Devon TRF Group Forum

The Muppet · Clubman B

help with choice of bike

devontrfbiker · Novice

Thinking of getting a bike for a bit of laning and bit of running round on tarmac to fro work, would like a bike that is low on maintenence, something along the lines of the honda xr400 or honda xr250 or crf 230. Want to stay away from the newer wr ktms etc. have thought about the drz400e i usto mess round on one a few yrs ago great bike but a bit on the big side for my mere 5,7 ish height/./ What is the general thought of the xrs? ttr250?

cheers

Big T · Expert

How much roadwork, and what sort of roads?

If you have any sort of distance on motorway/dual carriageway, then you need something which is going to cruise comfortably at safe speeds (i.e. 60/70/80) without the vibration causing any issues. Probably want to consider 6-speed box if this is the case. If only urban roads (30-40/50mph), then that's much easier, as pretty well anything 250-400 will do the job. Some (TTR/XR250) are nicer in traffic than others. If you are going to be in slow traffic, then get a light clutch and/or low gearing, and nothing too peaky (your suggestions will be fine).

Sure you'll get lots of opinions on this!

devontrfbiker · Novice

No motor way, just the local tarmac lanes in devon with some nice muddy lanes chucked in to for some fun, being only 10 half stone i am thinking the 250 xr with the lec start would be nice..

jt · Powermonger!!

Well you would be hard pressed to find a better one than THIS

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

I have to say, I agree with JT, but if you do prefer a CRF230, ring Rob Lewis at Lewis' Garage in Chard as he has an advert there for a customers CRF230.

Steve H · Devon's Best

For mixed road work & green lanes I really don't think you can beat a TTR250.

In Devon we're lucky enough to have the most knowledgible TTR guru in the WORLD with all parts easily available.

Usually a few around & priced right they never stay for sale for long so if you don't get on with it you'll always be able to move it on.

Budget anything from around £1000 for a decent old one up to £2000 for a mint newer one.

I may know of an older very good one available soon as well wink

A CRF 230 may be a bit 'buzzy' on the roads.

Steve H · Devon's Best

nickpdo wrote:
I have to say, I agree with JT, but if you do prefer a CRF230, ring Rob Lewis at Lewis' Garage in Chard as he has an advert there for a customers CRF230.

Any idea how much it is?

devontrfbiker · Novice

Have never riden an xr250 but have spent some time on a crf230 which i liked, how do the too bikes compare back to back? crf230 vs xr250? which is the nicer bike?
I have thought about the ttr also but again have never had chance to have a ride on one.

jt · Powermonger!!

I note you say you want to ride to and fro work on it - in which case for me it would be the XR.

Biff · Expert

XR 250 great bike, owned one for a few years, and went any where it was pointed
Should be fine for short commutes

jt · Powermonger!!

There you go, now go and look at this one cause you wont be dissapointed and it has a TRF VIP owner to boot wink

devontrfbiker · Novice

have seen that looks in nice condition, now need to make up mind over xr250 or the ttr 250. Out of the two bikes how do they compare back to back? i guess i am asking which is the better bike? on and off rd.
Are both bikes about the same power? which has the better suspension? is one more reliable than the other?

Pete · Devon's Best

XR more offroad oriented, TTR more road civility, both equally capable but XR more sporty.

First bike go for TTR, move up to or leapfrog XR when the need arises.

Biff · Expert

Spose it comes down to brand.
Was always a Yamaha fan, DT , RD, TZR. But they were all 2strokes
Happy with the Honda, happier still with the GasGas

Steve H · Devon's Best

Steve H wrote:
In Devon we're lucky enough to have the most knowledgible TTR guru in the WORLD with all parts easily available.

Never had an XR but have had a TTR.

A couple of years ago I rode it down the motorway from Exeter to Newton Abbot, was riding marshall at an enduro then rode it back along the coast road through Teignmouth, Dawlish etc.

The TTR was excellent on all 3 very different 'journeys'.

It was faultless during 3 days riding in Wales.

I bought it when I lost my car due to redundancy & needed a bike to get around on, the TTR was perfect.

I think you can tell which one i'd choose wink

That XR is very nice though biggrin

jt · Powermonger!!

Find a TTR that clean for that money.....

russell11031967 · Devon's Best

Red through and through, they don't go wrong smile

devontrfbiker · Novice

thankyou for the replys, given me some things to think about, like i said before am only 5,7ish so would need to chuck leg over the ttr an xr to see which fits better.
I have just noticed that the xr with electric start does not have a kick start back up like the ttr? why would that be? surely the honda would have a back up to starting if the button didnt work!!bump,)

russell11031967 · Devon's Best

Beware not all TTR'S have a kickstart, as I found out after having to push one out of a lane when the battery went flat

Biff · Expert

Mmmm

XR did let me down (and others) in north Devon a few years back
Cracked inner case .

Could ave been my heavy right boot tho

TTR · Powermonger!!

russell11031967 wrote:
Beware not all TTR'S have a kickstart, as I found out after having to push one out of a lane when the battery went flat

All plastic-tanked "blue" TTRs in the UK are dual start. Many metal-tanked "white" TTRs had kickstarts installed as an optional extra I believe.

The new WR250Rs don't have kick start provision interestingly. The answer might be to carry a light set of m/c jump leads wink

TTR · Powermonger!!

ERBS wrote:
Sorry to hijack the thread, i am also looking for another bike and was considering the wr250f, any known pitfalls or are they generally bullet proof?

Great bikes although they could do with a 6th gear if you do a fair amount of road work!

Like all 4-strokes you need to keep on top of oil and filter changes but the engines are longer lasting than some of the more race-oriented dirt bikes so you don't have to change the piston after every 20 rides wink

Olly Cooke has a good example for sale - see http://devongtrf.activeboard.com/t50102226/wr250f-for-sale-1695/

Also see http://www.dirtybiking.co.uk/features/features_biketest_ttr250_v_wr250.htm

-- Edited by TTR on Monday 24th of September 2012 09:37:42 AM

RichT4 · Champion

TTR wrote:
russell11031967 wrote:
Beware not all TTR'S have a kickstart, as I found out after having to push one out of a lane when the battery went flat
All plastic-tanked "blue" TTRs in the UK are dual start. Many metal-tanked "white" TTRs had kickstarts installed as an optional extra I believe.
The new WR250Rs don't have kick start provision interestingly. The answer might be to carry a light set of m/c jump leads

Most DRZ's don't have a kick starter, neither do most road bikes. You don't see many R1 owners worrying due to having no kick start biggrin

Take care of your battery and you'll never have any issue. Mine died when I first bought the bike as the PO didn't take care of the battery. It left me stranded on a lane. hmm

I then fitted a fresh battery and bough an optimate charger. That battery lasted 8 years and I only replaced this year as it started to sound slower than usual for the first thing cold start.

XR250(elec start) vs TTR250 - Tough call! Probably the XR as it's a novelty to have an electric start XR, and also I suspect it will have better forks maybe?

RichT4 · Champion

Also consider this DR350 that is up for grabs wink

TTR · Powermonger!!

RichT4 wrote:
XR250(elec start) vs TTR250 - Tough call! Probably the XR as it's a novelty to have an electric start XR, and also I suspect it will have better forks maybe?

Weren't the e-start XR250s more road orientated and have softer suspension than the original XR250s?

The TTR front forks are pretty beefy and I sell them s/h to fit to XT600s and TTR600s wink

ERBS · Novice

Sorry to hijack the thread, i am also looking for another bike and was considering the wr250f, any known pitfalls or are they generally bullet proof?

RichT4 · Champion

TTR wrote:
Weren't the e-start XR250s more road orientated and have softer suspension than the original XR250s?

I've no idea about E-start XR250's Brian, I think the E-starts' were import bikes. I was just assuming that the XR250 would have the same forks as the XR400 but I don't know much about the TBH. wink

jacks · Expert

The crf 230 has no kickstart, but if the battery is in good condition its no problem.

jt · Powermonger!!

TTR wrote:
The answer might be to carry a light set of m/c jump leads

Not much use if your out with Doogle and me though biggrin - batterys and leccy starts disbelief more stuff to go wrong wink

I'll get me coat.... ashamed

devontrfbiker · Novice

ok here goes again ,) which is the nicer bike xr250 or the xr400? i know some of the 250s had elec start but were these not the grey import models? the uk spec xr250 dont have the button.. what is the xr 400 like for laning? rd etc..

Biff · Expert

XR 400 is a capable laner, Brownie on here has one, and he seems to
manage ok

400 has more oomph, and not much difference in weight

RichT4 · Champion

I think if you found the DRZ E to be a bit on the big side then you'd probably feel the same way about an XR.
The XR400 is similar size & seat height but about 5-10Kgs lighter when fully oiled & fuelled.

grouty · Expert

I am sure either Dan, Kerry or Craig said someone locally was selling an XT250. Perfect for the vertically challenged, a cracking green lane bike, and pretty good on the road too.

brownie · Expert

xr 250 is fine for the lanes but the 400 has quite a bit more grunt, i had an xlr 250 when i 1st started green laning 7 years ago, very similar to the xr250 and i was fine on that until i had a go on an xr400,then i wanted one straight away.

very similar thing happened just the other day, i have been fine on the xr400 for 4 years now and never wanted anything else until.........

i rode an orange thing!, much lighter and more nimble, but more cash needed if i was to sell mine!

you will never regret owning an xr400, most people have and then they move on to something else cause they not man enough to kick it over anymore,
( guess that must me now as well lol)

russell11031967 · Devon's Best

That must be me then Paul (not man enough) have owned two XR400,s a great bike for the lanes not the lightest admittedly but very capable and bulletproof and low servicing but some can be a pig to start my last one was so after a trip to Wales where I did my leg in kicking it over so much and the day ended with someone else kicking it over for me, a button was needed (CRF450X)