honda xr250, 400 and 600s...talk to me!
Discussion
starting to think more and more about green laning as i live in dorset and get a lot of time off over the summer. i'm not a big one for going of abroad for holidays but the idea of being able to go and see remote bits of the area i normally drive/ride round (all of hampshire/dorset) is appealing to me more and more.
i don't really know a lot about the sort of bikes people use though. not bothered about cosmetics but i want something solid, reliable and reasonably nimble (been riding a long time so not too worried about bike weight within reason). i keep looking at the xr600 but any reasonable sized bike would probly do.
are there known issues? experiences of owning/riding any of these models? alternative brands i could look at?
i don't really know a lot about the sort of bikes people use though. not bothered about cosmetics but i want something solid, reliable and reasonably nimble (been riding a long time so not too worried about bike weight within reason). i keep looking at the xr600 but any reasonable sized bike would probly do.
are there known issues? experiences of owning/riding any of these models? alternative brands i could look at?
XR400 is the choice for laning out of those 3, but they are very very agricultural. Extremely reliable though.
XR250 will be too slow for the road sections and XR600 too heavy off road if your lanes are at all technical. Weight also just tires you out and makes offs at low speed more likely.
Personally, if you want bullet proofness, look no further than the DRZ400S or E. More power and fun than the XR400 (which is comparable to the old DR350) and a bit lighter I believe. Pick up a nice low miler that's never been off road and budget about £300 ish to 'harden' it from dual sport (if the S) to out and out laner.
XR250 will be too slow for the road sections and XR600 too heavy off road if your lanes are at all technical. Weight also just tires you out and makes offs at low speed more likely.
Personally, if you want bullet proofness, look no further than the DRZ400S or E. More power and fun than the XR400 (which is comparable to the old DR350) and a bit lighter I believe. Pick up a nice low miler that's never been off road and budget about £300 ish to 'harden' it from dual sport (if the S) to out and out laner.
All the guys I ride with reckon so. 250's are ok if 2 stroke. There can be long road sections linking lanes and unlike road bikes in the wet, you can't carry any speed through the bends due to mud on tyres and knobblies. You basically bimble around the bend upright and nail it when almost at the exit (spinning up is fun too - again needs power).
Most ride KTM 400cc to 510cc machines, but DRZ's are by far the most popular non-KTM's you see on the lanes. Some say they are not suitable, but with specific list of cheap and easy mods, they are absolutely spot on other than a bit top heavy (hence all the hire companies in Greece/Cyprus rent them out knowing that users will off road them). Mine has taken an absolute beating and hasn't had a single problem.
The KTM's are better in every way, but you've specified low maintenance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2gaHd74HqM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HHbOssL6Dc
Best forums are Thumpertalk.com for all forms of trail riding/machine advice, but a bit american. Big DRZ section though.
http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/forum.php for the XR's
Most ride KTM 400cc to 510cc machines, but DRZ's are by far the most popular non-KTM's you see on the lanes. Some say they are not suitable, but with specific list of cheap and easy mods, they are absolutely spot on other than a bit top heavy (hence all the hire companies in Greece/Cyprus rent them out knowing that users will off road them). Mine has taken an absolute beating and hasn't had a single problem.
The KTM's are better in every way, but you've specified low maintenance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2gaHd74HqM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HHbOssL6Dc
Best forums are Thumpertalk.com for all forms of trail riding/machine advice, but a bit american. Big DRZ section though.
http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/forum.php for the XR's
All of the XR's are kick start only which can be a pain if you are a bit crap like me and fall off in the mud a lot.
I ride an Yamaha TTR250 which is similar power wise to an XR250, equally low maintenance, air cooled but has an electric start.
My mate has an XR400 and I have no problems keeping up in the road sections, and if I was a better rider it would keep up on the offroad bits as well.
When starting out offroading what you ride is largely irrelevant because rider ability (or lack of in my case) is what makes the difference. I still have memories of witnessing a guy on a Honda Hornet doing embarrassingly well around the byways of Dorking, admittedly it was a bone dry in summer but still impressive never the less.
I ride an Yamaha TTR250 which is similar power wise to an XR250, equally low maintenance, air cooled but has an electric start.
My mate has an XR400 and I have no problems keeping up in the road sections, and if I was a better rider it would keep up on the offroad bits as well.
When starting out offroading what you ride is largely irrelevant because rider ability (or lack of in my case) is what makes the difference. I still have memories of witnessing a guy on a Honda Hornet doing embarrassingly well around the byways of Dorking, admittedly it was a bone dry in summer but still impressive never the less.
jesus, was he on road tyres?
i'm looking round still now, the dr350s seem to be better priced than the XR400s. probly a good reason tho.
my thinking is, i can either spend money on going away on holiday somewhere this summer or spent the same money on one of these things and go exploring all round the 2 counties and still have something to show for it. only other problem is i keep seeing advice against riding alone, which is a sod as i'm an antisocial s
thead and this is one of the other reasons for doing it.
i'm looking round still now, the dr350s seem to be better priced than the XR400s. probly a good reason tho.
my thinking is, i can either spend money on going away on holiday somewhere this summer or spent the same money on one of these things and go exploring all round the 2 counties and still have something to show for it. only other problem is i keep seeing advice against riding alone, which is a sod as i'm an antisocial s
thead and this is one of the other reasons for doing it.Definatly get good boots, I've got a DRZs for a bit of green laning.
You need something decent, I went for these
http://www.sidimotocrossboots.co.uk/motocross_boot...
Realy comfortable with excelent protection.
You need something decent, I went for these
http://www.sidimotocrossboots.co.uk/motocross_boot...
Realy comfortable with excelent protection.
Y282 said:
the boots are a must then?
I would say MX boots and knee armour essential, upper body armour suite highly desirable. You WILL crash, no ifs ands or buts. It will probably be at low speed and the armour saves the impact. Dropping a foot down is an essential skill too as well as kicking the ground etc - solid MX boots protect ligaments, bones, toes etc. Road bike boots are like slippers in comparison.
If the lanes are gentle and well used, then riding by yourself is ok, but again - the amount of crashes along with the higher chance of mechanical breakages, punctures and minor injuries means it's best not to travel alone. Being alone and pinned by your bike is no fun either.
Y282 said:
starting to think more and more about green laning as i live in dorset and get a lot of time off over the summer. i'm not a big one for going of abroad for holidays but the idea of being able to go and see remote bits of the area i normally drive/ride round (all of hampshire/dorset) is appealing to me more and more.
i don't really know a lot about the sort of bikes people use though. not bothered about cosmetics but i want something solid, reliable and reasonably nimble (been riding a long time so not too worried about bike weight within reason). i keep looking at the xr600 but any reasonable sized bike would probly do.
are there known issues? experiences of owning/riding any of these models? alternative brands i could look at?
I have owned the XR250R, XR250L (electric start), XR400 and XR600.i don't really know a lot about the sort of bikes people use though. not bothered about cosmetics but i want something solid, reliable and reasonably nimble (been riding a long time so not too worried about bike weight within reason). i keep looking at the xr600 but any reasonable sized bike would probly do.
are there known issues? experiences of owning/riding any of these models? alternative brands i could look at?
I preferred the 250 for laning because it was more nimble.
FWIW the most skilfull trail riders I ever rode with used the smallest bikes. Some of the most impressive riding I saw was on XR200s.
Manks said:
FWIW the most skilfull trail riders I ever rode with used the smallest bikes. Some of the most impressive riding I saw was on XR200s.
Absolutely, but for the less skilled, torque to spin up the rear, hang out the back and knock up some wheelies makes us feel like a legend. 
If the OP is riding to lanes and doing some road work, he will be in the same boat as me (no trailer). I ride to all the lanes and enduro's I do and a 400 on short gearing barely cuts it!
3doorPete said:
Absolutely, but for the less skilled, torque to spin up the rear, hang out the back and knock up some wheelies makes us feel like a legend.
If the OP is riding to lanes and doing some road work, he will be in the same boat as me (no trailer). I ride to all the lanes and enduro's I do and a 400 on short gearing barely cuts it!
It's a shame they don't still make the CRM250. I had a couple of those, the last one being the AR model like the one below. They would do 100 mph on the road (private road obviously) and were hugely capable off it. But they stopped making them around ten years ago.If the OP is riding to lanes and doing some road work, he will be in the same boat as me (no trailer). I ride to all the lanes and enduro's I do and a 400 on short gearing barely cuts it!
Y282 said:
i'd definitely be linking the lanes with road stuff, riding from lane to lane on tarmac so this needs factoring in.
the DR350s are bloody cheap.
A lot swear by DR350's but I had one of the last models about 11 years ago from nearly new and didn't like it. It was an electric start model as well. Personally I'd buy an XR400 over a DR350.the DR350s are bloody cheap.
Still - if cheap and looking to get into it, you won't go wrong with a DR350 but it's a proper tractor.
Y282 said:
i'm a bit of a tigghtarse about these things. i usually end up buying cheap then having to chuck money at stuff.
that CRM looks nice.
I sold mine about 18 months ago for £2k just to get it out the garage. It had done less than 4k miles and was mint. The buyer bought it within a few hours of me advertising it and came up from London immediately.that CRM looks nice.
Manks said:
It's a shame they don't still make the CRM250. I had a couple of those, the last one being the AR model like the one below. They would do 100 mph on the road (private road obviously) and were hugely capable off it. But they stopped making them around ten years ago.
I'd just settle for a 6th gear overdrive ratio on mine 
Sitting on a dual carriageway at 70mph with it revving its tits off never gets fun.CRM looks nice.
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