which bike

[mad max]

HI guys

I have a 06 transalp and i am thinking of buying a more off road based bike. I am looking for a bike lighter than the transalp, and was looking along the lines of a drz 400/450.The bike would be for road use,green laneing and a little off roading.I would not be selling my transalp,as i am happy with it,has anyone any ideas which bikes i should be looking at, needs to be realiable.

Cheers guys.

[Warthog]

DRZ 400
DR 650
XT 600
XR 400

All pretty reliable according to owners opinions I've read .

However, I've only owned the XR. Good bike, fun, but literally a Pain in the %rse: not a comfy bike!!

[mad max]

Thanks for that warthog i am only looking at the options at the moment.

[pdsquire]

Anything made by KTM. Their 990 weighs about the same as my 650 Transalp. It seems they're not as reliable as Hondas (problems with badly placed electrics, aversion to water, starter motors) but they can be sorted and they are the cat's pyjamas off-road.

(but for sheer fall-off-and-laugh silliness, an XR250 is as much fun as you can have with your clothes on)

[mad max]

hI pdsquire
can the xr 250 be mot and road legal.

[pdsquire]

Dunno about the Emerald Isle but I believe mine was. I had to have it tested and the tester decided that as it had been designed and built without mirrors and indicators, the MoT rules didn't require it to have them in order to be legal.

I think that is actually right as the MoT manual talks about "an 'offroad' machine" which is designed for use primarily offroad and for one rider. Note it is designed for use, rather than actually used primarily offroad.

He did insist I remove the screw-on rear footpegs in order to comply, but then passed it.

You'd have to look at the Eire equivalent regulations and maybe speak to a specialist bike tester, but if you can do it and you just want fun, go for it!

[mad max]

Thanks pdsquire.I need a bike on the road as well as a green laner. The transalp will green lane. but i was looking a bike little more nimble. Do you know is the cr honda a total off road bike, or can it be mot ,and road legal.

[pdsquire]

I'm no expert but I think its the same story for the CR. But neither XR or CR are on-road bikes, at least, not 230 or 250cc. You can cope with the saddle (Mudwiz rode JOG to Land's End on TLD'08 on an XR400!!) but it is not designed for that use.

[mad max]

cheers mate.