Economical green laning

[graham22]

Thought you sorted as you were asking about transporting an XR400.

I'd still suggest a CRF230, light, simple, electric start & correct size wheels. Very competent off road until the pace gets silly fast and with a 6 speed gearbox, OK on the roads at 50/60.

I've posted previously that I have one gaining decent results in most road trials I've ridden it in. I did change the jetting, Honda will supply a needle & jet for £40 and this really lets the little bike slog - not a torque monster but it will hold in there if you end up slowing down in 3rd/4th.



Alternatives would still be a CRM250 as suggested above or KMX200 but either will be 20years old now. Avoid anything Chinese or Chinese engined (the Rambone above or the CCM230) as they are still poor quality. A KTM200 may also do but may be a bit buzzy if things get sticky.

eta - CRF230 by Royal approval:

Edited by graham22 on Monday 7th April 13:01

[Seagoon]

Its been said, but worth enforcing - as a beginner, you must have a leccy start. I saw an experienced riders head literally turn into a soft tomato trying to kick a hot XR400 into life - only for it to stall once he eventually did get it going. Funny as anything for everyone else, but it will be the thing that makes you throw the bike into the hedge and walk home sulking.

My experience says 250 4 stroke KTM - from seeing my ones headlight slowly go out at the bottom of a river - to plug out, upended, air filter squeezed dry then running faultlessly in about 5 minutes - impressive.

Have fun.

[dern]

graham22 said:

Thought you sorted as you were asking about transporting an XR400.

It sold sooner than I was able to go and see it.

Cheers.

[Fleegle]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/yamaha-ttr-250-enduro-/1...

Here you go. Bulletproof and cheap. It's probably not too far for you look at either

I've known quite a few people start up on these, moving on to a lighter bike once they've got the hang of it

[dern]

Fleegle said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/yamaha-ttr-250-enduro-/1...

Here you go. Bulletproof and cheap. It's probably not too far for you look at either

I've known quite a few people start up on these, moving on to a lighter bike once they've got the hang of it

Cheers, already got a watch on that one. I also PM'd bitwrx about his as I missed his post that he had one that might be for sale first time round.

Thanks,

Mark

[pozi]

I can second the recommendation of a TTR250, mine is the later model with blue plastics and once I had fitted a set of Michelin Comp tyres proved more than capable around the Surrey green lanes.

[dern]

Took your advice...



Needs a tiny bit of love with cleaning the electrics in the kill switch and for some reason the clutch is quite heavy but maybe they're all like that. Won't take long to find out, doesn't look like there's much too it.

Then it's off out to play. Thanks for your advice, much appreciated

[francebiker]

Wise choice of bike, I recently bought a load of these in France to hire out to our customers, (in case you're interested more info here http://www.ridelimousin.com/trail_bike_hire.html) as they are excellent for people who arent neccessarily experienced or skilled enduro bikers as they are very easy to ride.

There are still parts available and quite a few aftermarket upgrades also, I get parts from http://www.totallyttrs.com/ and advice on how to maintain them is available on the TTR forum.

Cheers,

Torsten.

[hman]

good choice, I started on one of these.

Clutch being heavy is possibly cable on the way out try lubing it first .

some pointers :

always kill the engine by stalling it against the back brake, otherwise the sprag clutch takes a beating and will one day pack in - resulting in the starter motor remaining engaged and stripping the pinion gear.

Keep an eye out for rust on the tank, especially around the saddle/tank interface and the lower edges.

Great bike, tough as nails, I lost one over the side of a mountain in Spain whilst a gorse bush broke my fall, hoisted it back up about 30 feet, pushed the button and carried on. If it had radiators that would have been the end of it!

Edited by hman on Monday 14th April 23:03

[dern]

hman said:

Clutch being heavy is possibly cable on the way out try lubing it first .

It's got a new cable as the old one broke so I'm assuming something somewhere is gummed up a bit. Will lube the cable too though.

Thanks for the other pointers.

Cheers

[Hooli]

hman said:

always kill the engine by stalling it against the back brake, otherwise the sprag clutch takes a beating and will one day pack in - resulting in the starter motor remaining engaged and stripping the pinion gear.

Do they not have an off switch? and why would using that damage the sprag?

[hman]

using the off switch allows the possibility of the piston kicking back against the compression as it comes around after the down stroke

The sprag clutch is a weak point especially on older bikes and (as the clutch engages in reverse and tries to turn the starter) that swift kick back wears them out

Result = fked sprag clutch and knackered starter pinion.

fked sprag clutch and knackered starter pinion + no kick start = no riding.


All totally avoidable if you stall against the brake as the piston doesnt kick back against the sprag clutch, because you are braking that movement through the driveline.

You can tell if the sprag clutch is on the way as you will hear a "donk" or a "crunch" when you use the kill switch - thats the backlash of the kick back against the one way clutch and the pinion gear.

[hman]

Has the TTR been out yet?

ps 13/48 gearing FTW

[dern]

It's only been up the road. Seems ok but feels pretty slow

[bitwrx]

dern said:

Fleegle said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/yamaha-ttr-250-enduro-/1...

Here you go. Bulletproof and cheap. It's probably not too far for you look at either

I've known quite a few people start up on these, moving on to a lighter bike once they've got the hang of it

Cheers, already got a watch on that one. I also PM'd bitwrx about his as I missed his post that he had one that might be for sale first time round.

Thanks,

Mark

Sorry, haven't been able to get to my PM's for a few weeks - old email address, only available on one computer!
Glad you're sorted now.

Get that sprag clutch changed! Had to get my engine cover welded because I ignored the bang when I turned the engine off

Good luck with the new hobby.

Edit for touchscreen typo

Edited by bitwrx on Sunday 20th April 23:22

[dern]

I've been reading a load of stuff while waiting for parts for my bike before I can take it anywhere worth going (nothing serious, brake pads etc). Do you wear all this body armour stuff for green laning? I was envisioning a quiet day out digging myself out of muddy holes rather than leaping 15 feet in the air and doing scissor kicks but are knee/elbow pads worth bothering with?

I was just planning on using some old textile kit I have which has a modest amount of padding in that I was happy to use on the road but having read the gospel on the net it looks like I should be dressed as robocop

Worthwhile precaution or a load of bks?

Will get a cheap mx lid though just to keep the road one in one piece I guess.

Thanks,

Mark

[y2blade]

dern said:

I've been reading a load of stuff while waiting for parts for my bike before I can take it anywhere worth going (nothing serious, brake pads etc). Do you wear all this body armour stuff for green laning? I was envisioning a quiet day out digging myself out of muddy holes rather than leaping 15 feet in the air and doing scissor kicks but are knee/elbow pads worth bothering with?

I was just planning on using some old textile kit I have which has a modest amount of padding in that I was happy to use on the road but having read the gospel on the net it looks like I should be dressed as robocop

Worthwhile precaution or a load of bks?

Will get a cheap mx lid though just to keep the road one in one piece I guess.

Thanks,

Mark

For greenlaning I wore MX lid (your face will get too hot in full face lid) and goggles, textile jacket (with liner removed so nice and cool) with built-in elbows and back protector, MX bottoms with good quality knee pads worn underneath and proper MX boots.

[dern]

y2blade said:

For greenlaning I wore MX lid (your face will get too hot in full face lid) and goggles, textile jacket (with liner removed so nice and cool), MX bottoms with knee pads underneath and proper MX boots.

Forgot about boots, am getting some 2nd hand mx boots from a mate. I'm sure I've got some old gloves kicking about somewhere too... had a clear out recently which is always a mistake.

Thanks,

Mark

[y2blade]

dern said:

y2blade said:

For greenlaning I wore MX lid (your face will get too hot in full face lid) and goggles, textile jacket (with liner removed so nice and cool), MX bottoms with knee pads underneath and proper MX boots.

Forgot about boots, am getting some 2nd hand mx boots from a mate. I'm sure I've got some old gloves kicking about somewhere too... had a clear out recently which is always a mistake.

Thanks,

Mark

Mark I ended up buying loads of gloves, different ones for different conditions/temp.

Gloves and me are like MissB and her shoes


enjoy
Chris

[Fleegle]

While it may sound excessive to wear all the kit for a pootle off road, you just never know what you are going to land on WHEN (not if) you fall off

I wear an all in one that has chest, back, shoulders and elbows all built in. It gets hot in there but its saved me some injuries in the past