boatanchor

Member
Aug 25, 2009
7
0
1) your physical size (both height and weight are important) 5'11 180 lbs
2) How physical / aggressive are you ? Moderate
3) what do you plan to ride- MX/SX tracks, woods, fields with friends or ????? - I usually try to ride anywhere I go camping so places like the woods or fields.
4) Do you have any riding experience? I have been riding an older XR200 for the past year.
5) Do you think you will race ? No
6) Are you mechanically inclined and will you be doing your own bike work? Yes
7) Do YOU have a preferance to a brand/ motor choice (2 or 4 stroke)? I would like a 2 stroke but I think the better choice would be going with a 4 stroke.
8) Do you have a dealer close by your home that you might use and what brand(s) does he carry? I'll have access to all of the major brands of bikes.
9) How much ($) do you plan to spend on a bike? I would like to spend anywhere between 2500-3000. I could go 3500 but I would prefer not to.
10) Do you live in California? No
11) Your age? 18
12) anything else that you think would help form an opinion - I would like a bike with the bare minimum accessories to license it to be ridden on the road. I will not be riding it anywhere in the city. I just want the option when I go riding to use it on licensed dirt roads worry free. I would also like something that I will not get bored of riding as my skill improves over the next couple years. One bike that has caught my eye is the Suzuki DRZ400.

Thanks.
 

jb_dallas

Member
Feb 17, 2009
498
0
The DRZ400, as you may be aware, is a dual sport bike...meaning it can be ridden offroad or on the road. With that being said, it wont perform on the trail as good as a trail bike and it wont perform on the street as good as a street bike. The bike weighs 295 pounds, which is quite alot for someone of your size if you plan on ridding woods as you stated. As discussed in many forums on this site, no one bike is good for all terrain or conditions. If you are going to ride mainly trails, go with a lighter bike that is easier to handle. You said that you would like a 2 stroke, but a 4 stroke would be a better option....keep in mind that 99% of 2 strokes are not street legal.
 

boatanchor

Member
Aug 25, 2009
7
0
Yeah I kind of figured that the DRZ400 may be a little heavy to use in the woods. Do you think the 250 model would be a better choice? Do you think the DRZ250 will be a huge improvement in terms of power over my 91 Xr200?

Thanks a lot for the help.
 

jb_dallas

Member
Feb 17, 2009
498
0
Most modern bikes would be an improvement in power over the 1991 XR200, although those were bulletproof engines. It sounds like to me you may want to decide which is more important....having a dual sport or a true dirt bike. I am not an expert on the DRZ Suzuki bikes...maybe someone can comment on that.
 

boatanchor

Member
Aug 25, 2009
7
0
I would rather get a true dirt bike but the problem is that at the place I ride, all of the trails are connected by a licensed dirt road. Would riding on that road with a true dirt bike be something I should worry about? or is it something that is not really a big deal. I have only seen one or two other vehicles in the time that I spent riding there.
 

jb_dallas

Member
Feb 17, 2009
498
0
I would recommend an XR400. I have a 2001 XR400 and you cant beat the reliability and low end torque for the trail. I paid $1800 for mine and it was ridden very little and garaged...put the rest of your money in the bank. If you want a 2 stroke, you could go with a KDX200 or 220..those are good trail bikes also. Most importantly, know what you are looking for when you buy a used bike of any year.
 

GoldDrum

Member
Aug 5, 2009
75
0
I also have a 2001 XR400. Change the oil and go, bulletproof bike. Great for trails.
 

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