Old school DR200s.

[car]

Went to look at an old DR200 tonight -- for a bit of trail, nothing too adventurous, just an opportunity to get mucky.

Looks like it's been fairly well maintained, not in bad overall nick for a nearly 20 year old bike. All in one piece, kicked off from cold, not much smoke although it did have that old bike burning oil smell to it. And just short enough for a midget like me, too.

Have they always had useless front brakes? My experience with off road bikes is old twin-shock two-strokes, with cable-operated front drums and rod operated rear, so spongy front brakes that are pretty much just for show are all I know. But this thing's got a disc, and new pads. Master cylinder rebuild, new hoses maybe?

Also, top end was a bit rattly. For an air-cooled bike that's almost as old as my wife, I wasn't too worried. Should I be?

TIA for any pointers.

[cave weta]

Ughhh ( Shudder) I would stay clear of it! is it one of those yellow and blue ones? Bits are unobtainable and you will find that every part on it is shagged.

If you havent been riding traibikes for years, then you wont want something that will put you off-eh? you didnt mention how much the guy wants for it. Im assuming that it will be around $500- $700 ? Expect to spend the same again in parts to get it up to scratch plus labour charges. Am I putting you off cheap trailies yet?

Honestly with the hammering that bikes get off road,- you would be just throwing money away if you buy something older than 10 years old, or under $2000. spend $4000 and you will get something that will keep up with your riding mates and always be reliable- you may even get electric start!

[barty5]

had one from brand new every 1000 ks i had to change the spoke in the rear as the would start to snap changed hub, rim even put in a set of 250 spokes same thing. Then about 3 years ago pick one up cheap as a do up blow me down suffered from the same problem never been able to work it out. As for the rattle the one you r lookin at that would put me off unless your in to lots a repairs.

[car]

is it one of those yellow and blue ones? Bits are unobtainable and you will find that every part on it is shagged.

Yeah, one of those yellow and blue ones. The advert was extremely unspecific, and I had expected to find a DR200SE, the farm bike. Not your cup of tea, I'm sure, but I'm looking for something short, which really limits my scope.

This thing is the only adult sized monoshock trail bike I've sat on that I could get a foot flat on the ground without sliding my arse off the seat.

If I had the cash, I'd go for something like what merv's got -- a decent modern enduro bike with suspension that Robert Taylor has breathed over to drop a couple of inches. Either that or a 3/4 sized modern bike like ... what was it I saw, DR125Z?

you didnt mention how much the guy wants for it. Im assuming that it will be around $500- $700 ?

You can double that.

Expect to spend the same again in parts to get it up to scratch plus labour charges. Am I putting you off cheap trailies yet?

Mmm, yes and no. I spent a couple of years riding crappier, older trailies (a TS185 and a Can-Am Bombardier) but the riding I did then (in the UK) was just "green laning", gentle trail stuff, nothing mad. And having two meant that one was usually running.

Honestly with the hammering that bikes get off road,- you would be just throwing money away if you buy something older than 10 years old, or under $2000. spend $4000 and you will get something that will keep up with your riding mates and always be reliable- you may even get electric start!

Sadly, $2000 is *all* of my budget. I wouldn't be taking anything to a mechanic unless it required machining or welding, but if, as you say, the parts for this thing are 100% solid unobtanium, then I'm not interested. I don't mind spannering, and all I'm after is a reliable old hack, nothing fancy, but I can't be arsed with yet another bike that spends more time in bits than it does running.

Thanks for the feedback.

[car]

As for the rattle the one you r lookin at that would put me off unless your in to lots a repairs.

With the budget I'm looking at, I'd expect some, and that'd be a part of the hobby to be honest. I asked about the rattle because sometimes "they all do that, sir." But if they don't all do that, then it sounds like it might be sick, and I'm best leaving it alone.

Thanks.

[cheese]

I think that Bang for buck you'd be better of with an older XR200. Lots of bits around and a low bike.

Someone once said to me get the cheapest bike you can't afford.

[cave weta]

Nice Post!:

Hey car- have a look at the Cavallo rental bikes on my site, They are Chinese copies of the Honda CRF230. they are fully ADR compliant- road registerable. digital dash, stainless muffler, discs both ends. Mine get caned and never miss a beat. they will do 100kmh they are about $3600 brand spanking new from a reputable dealer with full spares backup and a warranty.
I have 4 off them and they are bloody good value for money for what you want! they are not suitable for freestyle MX- Crusty Demons stuff but I use mine in the winter cos they are so much easier to ride than my big 525 KTM. bits are dirt cheap, they go well and look the biz. You can drop the forks and wind down the shock to give a seat hight of about 880mm.

[cheese]

Thaats not a bad copy. How long you been runnign them for?

[cave weta]

Thaats not a bad copy. How long you been runnign them for?

I bought the first just on a year ago and I got a Cavallo 150 too.- it is not the same as the honda frame size though. It is a 150 in a 100 size frame with 19" and17" wheels so its good for ladies and 12-14 year olds.

[car]

Mine get caned and never miss a beat. they will do 100kmh they are about $3600 brand spanking new from a reputable dealer with full spares backup and a warranty.

The only site I found in a quick Google said $5000 for a "250". Different Model? Did you get a decent deal because you were buying more than one, and presumably going to buy more to replace your stock when they've had a good battering?

You can drop the forks and wind down the shock to give a seat hight of about 880mm.

That's still a good 80mm too high, although a narrow seat makes a difference. Is there mroe scope on the rear? Merv wound his rear shock right down and then got RT to magick him up some springs for the front, because the bars stopped him dropping the forks more than a couple on inches.

"Road registerable" presumably means that they came with lights and a horn? If I could get the thing on the road, and if the missus could learn on it, I could justify spending the kind of money you're talking about. (I had actually been toying with the idea of a brand new farm bike. In fact Honda's NXR125 comes in at a princely $3,500.) Something that's road legal means that I don't have to find money for another bike that the missus can get her learner's on, but that'd mean it was doubly important that it was short enough for her to get one foot down.

Cheers,

Chris.

[cheese]

How tall are you?

I'd go for a new honda if I could. I think that the CRF230 can be made road legal.

[cave weta]

The only site I found in a quick Google said $5000 for a "250". Different Model? Did you get a decent deal because you were buying more than one, and presumably going to buy more to replace your stock when they've had a good battering?



That's still a good 80mm too high, although a narrow seat makes a difference. Is there mroe scope on the rear? Merv wound his rear shock right down and then got RT to magick him up some springs for the front, because the bars stopped him dropping the forks more than a couple on inches.

"Road registerable" presumably means that they came with lights and a horn? If I could get the thing on the road, and if the missus could learn on it, I could justify spending the kind of money you're talking about. (I had actually been toying with the idea of a brand new farm bike. In fact Honda's NXR125 comes in at a princely $3,500.) Something that's road legal means that I don't have to find money for another bike that the missus can get her learner's on, but that'd mean it was doubly important that it was short enough for her to get one foot down.

Cheers,

Chris.

They call it PY 250 but it's 223cc Buy thru me and Save!!! yes its got lights horn indicators- all the bits. Ive just been down to the shed and measured my short one. it is 860 sitting there 780 with me on it and I have a 780 inside leg. my feets are not flat on the ground but comfortable.

[car]

How tall are you?

I'd go for a new honda if I could. I think that the CRF230 can be made road legal.

My neurologist says I'm 163cm, my endocrinologist says I'm 164cm.

My tailor says that my inside leg is 75cm.

In practice, I can get both feet flat down on a small japanese 400 -- RVF400 or similar. I can't quite get my feet flat down on my current bike, a ZXR750, but I can get both of them down.

I know for a fact that YZ250 is tall enough that on flat ground I can only just get one foot down, and that's literally with my ass hanging over space and my knee hooked on the seat. If the ground's not level and my foot's over a dip, then I'm liable to fall over, to much amusement of others.

So, with a sportsbike's seat width, about 800mm is my comfortable limit. A narrower seat like on a trailie and I guess I could add 20mm, maybe more, but not much.

[cheese]

If your not to heavy a new CRF150R would be the go. but cost too much.....

[A&R]

I bought the first just on a year ago and I got a Cavallo 150 too.- it is not the same as the honda frame size though. It is a 150 in a 100 size frame with 19" and17" wheels so its good for ladies and 12-14 year olds.

my 2nd oldest is complaing about her crf 100 a not being big enough. was thinking about a crf150 but u got me thinking...... are one of these cavello things electric start? and kick start. sounds cheap and could be just te right price.