-
Dual Sport decision-making is incredibly painful. It’s not like saying you want a litre bike, or a sports bike, or a track bike, or an all-round commuter etc.
The whole concept is pivoting between two disparities; good on the road, and good on the dirt.
I’ve barely even scratched the surface of what the DR350 can do on the dirt, but I’m totally comfortable with its limitations on the road. Consistent 80mph (on the gps) is doable, so it isn’t screaming/whimpering when doing 70, and I can crawl up the revs to pass something like a lorry (albeit slower than I’d like).
On the dirt, only technique has let me down. I’m not fast and I don’t have the enduro skillset to make the most of any bike.
It’s definitely heavy with the extra rack, bags, bigger tank. On an uphill, cross-rutted turned sideways (wheel 90-degrees in each rut) it needed some asking to get out. But if I had the enduro background I’d never have got into that situation, and if I did it would have been pretty easy to get back out. But, I got out, once I recalled what I’d learned on Cross Training Enduro shorts on youtube.
If I had a lower gearing, or the pumper carb, or simply jumped straight off and gave it a squirt as I pumped the bars, it would have moved much quicker. Gearing alone would have been enough - mine is certainly road oriented at the moment.
When I first looked this time last year I wanted something underpowered. I didn’t want to have too much power that it was impossible to control (or plain scary) on dirt, and wanted to delay the inevitable endorsements from riding three times the speed limit.
Problem for you is you know what you’re doing, you’ve had big bikes. You are correct, though, ditch anything measured in hours if you travel in miles.
£3k for a used 250 just seems too high to me. But maybe it’s a good price. I’d sooner spend £3.5k on a DRZ400 if I could though. For a fun little bike I guess the 250 works, but if I had the cash I’d look at a CRF450 and suffer the consequences!
pdlouche-
CRF450s like all pukka MX bikes don’t make good off road bikes without significant mods. Suspension, flywheel weights, stabilizers, big tanks etc. They’re also crazy on servicing and grenades if it’s not kept up. The 2 strokes are a lot cheaper and simpler to keep running.
XR400R are a bit overweight and boring. Kickstart only is also a big pain in the arse.
Love the Betas - no idea about reliability but they’re great to ride. I’ve only ridden the 4 strokes mind.
I know I bang on about it but the DRZ400e remains comfortably the best all around dual sport I’ve ridden (shy of 10k new KTM, Husqvarna’s etc.) They really are a Swiss Army knife of bikes.
Jung
Despite years of thinking I'd like a fire breathing 2 stroke Husaberg enduro, when looking into it I can't see how it'd work. Like track days, the guys who are really into it are often tradespeople with a spare vans for transporting bikes which makes the enduro service intervals slightly less eyewatering. After a few days of reading online I've come to the conclusion when intervals are measured in hours (or the bike needs an hour meter) I'm out. This admission hopefully opens up some modest green lane touring.
Been playing with the idea of buying another bike this year and something with knobbly tyres makes more sense as opposed to another superbike. Think I've come to the conclusion that a Honda XR400R could be a good allrounder so will keep watching eBay and most likely annoy you all with more questions as I change my mind serval times.
Not to be a be a bad influence but thought this was quite a good deal. Also I get the point about having two different bikes that roughly cost the same as something fancier but ultimately is good at just one thing.