Another What Bike Thread - DT175 v CRF250L
Discussion
I’m sure it’s not possible to give definitive answers to my quandary, but to share and perhaps receive some advice / experience….
I have the aspirations to:
> Do some light green laning.
> Have a bike to potter with.
> Re-live my youth.
I have space for one more bike.
I have decided on a Yamaha DT175 or a Honda CRF250L. The prices are not dissimilar.
(Some of my old friends had DT175s back in the day, and have fancied one since then.)
I’m not totally mechanically inept, but I don’t have much spare time and I would prefer to avoid regular breakdowns... even so, the idea of doing some tinkering does appeal.
With rose-tinted glasses on, the idea of buzzing to work occasionally and green laning on a light two stroke would be fun. But it would be an old bike and sure to need fettling.
I would expect the Honda to be very dependable, a much better ride and it has an electric start. And it is still quite a cool bike (IMHO).
So deciding between the two; a reliable, modern, four stroke electric start bike that I do like the look of versus an old two stroke to relive my youth and give me something to do in the garage (but not too much hopefully!).
I keep thinking about which bike I would look at most as I walked away from it… probably the DT if it was in half-decent nick.
What would you do…?!
I have the aspirations to:
> Do some light green laning.
> Have a bike to potter with.
> Re-live my youth.
I have space for one more bike.
I have decided on a Yamaha DT175 or a Honda CRF250L. The prices are not dissimilar.
(Some of my old friends had DT175s back in the day, and have fancied one since then.)
I’m not totally mechanically inept, but I don’t have much spare time and I would prefer to avoid regular breakdowns... even so, the idea of doing some tinkering does appeal.
With rose-tinted glasses on, the idea of buzzing to work occasionally and green laning on a light two stroke would be fun. But it would be an old bike and sure to need fettling.
I would expect the Honda to be very dependable, a much better ride and it has an electric start. And it is still quite a cool bike (IMHO).
So deciding between the two; a reliable, modern, four stroke electric start bike that I do like the look of versus an old two stroke to relive my youth and give me something to do in the garage (but not too much hopefully!).
I keep thinking about which bike I would look at most as I walked away from it… probably the DT if it was in half-decent nick.
What would you do…?!
A mate has a TS185, arguably the competition to the DT in the same era and when riding a 4 stroke 125 with him (similar speed) all I could thing was how much cooler he looked despite it being a bike that hasn't seen maintence for at least the last decade!
Without a doubt I'd buy the DT. Look also at the fact of the CRF, likely to depreciate slowly because off road bikes hold their value.
DT is like to appreciate slowly... So you'll basically be paid to ride!
Smelling two stroke, hearing that noise and bimbling at the same speed on the lanes as a CRF anyway... Its a no brainer!
Without a doubt I'd buy the DT. Look also at the fact of the CRF, likely to depreciate slowly because off road bikes hold their value.
DT is like to appreciate slowly... So you'll basically be paid to ride!
Smelling two stroke, hearing that noise and bimbling at the same speed on the lanes as a CRF anyway... Its a no brainer!
I've had both, DT175MX both back in the day and also more recently ( albeit 20 years ago), ran a CRF250L until end of last year.
The DT, whilst great in it's day is seriously poor now - crappy suspension, drum brakes and 6 volt electrics - not to mention 30+ years of bodges.
The CRF250L was a good road bike and ok for easy going trails, but to be fair, it is a road bike, heavy and quite front biased, plus mine was immaculate so I was reluctant to throw it at the scenery like I have with other bikes.
The XR400 I had was a far better trail bike but wasn't so good on the road. A DRZ400 would be a good compromise but again will be 15+ years old.
If it's a few gentle lanes, I'd go with a well used CRF, stick some decent tyres on and not be too precious about it.
The DT, whilst great in it's day is seriously poor now - crappy suspension, drum brakes and 6 volt electrics - not to mention 30+ years of bodges.
The CRF250L was a good road bike and ok for easy going trails, but to be fair, it is a road bike, heavy and quite front biased, plus mine was immaculate so I was reluctant to throw it at the scenery like I have with other bikes.
The XR400 I had was a far better trail bike but wasn't so good on the road. A DRZ400 would be a good compromise but again will be 15+ years old.
If it's a few gentle lanes, I'd go with a well used CRF, stick some decent tyres on and not be too precious about it.
Some interesting comments / advice - thanks!
My brothers and some buddies variously ride around on 1920s Sunbeams, 1940s Harleys and hardtail Triumphs... if they can cope with them, hopefully I will be able to cope with the outdated performance / dynamics of a DT.
There are lots of very low mileage CRFs around - presumably bought by people like me who couldn't find the time to use them much.
I'm sure there are better bikes than the DT and CRF out there for similar money (DRZ400, TTR250, XT250 Serow), but for reasons I can't really rationalise, they aren't what I want.
I'm leaning 60/40 towards the DT at the moment... but that could easily change in the minutes, hours and days ahead!
My brothers and some buddies variously ride around on 1920s Sunbeams, 1940s Harleys and hardtail Triumphs... if they can cope with them, hopefully I will be able to cope with the outdated performance / dynamics of a DT.
There are lots of very low mileage CRFs around - presumably bought by people like me who couldn't find the time to use them much.
I'm sure there are better bikes than the DT and CRF out there for similar money (DRZ400, TTR250, XT250 Serow), but for reasons I can't really rationalise, they aren't what I want.
I'm leaning 60/40 towards the DT at the moment... but that could easily change in the minutes, hours and days ahead!
Edited by ThreadKiller on Friday 30th April 15:31
I had a DT175 30 years ago, I green lane now on a KTM450
If you only want to potter about and choose your lanes carefully (easier said than done) then the DT will be fun
However there aren't many green lanes and most are either rutted to hell or rocks / boulders IME of Peaks / Cotswolds / Warwickshire
I suspect the CRF is the most popular bike for green laning although it is a lot heavier than the enduro bikes that most use
I can't tell you how nice it is to have electric start halfway up a hill or when you're so tired you can barely stand - but if you are just pottering about on a sunny day, that won't matter
I was out with the TRF yesterday most over 50, group of 6, 2x 250CRF, KTM525, KTM450, KTM300, KTM500
If you only want to potter about and choose your lanes carefully (easier said than done) then the DT will be fun
However there aren't many green lanes and most are either rutted to hell or rocks / boulders IME of Peaks / Cotswolds / Warwickshire
I suspect the CRF is the most popular bike for green laning although it is a lot heavier than the enduro bikes that most use
I can't tell you how nice it is to have electric start halfway up a hill or when you're so tired you can barely stand - but if you are just pottering about on a sunny day, that won't matter
I was out with the TRF yesterday most over 50, group of 6, 2x 250CRF, KTM525, KTM450, KTM300, KTM500
Drabbesttunic said:
As cool as the dt is, I'd just potter around on that rather than the lanes, for laning I'd go for a crf250x over the l, they are chalk and cheese, the x is a way better bike.
^^^ ThisBut if you're buying an X then you may as well consider all the other enduro options
The best thing about an L is you know it hasn't led a hard life because no hoodie wearing kid would be seen dead on one
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff