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Sounds like you're all covered for advice, but fairly recently bought an offroad bike so here's my 2p worth... Essentially there are 2 types of offroad bikes, the ones you want to take you to the trails (Africa Twin/BMW GS) and the ones you want to ride on the trails (KTM/Husky 250). That's the continuum, and there's various ones in between. You just have to decide where you want to make your compromises depending on where you live or how you use it.
I appreciate it's hard to figure this out as only took me 20 years! For exploring the local lanes a CRF250/300L will be perfect, but if you want to ride enduro or MX it'll be like taking a Calpol spoon to a knife fight.
jambon-
Essentially there are 2 types of offroad bikes, the ones you want to take you to the trails (Africa Twin/BMW GS) and the ones you want to ride on the trails (KTM/Husky 250). That's the continuum, and there's various ones in between.
Or rather, the ones that people rode all the way to ABR festival and then crashed at the first hint of a rut (Africa Twin, BMW GS, aka aspiration bikes), the ones that people brought in the van that laughed at how easy the track was (enduro bikes, lightweight dual sports, aka dirt bikes), and the ones in between (T700, DR650, XT, KL-something, etc) that did the road miles with tolerable levels of pain and then didn't mind anything not-technical.
You just have to decide where you want to make your compromises depending on where you live or how you use it.
I've mentioned before the friend who did Little London enduro track on his KTM990 Adventure R and I couldn't keep up on the DR350. He's a huge South African who was on bikes on the farm before his feet touched the ground. Aside from the occasional use of the wife's SV, it's his only bike. It fits him because he's super tall and broad, it fits him like the DR fits me. He goes everywhere on it, road miles, trails, technical trails, because it's his one bike.
Me? I sat on it once and refused to take it off the side stand.
I appreciate it's hard to figure this out as only took me 20 years! For exploring the local lanes a CRF250/300L will be perfect,
It's the closest modern equivalent to the 90's DR350-era dual sports, and for all its shortcomings, it is built to a cost and it will work reliably. Just.... not fast... not wheelies... not massive hill climbs with power to spare. Basically, it's just a dual sport.
but if you want to ride enduro or MX it'll be like taking a Calpol spoon to a knife fight.
And that's why a certain member here got the very-spendy CRF450 which is a proper dirt bike, which I'm still a little jealous about!
I'll stick to my 90's Calpol.
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the ones you want to take you to the trails (Africa Twin/BMW GS) and the ones you want to ride on the trails (KTM/Husky 250)
I discovered a compromise doing nav rallies in Ireland. Riding trails on a GS you do it in groups of 4, because you'll never get the bike out of the bog without 3 helpers. It's still a bit crap though. The people with a DRZ and a van had the best time. And they didn't break anything.
pdlouche
nick_h.
My goal over the next year is to try various bikes until something clicks. Currently have the street scrambler which will be used for all the B roads around here for the next few months and then will swap for something different.
Next on the list is a dual sport/enduro bike, living next to Salisbury plains means there is plenty of BOATs to explore.
Is buying a 250/350 4 stroke KTM or Husqvarna a bad idea? I'll probably have to employ an armed guard outside my garage but I'm more thinking about servicing etc.