Looking for a CRF 230 - I think!

[chrisjk]

I have been doing some easy off-road/greenlaning on my BMW F800GS over the last year but it's too big and heavy for my skill level (and strength after picking it up a few times!) to take into anything more difficult and so I am looking for something I can use on more challenging routes and on which I can develop my skills. Friends have suggested I should consider a CRF230 or a Suzuki DRZ 400E. I am inclining to the Honda and am on the lookout for a new or good used one.

I want to ride it as soon as possible and don't want to spend an age getting it legal, and obtaining/fitting whatever parts experienced folk feel to be essential. I have seen mention of stronger bars, suspension, rear wheels with disk brake and so forth and am feeling a bit bewildered so I'd appreciate any advice.

I am 5ft 11 in with a 30 inch inside leg and weigh 13 1/2 stone in my birthday suit - and no this isn't the text of a card in a London phonebox but a description of the lump that the bike will have to drag up the hills.

[Wee Jack]

Hello ChrisJK,

Welcome to XRV land - I recently had a few months of chin scratching and deliberation on exactly the same subject ......

My candidates were........

Honda XR400
Honda CRF230
Kwack KLX 250
CCM 230
CCM250
Suzi DRZ400

I wanted a road legal bike so I could ride to the dirt and hop onto the road between the offroad sections. I did not want to phaph around with vans or trailers.

I decided , in the end, to try and get a relatively cheap bike to drop and chuck around , and something with a reasonable amount of poke.

So I picked-up a 2000 "W" DRZ 400. Advertised in TBM.

For the record I'm 5'5" and 11 and (ahem) something stones in my undercrackers !! and the ripe old age of 50. The bike is quite tall but so far she is treating me gently and I'm enjoying the learning experience.

The Honda CRF230 felt the best for me size wise , but in the end I was advised to go for slightly more power.

I'm happy

[chrisjk]

Jack,
Thanks for the input. I am still undecided between the two bikes inasmuch if a good example of the DRZ came up I might jump that way but I still favour the CRF at the moment.

Cheers,
Chris

[hondaxrnut]

the drz is about the right size for you as the crf is a bit smaller ideal for us small blokes, but the drz is a lot heavier, the 2 bikes are completly different, my mate who has been riding for years bought a drz trail model and sold it after a year, and he is about your height, but could not get on with the high center of gravity.
i could run rings around him except on really steep hills and on the road sections when trail riding, but it would go virtualy anywhere quietly as well.
you will need to get on and ride both bikes really, if is was not for your height i would go for the crf especialy if you are a novice, but you may find it too cramped, although you can get bar risers, i have fitted these and they do help, but i am only 5'8'.
hope that helps

[mattsccm]

As takes your fancy but a 230 will do all you need for trail riding. Great main advantage is that I can pick it up and 75+ mpg trail riding hard. A DRZ is a different tool altogether and probably really for a different job. A gang of us took 230s to France on a Chris Evans trip and were in no way disadvantaged over other faster kit. Power isn't everything and it will get you up any green lane in the UK. As to spec, buy a tidy one. Adding bits can help eg higher bar clamps but you do those as you need them. We have 2 HM Italia ones in nthe club. Imprted with disc both ends etc. Nice but not essential. More fore maintainence than riding. Nice speedos though. Disc conversions are easy. A complet CCM 230 end will slot in. We have even stuck 48mm WP forks in for more suspension but restaining a nice soft motor.

[Jasext]

Go for the CCM230 ,much better spec to start and cheaper

[hondaxrnut]

dont forget the ccm has the old pushrod engine as is no where near as good as the crf engine.

[mattsccm]

Ridden both a lot. Over a 400 yard flat field blast the CCM was about 20 yards behind my Honda which has big front pie and jetting kit plush a rev box, all of which do help a bit. The new CCM which is white and black has a OHC motor and tidier rear brake set up plus rack etc. Dealer impression is that its better screwed together than the earlier ones. Either are a different thing to all other chinese bike with regards quality. Funnily enough the same factory pushes out CRF230's. Worth a try. Talk to Haines mc for details on both CCM and Honda versions.

[chrisjk]

Many thanks for the extra input guys - really useful stuff!

Cheers,
Chris

[hamster01]

Originally Posted by chrisjk

I have been doing some easy off-road/greenlaning on my BMW F800GS over the last year but it's too big and heavy for my skill level (and strength after picking it up a few times!) to take into anything more difficult and so I am looking for something I can use on more challenging routes and on which I can develop my skills. Friends have suggested I should consider a CRF230 or a Suzuki DRZ 400E. I am inclining to the Honda and am on the lookout for a new or good used one.

I want to ride it as soon as possible and don't want to spend an age getting it legal, and obtaining/fitting whatever parts experienced folk feel to be essential. I have seen mention of stronger bars, suspension, rear wheels with disk brake and so forth and am feeling a bit bewildered so I'd appreciate any advice.

I am 5ft 11 in with a 30 inch inside leg and weigh 13 1/2 stone in my birthday suit - and no this isn't the text of a card in a London phonebox but a description of the lump that the bike will have to drag up the hills.

hi fella
if your still looking for a crf230 i can recomend it
i'm crap at riding off road and mine has got me out of trouble i got myself into !!
my stats are 5ft8 13 stone 29 inside leg so if i can get on it so can anyone