Which Bike To Get?

[tmac450]

The XR400 is often equated to riding a lounge chair, but certainly is a more involving ride than an XR250. For longer trail rides, etc, your butt will love it.

They stopped making the XR400 last year, but there are plenty of good 2nd handers in your price range. The only thing missing is electric start and they tend to be a little hard to start after a drop. The DRZ has electric start, but feels heavier to ride than the XR. Both have a reputation for being bulletproof.

[ford268]

I havent read all your comments over just a couple.. I race a yz250F at pretty high level nobody races 2 strokes anymore probly 1 or 2 in each honda have even brought out a 4 stroke 80 which has left the 2stroke 80s in the past. I would say yz450F or the ktm450f dont listen to all the sh*t about brakes most professionals are racing with the stock ones ktm yamaha watever brand it be there not going to design a bike that has somthing sh*t on it that's going to loose them results the reason I say yzf and not wr is because the wr are alot heavier and if one day u happen to go for a ride on an actual track the yzf will be alot easier yamahas are also the lightest they are also the easiest to maintain.. dont go honda they blow valves constantly or any of the other brands such as tm husky kawasaki have sh*t suspension although your not racing so its not going to be much of an issue and im not saying go yamaha because I ride them. however I do know someone who is selling his ktm450f if your interested let me know.

[tmac450]

My point exactly.

As of the middle of this year, Honda won't even be making 2 smokers any more.

Although, he is after a trail bike so would need the WR for rego. He is also on a restricted budget so many of the modern style race bikes probably wouldn't be in great nick for the money. Hence the recomendations for DRZ/KLX or XR. I've mulled it all over too and these bikes seem to be the best fit.

Only the modern CRF Hondas had the valve problems, which mostly came down to crappy standard air filters, the old school XRs can't be killed with a tank.

[Chooka]

Nothing wrong with 2 Stokes, just because they have been forced out of supercross/motorcross with rule changes does not mean they are crap!! How can you class a 450F and a 2 stroke 250 in the same class Its the the same with moto GP 500 2 Strokes V 1000 cc fours, in theory it works out but in practise it was always going to favour the new breed......

He does not want a race bike, he wants a bush trail bike that is easy to ride and low to maintain and as myself, Tmac and turtle have said KLX/DRZ 400 or XR400

Chooka

[no turbo]

I hope the thread-starter has got his answer

ho hum....Im with you trent.....

My simple answer for new guys to the sport, buy a bike with soft suspension and medium power. you won't go wrong with any brand...... just keep it maintained (mainly your suspension eg fork and shock oil) and you will enjoy it. power and dyno figures are overrated unless you have pro level skills. All the extra power of a 450 / 525 will do is make your arms ache and wear out your rear tyres.

note full use of suspension below.

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Edited 13/04/07 10:02 AM by no turbo

[FPV TRANNY]

That looks like the 100 footer at bluckduck.

[XR6T8080]

Gday,

ive done quite a lot of reading, and ended up deciding on a second hand WR400 / 450 for anywhere between $3500 - $6500. until I had a look at ebay.

I am going to get a brand new 250cc chinese import thing for around $1500, theres one called the Prox 250cc thumpstar, its a full size bike (well very nearly) and there is one other one that's a bit bigger, for a little bit more money.

I figure for the amount of riding im doing, and my skill level it will suit me down to the ground.

has anybody got any experience with these or riden any of these? I understand there are some with dodgy forks and suspension setups. the only draw back I can see is that its only a 250cc

Any comments would be appreciated, its pretty much all down to $$$ for me at the moment as im purchasing a house.

Wes

Gold Coast

[ZAP]

EVERYONE I have heard from reckon these bikes SUCK.

You pay for what you get. I have heard about very poor quality where wheels have falen off and parts just break. Spares can be difficult to find and warranty is non existant.

Do yourself a favour and get a name brand bike. Second hand is better than a new piece of chinese rubbish.

[RHR]

[XR6T8080]

EVERYONE I have heard from reckon these bikes SUCK.

You pay for what you get. I have heard about very poor quality where wheels have falen off and parts just break. Spares can be difficult to find and warranty is non existant.

Do yourself a favour and get a name brand bike. Second hand is better than a new piece of chinese rubbish.

I wouldnt say chinese is rubbish, that's very general, most of the stuff you find in electrical stores today is chinese, and the same was said for japanese cars & bikes 20-30 years ago, didnt take them long to become market leaders.

ive actually got a 125cc chinese thing in the shed now, and ive taken it for a bash a few times and it feels fine to ride, so I figure the 250cc bike must be bigger and better.

its a 3 month warranty, spares are from the same company you buy the bike from, there are shops popping up everywhere selling them, all the motors are pretty much identical.

im not a pro rider or anything and im not going to be getting huge air on the thing or anything like that.

Ive had brand name bikes in the past, all second hand, all needing work of some kind, and all costing me loads more than $1500. I read a review today a guy has had a 250 hummer for 2 years and not had a problem, just uses it for trail riding same as what I will do.

You used to hear all this sort of stuff when the hyandai excel came out, but I dont think ive ever seen one broken down anywhere.

I'll post a video of me riding it when I get it on youtube, and you can judge for yourself if you think its quality or not.