Adventure Bike Rider Forum

picos mestizo wrote:

The Sarge wrote:This thread is getting more and more amusing for me owning a recently restored DR350, KTM 250 EXC-F and only recently selling a DRZ400S, not forgetting my 990ADV. Not one of the bikes in the stable is perfect for a ' do it all ' mount because every ride I do is different, ever day I ride is different , so I go out with the intention of getting the very best out of whichever bike I am riding that day. My state of mind, current level of fitness, the people I am with, the weather, all effect how I ride that day, and for me it doesn't matter what I am riding, just to be out there is what matters. There is no 'do it all' bike I could find fault in any of them, my advice is adapt to what you're riding and the conditions you are in and the bike you're on will become perfect !

Sarge

Not being a "Sky God Enduro Trail Racer" I also use a bike that suits the occasion.
I have a DR200 Djebel, DR250xc Djebel, CCM 644 along with a Twinshock DR370.
They all have their different uses & love riding all of them when conditions & venue suit.
The Djebels have been called upon on several occasions to fuel up a thirsy very fast KTM smoker. So I guess on those trips the KTM's wouldn't have been first man home should the lanes have been reduced to a race track :whistle:

Nailed it (thumbs)

The best trail bike I ever had was my DT175MX. It went everywhere my later enduro bikes went and was more manageable in tight stuff because it could be ridden like a trials bike. I could also ride it flat out most of the time - not something I was good enough to do an a Maico!
I went 2 up camping in lakes on it and used to play on my own little MX course on it. It could just get up Blakey Topping (now a protected SSI or something)when a Moto Gori with 7 gears, 40+HP and 13" suspension couldn't.

What's the modern equivalent - a Gas Gas 300XC?
If I could ride where I used to ride I would buy one of these tomorrow.

The real issue is that the modern equivalent trails don't exist in the UK. So since we are limited to rubbly tracks and back roads there seems little point in having a competition bike.

Therefore my vote goes to CRF250L, KLX250s or WR250R (if you can get one).
If you could get a 2 y/o DR350 that would be ideal. Or a CRF250L motor in an "X" chassis would be a great concept.

The WR is the best looking.

What I can't understand is that the KLX250 (as a bike available new currently) seems to be on everyone's short list.
The KLX 450 is 3x the bike the 250 is. It's easier to ride because you don't need to be in exactly the right gear like you need to be on the terribly underpowered 250, it's smooth torque is your friend on muddy trails, you don't need to ride it with the throttle on the stop between trails and its stock suspension has more travel and is of better quality.
The oil and filter doesn't need changing for at the least 2000 miles with trail use, which is a year on UK trails, so I'd be changing the oil on the 250 after a year anyway.
As a trail bike is far better than the 250.
I know I am pissing into the wind on this one!

went on big trf ride in thetford yesterday, most bikes there were enduro bikes ktm . a few big bike and some odds and sods all went round ok . it seems to me that most riders need the bling factor to look good. if you have the money great, just ride anything its about be out there having a good time that simple..my wr 250x went round fine and then rode home , it about being out not what you ride.

halfpint wrote:went on big trf ride in thetford yesterday, most bikes there were enduro bikes ktm . a few big bike and some odds and sods all went round ok . it seems to me that most riders need the bling factor to look good. if you have the money great, just ride anything its about be out there having a good time that simple..my wr 250x went round fine and then rode home , it about being out not what you ride.

Indeed & that's the truth

Spunk £7k on a new whizz bang KTM to look like David Knight, just to ride piss easy trails whilst pouring scorn on someone who turns up on a £1500 trail bike in army camo gear

johnnyboxer wrote:whilst pouring scorn on someone who turns up on a £1500 trail bike in army camo gear

Reminds me of a great meme I saw yesterday...

"Why are you taking the piss out of the fat person at the gym, when you have clear visual evidence, that they are doing something to try and solve the problem?"

halfpint wrote:went on big trf ride in thetford yesterday, most bikes there were enduro bikes ktm . a few big bike and some odds and sods all went round ok . it seems to me that most riders need the bling factor to look good. if you have the money great, just ride anything its about be out there having a good time that simple..my wr 250x went round fine and then rode home , it about being out not what you ride.

What a great day out it was.
I tail ended 10 with Tony on his 350 KTM leading.
My little old Dr200 Djebel never missed a beat & surefooted me with great comfort everywhere. (thumbs) (thumbs)
Sorry guy's I was also wearing Camo GoreTex over trousers & Yellow Wellies covering my dry feet. :cheer: :laugh: :woohoo: :woohoo:

johnnyboxer wrote: Indeed & that's the truth

Spunk £7k on a new whizz bang KTM to look like David Knight, just to ride piss easy trails whilst pouring scorn on someone who turns up on a £1500 trail bike in army camo gear

£1500? Mine was £800 and I only used camo bottoms with my steel toecap boots

Steve

Johnnyboxer.......
Spunk £7k on a new whizz bang KTM to look like David Knight, just to ride piss easy trails whilst pouring scorn on someone who turns up on a £1500 trail bike in army camo gear[/quote]

Bollox. Inverted Snobbery.
If it's your hobby spend what you can afford. Get the best bike for your budget, good equipment will help, not hinder your learning curve.
If you want to really spunk some brass, buy a 20 grand car for your daily commute and a weekly trip to ASDA, when a Kia or a Hyundai will piss the job.

why does one need a trailer for a `do-it-all` bike ?