few people suggest 350s without mention of the 400. But that's a fair enough reason. I personally wouldn't go for the 350 as it's heavier and slower. try to find a 400. they're bullet proof, parts are cheap and redily available and there's enough boogie for juants on the road. all this can be said of the 350 of course but i recon the 400 is more capable offroad and it's water cooled.

If you were gonna buy something stricktly for offroad you'd be better off with a 250 4T or a smoker

pushing past your price limit i know... as crisis pointed out... (i didn't realise till looking now) It seems hard to find road regd ones. There's heaps down south but again, not many with road kits
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-230270067.htm

[kezzafish]

damn. ya got me looking at bikes now... bastards

No elec satrt and you'll wanna find out what's involved in getting it on the road but it comes with the kit

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-227665363.htm

[Bradz]

damn. ya got me looking at bikes now... bastards

No elec satrt and you'll wanna find out what's involved in getting it on the road but it comes with the kit

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-227665363.htm

thats the bike to get, road kit and all... and under 4K bargin..

[kezzafish]

this is gonna go well beyond you're price range but will be interesting to see for reference

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-233921071.htm