MX bikes

On Saturday, I had an opportunity to ride a Honda 230CRF that belonged to a friend. I took in what Pieter said to me on Tuesday evening last week about getting a MX bike to improve my off road riding of my F650GS (so don't fall so often). So I ended up looking at the two MX bikes parked next to my bike on my camping trip, when she told me I was welcome to take it for a spin on the dirt roads of the area, actually insisted me on riding her Honda 230CRF. I actually enjoyed riding the bike once I got the hang of the large power of first gear. Plenty compared to my F650GS. Took the bike onto some tricky routes that I would not dream of taking my F650GS on at this stage. Stream dongus in roads, gravel water crossings, loose sand, etc.

So I am thinking of purchasing a MX bike next year about February/March. So I would like to know what I should get, considering I want electric start (hate manual starting), be road worthy (mirrors, back light, flickers) so I don't need to use a trailer to get to off road destinations.

It souns like you want a true dual purpose bike. My list for these are as follows:

- Suzuki DRZ400 (High and powerful)
- KTM 625 SXC (High and powerful)
- Yamaha TTR 250
- Suzuki DR200 (Might be a bit underpowered)

or

Off-road bikes with road wortht kit's
- Yamaha WRF250/450
- Honda CRF230

Thanx for the info.

The bike would need to be rather light so I can easily pick it up, thus large bikes like 400+ cc will not be of choice. Also the bike does not need to be a true dual purpose bike, as long it comes with a road worthy kit that can be use to get to destination, then remove and place into backpack while having fun.

I've been thinking of the same thing myself for some time now.

My first consideration with an off-road kinda bike would be that it should be able to take most falls very, very gracefully - meaning that stuff shouldn't fall of & break - or at least with these kind of bikes, you just cover up the scratches with cool stickers!

I would also think that a lighter bike is easier to maneuver around and to pick it up when it didn't work according to plan! I would guess a 200 - 250cc ought to do the trick. I am however quite tall, so I would try them on for size first. Nothing more silly than a big guy smothering a small bike!

Now only to run this idea past my wife and live to tell the tale
Any suggestions on how to pitch this?

Get a HP2 !!!!!!!

HAHAHA - Yes, I'll tell my wife that I'm going to buy an HP2 for R100k+ and come home with a R50k MX. I'm sure she'll be impressed

This morning I visited various dealers for Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, KTM and Yamaha.

From the list the Yamaha TTR250R (road worthy version of TTR250) and Suzuki DR200 are looking the best options so far. Both being fully road worthy bikes. Suziki is planning of bringing in a new Dual Enduro bike RMX250 beginning of next year, instead of Dec due to high exchange rate at the moment, which is a better option than the DR200.

Honda does not come with any kits, and the third party kits do not make the bike road worthy as you can't license the bikes as they are classified as solely off-road bikes, though Honda was the cheapest of the lot. CDF250F is their leisure off-road bike.

KTM is just way too pricy for a fun bike. Think they only target competition enduro riders.

Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki are closely matched in price, between R35000 to R48000 for road worthy leisure (non-competition) off road bikes. While pure off road leisure bikes are between R27000 to R35000.

Marnus wrote:

Now only to run this idea past my wife and live to tell the tale
Any suggestions on how to pitch this?

Okay easy send her to a health spa for a full "valet" Then some nice flowers(dont skimp to much) and then a nice wine and dine. By now she will have an idea and if you are good she will say yes.

If not just buy it in 2 years time she will have forgiven you (i hope)

Happy

I do not know anything about the new Dual enduro RMX250. There is also no info on the Suzuki site. Could you possibly get more info on this? Is it a four or two stroke? I know that you can get an Enduro version of the current RM250 (Which is a stunning MX bike!!!), currently available in the UK. This conversion includes a softer suspension, bigger tank, heavier flywheel/flywheel weight and a side stand. It is not road legal however. The sales guy might have mixed up his facts. Happens a lot

Arg! I had it wrong. Phoned the Suzuki dealer. It is the DRZ250. Which can be found on the Australian site http://www.suzukimotorcycles.com.au/specifications.php?intBikeID=132

What about the BMW G450X?

Yesterday I visited the Kawasaki dealer. There is a new Dual purpose bike coming out, the KLX250S. It supposed to be arriving in South Africa January or February this year. It is also classified as a road (scrambler) bike with mirrors, number plate, etc.

What do you guys think of the bike on paper?

Info is here after I struggled to find a Kawasaki website that had it, considering Kawasaki websites are extremely pathetic, as if they don't want to sell their products at all.
http://www.kawasaki.co.uk/product.asp?Id=340E7122FF9&Sub=4

Only crappy thing about it I can see so far is that it does not come in black, might need a spray job.

My Yamaha TTR250 finally arrived from CT today.

Thanx to all those that gave me advice on buying a suitable off-road bike. Also those at Wild Dogs.