Off road bikes with normal service intervals

[Fallout]

Been thinking about getting an off-road bike for ages now. My first bike was a Yamaha DT125R, and my mate had a KTM. Us ragging about the countryside was an awesome way to start riding and we're looking to get into that again when we can afford to do it.

I'm not really up for getting a high performance motocross bike with a service interval measured in hours. My mates KTM blew up twice in a year because he didn't do any maintenance on it. My DTR, which was essentially a road bike with semi-off-road tyres, was bullet proof, but couldn't compete with his on performance obviously.

So I've been looking about trying to find bikes that are essentially motocross frames, with similar shocks, knobblies, frame etc. but less highly tuned engines. I don't need a super high revving race engine which needs to be rebuilt every couple of rides. I want something 250-500 which is happy with an oil change every couple of thousands miles (or equivalent 2-stoke gear oil change or whatever).

I can't seem to find these sort of bikes though. I've been on the Suzuki/Yamaha/Honda/Huski etc. websites, and none of them really talk about that sort of thing. Anyone know any bikes I should be looking at?

[ogden]

A few bikes come to mind, one of which should fit your needs perfectly. You'll almost certainly have to buy used, as I think some have recently been dropped from the UK range.

Yamaha WR250R - the softened version of the WR250F, which is a stunning little machine

Yamaha TT250R - even softer

Yamaha XT225 Serow - softer still

Suzuki DRZ400

Last time I looked, the Yamaha Offroad Experience in Wales had the first two in their fleet. If you wanted to try them out properly, in their natural habitat, you could do worse than to spend a day there. They go back to base at lunchtime, so you could use the TTR in the morning and WR in the afternoon. Assuming they still use the TTR, anyway.

I spent a day on a DRZ400 with Backtrax in Fuerteventura and it was more than competent for my hamfisted attempt at trail riding and survived me throwing it halfway down the side of a volcano. It's a bit far for a test ride, but if you're toying with a holiday in the sun you could do worse, assuming they're still in business.

WR250R is here - http://www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk/produc...re/wr250r.aspx

KTM might have something, but I only really know their on-road range. There's also Husaberg.

If you can't find something in that lot, you might as well give up.

What's your budget and what are you going to do with it? Recommending a bike is futile until these are answered. For instance if your budget is below £1600 you probably are not going to get a DRZ400.

Biased slightly but you will not go wrong with a DRZ400, they are pretty bulletproof IMO.

They are capable off road, more than capable on road, I did nearly bin mine yesterday mind you cos I leant it over way too far going round an island far too quickly for the conditions and lost the rear end big time, luckily I instinctively stamped it back up with my right leg and I caught it again

Service is 4k miles and parts are stupid cheap.

My bike will do an indicated 90-95 flat out but 80 is best tbh, I've done plenty of mway miles at 85 and apart from a uncomfortable seat, Its fine.

I've had mine nearly two years now and I love it

[Fallout]

Awesome feedback gents, thanks. That gives me plenty to google on for reviews, parts, prices etc.

Originally Posted by ogden

You'll almost certainly have to buy used, as I think some have recently been dropped from the UK range.

This is definitely true and was making searching difficult. The Suzuki website only seems to have 125 DRZs now. It's always a shame when they drop bikes. It looks like the 400 two of you have mentioned is only available second hand, but that's fine because I would definitely not buy new for a occasional green lane hobby bike.

As a side note, we've got plans of buying a trailer and transporting the bikes all over to find the right green lanes, so wale is definitely on the card. When I was a kid my parents used to take me to visit my grandparents in the north, right on the border to snowdonia, and we used to go quad biking around there. Awesome memories. That's why the idea of buying a scrambler and heading up there is calling me back.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

What's your budget and what are you going to do with it? Recommending a bike is futile until these are answered. For instance if your budget is below £1600 you probably are not going to get a DRZ400.

No idea of budget yet, as at the moment I have zero pennies to rub together. This all hangs on me getting a new job this year and have money to play with towards the end of the year. I guess I would be willing to spend up to maybe £2.5k. That's about the limit I could justify spending on a part time hobby. And use is just off roading. Nothing hardcore. So mud, gravel, down roads for a bit too, probably for 3 or 4 hours, maybe a couple of times a month. No crazy jumping or anything. I don't have the ability.

Originally Posted by specialone

Biased slightly but you will not go wrong with a DRZ400, they are pretty bulletproof IMO.

They are capable off road, more than capable on road, I did nearly bin mine yesterday mind you cos I leant it over way too far going round an island far too quickly for the conditions and lost the rear end big time, luckily I instinctively stamped it back up with my right leg and I caught it again

Service is 4k miles and parts are stupid cheap.

My bike will do an indicated 90-95 flat out but 80 is best tbh, I've done plenty of mway miles at 85 and apart from a uncomfortable seat, Its fine.

I've had mine nearly two years now and I love it

Good +1 for the DRZ then. I will definitely put that top of the list to check out. I was initially thinking a 250 would be enough for what I want, cos I don't need oodles of power off road else I might end up face planting into trees, and I want something light to pick up. It's not a 500 or 600 though, so I suppose it's still a compromise on weight.

Google time.

[andrewsmith]

The DRZ4 has been replaced with the offroad RMZ450 (meets the current race rules)

At around £2.5k you've got a good selection, from all the factories

With that budget, a trailer, green lane use only, and road bike service intervals, there would only be one bike on my shopping list and that's the WR250R.

I know I said I wouldn't recommend competition enduro's in the other recent thread on this, but that was because the OP specifically wanted to use it for commuting and as a winter hack, which IMO and as your mate experienced with the KTM, it's not the right bike for the job.

The job you want it to do though, trailer from A to B, off-road use only, 3-4 hours use a couple of times a month, then you could widen your search to KTM's, RMZ's and stuff, so long as you are comfortable with doing the maintenance yourself and don't have to ship it off to a dealer. As Andrew says, there's load of choice at your budget, but most are competition bikes.

no ones mentioned a dr350. yes they might be getting a little old but i use mine purely for road and its perfect and i know many who use them for abit of both and have never had major issues.
Cheap to pick up, service intervals are far apart, bullet proof engine, cheap parts and are a doddle to work on, easy to upgrade and get that extra punch out of to.

[andrewsmith]

Originally Posted by BBadger

no ones mentioned a dr350. yes they might be getting a little old but i use mine purely for road and its perfect and i know many who use them for abit of both and have never had major issues.
Cheap to pick up, service intervals are far apart, bullet proof engine, cheap parts and are a doddle to work on, easy to upgrade and get that extra punch out of to.

Badger what did you pay for yours?

Nowt wrong with a DR350, but on a £2.5k budget and a very specific raison 'd etre, you could buy something that would be so much more fun.