Trail bikes - blatent cry for help

Well, buy a trail bike and ride through puddles is a fine new years
resolution, apart from the hassle of having to buy a trail bike. I'm after
a road legal enduro style 250 smoker or 400 4 stroke (I guess). As far as
buying for the road I always know where I am, but I'm lost with this. A guy
at work is gonna lob a few old Trail Bike Monthlies at me, and mentions some
damn weird sounding european makes sometimes (Delhi Llama pip-paps and
such - strange trials/enduro hybrids) as good machines.

Where would you look for ads? Bike trader covers most of the known world
(bad) and I think people selling what I want may tend to stick with
specialist press? I'm in Wells, Somerset, BTW.

TIA.

To reply: bee_tee_ becomes ... bt.

 

["Followup-To:" header set to uk.rec.motorcycles.]
Grimm Riffer was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

Honda or Yamaha for the Japanese end of things (well, probably Yamaha,
their newish 250s/450s are supposed to be pretty good and OK to ride
on the road as well). Beyond that, you're looking at specialist stuff
like KTMs, Husqvarnas, Husabergs, Betas and lots of other strange
names. Usually worn by bikes that have a disconcerting tendency to
either vibrate themselves to bits, or go *bang* regularly or
both. Quite often both, actually.

Fleabay or specialist press. Bike Trader probably if you're after new
or pre-reg stuff.

 

Ebay.

And you'll soon find out that the words "cheap', "good" and "trail bike"
are mutually exclusive.

Be prepared to lash out some proper money.

 

You could start with the link in my sig - it's about as specialist as
it gets! ;-) Other sources are TBM (Trailbike & Enduro Magazine) which
comes out near the start of the month, & Trials & Motocross News which
comes out on Thursdays.

 

Grimm Riffer says...

Honda XR, Suzuki DRZ or Yamaha WR ranges. The Hondas are dependable, but
a few are kickstart only, like the 400. Bear in mind that as off-roaders
you'll be needing to change oil and filter at least every 600 miles on
something like an XR400. That's what the handbook says, and I'm told
they do *need* it doing this often.

 

Bear says...

 

Very small amount of oil plus air-cooled = a very hard life. To be fair
that's only really necessary if you're racing; every couple of thousand
miles is fine for trail use.

If you think that's bad, CRFs need a new piston & rings every 20 hours
- & they're 4-strokes! They do make something like 58BHP from a 450
single though.

 

Bear says...

 

Bear says...

 

You lucky person you, excellent neck of the woods for muddy stuff.
How about a CRF230F ? Only available new at 3k, (road legal) but the most
*fantastic* little workhorse for non serious farting about off road. Also
Yamaha serrow pretty good. Both light, easy to live with and leccy start.
You can rent a CRF for £100 day down in North Curry and have a real ball - I
did just that in Sep. I can tell you more if interested.

Dave

 

Dave Walker says...

I am thinking of buying a 225 Serrow. If only they didn't do them in
such gash colours though.

 

*Perk*

 

["Followup-To:" header set to uk.rec.motorcycles.]
Lozzo was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

<waves Halfrauds matt black rattle can>

And what seems to be the problem here?

 

<pet hate mode>

It's Serow.

</phm>

 

Heh, perk indeed. Still a few ponies down on the CR250 though!

 

I had one of those as a loan bike once, when the monkeys at the garage
were actually doing feck all with my Bandit. This one was on full off
road tyres, which made for interesting riding on the road.

 

Woohoo! If you do it in engine black, it rubs off and looks really ratty.

 

And, if they're anything like KTM/Husaberg/VOR etc. then they only carry
a cup full of oil hence the frequent changes

--
Veggie Dave
UKRMHRC#2 BOTAFOF#08
IQ 18 FILMS http://www.iq18films.com
Extreme Racing http://www.veggie-dave.co.uk
Toxic Shock Syndrome Gets More Girls Than Me

 

It's partly weight, partly where to put it. They're dry-sump motors, so
the oil has to live in the frame. Big fat frame tubes down low would be
a liability, so the bulk of the oil has to live up by the steering head
& in the main spar - exactly where you don't want the weight.

 

Every bit of weight saving counts. Just imagine how much titanium it
would take to remove as much weight as two litres of oil

--
Veggie Dave
UKRMHRC#2 BOTAFOF#08
IQ 18 FILMS http://www.iq18films.com
Extreme Racing http://www.veggie-dave.co.uk
Toxic Shock Syndrome Gets More Girls Than Me