| Author | Message | ||
     Spike |
I've been pondering over this for the past few days and I'm hoping you guys can provide some insight. I've recently come to the realization that I don't enjoy riding my Buell nearly as much as I used to. There are many reasons for this, but none of which relate to the bike itself--it still rocks. I could go into more detail, but that would deserve a thread of it's own. Mostly I'm just disappointed with not being able to legally ride the bike the way I want to. I'm thinking I'd have more fun and less stress if I went back to playing in the dirt. The idea of buying a dirt bike comes to mind every few months, but usually goes away when I realize that owning a dirt bike without owning land necessitates owning a truck. The obvious answer would be to buy a street-legal dirt bike that can be ridden to some appropriate riding grounds. This also means I would still have a motorcycle for commuting. The question then is "which dual sport to buy?" From what I've heard NC has made it nearly impossible to get plates for a bike that didn't have a road-worthy title to begin with, so I'm limited to the bikes that were street-legal from the factory. It's been my experience that smaller bikes are more fun, so big dualies like the XR650L and the KLR650 probably won't cut it. Despite having some motocross experience in my youth, I'm out of practice and even more out of shape, so I don't know that I'll need the capability of a 350/400. On the other hand, if I intend to use the bike as an occasional commuter it'll at least need to be capable of interstate speeds even if it's not comfortable up there. That makes me question bikes in the 250/200cc range. I'm currently trying to dig up info on the XT225/350, DR200/350, and of course the XR250L. I've also always been fond of the fat-tire TW200, but I'm afraid it would be a little too beginner-oriented. Anybody have any seat time on any of these bikes? Are they capable of interstate speeds with the appropriate sprockets? Would they be suitable for playbike duty under a 220lb adult rider? Am I just plain nuts for wanting to replace my XB with an entry level dirt bike? Thanks in advance. Mike L. '04 XB12R | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Of course you are a little nuts | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
but who isn't when it comes to selecting a new ride.  I might suggest that you hold on to your Buell, and add one of these Suzuki DR-Z400S or the supermoto version. I have never ridden one, of course, but my nephew Ben, who knows all about everything, says it is the weapon of choice now a days. And it seems to do just about everything you want. He usually is on the money:-)  \ | ||
| Reepicheep |
An XR650 is big, but it does dirt well, and can commute like a street bike, and has great aftermarket support. You could probably get a solid runner for $3500 or less. Those BMW single dual sports look interesting as well, and based on Court's data point, you might be able to score one of those in good shape for under $4000 as well. To be honest though, given my choice of either, I would probably take the XR. Simpler and cheaper to keep up (I suspect). | ||
| Stou |
Don't get a dirt bike under 400cc. A 250cc 4 stroke is really not useful on the road. Not enough power if you have to use it on the highway. Like Gentleman_jon wrote, a DRZ 400S is the best bike to do dirt and road riding. If you really decide to sell your XB (which I will not if I was you.... you'll regret it!) you can also buy another set of wheel and do a Super Motar with it. Or keep your XB and find a cheap XR250L or something similar to do the dirt riding! | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I think a dual-purpose bike should be as light as possible. Eventually they day will come when you will have to drag its dead butt out of the woods to the nearest road. I had a '89 KLR250 and I looked at the kawasaki sitein 2004 the bike was exactly the same! drum brake and all. Now they seem to only sell KLX250. They are finally new. | ||
| Hardcorps |
Ulysses | ||
| Phillyblast |
Jon, Your nephew is indeed spot on. Picked up a DR over the weekend. Lot of fun and great as a commuter bike. | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Spike, I have in my stable a TW200 which my 14 year old daughter has mastered. In my opinion is too underpowered for a 220lb fella, I also have my buddy's KLR250 which I feel is also underpowered. I do own a DR650s which is currently undergoing a total top end rebuild, I kinda starved it of oil and am now paying for it. The 650 is the cats arse for an off road commuting bike but its heavy, if I had to go with another it would be the one above. The DR-Z400, light and nimble but making the same power at the 650 if not more. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Yes. for a full adult, the KLR250 will suck. At the time, I was 6'2" and 110 pounds  I had no problems with the power when I first got it. It did feel doggy when I got above 150 pounds though. I wore that poor thing out. I sent it to the junkyard with 28K on it. Its cam chain got all floppy and it was going to cost $450 to fix while the junkyard offered me $400 for the thing. I did some awful things on that bike. Stairs at highschool stairs at Boston common pegged it at redline for hours on the highway going 85 who knows how many times I dropped it.... I evaded the cops the most with that bike. In conclusion, I was a little 17 year old bastard and it was the perfect bike for me at the time. | ||
| Medic_2512 |
Your not crazy, i`m going to the Suzuki dealer this weekend. I`m really serious about selling the XB and getting the DRZ 400 Supermoto or possibly the KTM Supermoto. | ||
| Rubberdown |
I too am considering getting a DR-Z400.... and a 125 for my 12 y/o boy. But, I'm keeping the XB. | ||
| Chasespeed |
I ahev been wanting a DRZ for a while...perfect for me....adn would be fun as heck back north...ok..getting bored with this road...uh, trun here....and grin... Ridden a couple dual sports, but never owned one.. Chase | ||
| Rokoneer |
All the '06 Husky SuperMoto's are coming in with 'open' (as in NOT 'off road only' titles) Here's a pic of my 510, which weighs all of 240 lbs.  | ||
| Chasespeed |
Oh, I think I will have to check that out when I get back...last Husky I rode, was an absolute ANIMAL, tons of torque(well, copmpared to my 2 stroke, KTM 250)... Chase | ||
| M2nc |
Spike, call me when you are ready to off road. | ||
| Medic_2512 |
Rokoneer, i`m looking at the Husky`s too. The 510 is my favorite. I think you should sell it to me and then buy a DZ400. | ||
| Medic_2512 |
After riding a Supermoto bike, thats all i want to ride now. Its that much fun! | ||
| Mikexlr650 |
spike, i own both an xb and an xr650l. if i could only have one bike (6 currently) it would be the xr. the xr is heavy, specifically top heavy but it still rocks off road. at anything below pure motocross speed it is wonderful and it will commute just fine. i've done 500 mile days on it and it is the only bike i own in which my hands don't go numb. all that being said it is no xb, you will miss the precise movements of the the buell, there is very little that can compete with that chassis for "feel". with how cheap an xr can be had (their the same all the way back to 1993) you might want to pick one up before you sell the xb and try living with it for a month or two as your only bike. don't worry about the year or mileage, upkeep is far more important. if the oil was changed it'll run forever. | ||
| Mikexlr650 |
oh yeah, check out the windy ride vid/tramp thread on the quick board and you can see my xr on some nice roads. just ignore the lame wheelies, some day's your on others your not. | ||
| Koz5150 |
How is this, I just saw a 1993 DR650 sell on ebay with a Buy It Now price of $1,700. I wish I would have had a few extra buck laying around last night... | ||
| Spike |
Thanks for the advice so far. Unfortunately, I'd have to sell the XB to make room for the dualie. Part of my motivation to get the dual-sport would be keeping my license. I stopped by the local Suzuki dealer after work today to check out the dual sports. They had two of the DRZ400s in stock, one S model and one SM model. The SM looks like a lot of fun, but if I was going to keep playing in the street I'd just keep the XB. The S is a really nice bike, but it's a bit more dedicated than what I'm looking for. I'm not necessarily looking for the overly-capable dirt bike, I was thinking of something smaller and lightweight that's just fun to toss around. I realize the 250s are going to be quite wheezy on public roads, but as long as the bike will reach the speed limit without coming apart it'll suit my needs. Have any of you ridden the XT225? I came across this article that makes it sound mighty capable for it's size. The guy takes an XT225 on a 700-mile trail ride with some guys on XR400/600s and a DR350. At first they expect the little Yamaha to have trouble keeping up, but over the course of the ride they realized that not only could the 225 keep up, in some places it left the bigger bikes behind. http://www.thumperpage.com/articles/Serow.html Thanks again, Mike L. '04 XB12R | ||
| Eor |
I'm a big fan of the BMW F650 Dakar..its on the portly side, but is capable of comfortable highway travel or commuting. Short of single track trails, climbing rocks, or stump jumping, it is a capable off pavement machine. It has some nice touches available...ABS and heated grips. Beef up the front suspension a little and you have a dandy canyon carver. The Rotax engine is solid, but early FI models were a bit prone to surging and stalling. The dual spark models eliminated that. 60-70 mpg is common and the bike has a 250-300 mile range on a tank. Lots of aftermarket accessories. An excellent online support network similar to BadWeb... www.f650.com Because of its weight, it wouldn't be my first choice for off pavement riding, Nor would it be my first choice as a cross country machine because it is a bit underpowered. But for riding a couple of hundred miles on pavement and then doing 50 or so on fire roads in an afternoon or over the course of a weekend... I don't think there is a better bike "out of the box." | ||
| Jlnance |
I stopped by the local Suzuki dealer after work today Where did you go? The one around the corner from Ray Price has always treated me very well. Well, except they keep trying to get me to trade my Blast in for an SV650. But other than that, top notch. | ||
| Tsispyder |
i have an 05 DR650 im tryign to sell or get rid of. i guarantee you you wont find a better deal, and i can get it to NC in a weekend! | ||
| Spike |
Where did you go? Barnett's Suzuki/Ducati, right around the corner from Ray Price. | ||
| Jerseyguy |
Spike - I just went through the opposite experience of yourself. I had both a DRZ 400S and an XB9S. I ended up eBaying off my DRZ because I just wasn't riding it enough and using the cash to upgrade to a new XB12SS. Even though I have a motocross track here at work, I still just wasn't getting out enough to warrant the two bikes. The DRZ400S is street legal by title, however I had added knobbies, lower final drive ratio, and minimal pseudo street legal lights etc. It was decent in the dirt but rather tall and heavy. It was OK on back roads, but not good on the highway. When I was riding in the dirt I wished it was a KTM, and on the highway I wished I was on my Buell. Dual sports are a compromise and if you can live with that, get one. Don't even consider anything less than a 400 or I think you will be really disappointed on the highway.  | ||
| Tsispyder |
spike you interested at all, ki can get you pics and more specs, its brand new!! And just to put in my 2 cents ont eh smaller bikes, I rode a DR200, and it couldnt even get into traffic, i rode the drz400sm, has the same get up and go as my DR650, however, it lacks the top end mine has for some reason. The DR650 runs up at highway speeds very well, no wobbling, (with the street tires on anyways) Great handling and very reliable. (Message edited by tsispyder on October 25, 2005) | ||
| Xring |
I agree with what Jersey says about power on the street. The last DP bike I had was a Yamaha XT350, and I was disappointed (if not actually frightened) with it on road. It was just OK for commuting, but anything faster than that, out of the question. I also found that I didn't enjoy dirt biking like I did when I was in my 20's. (I'm 40 now) Back and shoulder aches combined with the generally worthless street/trail tires made the experience frustrating and painful. And I stay in relatively good shape year round, through triathlon training and gym work. I'd love to have a dirt-only bike to ride around the farm and for goofing off (practicing wheelies, etc) but my XB will handle any street-legal duties I need. Good luck finding the perfect bike, Bill | ||
| Scitz |
I've been dreaming about the Suzuki DR-Z400SM lately. A local cycle shop owner has one and been tricking it out and it looks cool. If you wanted to you could always replace the street tires with something more suited for off road. A bike you can take to track days or off road. Also makes for a cool urban street fighter. I wish some of the other manufactures would produce more supermoto bikes, I think it's a growing niche. |
