what little bike for green laning next to 650

[Dennis van Dijk]

Just did the skills 1 in wales and loved it. SO decided the next bike will be f650gs dakar with handlebar risers and some other extras....will have to wait to we move to the new house though.
Also decided to have a small off road bike to do some green laning and chucking about and maybe to the odd event. Any advice, I have no experience and I am debating between 2 or 4 stroke and what size to get. The local trf seems to use a lot of xr250/400's and the odd serow.

cheers
Dennis

would have posted in other bikes but some reason I can't

 

[Bateman]

I recently picked up a little Serow as my first Green Laning bike. I haven't tried any others and only have limited experience on this. The serow seems to have a great reputation and following. I got mine for less than a grand and was surprised at how easy it coped with muddy rutted lanes. It isn't intimidating with the power and is very small and nimble. A friend of mine just bought an XR400 as a first green laner and he is finding it a little too powerful as a first dirt bike.

The serow is very economical, but not much fun getting to the green lanes on - it is very short and very uncomfortable and only good for 55mph cruising. But thats enough for me.

 

[Dennis van Dijk]

Serow was in my mind but being 6'2" it is a small bike. To ride the F650 dakar off road I needed handle bar risers otherwise I would be looking at my helmet rim all the time.

So small but still tall seems the answer. I see a lot of Gas Gas two stroke for sale but I have no experience with them, at least they are in my price bracket

 

[FatAl]

I'm a big fat git and used a Serow for 12 months greenlaning, a superb machine, I even rode it from St helens to Edinburgh and back last winter and averaged 90mpg without trying. only do about 60mph flat out though. Very reliable and easy to maintain.

 

[dazzer]

If It help's you won't go far wrong with a XR 250 more than enough power for green lane's and will suit 6 feet +,also can be picked up for a bit less ££££ than a Gas Gas.

Dazzer

 

[Losttheplot]

If you can cope with a bit of maintenance, look out a ktm 200 2-stroke.

This must be the easiest bike i have ever ridden off road. It is much less susceptible to "wobbles", the engine is very tractible at low revs, and if you need to you can always get it "on the pipe", and then try to hang on!

it's light as a kite to, meaning it's a peice of piss to pick up after you've thrown it in a ditch, and the spares are reasonably priced.

Look out an EGS model and you'll get auto lube to!

 

[wildernessrob]

Ive just picked up a 3 year old Yamaha TTR250 with 2500 miles, from fleabay, for just over 2k.

Its in really nice nick and has reasonably lively performance, and appears to have a good reputation for reliability. I reckon it it would be quite useful offroad (with some decent tyres), and easily capable of dealing with greens lanes.

I have had the chance to take it offroad yet, as Ive got it to use as my winter commute.

http://www.ttr250.com/

 

[(RIP) sherpa]

Green!

I'm a total novice to green laning but after the BMW course this March the bug has bitten.
I got myself a '92 XR250 about a month ago and its fantastic fun, easy to look after and ride.
I'm 6'5" and far too heavy but the XR copes very well with me on board and actually makes a novice look pretty good.
Much fun to be had this Winter methinks

Sherpa