XR200 or DR200?

**nzspokes** · 25th September 2011, 18:42

Im looking at a couple of bikes just for a bit of mucking about on a mates farm, beach and maybe a trail ride at woodhill from time to time.

1981 XR200, not run for a while and needs some bits to get going. But real cheap.

or

1996 DR200 set up as farm bike thats running. Higher cost.

What would end up being the better bike?

**Blagger** · 25th September 2011, 21:23

modern is usually the best bet unless you go in for all that vintage thing - a better more modern bike is always going to improve your whole experience.
Of course the real answer is to get both and do up the XR so ya mates can ride with you..

**Ender EnZed** · 25th September 2011, 21:25

Has the DR been used on a farm?

**nzspokes** · 25th September 2011, 21:37

Originally Posted by Ender EnZed

Has the DR been used on a farm?

I believe so. Its got racks etc on it.

**nzspokes** · 26th September 2011, 06:35

Would being a ex farm bike be a problem?

**Jay GTI** · 26th September 2011, 07:21

The DR200 is sold as a farm bike, complete with the various racks and protection bars, so if it has them that is not necessarily an indicator it's been used on a farm.

**Motu** · 26th September 2011, 11:45

Those early Prolink XR200's were a better off road bike than the later version which was tamed down for the learner rider crowd,in top nick it would be a faster bike in the dirt than the DR. But it's old,getting it into order would cost twice as much as the DR. Go for the DR.

**Ender EnZed** · 26th September 2011, 16:31

Originally Posted by nzspokes

I believe so. Its got racks etc on it.

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Would being a ex farm bike be a problem?

As mentioned, they all come with racks. Being used on a farm isn't necessarily a bad thing but a lot of ex farm bikes are pretty worn out. They tend to get ridden by everyone and looked after by no one. If it's 15 years old and isn't obviously a pile of shit it probably hasn't been used as a cheap hack it's whole life.

It's not this one is it?

**barty5** · 26th September 2011, 21:37

check the dr out ive had 2 of them from round that time and seamed to be a common thing for them to break rear spokes seen on a couple of others as well. My 1st one was brand new when i got it and spent 99% of its 11000ks i had it on the road but ever 1100 to 1300 ks it would snap one had rim after rim as well as hubs replaced under warrantee and it still did it even on the day i traded it back in.???? never worked it out.

**nzspokes** · 26th September 2011, 21:44

Originally Posted by Ender EnZed

As mentioned, they all come with racks. Being used on a farm isn't necessarily a bad thing but a lot of ex farm bikes are pretty worn out. They tend to get ridden by everyone and looked after by no one. If it's 15 years old and isn't obviously a pile of shit it probably hasn't been used as a cheap hack it's whole life.

It's not this one is it?

Thats it. Im not after perfection at all. Just something to muck about on.

But that said im really keen on the XR. Just because I wanted one back in the day.

**nzspokes** · 26th September 2011, 21:45

Originally Posted by barty5

check the dr out ive had 2 of them from round that time and seamed to be a common thing for them to break rear spokes seen on a couple of others as well. My 1st one was brand new when i got it and spent 99% of its 11000ks i had it on the road but ever 1100 to 1300 ks it would snap one had rim after rim as well as hubs replaced under warrantee and it still did it even on the day i traded it back in.???? never worked it out.

Theres a reason I have the user name........

**Ender EnZed** · 26th September 2011, 22:37

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Thats it. Im not after perfection at all. Just something to muck about on.

But that said im really keen on the XR. Just because I wanted one back in the day.

It looks like it could be a decent bike for what you have in mind. I'd expect a better ratio of riding to fixing with that than an XR twice as old that's worth less.

**secondfield** · 27th September 2011, 00:17

I love those old XR200 RB/RC's owned a couple of them, awsome bikes. Maybe it would be worth doing up. Determine what you need for it and weigh up the costs, which is what it boils down to at the end of the day ... be great to see one resotred to its former glory though. Be a top project.