Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Good to know.

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.

I meant the CRF450L, rather than the thoroughbred MX version 450:

https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/range/adventure/crf450l/overview.html

tamed for the road

Yea I think if there was a Beta Alp 4.0 local enough I’d recommend to look ag it - it’s basically a DR350 in a dress.

DRZ400E, pretty sure it’s your fault I looked for them before settling on the DR350SE.

Ah yeah! Different fish for sure. I haven’t seen too many of those about yet but I’m sure they’re great.

Your DR is spot on mate, especially as you found such a nice one. No need for more really unless you want to do tougher enduro or track stuff.

phwoar

XR400R are a bit overweight and boring.

It is a Honda. Who am I joking I love Honda. By my calculations the XR400R and DRZ400e have identical power to weight ratios (XR - 34HP with 125kg Vs DRZ - 39HP with 145kg).

Posting this here to bookmark for myself to read later

https://advrider.com/f/threads/poor-mans-adventure-bike-build.1132283/

Not quite as nice now it's had some mild abuse! Certainly a lot dirtier, and a bit more rust...it was such a great buy. I love it every time I ride it, even just to grab a coffee. That wheelie on wednesday still has me laughing. Can't wait to get back on some green lanes too.

I had the mechanics do a standard service on it last week (valve clearance, air filter, oil filter, oil, compression check, visual inspection, brake pad and rotor check, etc etc). Although I can do the basics myself I wanted them to give it a real check-over because they were concerned after the river dump. A thousand miles or so since the swim and it's been running fine but can't be too careful. Even with the auto-decomp system, apparently the engine had a compression of 130.

Looks better without the rear rack and bags, but they are so damn useful. Been slowly turning it into a RTW (at least, RTS: Round The Shops) machine. Recently fitted a beemer Dakar screen, and frustratingly every ebay seller of 4x6 DOT/E6 led headlamps has messed me about and I've had to get a refund, so I still have a spill-tastic H4 LED bulb in there. Would like to fit the aux spotlights at some point too.

Got a different end can waiting to be fitted too if I can wrangle a suitable adapter link pipe, hopefully offset a bit of the weight and get a more wholesome sound without going obnoxious.

Could do with getting the suspension serviced, apparently that's where the money should be spent.

Also a little tempted to source a spare carb spring so I can try chopping one a little shorter and see if that give it a bit more pep off-idle without messing with higher revs.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1987-SUZUKI-DR600-DR-600-DAKAR-DRY-STORED-10-YRS-EASY-MOT-SPARES-OR-REPAIR/224325269019?hash=item343ad3f61b

Do ittttttttt

Not quite the London weapon I'd need

Grom is more likely

Also

Damn, yo.

That reminds me, I’ve been accumulating parts for the GN125 to make it more of a fun-bike. Agonising whether I waste money invest in the big bore kit as I’ll be cracking open the engine to sort out the overdue cam chain job anyway.

Changing search parameters there are a lot of not-unhappy users of the kits on Sinnis and other GN clones. Now I have the DR350 these would all be shits and giggles mods on the GN anyway.

Really need to do the camchain so I can ride it. Bike’s sat for a few months waiting for me to tidy enough space to disassemble.

I love Big Red too but the XR400 is not their finest. Never ridden one on tarmac but it was not much fun off road. Slow turning, sort of top heavy and a pain to start. Vibes too.

I think those #s are for the DRZS - the E has more compression, bigger cam and the pumper carb as stock. It’s definitely the one to get - way more pep than the S / SM models.

E Start is such a bonus for off roading. I wouldn’t buy another bike without it unless it was a two stroke.

Trying to boot a hot, four stroke single for the nth time when you’re hot, arm pumped, leg pumped and generally blowing is the frigging pits.

Okay I'm sold, DR-Z400E it is. I very much doubt it, but the only other way some Big Red enters the garage is if I found a XR600R at a reasonably price. Like I say can't see that happening, and I'd probably loose both legs after a fortnight, but damn it'd be worth it.

If you find a DR350SE come up local, give it a serious consideration. It’s half the cost of the DRZ when the price is right, and cheaper to do the mods if you so wish. Similar to the DRZ, the trail version has pumper carb as standard, but lots of dual sport versions have been converted - saves around £300 and a few hours.

The standard DRZ tank is super tiny, be prepared to replace with a larger one. Mechanic has one that has been pieced back together over a few years, and he moaned it runs empty after a couple of short commutes.

You’ll love it!

The guy that I bought my XR off still had one of their old 600 Baja race bikes with all the XRS Only race kit on it - heads the lot. It was a really cool old thing. He said they used to get absolutely creamed by the KX500s though. Hence the arrival of the 650R - developed specifically for Baja. Cool story.

Would love a big thumper. You know, for prosperity.

This one is sweet....

Gonzo bikes. Love em.

This was the King though, pre-XR650R....Imagine how much fuel they went through!

And the legend JC on the 1x bike proving pigs can fly....

Just gonna leave this here...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=chduzRVo8Cc

What do you really want out of it? Where do you really see yourself spending most of your time?

It's a question I've been pondering a lot lately having gone through a few bikes and wondering what I really need and where my capabilities lie. I remember riding S/E Asia very fondly on 150cc machine ragging it through terrain it wasn't designed for.

No offence to everyone rating a CRF, but outside of @Jung who here has the proper free range terrain to really exploit it. I feel like modern motorbikes have a bit of an identity crisis perpetuated by youtube and the 'feel' for adventure.

I'm all for creature comforts, but weight and simplicity of design really appeals.
Current crop of bikes, the Tenere 700 really appeals for it's capabilities and all around goodness. Still retains some of that old school bike simplicity with improved tech.

Older bikes, the Versys 650 is very capable when you dig through forums. Still has character from the motor and does all terrain very well. Easy to repair too.

GS is arguably one of the best bikes ever made, but it's one of those things like modern cars, servicing is a terrifying experience. The ABS servo alone just leaves me cold, random final drive failure just ended it for me; unless you have the cash to support it.

Not sure where I'm going with this, but I'll go back to where I started. What do you really want to do with the bike?

@Jung I bet @jambon wishes they were stateside...

https://advrider.com/2001-honda-xr650r-be-like-johnny-campbell/