Off road - As fun as it looks?

[Pebbles167]

Any advice for someone looking to get off road for the first time? Entry routes, bikes, gear etc. I could of course just refer to YouTube, but I like the thinly veiled piss taking and occasional arguments that occur on here more.

I think I've done pretty much most things on motorbikes that the average rider would want to do, save for tackling dirt. Also I'm somewhat weary of the potentially licence losing power most of my bikes have had and would prefer a slower pace for a year or so.

Being a complete novice to it, big adventure bikes seem unwise for learning, so a small dual sport or lighter adv is probably better. I've got some mountain (cycling) experience, and can do a pretty sick wheelie if that's relevant at all, and I suspect it's not.

I live near Salisbury plain, so a fair bit of land to practice on. It's not quite the Canadian wilderness, but it'll do.

Budget will be whatever I can cough up without the Mrs getting cross, probably £2k-£3k.

Thanks in advance, as always

[Pebbles167]

Drabbesttunic said:

You could always join the trf and get out greenlaning, little 250 4t enduro bike maybe? It gets old when you have to pick up heavy bikes, well, it gets old picking up 110kg bikes actually
Enduro playdays are good fun too.
Prepare to be knackered

No that's exactly what I'm after, just something that isn't flat asphalt really, green laning seems an excellent start and I've still got a bit of strength left yet!

Alex@POD said:

Green laning can be really good fun. I think I prefer it to track days, though I'm not sure I'm ready to let go of the track bike yet.

Get yourself on a course, I've done the Honda Adventure Centre course before and it's a great way to dip your toe in as you get given all the gear you need and you have instructors there to advise. And since most people are very new, you know there won't be any piss-taking taking place!

Did a search for that, the Dave Thorpe place? A colleague has just piped up that he did it, reckons it was fantastic. Thanks for the tip. As for trackdays, this is effectively what I'm looking at to replace them. I had a big off last time out and promised my family no more.

s p a c e m a n said:

My only question is how you can live near Salisbury Plain and have never tried a bit of green laning.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135613022648?mkcid=16&a...

Buy one of these, it will still be worth £3k if you want to sell it in a couple years so it's basically a free bike. Well that's what I'd tell my wife anyway

That looks pretty decent, not to mention a good price. The only thing I'm keen to avoid early on (recommended from others) is full enduro bikes due to the power and servicing schedule being unfit for a newbie, but I don't think the WR250 is quite that in either R or X?

Also, strictly speaking I have driven a lot of Salisbury plain, though seems a lifetime ago now. Wasn't very nimble last time since I was driving one of these would like to have a crack on two wheels.



Thanks for everything so far.

[Pebbles167]

Think I'll give the experience days a go, seems quite a lot for your money actually and will likely learn a lot.

After some reviews, it seems the Chinese Voge 300 Rally is a sort of poor man's CRF300, but very similar performance. At £3.5k new might make for a good purchase if I can't find something used in my budget nearby (though I probably should).

I have a Husqvarna main dealer in my town, needless to say all of their stuff is full on enduro, mostly two stroke and very expensive. Too rich for me.

[Pebbles167]

Biker9090 said:

Be aware that the CRF300s suspension is comically undersprung - borderline dangerous if you're heavy - so that has to be budgeted in. I loved the one I rode but would probably go for a Voge 300 (and may well do in a year or two).

Yes I'd heard that, many reviewers recommended an immediate upgrade. I'm 5'8" and about 70kg so unlikely to encounter big problems in that regard, but also another reason I don't want something too heavy.

[Pebbles167]

Thanks for all the info.

I'll definitely be looking at both the Honda and Yamaha experience days, seem decent value and a good starter.

Following that I would like to get into trail riding. Track days used to be my thing, but I can't risk the danger aspect anymore, and whilst there is obvious danger off road, I'd suspect riding some green lanes to be safer than Motorcross. I'll definitely be joining the Wilts TRF once I have a suitable bike, don't think I'd be much use before then and my current BMW K1200R obviously not fit for purpose in any way.

I've phoned a few sellers on eBay within a reasonable distance, and so far been beaten to the bike by someone else. Most of what I've been looking at have been 80's & 90's singles, since they're very lightweight. Besides, most of the more modern stuff is pretty costly.

Watching the Canadian Fortnite YouTube channel, seems there are loads of dual sports over there for next to nothing, and it seems they don't need tax and insurance for off road unlike here.

I'll keep hunting.