Which dual purpose bike with sooo many choices?

[warewolf]

DR-Z400SM... has better suspension than the E, fully adjustable USD forks based on the RM, plus shorter travel hence lower seat height which is easier to manage - helpful for a dirt newbie. Find some 21/18" trail wheels for it.

And no, a WR250R is neither boring or slow. Maybe not quite as zippy as the F, but designed more for the long haul as befits a dual purpose bike rather than an enduro race weapon. The older less-potent 250 4T trailies, yeah maybe considered slower (only as boring as you are), but the WR-R is the new hotness.

KTM 4T EXCs within the same generation (RFS) are all pretty much the same reliability-, maintenance- and comfort-wise. The 250 has the bottom end from a bigger motor so is uber-reliable but due to the solidity doesn't quite have the performance of the Jap 250Fs. The 450 is a great well-liked all-rounder; the 400 is a revvier short-stroke 450 that turns better due to less engine inertia, some say it finds traction better too; the 525 is a bored 450 that rips your arms off. Peak power is about the same across all the big ones, but the torque curve changes. Weight is the nearly same but the differing rotational masses make them feel different to ride.

As a dirt novice you would be better off on a more modest easier to manage bike, at least initially. Yep, slower on the road but a heap better off it. Do your time, pick up some skills, then move up to a bigger bike. You'll also know whether you want to go more hardcore or more relaxed with the next bike. However that probably conflicts with your motard aspirations, where sheer hp is the winner, pretty much.

[NordieBoy]

690 - too big, too complicated.

But very nice to ride...

[cooneyr]

Get a 525 over the 450/400. The longer stroke engine is much better on the road and less revvy.....

[cough]... Off topic ...400 and 450 same piston but 400 shorter stroke. 450 and 525 same stroke but 525 bigger piston. 525 piston/barrel on 400 crank = 453cc. Rumoured to be the best RFS motor KTM never made.
[/cough]

[waynzz7]

Big thanks to all those who have offered some great advice..

Currently my thinking is that I will start off on a 400..use will be about 40% road and 60% trails/dirt/mud/snow/gravel/water/mountains...:....and what ever else I can find to go up down or sideways on...

I am expecting to do quite a few k's so want something relatively robust...I liked the sound of the KTM's, high power low weight, ..but the service intervals would be annoying...

So a 400 thats grunty-ish, easyish for a trail newbie, not too heavy, has reasonable performance on and off road, is reasonably priced for a later model one, electric start, robust and reliable, long service intervals, able to be rego'd and wof'd, can cook and clean and....oops getting a bit carried away here...

So it keeps coming back to a DRZ400s ...or maybe the SM...I am checking out the only green one in timaru tomorrow, thanks to those who pointed it out...

I am just worring about my short arse legs not being able to reach the ground..as I hear they are tall...Is it important to be able to put both feet on ground trail riding?? I am 5'8 so hopefully it will be fine...Just one is fine for the firestorm...
Anyone else have a good drz400s for sale?

[Willdat?]

So it keeps coming back to a DRZ400s ...or maybe the SM...I am checking out the only green one in timaru tomorrow, thanks to those who pointed it out...

I am just worring about my short arse legs not being able to reach the ground..as I hear they are tall...Is it important to be able to put both feet on ground trail riding?? I am 5'8 so hopefully it will be fine...Just one is fine for the firestorm...
Anyone else have a good drz400s for sale?

You want a DR-Z400E and not an S as second hand they will be much the same money.

The SMs are phenomenally good value as they seem to go on special each summer for 8k new including on road costs. One of these plus 21/18" wheels would be great for a 5ft 8er.

One foot down is fine IMO, but i'm 6ft 2 with two little bikes... i'm sure Zerax is that height or shorter and he's a legend!

[twisty]

I own a DR400sm and I use it for adventure riding. I have Dunlope D606's (17" back tyres) front and rear and it works very will. I have no desire to have a 21 on the front.

The biggest annoyance with these bikes is the silly close ratio gearbox. This is ok for me cuz I have larger bikes as well. If this was my do everything bike I would want a larger tank, an extra front sprocket or 2 and maybe a screen.

I have 1 tooth down from standard on the front sprocket and I get about 130k max.

I can only imagine the "E" carb would make this go a bit better?

The SM's don't have rim locks so if you need very low tyre pressures this may be a problem (maybe get a proper dirt bike?)

[Willdat?]

I can only imagine the "E" carb would make this go a bit better?

E model carb and header pipe are upgrades for the SM...

[Ocean1]

So it keeps coming back to a DRZ400s ...or maybe the SM...I am checking out the only green one in timaru tomorrow, thanks to those who pointed it out...

I am just worring about my short arse legs not being able to reach the ground..as I hear they are tall...Is it important to be able to put both feet on ground trail riding?? I am 5'8 so hopefully it will be fine...Just one is fine for the firestorm...
Anyone else have a good drz400s for sale?

The green one isn’t equivalent to a DRZ400S, it’s effectively a registerable E. An S is heavier but an SM would be well worth a test ride if the KLX feels a bit tall but one does tend to get used to it. If you need to get a foot down on the down side in a hurry it’s ‘cause you’ve already fucked up. Chances are a dab wouldn’t save you anyway.

I have 1 tooth down from standard on the front sprocket and I get about 130k max.

I can only imagine the "E" carb would make this go a bit better?

The SM's don't have rim locks so if you need very low tyre pressures this may be a problem (maybe get a proper dirt bike?)

18” / 21” wheels make it a perfectly acceptable dirt bike. The pumper carb won’t give you any more revs, just quicker response, and while that’s good on a track it’s less good in the bush, unless your throttle control is very good.

[Oscar]

The green one isn’t equivalent to a DRZ400S, it’s effectively a registerable E. An S is heavier but an SM would be well worth a test ride if the KLX feels a bit tall but one does tend to get used to it. If you need to get a foot down on the down side in a hurry it’s ‘cause you’ve already fucked up. Chances are a dab wouldn’t save you anyway.



18” / 21” wheels make it a perfectly acceptable dirt bike. The pumper carb won’t give you any more revs, just quicker response, and while that’s good on a track it’s less good in the bush, unless your throttle control is very good.

I had a registrable E model - I think they're called an "EK".
The same engine as the off road model - mine ended up with a KLX400 muffler on it and geared down slightly. Much better than an "S".

[Ocean1]

much better than an "S".

Think the only difference in the donks is the carb and the base gasket, (compression). Having said that I've drag raced the KLX against a many a DRZ400S and if the gearing's the same there's absolutely nothing in it.

Genuinely bulletproof engine that too, pity it didn't turn up in other incarnations. A version scaled up to 500 with much wider gears would have been a damn good machine.

[NordieBoy]

A version scaled up to 500 with much wider gears would have been a damn good machine.

A version left at 400 with wider gears would go down well too.

[Ocean1]

A version left at 400 with wider gears would go down well too.

There ain't no substitute for cubic inches.

[Oscar]

Think the only difference in the donks is the carb and the base gasket, (compression). Having said that I've drag raced the KLX against a many a DRZ400S and if the gearing's the same there's absolutely nothing in it.

Genuinely bulletproof engine that too, pity it didn't turn up in other incarnations. A version scaled up to 500 with much wider gears would have been a damn good machine.

Three words:
Metal petrol tank.


Edit: and about 5hp

[warewolf]

I had a registrable E model - I think they're called an "EK".

The K bit is part of the year designation. K1 = 2001, K2 = 2002 etc.

[bart]

Most road legal versions I've seen are 'E' models (or SM). Don't think I've even seen an 'S' with the steel tank.

I had an EK6 (2006). Great bike. I'd still have it if I was doing more 'real' offroad. Only let down is the close gearbox.

Oh, and I'm only 5 foot 6, and had mine at full height (well, wound the spring off a wee bit). Easy to lower with the dogbone suspension linkage thing, but you only need one foot on the ground at a time.