Help me make a decision - Should i buy a XT350?

[Orpheus]

Im a quite indecisive ditherer at times, so maybe need a nudge.

Ive fancied a second, cheap basic bike for a while so i can gain a bit of mechanical knowledge whilst tinkering and to have something to use in the depths of winter. Put a bid on ebay for one on saturday, lost, the got second chance offer.

Does anyone has any experience at all of this bike (or even similar), anything i should be wary of? Just a bit of knowledge would be nice.

Thanks for any help.

[B1k3R]

Guttless and no fun. Had one for 2 weeks and got bored. Sold it at a loss.........less long term pain that way.

[yorkie_chris]

They are alright for trails, crap on road. I thought about one for this weather and muddy use.

But, I can walk to work at the moment.

[Orpheus]

Oh. In that case what might be a better idea?

90% of use will be on the road i suppose. Ive never riden off road before at all, just kind of liked the idea of having somethng to try on. And something to take apart/learn with/ruin.

[B1k3R]

SLR650 Just sold one and great fun upto 60mph. The problem with a single is you need the cubes and 350 is not enough. Plus an electric start in my opinion. Singles are a bar steward to kick over.

[Amplimator]

Singles are a bar steward to kick over.

I have to disagree.

A well maintained single should be piece of pi$$ to start. If you cant boot it then (A) your a wuss, (B) your technique sucks or (C) summits prolly wrong with it. I quite happily manually booted my CRF, my EXC and the 660 SMC i briefly owned no probs at all. In fact, i preferred booting them over manually....made me look double 'ard. :p

[Owenski]

I have to disagree.

A well maintained single should be piece of pi$$ to start. If you cant boot it then (A) your a wuss, (B) your technique sucks or (C) summits prolly wrong with it. I quite happily manually booted my CRF, my EXC and the 660 SMC i briefly owned no probs at all. In fact, i preferred booting them over manually....made me look double 'ard. :p

+1 (apart from the bit about looking double hard, Im too short so it kinda makes me look double daft). NOwt like kicking a bike as u drop into the saddle though, proper brings back the buzz of biking as a kid (as it usually meant I'd just binned it, the motor was flooded and I'd be spending the next few mins repeating the start manvour until it lived again.

If you've got the inside leg for it and the budget then EXC400 is about as nice as I recon you cant get and it right on the money for that line between been decent for road riding yet light enough to really hammer off road.

[B1k3R]

I only mentioned a button start because I suffer from short leg syndrome. Perched on a peg on the bike on a side stand while you boot it wasn't for me. I have had a lot of kick start bikes and I would say no problems if one foot can reach the ground when the other one is kicking. With the XT I coudn't do this.

[littleoldman]

re "Im a quite indecisive ditherer at times" if you can't decide then do it. This advice has got me into no end of bother. Hope this helps