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

[-Ralph-]

As the number of different bikes mentioned in this thread goes to prove, there is no such thing.

Most of the bikes mentioned on this thread won't motorway cruise at 90 mph.

The closest thing I've ever found to a "Do it all" bike are the Yamaha XT's, but even that's neither great on the motorway, nor great in the mud.

You need to choose what you want the bike to be good at, then compromise on the rest. If you want a bike to be good at everything, then you need to compromise on everything.

[SteveW]

A "Do it all" Green Lane bike should be able to travel shortish distances on the road between lanes, it should be pretty light and manoeuvrable, should have the right balance between enough power and not beeing highly strung, it should be cheap and easy to maintain, with good parts availability.
I'd say the DR 350 is getting a bit long in the tooth now and most will have been ragged a bit.
The DRZ is more modern and you can still get low milage "S" models that haven't seen dirt.
I guess if you turn a DRZ into an Adventure Enduro, may be the lack of a 6th gear may bother some.

[nethen1]

HAs someone said CCM yet? :whistle: (thumbs)

Xt will go anywhere my balls will take it, any bike... anywhere isnt it, but in comfort, style and with ease road, or off road,,,, ccm

[AndyB]

I can't believe it's got so boring in N.Yorks that JB has dragged this one out again but the obvious answer regarding the best all round green lane bike is whatever the rider owns at the time?

[bowber]

I can't believe it's got so boring in N.Yorks that JB has dragged this one out again but the obvious answer regarding the best all round green lane bike is whatever the rider owns at the time?

The best and most obvious answer yet

But of all the bikes I've had or have the MTX125 and DR350 have been the best of the non competition based bikes and the KTM450exc was the best overall (apart from the seat) I've done 150 mile days on the KTM and with regular maintenance it was fine.

Steve

[Pint Master]

I never understand the praise that the TTR 250 gets.I owned one for 2 years and suffered it from 300 miles to 8,000 miles it was horrible.The decals came off the tank in weeks,the speedo drive packed up after 1500 miles,the starter mech packed up after 5,000 miles a very very expensive fix,every time I rode it something or other needed attention,all these problems are common and well documented,in addition mine threw a stone at the section of the rear mudguard that makes up part of the air box cracking it and letting mud and water into the air box and on into the engine with inevitable results.The bolts and fixings are of Chinese quality, the suspension was crap,the engine was lacklustre and the fueling was poor.The Yamaha was replaced by a KTM I have only recently sold which covered twice the mileage with nothing but service items being replaced and was a joy to ride when compared to the turdlike Yamaha.

[mikeyboy]

image_2015-12-26.jpeg (83.37 KiB) Viewed 1296 times

Nuff said :woohoo:
Maybe a bit heavy on the maintenance ,but I really don't care,I enjoy looking after my machines (thumbs)
I always said I would never own a ktm :laugh:

[SteveW]

HAs someone said CCM yet? :whistle: (thumbs)

Xt will go anywhere my balls will take it, any bike... anywhere isnt it, but in comfort, style and with ease road, or off road,,,, ccm

Nah...The CCM is way better than just a Green Lane bike. You could buy Three DRZ's.
Your XT is too good to be limited to simply a Green Lane bike.....good as it is.

[johnnyboxer]

I can't believe it's got so boring in N.Yorks that JB has dragged this one out again but the obvious answer regarding the best all round green lane bike is whatever the rider owns at the time?

Tis wetter than an Otter's pocket, up 'ere

All I can do is look at the DR350 in the garage :whistle:

[bowber]

I'm looking at bits of mine in the workshop but it a bit wet n miserable to work out there at the moment.