Am I stupid to buy one of these...

[Lugzy23]

If you are going to spend $4000 on a bike you only want for four months, and want to learn to ride offroad, then I suggest buying a old farmbike or dirtbike of some description, and taking it down the Waimak and thrashing it round there untill you get the hang of it. Alternatively, there are a few ok looking KLX 250's that are on trademe in christhchurch at the moment.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-170339049.htm

[CookMySock]

the fact that you are going to the trouble to ask on this forum would tend to suggest that you are not stupid !!

SNORT!! Debatable!

Babysteps, if you are indeed happy to "flick it cheaply" then go for it - I am sure there are KB'ers that will take it of your hands for cheap!

It will be a complete waste on a huge KLR to not be able to give it arse in the rough, so yeah bash something else to death first..


Steve

[Oscar]

Notwithstanding the wisdom (or otherwise) of buying that particular brand, you should consider the hit you're going to take disposing any new bike after so short a time.

Buy a second hand XL/XR/DR/KLX/TTR and you should get most, if not all of your money back when you sell it.

[marks]

..to learn to ride off road on and then flick off cheap..

Do I get the feeling that you want to learn to trail ride on something disposable so that you can then trail ride your KLR650?

The KLR is a great 'all road' tourer and mild 4wd track explorer but it aint suitable for trail riding (unless you are really talented).

For the average rider trail riding a 170+ KG bike is an exersize in pain and frustration (been there done that got the scars).

Buy a used KDX200 - simply awesome cheap trail bike and vastly more fun that a Chinese xr knockoff - and keep it to compliment your KLR. Try and do it all on one and you wont enjoy it much.

If I misunderstood your intentions ignore this as irrelevant drivel

[thommo77]

Mate, your choice, but I'd steer well clear of chinese bikes. While they are cheap for a motorbike, they are bloody expensive firecrackers!
Unfortunately, the market is getting flooded with these. Just gotta look at Aussie to see what will happen here.
Just learn on the KLR by taking it easy and finding some easy trails/farmland.
Good luck.

[babysteps]

Thanks all for your advice, greatly appreciated!

To clarify, I'm looking for something Road Legal that I can take Off Road to learn on. Any recommendations?

Cheers

Mark

[Oscar]

Thanks all for your advice, greatly appreciated!

To clarify, I'm looking for something Road Legal that I can take Off Road to learn on. Any recommendations?

Cheers

Mark

TTR250 DRZ250 or XR250

[avgas]

Don't bother......but if you have to, and you need something that is comfortable on the road look high and low for a very rare but fantastic bike.
98 Honda SL 230
they are the best of all sections..........trust me
i rode one and wondered why all other bikes were built WRONG

[thommo77]

TTR250 DRZ250 or XR250

Or a KLX250.........

Any decent 250 4T would be worth considering.

[mebigdave]

I own a Chinese bike, a Shineray 2006 XY200GYE. I bought it in October last year and have done 15,000km on it. I did my homework before I decided to buy the bike and felt that better a Chinese bike with a warranty than a 20 year old Jap bike that "the mechanic said is a good one" you know the deal. All the old "good one" Jap bikes have had their motors rebuilt strangely enough!
If you are worried about what other people think, buy a Jap bike but if you are not worried about the stigma, buy a nice new Chinese bike with a warranty. As for parts, I can replace my entire motor for $480, less that it will cost to send a Jap bike in for a service because you know how the price goes up when the bike shop has it for an hour. They seem to find all sorts of things wrong that you never even know the bike had!
I ride my bike every day, 130km a day in fact. I start it at 5:45 every morning after it has stood outside all night in the rain and the cold and then ride 2km to the highway then for the next hour (60km) it runs flat out. 2km off the highway to work and it stands for the day. Then all the way home again flat out. As for parts, there are heaps of parts available. Don’t be lead astray by those poor welds and some that knows someone that had a frame crack or break on them roomers. One day the bike shops are going to wake up and realise that the Jap market has been replace by the Chinese bike market. You could always buy someone else’s problems and sit with a bill the size of a new china bike.
Since 1997, China has been the biggest exporter of motorcycles in the world. 25,446,900 motorcycles built in China in 2007
http://en.ce.cn/Insight/200802/29/t2...14682111.shtml
My sons have ridden a 110cc china bike for over a year and all I’ve done is service it every few months and replace brake pads and oh yes, I have a new 420 chain that needs to go on this weekend. I will be passing my Shineray on to my eldest Son when he turns 15 to use to college.I am replacing it with another Chinese bike, a Xingyue XY250R this weekend. I’ve had the debates with the hardcore Jap bike defenders and after 15000Km and the bike as good as when I bought it, I’m having the last laugh! My Shineray has saved me so much money this year in travelling, maintenance and parking, I can’t pass up the opportunity to buy a slightly bigger bike. Just wish the 400cc version would hurry up and get to NZ. Lifan and Shineray are really good brands if you do your homework and that’s why you pay more for those brands.
That said, it’s up to you! I ride a YZ250 on the weekends to go playing in the bush and it costs me money. The China bike makes me money! Go figure???

[sels1]

.I am replacing it with another Chinese bike, a Xingyue XY250R this weekend.

Welcome aboard the site.
Are you buying it locally?

[monchopper]

I ride my bike every day, 130km a day in fact. I start it at 5:45 every morning after it has stood outside all night in the rain and the cold and then ride 2km to the highway then for the next hour (60km) it runs flat out. 2km off the highway to work and it stands for the day. Then all the way home again flat out.

That said, it’s up to you! I ride a YZ250 on the weekends to go playing in the bush and it costs me money. The China bike makes me money! Go figure???

You own a YZ and from your post can I assume you don't use the Chinese bike for anything other than getting to work on road?
I wonder if your experience would be different if you didn't have the YZ and used your Chinese bike for both? After all thats what they're marketed as.

My brother in law had one (not sure which brand exactly) that he used for a commuter and it did an admirable job. I took him trail riding on it once and it was completely and utterly bolloxed afterwards. It limped home, held together by 100mph tape.

[n0regret5]

best example of a false economy. you buy it, do 1000kms on it, and then lose $2000 trying to sell it on. i wouldn't recommend it..

[mebigdave]

Welcome aboard the site.
Are you buying it locally?

Yes, I bought the Shineray from Grant over at www.shineray.co.nz and I rang him up yesterday and ordered my new from him after debating buying an 83 BMW K100 - Just having to replace a fuel pump on the BMW would cost more and a complete new motor for my Shineray if I ever needed to do any repairs to it. Makes you think....

[NordieBoy]

Yes, I bought the Shineray from Grant over at www.shineray.co.nz and I rang him up yesterday and ordered my new from him after debating buying an 83 BMW K100 - Just having to replace a fuel pump on the BMW would cost more and a complete new motor for my Shineray if I ever needed to do any repairs to it. Makes you think....

The Shineray would also fit in the toolbox of the beemer.

They are for slightly different purposes though.