Will a DR-z250 last me a season or two?

[DH Dad]

This will be my first personal bike, although I've been riding around a TTR125LE for some time now and feel I've been improving 100% each ride as far as handling/shifting/cornering. The 125 is my wife's bike and I'm looking for something (4-stroke that I can make a Dual Sport with a Baja kit) that I can ride, continue to learn on and not outgrow in a couple of months.

I figured the handling would come quick to me as I'm a Downhill MTB racer and I'm use to the terrain and speed as well as suspension characteristics regarding rebound/compression damping. I like the DR-z250 because it's the only bike in this category (XR250,TTR250,KLX300) that comes stock with adjustable Rebound/Compression damping both up front and in the rear, the KLX and XR are close (less the front rebound adj.) but don't have that nice magic button on the handlebar.

I think the WR250 is over my head right now and may be for some time since it's based around a YZF race engine. I don't want to be riding at 10,000 rpm all the time.

Only other bike I'm considering right now, different price range, is the KTM 400exc which also seems to have everything I want at about the same weight but more engine output.

 

[truespode]

I ride a CR450F and have a DRZ250 for the wife. She putts around on the DRZ but other than field riding she doesn't do much. I'm getting her a CR150F so she will have a smaller bike that is allowed on the kids track where we ride so she can get some experience and then move up to the DRZ.

Where am I going with this? I'm pretty sure that I'm going to keep the DRZ250 and put stiffer springs for my weight, drop the countershaft sprocket a tooth, put on a good chain and tires and then race a few enduro's with it. I think the bike is really good for the average rider who wants something inexpensive, reliable and fun. It has a good suspension for the most part and the electric start makes it really nice.

It is a great bike to learn on and practice with. As a matter of fact I practice a few things on it instead of the CR450F b/c the DRZ allows me to work on the body position in a little slower motion instead of worrying about the power ripping away from me.

I would make only one suggestion and that is to check the jetting. Here in SC the DRZ was too rich out of the box on the pilot so I put a smaller pilot in and it helped a GREAT deal with starting and throttle response. I'd also drop the front sprocket a tooth once you get used to the bike and wnat a little more power.

Now, in comparison to the XR, TTR and KLX I'd honestly say the XR and KLX are better choices overall but they do not have the e-start. The XR will be stone reliable and the KLX is a great handling woods bike that is a lot of fun too. I also think you can get a better deal on the DRZ250 b/c they are not that popular in comparison to the XR or KLX. However, I do not think the DRZ suffers dramatically against those two.

The KTM400EXC is a great bike but much more of a bike than the XR, DRZ or KLX. It is a big difference when it comes to comparison. If you think you are ready for the KTM400 than the DRZ, XR and KLX would pale in comparison. If you are not ready than the KTM400 could scare you a little.

I also had a YZ250F that I raced a few times in the woods and it is one fun bike in the woods. I'm over 200lbs and loved the bike in the woods a lot more than I do the CR450F in the woods. However, I ride more MX now so the CR450F meets my needs better right now.

Good luck.

Ivan

 

[Brianc]

I ride a DRZ250 and I think its a good choice. If you are about the same size as I am you will want to purchase Kouba Links. I am 5'8" and 165lbs w/gear and the stock seat height was a little tall for me and the rear spring rate was a little too stiff. The Kouba Links lowered the bike about an inch and really improved the bikes handling characteristics.
www.koubalink.com

 

[beer_stud_76]

DH Dad -

i've never ridden the drz250, but i've spent some time on an XR 250 and KLX300, and based on the performance of the rest of the suzuki DR-line, lemme tell you, you will be bored in 1 month.

also, your mountain biking experience won't really do much to help you. in fact, i think it slows most people down. once you are proficient and confident on the dirt bike, then stuff will transfer between the two. the two disciplines are just too different to help in the beggining.

also, it doesn't help to say things like "...the WR is over my head...." it may be or it may not be. beg, borrow, or steal a ride on one, THEN decide if it's too much. infact, beg, borrow, or steal a ride on as many bikes as you can. i think you'll be surprised at what isn't "over your head"

also, if you're an avid downhiller, E-start should be a non-consideration. you're strong enuf to kick a bike.


jeremiah

 

[Flobo]

I agree with beer stud,
e-start may seem like an importan option for a new buyer, but IMO it is really unnecessary. Kick satrting is actually part of the fun! and e-start means a battery, and we all know how heavy batterys are.

You mentioned converting your bike to a dual sport...I'm unsure of your intentions, because there are street legal bikes in the DR lineup..the DRZ400E, and the DR200E....but mainly you've been talking about bikes that are strictly off road machines, which is a good thing! I would say stick to the dirt, and look at the XR250, but like others have said, you may become bored really quick if you are athletic and agile.

 

[DH Dad]

Originally posted by beer_stud_76
DH Dad -

i've never ridden the drz250, but i've spent some time on an XR 250 and KLX300, and based on the performance of the rest of the suzuki DR-line, lemme tell you, you will be bored in 1 month.
jeremiah

So are you saying that the KLX300 and XR250 are good choices and that the Suzuki will bore me or are you saying that all three will bore me in a month. It's hard for me to steal some rides since I'm new to this sport and do not know many in the area who ride dirt bikes.

What's your impression of the KLX300? It's the lightest of the offroad 4 strokes currently available (next year the CRF250X should win that battle). It's got an inverted front fork and quite a bit of engine potential yet is tame as a stock ride with the factory carb and baffle. It's pretty popular and it's green, my favorite color.

 

[beer_stud_76]

the KLX300 is a serious off-road bike. its not so great in sand or dunes or in the wide open, but for woods and single track its great. you may soon grow bored with it, but we're talking a matter of months, rather than a matter of days.


the KLX300 is a far better choice than the drz250

jeremiah

 

[Brianc]

The DRZ250 has a lot more power than the xr250. It's amazing how people who never ride a bike can tell you its a bad choice. The DRZ is high compression vs the XR 10:1 compression. the DRZ is a double overhead cam 4 valve head design. As far as the extra 8 lbs that e start adds, I bet his bear belly is three times that much.

 

[truespode]

Brian,

I've ridden all 3 (DRZ, KLX and XR). I own a DRZ250 for the wife that I'm converting to use as an Enduro/Trail bike. I really like the DRZ but in my opinion it is not as good of a bike as the XR or the KLX. It is close for its purpose but I think the KLX is the better choice IMO.

Ivan

 

[beer_stud_76]

Originally posted by Brianc
The DRZ250 has a lot more power than the xr250. It's amazing how people who never ride a bike can tell you its a bad choice. The DRZ is high compression vs the XR 10:1 compression. the DRZ is a double overhead cam 4 valve head design. As far as the extra 8 lbs that e start adds, I bet his bear belly is three times that much.

brianc -

no need to get personal. for one, its not very nice. for two, you might pop off with something like that to a guy a lot less nice than me.

 

[darnjr]

The KLX can be dual-sported or can be made race-ready. There is a huge array of aftermarket so it can be configured to do whatever you have in mind. I've ridden all three bikes and went with the KLX when I made that purchase. I raced it off-road for one season and then switched to 2-stokes for racing only. I think you'll lke the KLX the best.
DA
X372

 

[Brianc]

Originally posted by beer_stud_76


brianc -

no need to get personal. for one, its not very nice. for two, you might pop off with something like that to a guy a lot less nice than me.

No offense intended. Just trying to put things in perspective. A dirt bike weighs over 240lbs, yet people whine about 8 extra lbs of wight, like it really matters for most riders. Most people carry 20lbs of extra weight around their waist, yet they whine the bike weighs 8 lbs too much.

 

[beer_stud_76]

Originally posted by Brianc


No offense intended. Just trying to put things in perspective. A dirt bike weighs over 240lbs, yet people whine about 8 extra lbs of wight, like it really matters for most riders. Most people carry 20lbs of extra weight around their waist, yet they whine the bike weighs 8 lbs too much.

brianc -

offense taken

you are right about the "extra wieght" added by E-start. its no biggie. what is a biggie is broken E-starters (which happens more than suzuki would like to admit). if you are old, or injured, or artheritic, or otherwise cannot kick a bike over, by all means, get a bike with E-start. but if you are 29 and fit, the E-start is just one more un-needed thing to break and may leave you stuck and, yes virginia, it adds wieght.


jeremiah