Best starter bike for green laneing?

[Jamessd]

All in all i'd say it depends on the lanes you are going to be riding on. I've been green laning now for about 3 months, but i'm surprised that there are people here recommening 400cc's for starter bikes? IMHO way to heavy / big for any serious green laning, not just riding fast in straight lines.

There is one XR400 in our group and whilst it is a beastly bike, the extra cc's and weight just isn't needed on the byways, which is where the fun is at. The KTM 525 rarely gets out of first gear and is continuously spinning out, but the 250s can afford to use the power that's there rather than just pottering along.

I have ridden 2t mx bikes off road but wouldn't recommend a 2t Green Laner - sure, it's maybe something to try, but not as a long time bike or something to start on. The back wheel would constantly be spinning out. Imagine hitting the powerband whilst in a foot deep rut filled with water, not for the faint hearted?

Personally & from experience in my little group of green laners, I'd go for a 250. The KLR is a good bike and also the XR - I don't know about any others so can't comment. I have heard that the successors (eg CRF250X) are more motocross orientated (than enduro) and require more maintenance. Take a look on ebay and you'll find a collection of XRs to choose from.

[phil w]

All in all i'd say it depends on the lanes you are going to be riding on. I've been green laning now for about 3 months, but i'm surprised that there are people here recommening 400cc's for starter bikes? IMHO way to heavy / big for any serious green laning, not just riding fast in straight lines.

There is one XR400 in our group and whilst it is a beastly bike, the extra cc's and weight just isn't needed on the byways, which is where the fun is at. The KTM 525 rarely gets out of first gear and is continuously spinning out, but the 250s can afford to use the power that's there rather than just pottering along.

I have ridden 2t mx bikes off road but wouldn't recommend a 2t Green Laner - sure, it's maybe something to try, but not as a long time bike or something to start on. The back wheel would constantly be spinning out. Imagine hitting the powerband whilst in a foot deep rut filled with water, not for the faint hearted?

Personally & from experience in my little group of green laners, I'd go for a 250. The KLR is a good bike and also the XR - I don't know about any others so can't comment. I have heard that the successors (eg CRF250X) are more motocross orientated (than enduro) and require more maintenance. Take a look on ebay and you'll find a collection of XRs to choose from.

Got to be honest while 250s are great the reason they fall by..... especially around the lanes we mainly ride...... is when geared to pull through bogs and sharp steep inclines you lose a lot of road speed. i know you cant have it all but XR400 are not really that much heavier and far better at road work while still giving a nice road speed as well when going from byway to byway and larger capacity has more torque, which can help a newbie better than high reving 250s also

[Jamessd]

Got to be honest while 250s are great the reason they fall by..... especially around the lanes we mainly ride...... is when geared to pull through bogs and sharp steep inclines you lose a lot of road speed. i know you cant have it all but XR400 are not really that much heavier and far better at road work while still giving a nice road speed as well when going from byway to byway and larger capacity has more torque, which can help a newbie better than high reving 250s also

Hmm, well I guess it also depends on what route you take then. The route/s I do contain as little surfaced roads as possible. I don't think there's any more than 1, maybe 2 miles, maximum between each lane, and I'm sure as you will understand these bikes aren't made for the road.

My XR250 will do at least 75mph, but I choose to stick to around 60 - that's all you need, any faster and it's just too uncomfortable, unnecessary, and too hard on the bike (even on a 400 I probably wouldn't do more than that).

Maybe if I tried the 400 then I would feel differently but it's certainly the impression I get, that it is overpowered for the technical stuff we do.

With regards to lower revving / bigger capacity, I would have thought the 250 would teach much more in terms of control and balance etc, than a 400 where you may have to hold back - the 250 allows you to be hard on it, and not go flying into a tree! (within reason!).

[AlanH]

I have ridden 2t mx bikes off road but wouldn't recommend a 2t Green Laner - sure, it's maybe something to try, but not as a long time bike or something to start on. The back wheel would constantly be spinning out. Imagine hitting the powerband whilst in a foot deep rut filled with water, not for the faint hearted?

It depends on the bike.

The Honda CRM250 (not CR) is a very good choice and highly rated by TBM. Not all 2T's have a narrow powerband and a gutless bottom/midrange. The CRM has a nice wide spread of power and is well-behaved with no nasty surprises. It's kickstart only, but is dead easy to start if you do manage to stall it.

[Grendel]

Out of interest would a 4t 125 be too weak for a 18 stone bloke?

[jasonbc]

Out of interest would a 4t 125 be too weak for a 18 stone bloke?

Not if you joined 2 or 3 of them together

[AlanH]

Out of interest would a 4t 125 be too weak for a 18 stone bloke?

Well, if it got too tired, you could always pick it up and carry it

[Grendel]

I dont know ask a silly question and all that

[StumpyFingers]

Out of interest would a 4t 125 be too weak for a 18 stone bloke?

I think at 18 stone a 250 would be better.

[racinghero55]

A fully loaded and touratech'd up BMW 1200 GSA. Big water tight panniers on the back and saddle bags with air filled fuel bladders across the tank. Any trees you hit will just fall down and you will float across and streams and mud pits you come across You'll look like a GOD!

Or you could stick with an xr250, it will be more than adequate, easy to work on, theres plenty of spares available and will be fairly light to pick up (which you are bound to be doing lots of!).