Advice wanted about what bike to buy

[Tazz]

We've come a long way by the sound of it then,

A KX500 weighs in at 101kg, no gas but ready to go....

Go figure

Apples with apples you'd want to compare it to a YZF450, which is approx 112kg wet and has the same peak amount of horsies as a KX500 (if 55 is correct), except you can actually use them.

Throw in other (standard) 'upgrades' (by comparison) like the suspension, servicing/reliability, ease of tune, lecky leg to just name a few and yeah, we've come a long way

[Waikato Matt]

Whats the problem with a 125kg bike.....are you built like Mr Bean?
That WR is the shizz...

Ba hahaha, i'm 5.11, 85 kgs, but have very short legs lol, and the bigger 450 bikes just feel wrong and uncomfortable to me. Having ridden XR200 and 250s as a kid, then converting to the 2 stroke bikes CR125 and CR250s, the big thumpers just feel wrong to me. Hey, that's just my opinion, not at all knocking those bikes.....

[Waikato Matt]

I still reckon the WR ticks the boxes. Apparently very reliable, too. 135kg but probably less tiring to ride than a 450.
Have a read of this article. http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/2013/0...0r-comparison/

Some lateral thinking. OK the TE is a grand over budget, but...
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-867680985.htm

And Gasgas have gone bust..
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-908558815.htm

That TE is on my watch list, have sent them an email asking on a quote to North Island for shipping. I have to say, I really like the GAS GAS, but was put off due to the company going under, so future parts etc, and warranty claims could be a drama.....

[Waikato Matt]

That's what I was thinking....I can pick my 4hundy up, piece of piss. Mind you Im 72kg of lean & mean.

Maybe Matt....are you carrying your spare tyre round your waist or is that the Waikato?

LOL excellent........

[Waikato Matt]

Just an update, have sent emails off to all the bikes I have saved on my watch list on trade me. Telling each dealer the budget, and what i'm after. Will wait to hear back from them all.
I would say at this stage, it looks as though I will get a bike delivered to my door for my budget, but it just won't be road legal right now.

Honda CRF450X 2014 with black rims......10,400 delivered. To heavy at 122kgs no fuel

Kawasaki KLX450R 8,500k delivered. To heavy at 126kgs no fuel

Honda CRF250x 2014 with black rims 9,400 delivered ( feels ok at 115kgs ) but not sold on the performance of the 250 four stroke X model ( think I would get bored with it after a few rides )

Bikes on the email list TE 250 and a demo TE300, both may come in right on budget.
Found a very nice GAS GAS 300 in Auckland, trying to see what will happen with warranties and parts supplie.

Cheers again guys, not an easy task, but seems to have some light at the end of the tunnel.

[scott411]

Just an update, have sent emails off to all the bikes I have saved on my watch list on trade me. Telling each dealer the budget, and what i'm after. Will wait to hear back from them all.
I would say at this stage, it looks as though I will get a bike delivered to my door for my budget, but it just won't be road legal right now.

Honda CRF450X 2014 with black rims......10,400 delivered. To heavy at 122kgs no fuel

Kawasaki KLX450R 8,500k delivered. To heavy at 126kgs no fuel

Honda CRF250x 2014 with black rims 9,400 delivered ( feels ok at 115kgs ) but not sold on the performance of the 250 four stroke X model ( think I would get bored with it after a few rides )

Bikes on the email list TE 250 and a demo TE300, both may come in right on budget.
Found a very nice GAS GAS 300 in Auckland, trying to see what will happen with warranties and parts supplie.

Cheers again guys, not an easy task, but seems to have some light at the end of the tunnel.

see what dealers have demos, Mr Motorcycles in pukekohe usually have a few, and the KTM demo days are coming up, might be worth seeing whyteline in Pearoa as they have just taken on kawasaki as well and i am pretty sure they have a demo 250F,

riding the bikes will tell you alot more than sitting on them,

[gwynfryn]

Pretty sure there's no way to road register a klx450 or crf250/450x.
If you want to go fast/race go 250. If you want to muck around farm/beach ride get a 450.
A 300 2st will do it all.

Using a modern mx/enduro bike on the road is dumb.

[Waikato Matt]

Have any of you guys had GAS GAS before.......My understanding is the company has gone under, but still making parts in the factory.

They have massive discounts because of it, so much so, that a brand new 2015 EC300 2 stroke road compliant version comes in bang on my budget.

Apart from the seat and main frame, everything else on the GAS GAS can be replaced using after market parts, should then need arise.

Have no idea on the is brand what so ever.........thoughts ???

On another note, walked in to a shop today with 10k cash folding, wanted a bike that was 10,900. Was shown the door.......so I left. The dealers all say that there simply isn't much margin in there prices, must be true if they let me walk.

[Waikato Matt]

Pretty sure there's no way to road register a klx450 or crf250/450x.
If you want to go fast/race go 250. If you want to muck around farm/beach ride get a 450.
A 300 2st will do it all.

Using a modern mx/enduro bike on the road is dumb.

You are correct, you can not road register either of the bikes above.

Would be helpful if you explained why it's dumb in your opinion. Why would they make them road registerable in the first place, if it's a dumb idea to ride them on the road ??? Sorry, don't understand what you mean.

[gwynfryn]

You are correct, you can not road register either of the bikes above.

Would be helpful if you explained why it's dumb in your opinion. Why would they make them road registerable in the first place, if it's a dumb idea to ride them on the road ??? Sorry, don't understand what you mean.

They are road registerable(is this a word) because of the Australian ADR rules where they must be registered to ride off road in most states. We get Aussy market bikes.

Its dumb because these bikes are designed to be raced hard off road with no compromises to street riding. They are high maintenance with short rebuild intervals. There is no cush drive, and they have off road ratios. Even DOT tires will wear fast on the road. The 4 strokes have very tight engine tolerances and don't carry much oil. They vibrate like anything on the road and the seats are not sofas. Mind you you will be stopping every 80km to fuel up.
With the 2 strokes(mx and enduro) they don't like constant throttle openings for any length of time, you really need to ride out of the power band on the road, hard to do unless you gear it to the moon.
Why clock up hours on the road?

I've tried having one bike in the past and it was an utter failure. I had to change sprockets and tyres and strip off indicators, chain guard , number plate to use off road and the xr400 was arguably more durable engine wise than todays enduro bikes.

My current Husqvarna 2 str came with all the ADR gear but I would never consider using it on the road.

The only bike that offers some off road ability that I would consider using(a little) on the road is a Yamaha wr250.

Get 2 bikes or one and a trailer.

Good luck

[Deanzo]

Have any of you guys had GAS GAS before.......My understanding is the company has gone under, but still making parts in the factory.

They have massive discounts because of it, so much so, that a brand new 2015 EC300 2 stroke road compliant version comes in bang on my budget.

Apart from the seat and main frame, everything else on the GAS GAS can be replaced using after market parts, should then need arise.

Have no idea on the is brand what so ever.........thoughts ???

On another note, walked in to a shop today with 10k cash folding, wanted a bike that was 10,900. Was shown the door.......so I left. The dealers all say that there simply isn't much margin in there prices, must be true if they let me walk.

I don't own a Gas Gas, but....
I've ridden both the 300F and 300 2T.
Two of my riding mates have EC300's.

I'm a four stroke guy, but didn't care for the 300F, but really liked the EC300, it's not what I would buy for myself, but I do like it.

Warranties on dirt bikes just suck anyhow, and even before Gas Gas went under, going by my friends, didn't seem to count for anything any how.
They buy their aftermarket part online from over seas, with out much issue.

Another friend works in a bike shop (new), as I understand it, there is no money in the bikes, they make their money in the aftermarket parts, oil, tyres etc etc.

[Waikato Matt]

They are road registerable(is this a word) because of the Australian ADR rules where they must be registered to ride off road in most states. We get Aussy market bikes.

Its dumb because these bikes are designed to be raced hard off road with no compromises to street riding. They are high maintenance with short rebuild intervals. There is no cush drive, and they have off road ratios. Even DOT tires will wear fast on the road. The 4 strokes have very tight engine tolerances and don't carry much oil. They vibrate like anything on the road and the seats are not sofas. Mind you you will be stopping every 80km to fuel up.
With the 2 strokes(mx and enduro) they don't like constant throttle openings for any length of time, you really need to ride out of the power band on the road, hard to do unless you gear it to the moon.
Why clock up hours on the road?

I've tried having one bike in the past and it was an utter failure. I had to change sprockets and tyres and strip off indicators, chain guard , number plate to use off road and the xr400 was arguably more durable engine wise than todays enduro bikes.

My current Husqvarna 2 str came with all the ADR gear but I would never consider using it on the road.

The only bike that offers some off road ability that I would consider using(a little) on the road is a Yamaha wr250.

Get 2 bikes or one and a trailer.

Good luck

Thanks mate, that helps me understand what you were meaning. I have no intention to ride far, most tracks or farm rides are within 10 minutes of my house, but I get what your saying now. Cheers......
And NO, that word I just made up, sounded good at the time....Ba hahah

[Waikato Matt]

Spoke with a very very nice guy today from Hamilton. English guy, Gas Gas dealer.
Has given me sum VERY good prices EC 2t range of bikes 2015 and 2015 models, nothing matches the prices at all, and I have done my homework.

So off tomorrow to visit his shop, and pick the right bike for me.

Have taken into account what gwynfryn has said, and if you go the rego way, it's about $1500 more than the same bike but none road worthy. For that price I can buy a small trailer and tow bar for the car. I had no idea the 2 strokes even warrantable, can't handle road riding......so that's an eye opener, and something to consider for sure. ( changes my plans and way of thinking now )

What I was trying to avoid, was getting caught zipping down to the Thompson's track 5 minutes down the road for a quick after work ride over daylight savings/summer time, getting busted by the local cop, and having my bike impounded.....Most police down here do turn a blind eye, but hey, if it's not road legal, and you get the wrong cop, they have every right to take it off ya, not to mention the ticket cost even if they do let you ride home again.

So at least I have the brand sorted, it fits the budget, they look very nice, if nobody buys the company, or bails them out, I can always just purchase after market parts should anything fail.

Thanks to everyone for your help and advice, I'm very grateful.

[gwynfryn]

I wouldn't hesitate to use for short rides like you have indicated, just not regular commuting or tackling the Coro loop with your mates on sport bikes etc. Farm rego?

[Waikato Matt]

I wouldn't hesitate to use for short rides like you have indicated, just not regular commuting or tackling the Coro loop with your mates on sport bikes etc. Farm rego?

Yes, just very short rides mate to local farm and trails..... I'm lucky I live so close to a few rides.

I have heard of farm rego, don't no anything about it, will google to see......