Trail Bike advice please

[Asgard]

I'm just trying to book with yamaha offroad to try a WR ! They claim the 250 is about 130kg wet, so a little heavy ? The MX expereince and Trail rides I did were on Yams though, so I know that they cope with ham-fisted users

I think that must be the WR250R at that weight, which is a trail bike, I have a WR250F which is the Enduro model, lighter and different engine (well different everything really), actually a nice trail bike if you have a van/trailer

[tempesc]

I ride a bit in mid-wales. My advice is to think long and hard about tank range before you commit.

I had a KTM 350 Freeride for 6 years. Incredibly confidence inspiring (99kgs) bike which I really liked, but i couldn’t ride the routes i wanted to ride in a day due to fuel range. Had to trailer it to the campsite, could pretty much get to Strata Florida, ride it both ways and get back to the campsite on vapour - no chance of a loop.

Now using a Husky 701. Took a ride or two to get used to the extra weight and height but once I did it is actually way better as a trail bike than i expected. I am no riding legend (far from it) but I rode it to a gold medal in this year’s MCC Exeter trial on my second off-road ride on it so can’t be that challenging!! 150 mile fuel range has opened up all sorts of happy options and it is actually a pleasure to ride between lanes too (which was not my experience of the Freeride, or the XR400 that preceded it)!

[Nico-D]

The numbers sound good for the 390, but does a small enduro tank catch you out in the middle of nowhere ?
What I found very comforting with the Husky was the TC and the maps - insurance when you get tired !!!
I really like the idea of a 350 with a longer stroke, as I certainly tend to short-shift, and the Husky 250 stalled far too often...

Yep you've identified a weak spot re tank range. My only complaint about the 390 is it's quite thirsty, around 15 km/ litre on modest trail use, my old ktm engined Beta 400 used to do 18 . The injectetd 390 only has a 8 litre tank though you can get 11.5 one from IMS.
If you're looking at secondhand models, the 350 got injection in 2015 and the other 4 strokes got injection in 2016. The latest 2020 models have bigger tanks and revised injection .

If you like to short shift I think you'll like the 390, I never bother revving mine out it just pulls so strongly from any revs.

[johnnyboxer]

The numbers sound good for the 390, but does a small enduro tank catch you out in the middle of nowhere ?
What I found very comforting with the Husky was the TC and the maps - insurance when you get tired !!!
I really like the idea of a 350 with a longer stroke, as I certainly tend to short-shift, and the Husky 250 stalled far too often...

Yep you've identified a weak spot re tank range. My only complaint about the 390 is it's quite thirsty, around 15 km/ litre on modest trail use, my old ktm engined Beta 400 used to do 18 . The injectetd 390 only has a 8 litre tank though you can get 11.5 one from IMS.
If you're looking at secondhand models, the 350 got injection in 2015 and the other 4 strokes got injection in 2016. The latest 2020 models have bigger tanks and revised injection .

If you like to short shift I think you'll like the 390, I never bother revving mine out it just pulls so strongly from any revs.

What's the suspension like on the 390 ?

[Nico-D]

[quote
What's the suspension like on the 390 ?

Seems fine to me, can't say that I have enough experience of modern dirt bikes to make any useful assessment. I know the Sachs fork comes in for criticism from certain demanding riders but for trail riding I find it hard to believe it's not more than good enough for majority of us.

[chunky butt]

I fancy a 390, yours looked great Nick

[Nico-D]

I fancy a 390, yours looked great Nick

You're welcome to have a test ride on mine Steve.
I'm still down south, got some work on a house in Portugal, should be back in France early March.

[Cone]

Of course, the torpedo heading for me as soon I think I know what I want is... I'm in mid-Wales, 100s of miles from most dealers

But only 40 miles from a Beta dealer

If your ever in the Abergavenny area and fancy doing some easyish trails give me a shout

[chunky butt]

I fancy a 390, yours looked great Nick

You're welcome to have a test ride on mine Steve.
I'm still down south, got some work on a house in Portugal, should be back in France early March.

Portugal, nice one Nick, thanks for the offer, will get you back in the ride out loop when your return

[phil_h]

I've read this too many times to keep count now ! Thanks to all who posted
When the lockdown struck I had sort-of made up my mind on a fe350/excf350 and was trying to do a deal, but that didnt come to anything, so I'm still changing my mind every other day
Given how bored we all are now I thought I'd ask some more questions..

I've been thinking about 450s, given that I seemed to manage my 1250 ok round sweetlamb, but it all gets a bit different when wet of course. Having said that, I doubt if I'd go out on trails that were super wet.
There seem to be 3 good choices for (mainstream) 450s:
WR450F, CRF450L and FE450/excf450.
The yamaha seems a similar package to the ktm/husky, 120kg-ish wet but the honda seems like a much more 'old-fashioned' spec, a lot softer tune and a little bit heavier but lighter than 'trail' bikes.
Both 'camps' have their attractions, but... which is best ???