Hi There, looking to get a bike for a bit of grenlaning, nothing too tough just for fun. Also may use it to commute the 50 miles to work if the weather is real good during the summer.

Getting to the male menoporsche and fancy reliving my youth with a bike, it wil also get me out of the house and a good excuse to hide mysefl away in the garage when the kids get too much

Looked into getting an older bike, 80's 250 DT or such but had a lot of advice to the contrary.

Thought about a quad bike but feel i am to old for one + we have lots of 'em at work and i still end up back at bikes if i think about it.

Do not want to spend a lot of money on a bike so not expecting new or nearly new and do not mind doing some work on it either, rebuilt many two stoke bikes from the gound up in my time.

Now i fancy a 4 stroke, not too big 250-350cc and for around £400-600.00.
Looking on Fleabay at Honda XR's, XL's Kawasaki KLR's, etc.

Any thoughts???

dont buy a dt 250 i had one a few years back and you'll struggles to get parts for it try looking for a yamaha dr350 that would probably suit you and there reliable too

try looking for a yamaha dr350 that would probably suit you and there reliable too

:wonder: :wonder: Suzuki DR350 or Yamaha XT350 :confused: either of these would make a good commuter/greenlaner, also check out some of the imported 250s - these seem to have had more gentle use, another good commuter & gentle green laner is the XT600E, bigger cc than your original choice but better on the road.
Agree with Ryans comments re DT250 or any 70s/80s trail bike, spares are hard to find plus they are never as good as you remember them!!!

DO'H:iamwithst

My choice would be a Yammy WR450, or a Suzuki DR-Z riden both but the WR scared the hell out of me tbh. DR-Z is a lot tammer

My choice would be a Yammy WR450, or a Suzuki DR-Z riden both but the WR scared the hell out of me tbh. DR-Z is a lot tammer


Which bit of the "fat old git who wants to do some recreational greenlaning" did you not understand;)

I recon a 4 stroke will be more my cuppa tea, loved 2 strokes and the mad powerband but as i get older i find the noise irritating.
a DR-Z is probably closer to the mark, no bigger than a 350 for ease of handling off road as much as anything.

so KLR/XR/XL/DRZ, any others i should think about and any thoughts on which is best suited to a fat old git with limited cash:)

Greenlaning :mad:

Stop wrecking the countryside for everyone else with your noisy old motorbike.

Either get a mountain bike or walk. That way you can enjoy the environment and get fit at the same time.

so KLR/XR/XL/DRZ, any others i should think about and any thoughts on which is best suited to a fat old git with limited cash:)


For your budget it's going to be the DR350 or the KLR250, any XL will be too old (XL250R last made in 86?) and any XR250/400 will be pretty knackered for that sort of money and not really up to a 50 mile commute.

Also a 50mile commute & good greenlaner are not things normally associated with each other - whatever you get will be a comprimise of sorts.

I did mention an import 250 but these are usually aimed at your smaller jap home market rider; why not an XT600E in view of your own self described stature.

For your budget it's going to be the DR350 or the KLR250, any XL will be too old (XL250R last made in 86?) and any XR250/400 will be pretty knackered for that sort of money and not really up to a 50 mile commute.

Also a 50mile commute & good greenlaner are not things normally associated with each other - whatever you get will be a comprimise of sorts.

I did mention an import 250 but these are usually aimed at your smaller jap home market rider; why not an XT600E in view of your own self described stature.

I feel the XT will be just too big and cumbersome, the 350 seems about right for me and my sort of use

DR-Z 400 and make sure it's legally silenced to minimise the likelihood of getting twats like coffindodger complaining and getting the status of the byways you're using changed...

SB

DR-Z 400 and make sure it's legally silenced to minimise the likelihood of getting twats like coffindodger complaining and getting the status of the byways you're using changed...

SB

SB
Good choice but not for £400-£600 (if you can then let me know 'cos the XR400's getting a bit dog earred).

G

Greenlaning :mad:

Stop wrecking the countryside for everyone else with your noisy old motorbike.

Either get a mountain bike or walk. That way you can enjoy the environment and get fit at the same time.


Greenlaning isn't illegal and if you care to look at the country code bikes can use BOAT's & RUPP's as can ramblers, horse riders and cyclists........don't come on here preaching about the country when we can legally use it :razz:

Greenlaning isn't illegal and if you care to look at the country code bikes can use BOAT's & RUPP's as can ramblers, horse riders and cyclists........don't come on here preaching about the country when we can legally use it :razz:


well said, I hate the ramblers who come from the city thinking they own the countryside when they have a miserable walk on a sunday

stuff your red socks up your ar5e :hjtwofing

back on subject, cant go far wrong with a drz

Which bit of the "fat old git who wants to do some recreational greenlaning" did you not understand;)

I recon a 4 stroke will be more my cuppa tea, loved 2 strokes and the mad powerband but as i get older i find the noise irritating.
a DR-Z is probably closer to the mark, no bigger than a 350 for ease of handling off road as much as anything.

so KLR/XR/XL/DRZ, any others i should think about and any thoughts on which is best suited to a fat old git with limited cash:)

And your point is? Im not a small lad and these are the bikes I recommend?

And your point is? Im not a small lad and these are the bikes I recommend?


It was me being flippant and no offence meant, the WR would scare the poo out of me and be wasted on my requirements. I would imagin he running costs would be quite high compared to a 4 st plodder:)

I used to have to rebuild the top end of my ITs around every 500 -700 miles and bottom end every 2-3k. Whilst i do not plan to use the bike as a regular commuter i would imagine i would put 2-3k on it a year

Oh ok so no bitch slaps to be given out lol. The 450's are proper scary bikes I was lucky enough to ride a few up in Cumbria a few years ago via MCN trade day so we didnt have to pay anything yay. I rode the 450 in the morning and the 250 verson in the afternoon which tbh I found a lot easier ti ride and gave me my confidence back.

my mate owned a DR at the same time and hes an animal rider and even he said the WR450 was sacary to ride but he loved it. So much so when we got bakc he sold the DR to get a WR and turned it into a SuperMotard. Which was a proper giggle to ride when he worked here with.

I looked and still are looking at getting a bike similar to your needs and was thinking the WR250 or a KTM EXC450 due them being not as scary as the Yammy. May use it to ride to and from work over the summer months so its not all off roading falling off all of the time

well said, I hate the ramblers who come from the city thinking they own the countryside when they have a miserable walk on a sunday

stuff your red socks up your ar5e :hjtwofing

back on subject, cant go far wrong with a drz

Glad someone wrote this before i did. I live in the country side witn many green lanes around me that have been reclassified due to ramblers who don't want to share. Most of them for the city too.
Enjoy your off roading while you still can and go for something like a Suzuki DR or Honda XR400.

For that sort of money, your best bet is to make a list of suitable bikes, DT175/250/400, XL250, DR350 etc. and set up a search on eBay. When one comes along nab it. I would recommend you don't ignore two strokes like the DTs. If you don't mind the slightly tinny noise they'll be better engines at that age and for the money. Much, much easier to fix up a two stroke than a four.

The DR400 is indeed a nice little bike. Way too expensive in this case though.

Screwd.

The DR400 is indeed a nice little bike. Way too expensive in this case though.

Screwd.

Don't confue him, DR-Z400 is a cracking bike, DR400 (SP370 replacement) is bit of a dog (6v electrics, poor erganomics & cam wear). Not being picky but one of these are more likely to appear for £400-£600.

Best to look with an open mind & get the 'best value' bike you find in a reasonable amount of time, ie a well looked after, well maintained say XT250 will be a better choice than an abused DR350 in need of bearings/discs/pads/tyres etc - these are consumables which could easily double the cost of a cheap bike.

G

I stand corrected. I've heard of the SP370 but I didn't even know there was DR400 way back when. I always did like the little XT though, very smart looking in black and white (he said, guessing and hoping that's the right bike...)

Ah memories...

S.

I stand corrected. I've heard of the SP370 but I didn't even know there was DR400 way back when.
S.

It was a kind of big four stroke TS185ER if you see what I mean, didn't look too bad in it's time but was useless off road.

My dad had one & we used to do roadtrials (I had an MTX200), 2 of the biggest problems were that the foot rests were low & fairly wide so you got wedged in gullys, also the angle of the swingarm meant that the back would squat under power & unload the rear wheel losing traction. Not to mention the weight of the thing & the poor brakes. Dad replaced it with an XT350 and immediately started getting results.

Oh yeah XT350 - stick that on your list, should get a good one for £600

G

i'd say XR250/400 if you can find one for the right money, cheap cheap is likely to produce a bit of a dog mind you, but as long as the engine is ok, i guess you could get it cosmeticly better in the course of time? but suspension and brake rebuilds could be expensive?
in fact i was offered a 1988 transalp for £650 the other week in reasonable condidtion, could see if that is still about if you wanted? That would be perfect for a large Gentleman who wishes to start green laning ;)

I've seen quite a few XT350s on eBay (since I've been searching for RD350s). The XTs seem to go for £400-£600. Can't go wrong if it's a good one. Such an odd capacity, it won't be that attractive to the masses, they'll all be after 500s and 600's etc for supermotos. XRs are great bikes but not what you're after I suspect. Certainly you won't want a Transalp; from your post you're looking for something under a tonne.

Screwd.

Nothing wrong with a transalp for cheapish, easy reliable green laning