Mad-laners Megathread

Paul, dont be fooled by the DRZ's 'toy like' image, its an accomplished bike , built well, reliable, resilient and easy to ride, im probably heavier than you so no worries with it not coping.

My only, and i mean only, criticism is the uncomfortable seat, my ass is sore today through miles of mway riding stuck in one position.
No disrespect to Col's XT but i prefer the power and delivery of the DRZ, its BMX type handling and feels, to me, more like an off road bike should.
Plus, if you drop it, i can pick mine up with one hand if required, not sure i could the XT.

On one of my vids yesterday, it started to go wrong when my front tyre turned one way in a rut and the bike went straight on, due to the weight i just managed to keep it upright, a heavier bike would have gone down straight away in the same situation.

If you want both, distance and off roading in a long way round type stylee then the XT and similar would do a excellent job.

In fairness, you wouldnt be diappointed with either bike tbh.

[Paul the 6th]

I don't think the DR-Z isn't capable, it seems to have a similar reputation to the sv650 - great entry level bike for noobs and experienced riders alike, easily maintained and modified, big following etc... Just in comparison to the more solid looking Yamaha and DR650's etc. it looks a little bit like a toy (this isn't meant to sound condescending in anyway )..

My budget is around £1500 but the only xt600's I could find were over £2k. That DR-Z in norfolk is only around 3800 miles which is one of the lowest I've seen for the year at such a low price (most others are asking nearer £1800-£2000 for a sub 4,000 mile DRZ).

I'll see what he says and go from there. I should really get my finger out and polish those downpipes ready for eBay!

Or........
There's something like this...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1997-KAWASAKI-...item3a5eadfd96

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-XT-600-...4#ht_500wt_928

This was what mine was advertised for and I knocked him down to £1500

I chose it 'cos

• it's comfortable enough to sit on a motorway at 80mph all day long (which Phil will tell you you can't do on a DRZ),
• it's a really basic carbed, air cooled (no radiator to put a stone through), and bulletproof engine that any mechanic can get parts for and fix, if you break down in a mountain village in Portugal, 50 miles from the nearest town,
• you can load it up with panniers and tents
• can carry a pillion
• can run on whatever grade petrol, or whatever oil you can get your hands on (there's guys on Horizons Unlimited forum who are running them on oil for a diesel engine 'cos they are in the middle of South America and that's all they could get).

Originally Posted by Paul the 6th

I don't think the DR-Z isn't capable, it seems to have a similar reputation to the sv650 - great entry level bike for noobs and experienced riders alike, easily maintained and modified, big following etc... Just in comparison to the more solid looking Yamaha and DR650's etc. it looks a little bit like a toy (this isn't meant to sound condescending in anyway )..

My budget is around £1500 but the only xt600's I could find were over £2k. That DR-Z in norfolk is only around 3800 miles which is one of the lowest I've seen for the year at such a low price (most others are asking nearer £1800-£2000 for a sub 4,000 mile DRZ).

I'll see what he says and go from there. I should really get my finger out and polish those downpipes ready for eBay!

No condescendingness taken
Reason i chose one was i had been on a rideout with Luckypants and couldnt believe how much the DRZ fooked off when pushed, i was hooked right there i think.
Parts are dead easy to get and 'dirt' cheap (see what i did there ) which is a bonus if you're gonna drop it a few times.
I also intend to get some SM wheels for mine next year so i have 2 bikes in 1.

I have my eye on a remus exhaust on fleabay as we speak to make it sound a little more throaty

Sounds like me and Col are having a bike off reading the posts lol
Im gonna go ner ner nanna ner ner next

[Paul the 6th]

woah woah woah, slow down a second - what's the xt600e like for pillion? The one and only thing bothering me about the DR-Z is that I'm planning on using it for a bit of winter commuting/road fun etc... but the 398 single doesn't like sitting at 80-90 on the motorway for very long (at best, the top end will need rebuilding, at worst it'll blow the engine apparently?)

A 600 with similar amount of bhp would be more suited to the motorway stuff I've got in mind (and it'd be easier to get to and from greenlanes)...

By the way this has nothing to do with finding an XT on eBay for £1700 (god dam you ebay!)

Originally Posted by specialone

No disrespect to Col's XT but i prefer the power and delivery of the DRZ, its BMX type handling and feels, to me, more like an off road bike should.

I think that's just a case of what you are used to, I find the XT's throttle response better off road, because it's not as snappy as yours, if you want power you have to ask for it, but when you do ask for it you get it in bucketloads.

The DRZ does feel like more of an off-road bike, and that's because it is (they are a good strong bike Paul, and the front forks on them is top notch, it carries my 16 stone at 30-40 mph across the rough stuff no problem), but muscling the behemoth XT through the mud does make you feel, and sweat, like a proper man!

[Paul the 6th]

that's the exact xt I've just found on ebay col just messaged to ask if it's still for sale....

and while we're at it, why oh why are ALL the DR-Z's in dorset, or surry, or sussex, or warwickshire, or gloucester.. I've only seen 2 up north - one on ebay in darlington and one at york suzuki which was brand new with a twisted swingarm so I wasn't allowed to sit on it...

XT could be a strong contender here phil! Whatchya gonna do about that eh?!

Originally Posted by specialone

Sounds like me and Col are having a bike off reading the posts lol
Im gonna go ner ner nanna ner ner next

Paul, I did appreciate the help and was only messing with you.
But if you do want to borrow the KTM sometime, its there for you.

Colins right about the 520 not being great on the road, but then mine is set up for off road use.
Road legal (just) knobblies, no mirrors, tuned shocks, bash guards and a steering damper but it does shake its head well at 100 mph on tarmac!

something else worth looking at is the ktm 400.

Often overlooked for the 450 but still a proper weapon!


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2002-KTM-EXC-4...item230a0f7287