2009 drz400e

[stanbloke]

I agree with Airwolf, a serrow (yamaha) would be perfect.

lightweight, low so you can get your feet down when the camber is against you , and more than enough power for greenlaning.

[donkster]

you can get the new serow now - looks great

http://www.fastline.co.uk/

other new options..

scorpa T-ride
beta alp
sherco 2.5

all on my list...

[Wee Jack]

you can get the new serow now - looks great

http://www.fastline.co.uk/

Oh me oh my !!! yes!!... Wee likes that !......... very much

[donkster]

I don't think there are many left

however - it looks expensive next to a new CRF230 at 2500 (where did you find that?)

I would have thought it would be very easy to road reg them and I thought I saw that colin appleyard were doing that


personally I like the continental bikes, the scorpa and sherco look great

I'm trying to persuade the wife that in these current times, with rampant inflation on the horizon its pointless to have savings

[Wee Jack]

.... new CRF230 at 2500 (where did you find that?)

I would have thought it would be very easy to road reg them and I thought I saw that colin appleyard were doing that

Direct from Mr Honda's dealers in the UK

http://ww1.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/D....jsp#focusHere

And like you I'm trying to convince Mrs Wee , that in these uncertain times , savings are at risk and the best thing to do is buy STUFF.

[donkster]

a crf 230 is so light it will make trails very easy - short in the saddle too

[phil w]

There was achap at last Ubbley Drove day, who comes on here and it was a fine machine

[Katmandu]

I ride one of the first DRZ400E's (2000) - It's great.
I have ridden XR400's and I can tell you the DRZ is more advanced.

The seat is slightly higher but the tail is lower (as the seat sits flat to the rear fender) meaning it's easier to slide you leg over it. The XR's slope upwards which encourages you to sit still and stay put.

The kick start version is the lightest at about 112Kgs, The electric start E (Enduro) version is 119Kg's and the S model is about 130Kg.

The S seat height is a tad lower than the E. The E has all the good performance bits on it as well as better suspension although later versions of the S got the E suspension.
Typical power for an E at the rear wheel is 38-40hp, the S is around the 35hp level.

In comparison an XR400 weighs about 117Kgs and puts out about 30hp max (at the rear wheel).

I went from a KLX250 to a DRZ400 and found it a hand full at first, after a while I got used to being stronger with it and it's great. Plush feeling suspension, nice power, great for road work, good tank range, low maintenance.
I haven't got a single bad word for it so far.

It was tall though so I chopped the seat down a little - that's it.

Feel free to ask anything about them and I'll try to answer.

[Wee Jack]

Thanks Katmandu - very imformative. I'm still at the "looking at specs" stage , but for some reason I keep getting drawn back to the DRZ.

I'm an off road virgin apart from the usual ADV up forestry roads type stuff !!

My plan of attack is as follows - keep listening to folks like yourself who are a mine of great info and experience.

Get myself on a basic "offroad" training day - that will be done before mid march, to see if this really is for me !!.

My main must haves are (I think) .......

1)I want it to be road legal - because I would prefer not to have the hassles of a van or trailer , and also be able to skip onto the roads between offroad sections - so an enduro spec bike or dual purpose.

2) I don't want a high performance machine that you have to rebuild every week.

3) I don't want a 2 stroke despite the weight advantage.

4) I'm shorter than the smallest dwarf in shortarse land - 5'5" or 1.65 metres in eurospeak.

The last one is my biggest issue , but I'll know for sure after the offrod training.

Thanks for all your advice and YES I will ask you more questions

Oh! and welcome to XRV I see from your postcount you are a relative newbee. Thanks .........Jack.

[Harvo]

I have a couple of Talon lowering links for a DRZ 400s hanging on my garage wall.......