Trail Bike advice please

[phil_h]

Hate to say it but it sounds like a rather boring crf250l is perfect

Actually, the crf250 was one of the first bikes I thought of, as I have fond memories of a day at a supermoto track riding one I'd talked a racer (supermoto das) into hiring to me... he was the same weight/height as me, and had raised the gearing to make it a bit novice-friendly, and set it up with wet/cut-slick and warmers... yes, it was a weapon that I slowly started to cut myself with as I got faster It was a hell of a day but taught me that I really dont want a race bike at my age
Anyway - what I seemed to find was that the road-legal crf was incredibly porky compared to that particular weapon, and you had to look at the year and all the letters after the crf and consult a bible to understand what it actually was.

[garyboy]

.. I had a crf250x for a few weeks before a really sore rear end made me part ex it for the crf250L
the L is basically a cheap steel frame around a cbr250 road bike motor.
the weight really shows on technical bits and bogs.

the x was a terrific bike, but too high for me and too narrow a seat … and my mates kept telling me it would need a lot of care and oil changes and would burn out on a long road run ?? .. but looking back it was a really good bike, if tall.

I was told the R was a better bike than the X .. but who knows?

[phil_h]

You're going to get loads of suggestions but I'll chip in with mine anyway, Beta 390.
Yes its relatively high maintenance ( compared to a true "trail bikes") though handbook on mine says 30 h oil change interval which is longer than many enduro bikes....but if you want light and modern.....?
It's worth pointing out that most of the higher maintenance requirements of enduro bikes are under race conditions, most of us old gits aren't pushing them very hard under trail riding conditions so things should last longer.
The 390 Beta has a relatively long stroke motor and pulls very strongly from low revs so never feels too buzzy and is a smooth motor too.

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... but I made a mistake when I was trials riding and got a 350 for that reason, when I reeeeeally should have kept to a 250 Traded it in for a 250 when I realised what was happening and got better results

[phil_h]

KTM 690/ Husky 701
150 kg with 74 hp
Good offroad, works on road
10.000km service interval
Masses of parts/ bling available to turn it into the bike you want.
Expensive though.

I had a 640 duke on the road for a while... didnt really mix with traffic 'down south'. I loved it when I could relax on an open road, but it was not forgiving when you stop paying full attention Amazingly, I like the gs even better (once its rolling) and it has some amazing TC/ABS for when you arnt paying proper attention !

[phil_h]

I have a Husky 701 and its fine on stuff like Sarn Helen but on the technical stuff its not a good choice unless your some sort of man mountain or an off-road-god.

You're talking to someone with a big GS !!! And I'm a long way from a man-mountain, but I want to get proficient enough so I can take that along Sarn Helen and similar ? I've read enough to think thats not too stupid a thing to put on a bucket list Or is it

I also have a wr250 which I consider perfect for the Welsh trails, but you have to get there first...I trailer it.

If you want to actually ride to the trails any recommend the middle route with something like a DR350 or if you want modern a CR250L, look up Minkyheads posts here.

If you intend spending time in the Brecon Beacons don't spend too much as the BBNP like calling the plod who might steal your bike if you happen to wander onto what the BBNP seem to think is their land

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

[daveuprite]

Re. the Beta range (i.e. the current Beta range), you get the same frame/brakes/forks etc whichever of the four strokes you choose. Even the prices are almost identical. The only thing that changes is the engine, and you just choose the one that best suits your riding style.

The 350RR is the quick revvy bike.
The 390RR is a long-stroke luggy bike that does it all
The 430RR is powerful, fast and best in the hands of a really good rider
The 480RR is the big, rangy, lazier bike with heaps of torque - basically an off-road-centered dual sport

But they are all woods bikes if you want them to be, great on single track as well as wide fast stuff. All fuel injected and mapable, and all about 110kgs, with slightly lower seat height than the competition. But unlike KTM and Yamaha, Beta is a small family company which makes bikes in numbers just small enough that they slip underneath the exhaust/induction regs. Which means they run correctly from brand new and don't need mods to get them running smoothly. You should get 150kms out of a tank, but there are big tanks available off the shelf from IMS etc.

Beta used KTM exc engines until 2010/11 and then their own motors after that. They all changed from carb to fuel injection in about 2014.

Dave

[phil_h]

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

[phil_h]

Hoorah! Just got a place at Yamaha ORE so I can ride a 250R and a 250F hopefully
Unfortunately its not til april 24th

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

Do intend to van/trailer the bike to the trails, or ride to them on the road?

Former (assuming you have budget for a new bike) GAS Gas Ranger or Beta X-Trainer...both 'tamed' versions of 2-stroke enduro bikes.

If the latter, I'd go for a four-stroke: either a road-orientated 250 (Honda, Fantic) or a big enduro 4-stroke (like the Beta mentioned above) that will pull a high-gearing and also 'tractor' you through the worst of the off-highway stuff.

Dunno where you are in mid-Wales but this dealership is very helpful

http://www.pure-adrenalin.co.uk/

[fozzy17]

e ride south and mid wales and i use my 790r but have now got a old school rmx 250 looked at a crx250 and a wr250 two stroke 3 of the boys i ride with all ride drz400 bullet proof and around 2k for a decent one, a few years ago we rode to northern spain they didnt miss a beat, find a nice one pay a little extra plenty of shitters about