What bike to buy?

[irsh]

Hi
i'm interested in changing from my Suzuki freewind to something a bit more offroad orientated to make use of some of the great terrain welly and nz has to offer .i would stick some knobblys on the freewind but it's far to shiny for that carry on and i wouldn't forgive my self if or WHEN i fell off !!
I'm a total noob to off roading (apart from the odd quad tour) but have been riding on road for about 10 years ..
I'm looking at going to a 400ish road legal trail bike that can be used (sometimes) as a commute and be ridden off road on the weekend or after work.
hope i don't start any fights here but what would you recommend as a good all rounder ?
so far iv'e been looking at these ,DRZ and KLX400, KTM 400exc, WR400, XR400 and so on !

oh and I'm looking at spending 5000 tops for a 2nd hand machine and would like to keep it above 98 .

would love to come out with some welly riders when i get sorted if you dont mind sharing your knowledge with an irish noob!!

[dino3310]

if ya think highly of the freewind you would not go wrong with the DR650, same donkey just more offroad oriented, theres a few good ones around for cheap... its still a buyers market.
good luck with choosing a bike, its a never ending debate, just demo ride as many as you can till you find the right one, and only you will know whats right for you.

[Eddieb]

+1 on the DR650. Very smiliar to what you have already obviously, capable of off road riding and still good for road trips. And for that money you should be able to get an early 2000's bike with money to spare to spend on goodies.

[Waihou Thumper]

Yep, for the money, I would definitely go that way. Zuki reliability, they will tractor along all day, and will take a camels load on the back too! I have seen them loaded to the gunwhales.....(Navy Term..)
Don't float though like ships, but will go through water nicely...I would certainly go down that road for that ball park figure!

[junkmanjoe]

yea same her . +1 on the dr650. i feel your 400cc choice, you my regret for the longer trips to the rides.
a naked dr650 is light and nimble, and a fuel range of around 220-230kms for the 12 liter tank.

in todays market, 5k will land a good late model bike.

a couple possible options

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-246372860.htm this one bang on your money...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-252360328.htm

talk to Bart as he used to own a DRZ400 and traded up to a dr650, im sure he be happy to chat to you.

be great to see you out and about,

JMJ

[topo]

How about my bike, 2nd only to a 690r and right on the money.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...p?p=1129648685



Even got some room for negotiation regarding the panniers.

[JATZ]

How about my bike, 2nd only to a 690r and right on the money.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...p?p=1129648685

removed image..... don't wanna get a smack

Even got some room for negotiation regarding the panniers.

That aint your bike ! ........ can't be..........hasn't looked like that in aaaaaages.

It is a good bike though Irish.

[warewolf]

I'm looking at going to a 400ish road legal trail bike that can be used (sometimes) as a commute and be ridden off road on the weekend or after work.

Sounds to me like you are wanting to do primarily off-road/trails with some road legal stuff thrown in. In that case, I would point you at the 400 class as you have been. I would only say DR650 if you wanted to do longer trips and struggle off-road.

For every reason the 650 is better on the road, the 400 will be better off-road. Take your pick.

[marks]

Sounds to me like you are wanting to do primarily off-road/trails with some road legal stuff thrown in. In that case, I would point you at the 400 class as you have been. I would only say DR650 if you wanted to do longer trips and struggle off-road.

For every reason the 650 is better on the road, the 400 will be better off-road. Take your pick.

wot this man said

there is an invisible line somewhere beween a drz400 and a dr650. ones a trail bike you can ride on the road and the others a road bike you can ride off road. neither does both things well - nothing does



take your pick

[bart]

Hard to say what you want. If you plan on doing <200km days with technical (ish) off road, the DRZ400 or similar is great. 300+km with mostly road (or gravel), you can't go past the DR650.

Total different beasts. Engine on the 650 has a lot more torque. 400 is way more nimble in the tighter stuff. The 400 seems to handle being dropped better. Close ratio gearbox is the only real downfall for the 400. 650 seems to thump away all day, and isn't quite as finicky as the 400.

If you're not planning on full on trail rides, that yellow one in Joe's post looks a good deal. If you want serious offroad stuff, that black KTM of Topo's looks real pretty.

[Gizzit]

As others have said, the DR650 is a great bike, and real good value for money. It is a compromise though, as are all dual sport bikes. The DRZ will definitely be better off road, ... no doubt about it. The DR650 will be much better than the DRZ .... on road, over longer distance in particular ( I wouldn't want to ride far on road on a DRZ ... but some people can .. ?)
And some of the guys here take DR650's off road, into some pretty hairy places ..... because they will go there ( and so will the bike !! ), ...... just not as easily as a DRZ.

"You pays your money and takes your chances" !! Like the Speights add says ..... "It's hard to find the perfect woman, boy !! ( I mean bike !! lol)
Best of luck.

[irsh]

Thanks for all the great advice advice lads.
topo your KTM bike has me drooling ... might just be sending you a PM at some stage
i had thought of going to a DR 650 alright and have looked into them. it's definitely been a contender and now could be back in the running
one of the reasons i was looking going under the 600cc mark was to avoid paying the full wack for having a "POWERFUL" bike if or when these A-holes in the govt and ACC send the rego through the roof . i know i shouldn't let them pricks decide what i drive But the other reason would be the amount of on road use i do lately. I basically live 15ks from my job and when i do use the bike i have to commute through the city to get there so no real open roading .As for touring... in the last 2 years i've done one long hauler to Christchurch for the pearl jam concert. i generally take the car with me on big trips as i'm a keen fisho and bring heaps of shite with me when i go anywhere, but i guess i'd be limiting myself to welly if i went with the 400 .....oh now i'm confused

like dino3310 says i should probably get out and demo some machines and see what tickles me fancy!
thanks a again fellas

[Toureg]

Dont limit yourself to Welly, just harden up and do some riding. I had a r1200gs, real nice bike but it made me lazy and shy of rough terrain. So now I take my 400 on 500km days regularly over a mixture of terrain. Did a 4 day 2100km rounder of both cape lighthouses in November last year and am heading south for 9 days late march for a top to bottom run with a bunch of mates. These days you cant do much over 100kmh before you attract attention and there is a perverse satisfaction in actually maintaining a good speed average over a long haul on a small capacity bike. I have a ball on the gravel and am not knackered at the end of the day. In the tight windy seal it is a hoot, if a little flat on the hills so that when I snap off a few pics and roll a durry.Just get out and do it irish!

[bart]

I basically live 15ks from my job

That far....I've got 3km....but I go home for lunch, so that's...ummm...12km a day. The DR650 loves it. The DRZ400 was a bitch, as it didn't get warmed up until it was to late. (reminds me of something else???)

[dino3310]

sounds like the XR600 (591cc ) might be a contender here.