dual sport

You really need to explain the difference between a 600cc single cylinder dual sport and an inline 4 cylinder crotch rocket... They are night and day different. The bigger engine, when it comes to dual sports, will allow the bike to be much more comfortable on the road and capable of holding highway speeds.

Your budget is certainly doable. Look at the price difference between a 400 and a 600cc dual sport and you'll find they aren't much different. I believe new, the DRZ600 is within $200 of the 400 (I think the 400 might actually be more expensive) and the WR250 is right in the ballpark with both of them price wise. I would get the size you want and best suits your style of driving. I would be looking 350 or higher for mostly on-road use.

As far as gear, get decent gear and wear it all the time when you're on the road. It doesn't mean you need to spend a fortune on it though. I wear work boots or leather hiking boots when I ride, always jeans (I wouldn't wear shorts on the road), a decent summer jacket with the slide pucks built in (mine cost about $120, I've also got a leather jacket for when it gets cold), gloves (protect your hands and help absorb minor vibrations for longer rides) and of course a helmet. A DOT approved helmet would be the minimum, if you can get ones that are rated for racing, even better but they're more expensive. Everyone will have their preferences but for a bike with no windshield, I would recommend a full face helmet for the road and possibly a dirt bike style helmet for the times you know you'll be either off road or have mixed driving (on/off road) since a full faced wouldn't be fun off road. Regardless of the style of helmet you choose, make sure it fits properly. It should be snug but not tight. Try on a bunch since different manufacturers shape their lids a bit differently.

 

I got a 2003 Suzuki DR650 and in all honesty, those can be found used for less than a similar used DRZ400. Mine has 13K on the odometer and she still thumps like the day I got her at 6K. Purchased it for $2500, spent about $1000 to properly get it and myself on the road, and spent about $800 on modifications (jetted the carb, slip on exhaust, new tires and sprockets). Just be weary that a 600 or larger bike may not be out of reach.

As for the parents, there is not much you can do to convince them if they are intently focused on engine size. My 650 has a power to spare, but it really gets it's kicks on torque. Hammer the throttle in any gear and she pulls hard. While a 650 may seem like a lot of engine for a beginner, the single cylinder of the DR650 keeps it very managable - I never feel like I am out of control on it (unless being stupid).

I may not be very old and wise, but the one piece of advice I can give you is to try and plan a bit for the future. I know a couple of people that bought a 250 ninja as their first bike, which is a great STARTER bike, but after their first season had it posted on Craigslist while looking for something bigger. I would have no hesitation about recommending a big bike for a starter, just be weary that it can be a bitch to handle in tight trails.

 

Yea, for 5k you could EASILY get a 400cc with gear. Easily. The DRZ400 would be about perfect for you from the sounds of it. If you don't mind kickstarting I'd get the XR400 over the DRZ. If you can find an RFS KTM 400, hop on that.
My first dual sport was an XR650R. I wanted to be able to do trips, not struggle to cruise down the road, but still have some offroad abilities. Plus I had just watched Dust to Glory .

I actually think 250s are bad first bikes for people after their teens. Have to do a lot more shifting, and have to keep it in the power band to make any power, which is where people make mistakes. 400s you are able to tank around on in lower gears, but still able to move the bike without having to slam it.

This is all granted that you are able to ride. There are some peeps out there who are just not meant to ride bikes. They lack a couple motor senses that are required to not kill yourself or make bad decisions.


http://asheville.craigslist.org/mcy/3674194765.html <<<<< Perfect. He'd probably go $3500 cash, maybe even 3 depending on how long it's been for sale.

 

Or this
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=870405

Or this
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=869922
P.S. if you get the one in Jacksonville, there is a really good chance I could drive it up to Eastern NC for you, as I have to go to Fayetteville soon.

 

Not a bad idea. Thanks for the advice

Thanks man! More good info!

Again, thanks for your input!

Thanks for all the help. Just by doing a quick search, I was able to find about 20 DRZ400's in my area from $3-4,500 so the money aspect is possible. The 250 was something I mentioned because I thought initially it was a good idea to "ease" them into it. I was talking to my dad and he said something along the lines of "I'm proud and surprised that you are calling to ask my permission about this because you could have done it if you wanted it" type thing, but was still giving me a hard time about the whole idea (being a concerned dad I guess). From what everyone has said, it sounds like a 400 would suit my needs better. Just got some information selling to do now

 

A 600 is a decent sized engine any way you look at it but the dirt bike 600's are pretty lazy compared to a sport bike. Plus the gearing on a dirt bike won't allow you do reach the speeds you can on a sport bike. In my opinion, the biggest issue with the sports bikes is they beg you to go faster and push them harder. At 50 MPH, they feel like you're barely moving and you're only in 2nd, maybe 3rd gear and only about 1/2 way up your usable RPM range. On a dual sport, when you're going 50, you feel like you're going 50. 100 MPH on a dual sport can be a little un-nerving since they're generally no windscreen and the suspensions are softer and not meant for prolonged high speed runs like that.

I guess in short, as long as you're looking at a dual sport, don't get too hung up on the engine size. There are exceptions, obviously, but generally a dual sport 600 will be much, much, much more forgiving and lazy than a sport bike.

 

^^^^ Exact reason I sold the Ducati. Every time I rode it, it would tease me about going so slow. Going over 100 was easy, but you always wanted to go faster.

 

That is one of the reasons I'm really thinking about ditching my sport bike and going back to a dual sport.

 

Been there done that, dirtbikes only for this Type A guy. I have nothing but full bore mode on a motorcycle, Yes even on the street, thats why I have no more street bikes, even sold my supermoto bikes. Its not me I was worried about, its the people that dont pay attention and there are a lot of these people and the number grows quickly. I have to drive my truck like a motorcycle expecting everyone to do something stupid!

But this is in So cal where everybody is multitasking while driving, IDIOTS!

 

You sir, are an idiot. Crash once on the road and you'll change your tune

 

Shifting in chucks? Screw that

 

my buddy has a drz650 with mods forsale...barely ridden and only seen mild dirt roads...never abused..if interested please pm me....bike is located in red hook ny 12571...will meet up to deliver possibly

 

Don't plan on crashing. If I do though, at least I was able to ride for years in comfort, instead of riding all padded up like a crash dummy. I bought my bike to enjoy the ride. When I'm covered head to toe in padded gear I'm sweating my balls off and not having fun.
If I was going out to a course or something like Tail of the Dragon, I'd button up, but for cruising around it's not going to happen.
When I'm riding purely offroad, I button up.

 

Why?

 

My shifter is steel no little rubber thing. And if you go down your fucked. No ankle support. May as well wear flip flops. AGOTT all gear all the time

 

I've read some comments about the DRZ-400S/M being "too heavy for a beginner bike". I believe it is a little over 300 lbs?

 

The only thing with the 250 is that I'm afraid it will be screaming at me on my commute to work. It is 25 miles up a mountain and I work 6 days out of the week. Do you think a 250 with me (I'm ~165 lbs) and a passenger could get me/us to and from work reliably?

EDIT: Even though I do agree with you that it would be a better beginner bike, I just don't want to be trying to sell it next season cause I already want something bigger. Ain't got no time fo dat.

 

Really? Man so many different recommendations lol. It will be a tough decision for sure. I just need to find some peeps with different bikes who trust me

 

Can you not search unless you're a member?

 

If you're looking at 600+ The 650r is hard to beat. You literally can't kill them. Or if you want one with the estart, the husky 610 is highly liked in that department. I think 06 was the last year of the blue/yellow paint with carb. 07 last year with carb, and first year of red/white/black paint. 08+ went to efi. Lots of people don't like efi due to complications on trips.

A 250 would be annoying on your commute. A 400 would be fine. People ride 400s on trips all the time with ease.

Check out the ride report section of ADVrider. Good place to see bike capabilities.

KTM 525 is also an amazing bike. Hard to find though bc they are cherished. Might be able to find a ktm 400exc with the rfs engine though. If you find either, I'd hop on it.