ON / OFF Roader What one ???
 

I am thinking of getting an on / off road trail bike what do I buy. Had a couple of goes on a mates 250 Yamaha great fun but hard work need to get fitter.:lol:

There's quite a few to choose from, but consideration for road use would probably mostly be about top speed (i.e. you don't want to be doing much motorway work on a DT50!). But the off road aspect depends on what sort of off roading you want to do... green laning, motoX, trails... what do you think you could manage to drag out of a muddy hole?

I think a bike made as a lightweight supermoto would be a good bet, and my vote would go for a WR450. KTM450 is nice too, and there's a beautiful CRF on ebay at the mo.
A spare set of wheels for mx tyres and you're larfing!

Both the KTM and WR are great bikes, but if you are new to off-roading then I would advise against them. They are both full on dirt bikes (the equivalent of buying a ZX12 as your first road bike!) and are extreme to say the least.

You can be certain that you will fall off over and over again...so I would suggest a bike you don't mind bending a bit and learning your trade on first.

I was in the same situation a couple of years ago and went for a 1999 DR350 enduro (See avatar) after much thought and advice. These are now superceded by the DRZ400 which would be an ideal choice for a bit of everything (green laning, enduro, the odd trip onto a dirt track).

If you want something just for Motox then thats a different story.

As a 'beginner' you could be getting yourself into more trouble than fun if you opted for something too focused. A friend of mine who has been riding green-lanes/enduro for years has just changed from an old Honda CR250 2 stroke to a KTM450 4 stroke...and at the moment he is still trying to get used to it...and if he was honest with himself, he would probably swap it for something a bit less 'violent' in an instant!

You said it yourself, that you had a hoot on a 250...so perhaps (obviously depending on your budget) a Honda CRF250, DR 250/400 or something like that.

And as a matter of personal choice...I would always go down the route of a 4 stroke.

Harv, i just sold a KTM450 EXC, didnt find it too mad, maybe a bit too tall, it all depends on how you twist the throttle. They are very light, easy to throw around, has an electric starter, which is a must, easy to work on, the only down side is maintanance, you have to be very regular with them. Apart from that loads of guys round here have them, though many green laners are giving up because they are closing lots of by ways now. Too many bl**dy do gooders around.

agree with that harv.

i got on pretty well with the WR, but like you suggest, i started small and progressed. Although i see the likes of wr/ktm450 as middleweights, there's certainly a lot of progression to make from them onto bigger and better things!!

People adapt to off-roading in different ways; some are just able to get on with it and others struggle... i crew for a friend who races enduro, he took a ccm250 green laning a few times then bought a wr450 to race and finished 2nd!

So RR, probably best to start with something smaller as harv says, then see how you take to it. And if you need a test rider.... ;)

Hear what your saying about the green-lanes Adam...The local Ridgeway is now closed for most of its length to motorised vehicles...:puzzled:

Its been a public right of way since the year dot I guess...no more because of a few law breakers and a few do gooders with nothing better to do with their time.

Makes me mad justing thinking about it.

[CRM250] cough [/CRM250]

Take a look at my site for all the info you will need regarding the CRM, and dont worry with it being a stroker, 7900 rpm redline means that 40k before a rebuild @ £450 its no wonder why it holds its value well. granted at 120 odd kilos its not the lightest but it carries its weight well and makes a superb road bike also with a top speed of 100mph and will cruize all day at 80 still doing about 35 mpg.
I have a late 99 AR model, but i would plump for a good clean Mk3 from around £1700 upwards

[Edited on 31-1-2005 by crm250]

If it's any help BDG(Shawn) does loads of off roading and has recently changed from a 400KTM to a 250-you just don't need anything bigger apparently-and he's a BIG bloke.

John

First thought is the bike going to be mainly for off road fun with very little road use, or will it be used for commuting/running around as well? This affects what to chose, also what sort of budget?

I would agree that KTM 450/WR 450 may be a bit much for a novice.

Rough guide i would suggest
Honda XR 250 or 400 No electric start though but very reliable and novice friendly.
Honda CRM 250 (2 stroke)

Suzuki DRZ400- v quick engine

Yam WR 200 (2 stroke)
Yam WR 250 (gotta rev it mercilessly)

Kwak KDX 200/220 (2 stroke)

KTM 250

As a starter bike i'd stick with these, avoid converted MX bikes, and obscure model imports, Huskys, Husabergs, Gas Gas. Actually Gas Gas do some great bikes but their quality control is questionable.

Loads of stuff advertised in TBM (trail bike mag) along with a guide to second hand bikes in current issue, or Trials and Moto Cross News for more adverts.

I got myself into this last year. Some mates are regulars and have given up road bikes because they enjoy the yorkshire off road scene.I bought a KTM 250 four stroke. As a novice to off roading i find it has plenty of power is real easy to ride but not made for the road at all.I bought it purely for off road and i dont think i could have bought anything better.