dual sport

At the moment, I am leaning more 400 than 600, and more DRZ than WRX. The people who seem to shy away from the EFI are the ones who are doing ridiculously long off road trips, which I will not be doing any time soon. The DRZ requires more maintenance than the WRX though right? I keep in my head telling myself that the WRX (from the research I've done) would be more reliable and a nicer ride on the highway, but I can't lie that I'm a sucker for the DRZ body and accessories galore.

 

Yea. The DRZs are pretty tough. I highly doubt it requires more maintenance then the wrx. There's a reason why so many people ride them all over the place. They're super reliable. Only down fall I've ever really heard is the weight. Unless you want to do some crazy offroad shiz, you'll be fine. Tons of aftermarket parts, and how-to articles to get more power and cut weight.

Carbs are easier to work on too. Usually only takes about thirty minutes to take it apart and fix an issue. Makes it real easy to diagnose the problem.

 

Yea, those 525s are amazing machines. Much better then the 530 that replaced it. I keep going back and forth on my next bike. 525 or big ole' Beemer. I have the 250 that I can take in the tight stuff, and a BMW would be great for trips where I only plan some dirt roads. But the 525 is just sexy. Heard it has similar power delivery to the xr650r, similar bulletproof-ness, and similar ease to work on. I'd be in trouble if one popped up locally for sale. I check CL daily

If a RFS 400 popped up locally I'd buy it without thinking. Sell the 250, and just go slower on trips.

 

I was also thinking the same thing. Why else would the DRZ seem to be so popular if it was a "pain" to maintain. I just hope I will be able to find a stock bike (I'm weird like that) so I can start from scratch, so to speak.

 

The only thing you really need to worry about being stock for reliability reasons is the engine. Farkles or mods like aftermarket suspension parts, exhaust, clamps, pegs, headlight, etc..... Don't really effect the bike. Plus it'll save you money in the long run bc you'll probably end up getting it. If not, you can EASILY sell the parts or trade plus cash for someone with the stock parts. Maintenance history is what I'd go by when buying a bike. If you show up for a test ride and the bikes chain is all rusted out or the fluids are nasty, I'd pass. But if it has some Gucci mods, or a busted/hanging taillight, don't let that be a deal breaker.

 

KTM EXC 350. done.

 

Pretty cool topic for a truck site.

I don't have much to add that has not already been mentioned.

My current bike is a street tagged 2003 KTM 250exc 2 stroke.
I installed an oem stator from a 300exc, added a small Sonalert horn, have all the race stuff from when it was my race bike still installed. I do commute 10 miles with a few miles of it at 55 /60. Bought new by me.

Riding buddy has a CRF450r motocross machine converted to DS. His old race bike, he bought new.

Other friend has a KTM LC4. Again bought new by the guy that owns it.

And lastly another friend has a DRZ400s. Bought used.

The CRF is really cool and now lives in Colorado at the guys summer home. I helped build this bike. I have ridden it here in Florida and it is just a bit heavier than in race form. The bike is fun to ride but not practical on road, the gearing is a limiting factor if you want to really dual sport it. For short street hops to link trails, it works fine. Max speed is about 65ish.

The LC4 is the enduro model. I helped the owner make a bunch of mods that he wanted to do. Swapped to proper springs, Pro Taper bars, he added a TM Designs chain guide kit, and a bunch of other small things. The best mod besides springs was swapping to the FCR carb. The bike is stupid fast on road. Would be a great true dual sport machine, awesome on packed dirt roads or wooded trails, totally crap in soft terrain.

The DRZ, is now apart for some maintenance. The bike was bought used and ridden a lot. The owner made no real upgrades except for a carb swap to an FCR. His words were it made the bike ridable off road. The bike being apart is from miles of use and needing a cam chain and such.

Each of these bikes has a different personality. My 250 2 stroke is kind of buzzy at speed on asphalt, but rules off road. Is a pain because it runs premix and race gas. It is light at about 225, holds over three gallons of gas. I do my own work and made some head mods and jetted it for off road. A bit gurglely at times on road with the power valve but not bad. The suspension was done by myself and is dialed in for FTR Hare Scrambles.

The CRF is nice for trail and fast riding off road. Unfortunately, the bike is top speed limited, so when the CRF and KTM are on powerlines or similar, my KTM will run 85 flat out on dirt, so the CRF is let in the dust. The two stroke is also easier in the sand and overall in tight woods. Both bikes make similar peak power.

The LC4 could rule dirt roads, problem is the bike is heavy and it shows. While it has huge top speed gearing, this kills it for tight woods, and the bike needs to be ridden by Superman in soft sand for any distance.

The DRZ, I have never ridden it that I remember. The owner did share a lot of his stories of rides on the same terrain I ride. For sand it does work but is a bit underpowered to go fast. The weight is there too. But as an overall package, it possibly is the best balance of performance, street ability, mild off road and cost.

North Carolina area has different dirt than many locations. That harder packed soild would help the LC4 and DRZ off road. The race bike it would help also, just not as much.

Tires will be huge in how the bike feels to the ground.
I now run Dunlop 606 on the 2 stroke with acceptable results. I do occasionally forget, and wonder why the front end is sliding up a berm instead of squaring it off.

Best of luck in what you buy, I would say as a first bike you will love it and learn, your second machine will be more tailored to you.

Want to add, a long time friend bought a big Husky TE. He planned on doing the DS thing in Mass., sold the bike within months, just wasn't fun on account of the heft and limited riding places.

PK

 

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/mcy/3660788212.html

 

It would be too close to my budget ($5K), even though I would prefer a stock bike. Call me crazy.

 

This is my DRZ and my vote. The only draw back is weight by comparison, 324lb dry. I use it every day to commute to work and back. I also like to do some off roading, trails, mud, whatever. It requires almost no maintenance except for some common fixes, oil changes and general loving. Great bike.

 

Nice looking bike! I am about 6' 170. How much of a bitch will it be to stand it back up if I were to lay it over?

 

It wouldn't be hard at all for you to stand it up.

 

Thanks. I guess it just sounds like it would be a pain. Probably a ridiculous question but...how uncomfortable is it to sit two? My passenger would be 4'11" and 110 lbs.

 

I am 6'2 ~200. It is super easy, only had to do it once but either way. No biggie.

 

2-up on a small dual sport isn't overly fun. It's not bad if the passenger is small but many times the suspensions are too soft for that kind of riding. It's doable and not terrible for short distances but I wouldn't want to do it regularly. The larger dual sports that are more geared toward touring aren't bad with 2 people.

 

I had a drz for a while. Basically you just feed it oil and gas. None of the crazy maintenance requirements like KTM, Husky, ect.


Mine had a 440 kit. Gave it some real ass. Wish I never sold it

 

Kind of what I was thinking. Its ok, I ain't trying to drag her with me every where I go anyways

Looks sweet man!

 

There are KTM's that don't require "crazy" maintenance...

I have a 2009 690 enduro R - services intervals are at 6,000 miles - the motor pulls like a freight train - and at 305 lbs. dry weight it's manageable off-road ... but between road and off-road, on-road handling is a lot more confident.

 

Well when you ride over 20k a year... 6k is insane. Especially when you have to touch the valves. DRZ you dont mess with... same with my SV

 

If your gonna be in the bush with it you better be damn well more the capable of lifting it if you happen to dump it.