What's The Best, No Nonsense, do it all Green Lane Bike?

PaulinBont · Post by **PaulinBont** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 2:34 pm

Tenere 250?

Godspeed · Post by **Godspeed** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 3:11 pm

MT500

Don't leave it against a hedge, you may not find it again

: DSC_03602.JPG (51.2 KiB) Viewed 1861 times

mancunian · Post by **mancunian** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 4:15 pm

And that one looks like "the hedge" from U2 is riding it :laugh:

scubabiker · Post by **scubabiker** » Mon Feb 02, 2015 6:04 pm

no mention of the mighty C90? surely that is the bike to end all bikes?

johnnyboxer · Post by **johnnyboxer** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 8:50 pm

chrisinflight wrote:The problem with the DRZ narrow box is too many people gear down for trails leaving the ride too buzzy on the road.

Try and ride offroad with stock 15/44 sprockets, it suits me fine. (thumbs) I,ve never stalled and only used the clutch on really steep climbs such as Gatesgarth in the lakes. The higher gear aids traction on climbs.
For those convinced of the need for a 6speed here are some facts from gearing commander.

DR350. 76.7 mph @7500 rpm in 6th
DRZ400. 78.9 mph @7500 rpm in 5th.

Both with 15/44 sprockets. The DRZ has better clearance, suspension, handling, power and looks better so think twice before you trade down for a DR350.

Stock on a DR350SE is 15/41 & with a lower first, so won't the 350 be going faster at 7500rpm than the DRZ - s on 15/44 stock ratios????

StorminNorm · Post by **StorminNorm** » Sat Dec 26, 2015 12:51 am

Godspeed wrote:MT500

Don't leave it against a hedge, you may not find it again

DSC_03602.JPG

Excellent Choice, I'm sorry I sold my MT350, but to be honest they are a bit too heavy.

I now have a CRF250L which I think pound for pound is hard to beat, great on the road and on the lanes if still a tad heavy. But I suppose it all depends on what you class as a Green Lane.

As I'm in my early 50's my Green lanes are much more navigable that the Green lanes my 30 year old friends use.

Surprised no one has mentioned them already !

picos mestizo · Post by **picos mestizo** » Sat Dec 26, 2015 7:34 am

Whatever way you look @ it the DR350 has a bigger & better spread in the gearbox than a DR400.
Dr350 First = 2.416
Dr350 Sixth = 0.826
DR 350 SPREAD = 1.59

Dr400 First = 2.285
Dr400 Fifth = 0.863
DR 400 SPREAD = 1.42

johnnyboxer · Post by **johnnyboxer** » Sat Dec 26, 2015 9:04 am

picos mestizo wrote:Whatever way you look @ it the DR350 has a bigger & better spread in the gearbox than a DR400.
Dr350 First = 2.416
Dr350 Sixth = 0.826
DR 350 SPREAD = 1.59

Dr400 First = 2.285
Dr400 Fifth = 0.863
DR 400 SPREAD = 1.42

That's very good info, thanks

The DR350 just feels right, when the gears are matched to engine's power delivery & torque characteristics

The DRZ 400 s have a very narrow spread of gears & you could potter through a village at 30 in 4th without labouring the engine, on stock 15/44 gearing

Then snick it up onto 5th on open country sub 40 & then that was it, of a bike ever needed 6 gears the DRZ was it

SteveW · Post by **SteveW** » Sat Dec 26, 2015 9:44 am

I've never needed an extra gear on my DRZ when I've been on a Green Lane.
90mph is fast enough.

johnnyboxer · Post by **johnnyboxer** » Sat Dec 26, 2015 9:54 am

SteveW wrote:I've never needed an extra gear on my DRZ when I've been on a Green Lane.
90mph is fast enough.

90 on a green lane, TRF would frown

I'd be amazed too