What to buy? (to replace nicked DR-Z400E)

[WindyChuffer]

OK, I was unfortunate to have my DR-Z400E nicked last night. As much as I'd like it back, I'm reluctantly resigned to not seeing it again.

So need to think of replacing it, but what to get?

Am thinking new or nearly new this time, and would say I was an intermediate off roader and no problem with tall bikes.

KTM website is an absolute crock of shite as it doesn't give any decent overview of bike suitability and is pretty darned confusing if you don't know the range. No explanation of the differences between the EXC and SX.

Have read the KTM400EXC review in the latest TBM mag, but no idea on why this over the 450EXC or vice versa.

I know relatively nothing about other bikes, but I do want something that has decent service intervals, and something that can withstand being hacked on the road as well as the trail (but not as a primary road bike).

BMW 450X? Yam? Honda? Another DRZ-400E ?

Comments appreciated....

 

[D6]

another drz

 

[Timpo]

another drz

Why not? I would.
The KTM/BMW enduros need too much maintenance and they won't make you a better rider. Only experience does that. They will deepen your pocket though by another £2000+ as I believe brand new DRZ are available for £3800. That is a lot of bike for the money.
And ok, I have a G450X, but I also have a second DRZ..... and I prefer the Suzuki for trail riding.

Timpo.

 

[Uinneag]

Aye another DRZ unless you want to scare yourself witless

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

DRZ too - far more capable bike than I am a rider

Andres

 

[WindyChuffer]

Aye another DRZ unless you want to scare yourself witless

Scared is good !

'twas your old DRZ that got nicked.

I liked my DRZ.

 

[WindyChuffer]

Agree with the comments on DRZ; just trying to think a bit wider than the default option. New prices have gone up a bit recently, £4,300 + extra ££ to get road legal.

 

[david a hall]

DRZ is the best for green laning when a man with timpos experience is telling you that then its worth listening to, if you want to enduro then you need to be fit or get a bike thats a bit lighter, lifting the front wheel in the third hour isnt an option on a drz, but lighter bikes are diadvantaged in many more directions e.g. on the road, the guy richard who won the iron man in hte D2D im prety sure did it on a KTM 125, but im not sure id of wanted to buy it after, but not many of us would consider one of them,the best way to decide is go to your local endoro and walk around the paddock and see all the makes and models, and even talk to the rider of the machines, i was impressed with the look of the kawsaki, but like all of them they out perform the rider. so its down to personel preference, just another view.

 

[Greg Masters]

I sold my DR-Z specifically because it couldn't as easily take me places that a KTM could. FWIW Phil Reynolds had the same 'Damascus' moment at the same time. Specifically here:

and here:

Phil now has a KTM 450 EXC; I have a Husaberg FE450.

The Austrian bikes (and I include my Husaberg in this) do require more frequent oil and filter changes but only because they don't have 3Kg of oil in the frame like the DR-Z does. After that, the maintenance requirement (chains/brakes/air filter/tyres etc) is about the same and a bit easier on the Austrian bikes.

Greg

 

[Rushy]

D&K motorcycles in Newcastle (S-O-T) are now an official suzuki dealer and they had new DRZ in last week at £3800 +around £300 to get road legal. I think you could buy the kit cheaper yourself though, although to be fair their price is fittted to ready to go.

Agree with the comments on DRZ; just trying to think a bit wider than the default option. New prices have gone up a bit recently, £4,300 + extra ££ to get road legal.

 

[Greg Masters]

On the matter of weight, here's the figures:

• DR-Z 400 S 144Kg
• DR-Z 400 E 127Kg
• KTM 450 EXC 113Kg
• Husaberg FE450 (2008 model) 109Kg

It all makes a big difference.

Greg

 

[WindyChuffer]

- Apart from engine size, whats the difference between the 400 EXC and 450 EXC?
- Why would you go for one over the other?
- Whats the difference between EXC & SX ?
- Tell me more about the Damascus moment where the DRZ let you down...

 

[Timpo]

On the matter of weight, here's the figures:

• DR-Z 400 S 144Kg
• DR-Z 400 E 127Kg
• KTM 450 EXC 113Kg
• Husaberg FE450 (2008 model) 109Kg

It all makes a big difference.

Greg

Greg, them weights are not correct. You may find the DRZ are wet weights and the euro bikes are dry..... and the weight issue is a white elephant really.
Power delivery and useable power is what you need. I've picked loads of people up and dusted them down as the bike (usually orange) they have bought is way past their capability. And let's not let this errupt into the KTM v everything else arguement. I am going from my experiences.....
You haven't mentioned the reliability or fuel consumption points though.... and I know for sure that the DRZ will take top marks in that comparison.
T.

 

[Fanum]

The Austrian bikes (and I include my Husaberg in this) do require more frequent oil and filter changes but only because they don't have 3Kg of oil in the frame like the DR-Z does. After that, the maintenance requirement (chains/brakes/air filter/tyres etc) is about the same and a bit easier on the Austrian bikes.

Greg

thats not the end of the story though is it Greg?
I doubt that even the most fervent 'berg fan would describe them as being 'bulletproof', something that is often mentioned in conjunction with DRZs

they're right tools I grant you, but not for everyday or prolonged use.

You won't see a Husaberg with luggage on it heading for Morocco but you will see plenty of DRZs doing just that .........

 

[Greg Masters]

Greg, them weights are not correct. You may find the DRZ are wet weights and the euro bikes are dry..... and the weight issue is a white elephant really.
Power delivery and useable power is what you need. I've picked loads of people up and dusted them down as the bike (usually orange) they have bought is way past their capability. And let's not let this errupt into the KTM v everything else arguement. I am going from my experiences.....
You haven't mentioned the reliability or fuel consumption points though.... and I know for sure that the DRZ will take top marks in that comparison.
T.

The weights I've quoted are off the manufacturers' websites. None mentions wet/dry.

Weight is important. Important when it comes to quick direction changes and important too when it comes to humping the bike over or around an obstacle (or just picking it up).

What nobody has mentioned is the suspension. The WP that is on the KTM is way superior to what is on the DR-Z.

I used my DR-Z for a long time over very many miles. And I really thought that it was the D's Bs. That is until I got the Husaberg (which is really a KTM BTW). And I ask myself now: 'why did I persevere with the DR-Z for so long?' - and I don't have a good answer except that I was also using it as a commuter.

It's not that the DR-Z is a bad bike - it's actually very able. But for trail riding the KTM is much, much better.

Greg

 

[D6]

most people who buy these sorts of bike wont see any really punishing places, theyl be taken in the woods, thrashed down farmers tracks and wheelyd past short skirts,
, but most of all , these bikes are better than their riders ability 90 percent of the time anyway,
so pick a colour and buy it,

 

[Greg Masters]

heading for Morocco but you will see plenty of DRZs doing just that .........

I rode my DR-Z to Wimbledon once and my arse hasn't yet recovered!

To ride a DR-Z to Morocco, you've got to be really bonkers or hard-core like Snoopy.



Greg

 

[Snoopy]

but you will see plenty of DRZs doing just that .........

BOLLOX

I was the only one mad enough to do this and NEVER AGAIN.

Suspension on my stock DRZ was brilliant and coped with everything I hit - the KTM suspension must be god like if its much better...

 

[Fanum]

BULLSHIT!

I was the only one mad enough to do this and NEVER AGAIN.

I humbly apologise.
I completely forgot how 'special' you are snoops

we see lots of DRZs in Morocco. in fact, we regularly piss off a French tour group who we see at some of the hotels near Tafraoute- they come in grinning only to find that we've been doing the same trails as them on GSs ...it soon wipes the smile off their faces

If you took your head out of your arse long enough to look around, you would know it's not bullshit

 

[Ing]

most people who buy these sorts of bike wont see any really punishing places, theyl be taken in the woods, thrashed down farmers tracks and wheelyd past short skirts,
, but most of all , these bikes are better than their riders ability 90 percent of the time anyway,
so pick a colour and buy it,

True enough. I've never understood people who say that, for example, the DRZ wouldn't go there so I bought a KTM/Husaberg whatever. Anything will go anywhere with knobbly tyres and a persistent rider - you might end up with more bruises/broken bones and bike damage doing some of the Welsh trails on a 1200GS as opposed to a KTM 250 but it can be done.

Enduro bikes are all about speed. Most Enduros thrive on it and most are set up such the engine and suspension on really work when going fast. Trail bikes (including the DRZ-E) are softer and work better at trail riding speeds. Big trailies do neither they're just designed to test the riders limits of endurance.

I ride a very stoney trail frequently and have found that most enduro bikes will happily ride over the stones at about 40mph and can still be steered where you want them to go. DRZ handles it quite well but mt XT500 justs bounces off the track (if it doesn't throw me off first).

Over the longer term the DRZ is also easier to live with. The service intervals are longer and the wear on chains and sprockets is marginally less. Buying secondhand is not as risky as it is with a well thrashed enduro.