Best starter bike for green laneing?

[Grendel]

Curiosity got the better of me and with some people saying the TA is idea for green laneing and others not I was wandering what people think is a good lightweight starter bike for green laneing for a complete novice?

Is it worth going down the cheap second hand Chinese 125 bikes or old MX bikes route?
Then there’s the 2 stroke or 4 stroke arguments.
Can you get a suitable bike for under £1k Ect..


Right now I’ve opened the can of worms please explain why you think your choice is best.

[phil w]

At the grand price look no further than a DR350, all you need and more

[YEN_POWELL]

I'd get an older jap trail bike, XR250, DR250/350/Yam XT225 Serow etc to start with, you'll spend much time lifting the things off the floor. Electric start a big big bonus when you're knackered and knee deep in water or angled at 45 degrees with a flooded engine and no room to swing your right leg.

[mad4it028]

perfect bike has to be an xr600
why?
because im thinking of selling 1...lol

no really ide say for a novice you wont go far wrong with a dt125r or kmx cracking little off roaders

[Jenna]

if your going to abuse a bike then dont buy a chinease clone!!...

for the best part of 10 years i green laned with big bored DT125, TS250 and a couple of kmx/kx's (and a kx quad too) all of which were more than adiquate for the job. you certainly dont need monster cc's!

Serow is a top bike if you can find one at a reasonable price, also if you can find one a klx250(4-stroker) is a bit more modern but still as bombproof and looks the business

other option if you want more go is the drzeee as he yanks call them, the 400 is well rated but its heavy for what it is and kick start only i think... you may find a rough or old one for a grand if you hunt about!

note: the drz400 never came with road lighting/mumberplate etc i think so you will either need to do that or find one somebody else has already registered.

[jasonbc]

if your going to abuse a bike then dont buy a chinease clone!!...


note: the drz400 never came with road lighting/mumberplate etc i think so you will either need to do that or find one somebody else has already registered.

The drz 400 are electric start and all came with road lighting maybe your confusing it with the RMZ

[russh]

The DRz400S is a fully road legal trail bike, and IMO absolutely brill especially if you go for (I think) a post 2003?? bike when it came with the DRz400E suspension.



DRz400S

The DRz400E is a semi road legal Enduro Bike, never that competitive due to it's weight but again an excellent Trail bike, a little more power than the 400S and a little lighter too (and noisier)



DRz400E

Brochures etc. here

If I was to buy a lightweight trail bike again it would be a DRz400S

EDIT: And what Jenna says, steer clear of the cheapo Chinese clones, you would be far better off buying a used Jap bike.

[AIRWOLF]

The drz 400 are electric start and all came with road lighting maybe your confusing it with the RMZ

The early DRZ400e was kickstart only.

The DRZ400s was electric start and full lighting.

Any lightwieght trail bike will fit the bill, . . 250cc is more than ample, . . . electric start a bonus, . . . I would avoid chinese thowaway's.

[Jenna]

yep the early 400's were definatly not leccy start, i'm told the road lighting kit was also an opton not a standard fit..

doubt youl find late one under a £1000!

[ants]

Yamaha TTR 250

Cannot fault mine.