Sorry I got that wrong the DRZ-E Enduro version is being reintroduced in the UK apparently!
Cheers
Ray
400 or 450?
- Thread starter Wapping
- Start date
Sorry I got that wrong the DRZ-E Enduro version is being reintroduced in the UK apparently!
Cheers
Ray
Err...............I was talking 650X, not 450X
The 450X is full on hardcore and not recommended for noobs
650X would suit most people, weight is it only failing, but same as 690Katoom
That said a 250 is fine
Too many choices
Thanks Johnny...
I realised what you meant after looking at assorted other threads.
Cheers,
Richard
ovenpaa
Registered user
Hi guys,
Thanks for all the help.
I really am new to this malarkey, so all the advice is very handy.
I know where I am with road bikes of assorted shapes and sizes, having owned or ridden many of them over the years. I just don't want to buy something I can't get on with then give up.
I have won a few quid in the end of year bonus pot (don't think we will be seeing one of those again for a while) - so it's now, or never....
Cheers,
Richard
Thanks for all the help.
I really am new to this malarkey, so all the advice is very handy.
I know where I am with road bikes of assorted shapes and sizes, having owned or ridden many of them over the years. I just don't want to buy something I can't get on with then give up.
I have won a few quid in the end of year bonus pot (don't think we will be seeing one of those again for a while) - so it's now, or never....
Cheers,
Richard
mooky
Guest
But for a proper dualsport (60 miles road rides), with real offroad credentials - it has to be the XChallenge - best trailbike I've ridden or owned
Best VFM and quality components (best bike BMW currently make for build quality - bar none)
Apart from the terrible suspension....
Ive just been reading about it. It has the cheapest Marzocchi forks that money can buy (sealed unit, cant revalve it!) and the airbag rear that given a bit of serious offroading, heats up & changes its characteristics. (Not to mention that if it fails in the middle of BFE, the bike is unridable).
You could go with an Ohlins rear - but reports thus far seem quite negative.
All in all, the "real offroad credentials" seem a little ... "unreal" on closer inspection...
All I can say is - reading about one, isn't riding one
Put some new forks in or get the internals swapped if they wear out
mooky
Guest
While I take your point, to some extent, I dont have to ride one to know that its going to need re-spring and revalve for my size (its not a matter of stuff wearing out).
Unless you happen to fall within the manufacturer's target rider-weight range (which you might do, but many will not), then heavier/lighter springs are on the cards (if you want to realise the offroad potential of the bike). Revalving to suit the springs & revalving to suit the riding/terrain is a common thing to do with an offroad bike.
My point was that its not much of a value-for-money bike if you have to throw away the suspension in order to do any serious offroading...
Was quite disappointed to learn thats the case with the Xch.
I'm 17st and have ridden the bike at an indicated 80mph in sand/woods and the bike was ace
No sign of crap forks or weak airshock
I've had KTMs and Jap Enduro bikes and the XC really suprised me - out of the crate it was better than any Jap dualsport like a XR/DRZ/DR/TTR/KLR
mooky
Guest
I dont doubt your experience. But its unlikely that everyone is going to find it as agreeable (it comes down to rider, terrain and preference).
The point remains that if youre not happy with it out of the crate - or want to improve it, the cheesy suspension components on it will be a bit of a disappointment. Forks that you cant revalve?
tommymoto
Registered user
Get an orange bike
Richard,
just get yourself a KTM EXC 400 or 450. You will soon get used to it's power delivery.
I got a DRZ 400S as my first bike to go laneing on. but soon found the lack of grunt dissapointing at times.
I have recently gone on to a KTM 450 and the difference is fantastic; plus when you drop it's alot easier to pick up as it only weighs about 120 KG. Parts are not that hard to come by (loads of parts on Fleabay).
I have serviced the bike; New plug, both oil filters, oil and valve clearances in less than 2 hours and I am no mechanic.
Richard,
just get yourself a KTM EXC 400 or 450. You will soon get used to it's power delivery.
I got a DRZ 400S as my first bike to go laneing on. but soon found the lack of grunt dissapointing at times.
I have recently gone on to a KTM 450 and the difference is fantastic; plus when you drop it's alot easier to pick up as it only weighs about 120 KG. Parts are not that hard to come by (loads of parts on Fleabay).
I have serviced the bike; New plug, both oil filters, oil and valve clearances in less than 2 hours and I am no mechanic.
Desert Rat
Registered user
Agreed. I had an EXC 400 for a couple of years and have just got the new 450. The 450 might be a bit of a handful to start with. The 400 was perfect for green leaning, but then I was dragging a 1200 GS around before that
ogni
Registered user
+1 on the 450 EXC
Easy to ride, power when you need it and so forgiving if you
should get it wrong.
Ogni
Easy to ride, power when you need it and so forgiving if you
should get it wrong.
Ogni
Shep
Shep of the Dessert
Buy a second hand minger and just try it out to see if it suits you (green laneing that is) its not uncommon for people to have a go once or twice never to return. I'd rather have a grand rusting away at the back of the garage than 4 or 5.
250 great for off road 400 if you've a fair bit of roadwork to be done, and I wouldn't worry too much about 2 stroke 250's they are a delight off road, really light and nimble and with a turn of speed that might surprise you
And don't let me catch you wheelying up and down the towpath past my boat else you might find out how a boat pole through the spokes can ruin your day
Shep
250 great for off road 400 if you've a fair bit of roadwork to be done, and I wouldn't worry too much about 2 stroke 250's they are a delight off road, really light and nimble and with a turn of speed that might surprise you
And don't let me catch you wheelying up and down the towpath past my boat else you might find out how a boat pole through the spokes can ruin your day
Shep
I have had 2 x 200 exc (1999 - 2002) (autolubes) 2 x 450 exc (2 x 2004) 2 x 400 exc (2005 factory black 
2007 pimp daddy)
I loved the 2 strokes but found on the road work between lanes it was hard work, felt like it would blow up either in or out of the power band, the 450's were great (1st bike did not have the hours/miles it said on the clocks
so got rid and got a better one hence 2 x 450's) loved the bike, so much torque and was so much easier to ride for a 3 hour enduro than the 200 as you were not fighting the bike for 3 hours. Then as the hours / miles were going up i was on the look for a newer bike then came the 400 exc on e bay , 2005 factory black limited edition loads of nice pimp bits and had 140 miles on the clock 
only problem was it was in the isle of mann 
, sorted the money, booked the ferry and over i went to collect it , what a result mint and well happy, got it home and the following day set off with mates to do the PJM rallye came 13th overall and found the bike easier to ride than the 450 as later in the day / event it was less tiring to ride as down on power to 450. Kept the 400 for 18 months and rode it all over the country on the lanes and events, then when the hours / miles were up sold it and bought a brand new 2007 when the 2008 model's came out to save £1000. Such a nice bike to ride and always did well in enduro's / events i went to compaired with mates on 450's / 525's
To sum it up get a 400 as yet again KTM have brought back the 400 for 2009, they dropped it in 2004 and 2008 but always bring it back the following year
2007 pimp daddy)I loved the 2 strokes but found on the road work between lanes it was hard work, felt like it would blow up either in or out of the power band, the 450's were great (1st bike did not have the hours/miles it said on the clocks
so got rid and got a better one hence 2 x 450's) loved the bike, so much torque and was so much easier to ride for a 3 hour enduro than the 200 as you were not fighting the bike for 3 hours. Then as the hours / miles were going up i was on the look for a newer bike then came the 400 exc on e bay , 2005 factory black limited edition loads of nice pimp bits and had 140 miles on the clock only problem was it was in the isle of mann , sorted the money, booked the ferry and over i went to collect it , what a result mint and well happy, got it home and the following day set off with mates to do the PJM rallye came 13th overall and found the bike easier to ride than the 450 as later in the day / event it was less tiring to ride as down on power to 450. Kept the 400 for 18 months and rode it all over the country on the lanes and events, then when the hours / miles were up sold it and bought a brand new 2007 when the 2008 model's came out to save £1000. Such a nice bike to ride and always did well in enduro's / events i went to compaired with mates on 450's / 525's To sum it up get a 400 as yet again KTM have brought back the 400 for 2009, they dropped it in 2004 and 2008 but always bring it back the following year
Fanum
Toubab
+1.
Plenty enough poke to be starting off with and far far more learnerlaner friendly - you could very easily scare yourself rigid on a Katoomer and discourage yourself very early on which would be a shame.
I have an 08 530 exc-r and the bike is just blast. Lot's of power, light at 250 lb and lots of fun.
But, you have to get rid of the smog stuff, rejet, take the can apart to cut a small pipe piece off and change the sprockets. I was really pissed that I had to do all that, but now I just love the bike. The Bike goes anywhere. (The bike is street legal from the factory. So all this extra crap is on it.)
If you want a Bike for green laning / dualsporting, I would go with a DRZ400S. Its' a great bike. For the reasons that have been said. It's one of the most popular Dualsport bikes in my neck of the woods.
If you want a bike that is going to be more work to keep running, but one you can ride like a wildman, get a KTM.
But, you have to get rid of the smog stuff, rejet, take the can apart to cut a small pipe piece off and change the sprockets. I was really pissed that I had to do all that, but now I just love the bike. The Bike goes anywhere. (The bike is street legal from the factory. So all this extra crap is on it.)
If you want a Bike for green laning / dualsporting, I would go with a DRZ400S. Its' a great bike. For the reasons that have been said. It's one of the most popular Dualsport bikes in my neck of the woods.
If you want a bike that is going to be more work to keep running, but one you can ride like a wildman, get a KTM.
'Nuffsaid
Registered user
I have just bought a DRZ400S off a gent from this parish
- I cant believe how much fun you can have for just over a grand. An absolute hoot, really easy to ride - more than enough power for my limited technical competance, cheap spares, alledgedly bullet proof, starts on the button ... and I guess if I wanted to sell it in a years time I would pretty much get the same for it.
I contemplated going straight for the Katoum as it seems to be a weapon of choice, however the collective intelligencia on the site steered me away - and I am really grateful for the advice.
- I cant believe how much fun you can have for just over a grand. An absolute hoot, really easy to ride - more than enough power for my limited technical competance, cheap spares, alledgedly bullet proof, starts on the button ... and I guess if I wanted to sell it in a years time I would pretty much get the same for it.
I contemplated going straight for the Katoum as it seems to be a weapon of choice, however the collective intelligencia on the site steered me away - and I am really grateful for the advice.
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Deleted Member I
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Would I be able to handle a 400EXC or 450EXC?
5800 for a 450 EXC plus low rate finance?
5800 for a 450 EXC plus low rate finance?
Would I be able to handle a 400EXC or 450EXC?
5800 for a 450 EXC plus low rate finance?
You will be an offroad God on one
However you could pick up a BMW 450X for less than £5k new
These are good fun offroad............crap on the roads though
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