What green laning bike?

[f13ldy]

I promised myself I'd do it this autumn/winter but just browsing the classifieds I've not got a clue what model of bike I'm looking for!

I've heard of the Suzuki DRZ400. That's it. What are the equivalent Yamaha/Honda/KTM variants?

[Stig]

It really depends on how hardcore a bike you want.

KTMs are probably the 'purest', but then you have Honda's CRF, Yamaha's WR etc - but all three will be more expensive than the DRZ (and the DRZ is better suited to road use too IMHO).

Speaking as someone who had a DRZ and used it most weekends for green laning (before DEFRA shut most of the Ridgeway ) I'd heartily recommend it. Cheap to buy and run and can handle most stuff you'll lob at it.

It would be a great first trail bike, then if you feel the need to splash more cash you can look at some of the other marques. But unless you're taking it uber seriously, I'd probably not bother.

Edited by Stig on Wednesday 7th September 13:56

[RizzoTheRat]

I quite fancy an MT-350. Too heavy for enduro stuff but fine for green laning and virtually indestructable.

[Stig]

RizzoTheRat said:

I quite fancy an MT-350. Too heavy for enduro stuff but fine for green laning and virtually indestructable.

Until you drop it

[RizzoTheRat]

That's why it's too heavy for enduro, the idea behind green laning is to not drop it as often

[3doorPete]

RizzoTheRat said:

That's why it's too heavy for enduro, the idea behind green laning is to not drop it as often

That's the idea....

I really enjoy my DRZ - until the going gets really slippy (the weight up high and over the front causes problems).

Even enduro's it's a laugh, if not competitive and it certainly has enough power. The only real issue is weight - when you come off initially it's hard to pick up and when you start to topple, you can easily go down where on a light bike you'd catch it.

I've found the following DRZ mods essential to make them good off road.

30mm Bar risers
Renthal high bars (these help riding standing up as stock bars are way too low).
Bash plate that covers water pump (goes up and round the sides a bit).
Handlebar guards.
14/47 sprockets - same as DRZ400E (DRZ400S is over geared for green laning as comes wit 15/45)
Raise tickover
Remove side stand cut out switch assembly and bridge under seat.
Remove mirrors

A race back box also really opens up the mid range and bottom end.

KTM's are a lot better, but you have higher maintenance, less bullet proof, chances of an expensive engine rebuild, no ignition key etc. If you live next to the lanes or trailer to events then they are cracking. If you ride on the road a fair way, or want to occassionally park it at the shops - they are out.

XR400 Honda's are a good buy too, but are just a bit worse at everything than the DRZ. Air cooled so simpler though.

Here's mine.

[pozi]

I will do my usual flag waving for the Yamaha TTR250, reliable air cooled simplicity, low maintenance, kick and electric start, reasonably light and 6 gears means the road bits are not overly painful.

Yes the hardcore stuff will trounce it off road but I wanted something that I did not need to fettle after every outing, hence for green laning it ticks all the boxes for me.

[poo at Paul's]

DRZ is good allrounder. I have a wr450 and it is immense, BUT for greenlaning, you're forever changing the oil on it, holds about 900ml and is changed every 300 miles or after every "good day out". I think the DRZ holds like 3l so it last a bit longer.
Hwoever, depending on your type of greenlane if it is local stuff, not too hardcore, even things like Yamaha Serrows are awesome. Bullet proof, no spannering and will just get through anything, far softer power delvery so less wheelspin on rocks and steep loose stuff, lower, so you can paddle through and up things. Not Hardcore at all, but almost unstoppable.

The number fo guys I know who have hung up their WRs, CRs and gone for a Serrow later in life is surprising, and has also bolstered Serrow 2nd hand prices! Get a good one for £1800 and you wont lose cash on it.
The steady option, but worth considering. The hardocre stufff is amazing on "fast open stuff", (I've done over a ton off road on the Yam which is pretty intense), but remeber, officially, for green lanes, the speed limit is 30mph...

BTW, Green Laning for the weekend in Wales or Derbyshire etc, with a bunch of guys is some of the best biking fun you'll ever have!!

[Hooli]

poo at Paul's said:

but remeber, officially, for green lanes, the speed limit is 30mph...

Really? it was legally NSL when I used to lane in a Landy, not that we normally did much over 20mph as it raised too much dust/tended to damage the track/cars.

[madal]

ktm 1 of the best off road bikes i have ever owned

[f13ldy]

Thanks for the excellent replies. I'm in Sittingbourne in Kent so not sure what the trails are like on my doorstep but I can't imagine them being the toughest in the land.

The DRZ400 is looking like an excellent candidate, I'm not into extremes of maintenance, I'll change the oil/filter and wash it. So reliability is a big factor so the KTM although awesome is probably out of the question.

What's the insurance like? I currently have an 09 R1 so expecting cheaper but do I need to declare I'll be going down the lanes on it?

[pozi]

Hooli said:

poo at Paul's said:

but remeber, officially, for green lanes, the speed limit is 30mph...

Really? it was legally NSL when I used to lane in a Landy, not that we normally did much over 20mph as it raised too much dust/tended to damage the track/cars.

I would agree. If the preceding tarmac road was NSL (which all the ones I use are) than this also applies to the green lane, it would be more of a grey area if the prior road was a 30 because then legally I think their should be repeater signs or street lighting for the 30 to continue being enforced.

Although to be honest common sense and fact I am a bit crap off road keeps my speeds lower than the 25mph mentioned in the TRF code of conduct.

[joshG]

Go out and buy the best - KTM 300 exc

[pozi]

f13ldy said:

Thanks for the excellent replies. I'm in Sittingbourne in Kent so not sure what the trails are like on my doorstep but I can't imagine them being the toughest in the land.

The DRZ400 is looking like an excellent candidate, I'm not into extremes of maintenance, I'll change the oil/filter and wash it. So reliability is a big factor so the KTM although awesome is probably out of the question.

What's the insurance like? I currently have an 09 R1 so expecting cheaper but do I need to declare I'll be going down the lanes on it?

I pay £70 fully comp on my TTR, and officially marked green lanes / byways are treated legally as normal roads so there is nothing additional to declare.

Have a look here for details on where you can ride http://www.qwerf.com/greenlaning/?county=kent

[Stig]

joshG said:

Go out and buy the best - KTM 300 exc

And then have to service it every couple of hourse

[3doorPete]

f13ldy said:

Thanks for the excellent replies. I'm in Sittingbourne in Kent so not sure what the trails are like on my doorstep but I can't imagine them being the toughest in the land.

The DRZ400 is looking like an excellent candidate, I'm not into extremes of maintenance, I'll change the oil/filter and wash it. So reliability is a big factor so the KTM although awesome is probably out of the question.

What's the insurance like? I currently have an 09 R1 so expecting cheaper but do I need to declare I'll be going down the lanes on it?

The lanes are fantastic around there - very spoiled with the Pilgrims way and Snodland. Myself, Fats25, SherpaRob ride these. You'd be surprised how challenging some are due to the hills, roots, chalk etc. There are also plenty of opportunities for some very challenging 'short cuts'. There are also a lot of practice enduro's in Sevenoaks, Tunbridgewells, Merryworth etc with Endurokent.com

Insurance - just declare your mods. The only broker that I know that has a specific lanes exclusion is Hastings Direct. I'm through Bennetts with the mods declared and no issues. Costs about a 1/3 of what my sports bikes cost to insure.

[Herman Toothrot]

How about the best sub £2k bike for use on a motoX track, green lane and having to ride via roads to said motoX track. After having a go on the RMX450 I'd love a go on a proper course and I have one within 5 miles of my house that charges £10 a day and it's surrounded by green lanes.

[madal]

joshG said:

Go out and buy the best - KTM 300 exc

x 2 what a great bike and a sexy looking bike in the best colour orange and black ..up the wolves...

http://www.arpem.com/motos/modelos/ktm/flash/2008/...

Edited by madal on Wednesday 7th September 15:08

[SherpaRob]

pozi said:

Hooli said:

poo at Paul's said:

but remeber, officially, for green lanes, the speed limit is 30mph...

Really? it was legally NSL when I used to lane in a Landy, not that we normally did much over 20mph as it raised too much dust/tended to damage the track/cars.

I would agree. If the preceding tarmac road was NSL (which all the ones I use are) than this also applies to the green lane, it would be more of a grey area if the prior road was a 30 because then legally I think their should be repeater signs or street lighting for the 30 to continue being enforced.

Although to be honest common sense and fact I am a bit crap off road keeps my speeds lower than the 25mph mentioned in the TRF code of conduct.

The legal speed limit on a byway is 60mph as its a single carriage way and i was told this by the police, i asked them out of interest when they were policing the local lanes for tossers on crossers. with that said you have to remember that horses,dog walkers,families and the bobble hat brigade all use and treat BOAT'S as footpaths so speed is best kept down so that you can stop in a controlled fashion. although if you go very early morning you can get a lick on as theres no one about

[madal]

who looks at the speedo on 1 of these