New too and interested in Dual-Sport, looking for advice.

[Jbay]

Originally Posted by Rubi Red

My $.02 - I picked up the CRF230L - got to chase my son on his CRF70. Of course, I will pick up a DR650 later and let the wife ride the 230L - the few times that she will be going riding with us.

Yes, I asked questions before buying and I got several answers, but we are having a blast.

yea 230s rock its my wifes bike too only I have had as much fun on it as any other (I chase a 100F), great to learn on for sure

[Drumboy]

I just got a DRZ400E and it it feels like a bicycle compared to me heavy KLR.

[09GraySilverBusa]

Originally Posted by Drumboy

I just got a DRZ400E and it it feels like a bicycle compared to me heavy KLR.

What year did you get? I'm going to take a look at one of those in the area as well as an xr400r.

[je2000]

Buy my KLX 250. You can haul it easy, good and light (compared to the 650's) for off-road beginner, and street legal 6 speed highway capable.

[jhansen]

If you can get your hands on this months copy of Motorcycle Consumer news, they just did a test/comparison of the Yamaha/Honda/Kawasaki 250's (they liked the Yamaha best) and they also have started a series of articles about dual sport motorcycles and the riding of those machines.

[RogerDe]

I have a 07 KTM 950 Super Enduro & love it. It's a awesome bike yes it's tall heavy & very fast, do you need a 415 lb. 95+ HP dirt bike No...But do you want 1???? I had a 06 KLR good bike It does a lil bit of everything,I was dreamin about the SE after goin to the cycle world bike show which is this weekend @ dallas convention center. I'm goin sat. morning, .... Just gotta love 95+ Hp.....Ride On...

[Multisurface Rider]

Originally Posted by Drumboy

I just got a DRZ400E and it it feels like a bicycle compared to me heavy KLR.

Is your plated? Have you had time to really ride it to see what it will be like compared to the KLR?

I do love my KLR650 and is does everything I want it to do. I just wanted something different with more pep a little lighter and more dirt worthy without giving up too much of the comfort that the KLR650 provides. Can I get this all in one bike? Who knows. I have been looking at this link for specs and info/reviews for a lot of bikes.

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/index.htm

I did buy a DRZ400e, it is a lot lighter than my KLR650. I have not ridden it very much, runs great. I do need to ride it for a weekend to see if I will like the difference (I might have a problem with the 400cc motor, I do like the bigger thumpers). After that I will know weather to keep it and sell a KLR650. Hope I like the DRZ enough to sell one KLR and then I will have both.

If I don't I will probably buy another XR650L and do some things different to it to make it more dirt worthy. In fact I would do some trading with someone on a XR650L for one of my KLR's.

I would like to get a either a KTM 690 or a Husqvarna TE610 and the Husabergs 570 just not ready to spend that much money. I would have to sell all my DS bikes.

[09GraySilverBusa]

Looks like you have a few good DS bikes to choose from.

Let me know what you think of the DRZ400e after you spend some more time on it!

[Drumboy]

I'm almost done installing the DS kit on my DRZ and then I'll give some feedback on it. I had some issues with the brakes after installing the brake light switch and I finally got the Baja Designs tail light wired but not installed yet cause I need to get a utility knife to carve some plastic. For anyone interested in DS'ing a DRZ, I think I'm going to get away with just the hi/lo etc switch, horn, brake switch and tail light.

[Multisurface Rider]

Originally Posted by 09GraySilverBusa

Looks like you have a few good DS bikes to choose from.

Let me know what you think of the DRZ400e after you spend some more time on it!

Well the verdict is in. I am selling my 92 KLR650. Here is a link to my add on craigslist:

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/mcy/1477689457.html


I geared up my DRZ400E to 15-44 sprockets, stock for the DRZ400S.
Made it a lot better on the road and is good to the trail. I have not ridden the bike but about a 150 miles and I do like the lighter weight of the bike

The seat hurts bad, to put it lightly. I decided to do some modify it and WOW, it is wider and softer but still firm. It feels great and that made up my mind.

I will miss my KLR but I still have another one and I just bought a KLX650c also. I had one of those before and loved it. I don't know if I will keep it over my 06 KLR650, I will make up my mind later.

[White Wing]

I am intetrested in trying this too. Is here places around the Johnson county area to do this?

[EnduroRdr]

Originally Posted by 09GraySilverBusa

Looks like you have a few good DS bikes to choose from.

Let me know what you think of the DRZ400e after you spend some more time on it!

Silver Busa, I see your strongly considering an xr400. Great choice - bullet proof and usually holds value if you buy it right. And I think you can get in fairly low budget. (I've seen good solid examples in the 1100 -1500 range lately) But after riding that Busa around at "ahem" triple digit speeds, you may be disappointed at some of the low displacement D/S bikes road speeds. Getting to and from some good riding will mean you may have to be happy just plugging along at posted speeds. Although the xr400 can get you some speeding tickets it is happiest when you keep it under 70 for long road rides (at least your but will be happier ) I have an xr4 (with stock 15/45 gering) and when riding my buddies with DRZs and KTMs I usually have to keep the xr4 buzzing since they're bikes are geared taller.

I think the advice given previously is good that you should get in cheap for the first time. Ride several group & solo rides to figure out what style of D/S you like. Then you will know what size and riding conditions will fit you best. That way the second bike will be the perfect bike for you.

BTW when shopping, consider the added value of a D/S that is already plated if your looking at dirt models like xr400 xr650r crf450x DRZ-e and some KTMs etc. That low dollar xr4 may cost you several hundred more by the time you get it plated, worth considering when comparing plated vs dirt only bikes. Also it just gets more expensive if you gotta track down a title. I'd recommend that you strongly consider bikes with good papers first unless they are super cheap.

Good luck keep us posted - see ya off the beaten path!

[09GraySilverBusa]

UPDATE
Well folks after lots and lots of research and looking at different bike I finally took the plunge today and bought a 2007 Honda crf450x in very nice condition.

I decided on this bike because of it's up to date suspension with it's adjust-ability along with size and weight. I also like the fact it has a wide ratio transmission.

Now I just need to work on getting it plated after I install the appropriate accessories.

[poser]

sweet!

[EnduroRdr]

Sweet! +1 You choose a thoroughbred! Now the fun part.

Here are a few links to folks that I have dealt with and good service and pricing.

http://www.fourstrokesonly.com/Led.html Scroll down these folks offer a very clean LED Tail light / Brake light combo to fit the 450X fender in existing housing - very cool!

http://www.procycle.us/dskits/dskit.htm for good pricing and great service (2 day shipping) on pieces parts to fill-in the missing items if building your own kit or you can compare the great pricing for a complete kit.

https://www.bajadesigns.com/NET/C-164/HONDA Baja Designs always gets good marks from users - good service and durability. But personally I think they are a little pricey, but good quality stuff! For the 450x the BD head light just doesn't look right to me. (kinda old school on a modern bike) I much prefer replacing the lighting parts on the stock headlight housing and tail light housing of the 450x to keep that sleek 450x look.

http://trailtech.net/ Your gonna need a speedo, this is a good one. And they also have some very cool lighting options too.

http://www.wheelingcyclesupply.com/s...gory&cat_id=72 More lighting options.

Again keep us posted, we always like to see project come together on TWT!

.

[Calgary-Yogi]

Here is the order you should get your Acessories,

1. Walmart Seat Pad
2. Walmart Seat Pad
3. Walmart Seat Pad
4. Walmart Seat Pad
5. Walmart Seat Pad
6. Walmart Seat Pad
7. Walmart Seat Pad
8. Walmart Seat Pad
9. Walmart Seat Pad
10. Walmart Seat Pad
11. Baja Design Kit
12. Larger Gas Tank
13. +1 counter shaft sprocket for longer road sections

Did I mention a Walmart Seat Pad. You will then have a bike that can go 150+ miles and you can maybe sit on it for about 20 of those miles.

[09GraySilverBusa]

Originally Posted by EnduroRdr

Sweet! +1 You choose a thoroughbred! Now the fun part.

Here are a few links to folks that I have dealt with and good service and pricing.

http://www.fourstrokesonly.com/Led.html Scroll down these folks offer a very clean LED Tail light / Brake light combo to fit the 450X fender in existing housing - very cool!

http://www.procycle.us/dskits/dskit.htm for good pricing and great service (2 day shipping) on pieces parts to fill-in the missing items if building your own kit or you can compare the great pricing for a complete kit.

https://www.bajadesigns.com/NET/C-164/HONDA Baja Designs always gets good marks from users - good service and durability. But personally I think they are a little pricey, but good quality stuff! For the 450x the BD head light just doesn't look right to me. (kinda old school on a modern bike) I much prefer replacing the lighting parts on the stock headlight housing and tail light housing of the 450x to keep that sleek 450x look.

http://trailtech.net/ Your gonna need a speedo, this is a good one. And they also have some very cool lighting options too.

http://www.wheelingcyclesupply.com/s...gory&cat_id=72 More lighting options.

Again keep us posted, we always like to see project come together on TWT!

.

Hey thanks for the links I had the Baja Designs and Vapor Tech already but the others are a plus.

I'll let ya know how things pan out.

Originally Posted by Calgary-Yogi

Here is the order you should get your Acessories,

1. Walmart Seat Pad
2. Walmart Seat Pad
3. Walmart Seat Pad
4. Walmart Seat Pad
5. Walmart Seat Pad
6. Walmart Seat Pad
7. Walmart Seat Pad
8. Walmart Seat Pad
9. Walmart Seat Pad
10. Walmart Seat Pad
11. Baja Design Kit
12. Larger Gas Tank
13. +1 counter shaft sprocket for longer road sections

Did I mention a Walmart Seat Pad. You will then have a bike that can go 150+ miles and you can maybe sit on it for about 20 of those miles.

I had read that the seat leaves a lot to be desired while doing my research. I absolutely plan on doing something about the stock seat ASAP.

High Cap tank is on the list as well but had not considered a sprocket change figuring that with the wide ratio trans I would be good on the occasional roadway.

[Calgary-Yogi]

Originally Posted by 09GraySilverBusa

High Cap tank is on the list as well but had not considered a sprocket change figuring that with the wide ratio trans I would be good on the occasional roadway.

The bike will run at over 65+ but I just never liked running it at that high RPM for 20-30 miles at a time. More personal peference than requirement.

[09GraySilverBusa]

Originally Posted by Calgary-Yogi

The bike will run at over 65+ but I just never liked running it at that high RPM for 20-30 miles at a time. More personal peference than requirement.

Any recomendations on a better seat or seat mod?

[ed29]

Add the Walmart pad... It really does make a huge difference. More that you would think from looking at it. I doubted it even after doing a 300 mile day on my XR. Then I moved the pad from the Honda to the KLR and swore at myself after 50 miles on the XR. I now have a pad for each.

I don't know of anyone that does serious Spencer style mods to dirt bike or dual sport seats. It seems that there is a marketable niche there for one or more of the custom seat shops.