Looking to get another bike

[02stampede]

1) your physical size (both height and weight are important)6' even 185 lbs.
2) How physical / aggressive are you ? moderate to sometimes aggressive
3) what do you plan to ride- MX/SX tracks, woods, fields with friends or ????? rocky woods with hills and mud
4) Do you have any riding experience? a few years
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)? 4 stroke this time around
8) Do you have a dealer close by your home that you might use and what brand(s) does he carry? All brands
9) How much ($) do you plan to spend on a bike? about 2500 or finance new
10) Do you live in California? Texas
11) Your age? 25
12) anything else that you think would help form an opinion

I'm looking for something to contrast my YZ 250 for different terrain. A 4 stroke trail bike. This bike will be used in national forest riding areas of Oklahoma and Arkansas. I want something I can make street legal for jumping trail to trail. Maybe go to the gas station or grocery store but no highway use. The terrain is rough with rocky hills, mud holes and generally better suited for a 4x4 atv. I will ride with razr's and quads. Quads just dont do it for me and am selling my z400 to get this bike. Ive narrowed it down to a drz 400e or s, xr 400, or a wr 400. I want somewhat of a tractor but not a tank 650. What do you guys think of these bikes? Thanks.

 

[motocross_rider]

I would go with an XR400 1996 or newer. Great bullet proof bike!

 

[jb_dallas]

By an XR400. I have a 2001 model and it is stone cold reliable and low maintenance. The XR is my backup bike that my friends sometimes ride. I am your exact height and weight and I can handle the 260 pound XR just fine. Dont expect the XR 400 to impress you with power after riding the YZ250...it wont. My XR is slow compared to my YZ400F, but I have both for the exact reason you stated...diversity. Do you spend any time up at the Red River Motorcycle Trails?

 

[02stampede]

By an XR400. I have a 2001 model and it is stone cold reliable and low maintenance. The XR is my backup bike that my friends sometimes ride. I am your exact height and weight and I can handle the 260 pound XR just fine. Dont expect the XR 400 to impress you with power after riding the YZ250...it wont. My XR is slow compared to my YZ400F, but I have both for the exact reason you stated...diversity. Do you spend any time up at the Red River Motorcycle Trails?

Thanks for the insight. I am looking for something a bit more predictable that I can ride longer so less power is fine with me. As long as it can chug down low. Do the xr's have good low end torque? I do like air cooled and reliable for sure. I ride my yz at red river and rocky ridge. This bike will be more for slow paced, beat you to death, terrain if you know what I mean. Thanks again.

 

[jb_dallas]

Its really hard to beat an XR400 for low end torque. Of course, air cooled means no radiators to get busted and less moving parts.