Devon TRF Group Forum

Burny882 · Novice

Ideal 450 enduro for newbie

Pete · Devon's Best

Wouldn't recommend any 450 as a starter bike unless you are very tall indeed and well built too.
Better to start with a 230 or 250 as it will be easier to learn on.

Burny882 · Novice

I'm 6ft and carrying some weight had a drz 400 sm a while back and really enjoyed it but it never went off road

Biff · Expert

I started on the mighty XR 250 , great bike, then moved onto a 4t 450, and now a
300 2t, very happy.
You might be ok on the 450, you'll certainly get a good workout

Burny882 · Novice

I may be wrong but just feel with my height and weight a 250 would be too small? Am I wrong? I see there are several 250 about and there is now a CRF 250 on eBay In Exeter
Quite looking forward to the work out and spending the day on a bike again

Vikings · Clubman A

I started on a 501 husaberg this time last year. Go with what u feel happy with. Can always flog it. Welcome to the Trf

Burny882 · Novice

True there is always that lol and thanks,
how was the husaberg have heard mixed reviews but I see them advertised in my price range

Vikings · Clubman A

Unreliable. Lol. Get a ktm 400 if you can find one. Best green laner out there in my opinion. 450s are good 400 better. Go ktm tho. I flipping love um. Wouldn't have anything else. Ever.

Burny882 · Novice

So a 400 ktm you reckon, is there much difference in a 400 and a 450???

brownie · Expert

I was thinking the same as you re the CRf 450's but I have just bought one and it feels perfect, trust your instincts re a 250, you will soon out get bored of it. ESP if you are a big bloke.
I started off on an xlr250 but when I went on a m8s Xr 400 I realised what I was missing out on and soon went out and bought one. i thought I would keep the 250 for events etc, trouble is after riding the 400 it felt like a 125cc in comparison so I sold it straight away,
I would still have the Xr now if it had electric start but I have the next best thing,
The throttle works both ways you know!!!

D13dkt · Clubman A

im 6,2 and 18stone, ivecurrently got a drz400 and its a great bike easy to ride super reliable, down side is its a bit heavy for smaler people and need a little man handleing.
if you want a 450 i know of a 2004 wr450 for the sort of money your looking to spend.
they are a great bike but a little savage for a new rider.

Burny882 · Novice

Like your self dave I am 6ft and 18 stone so I'm thing a 450 is the way foward and brownie your crf 450 are they as gd as they say?

brownie · Expert

they are a little bit savage for a newbie i would expect, i would ride one 1st if i was you.

but i would deffo go down that route, it will be the only bike you will ever own.
all the rest will pale into insignificance.

Johnnyboxer · Clubman B

Burny882 wrote:
I may be wrong but just feel with my height and weight a 250 would be too small? Am I wrong? I see there are several 250 about and there is now a CRF 250 on eBay In Exeter
Quite looking forward to the work out and spending the day on a bike again

I'm 6'2 and 17.5 stone and find the XR250 more than adequate and have been riding offroad for 30 years

See if you can try one

Burny882 · Novice

Cheers johny and brownie I will see if I can get a few test rides and see how I feel

dl-arch · Clubman B

another 6ft'r weighing in at ahem just short of 18stone...when its working I have a 250 exc-f and more than enough for me

RichT4 · Champion

Power is great fun but frankly is a bit hinderance at times, when on really technical lanes.

I ride a DRZ400E and I'm not a heavy bloke, the bike can feel heavy at times but not often (only when picking her up). Before I was riding a KLX300 and the step in power was very noticeable (not to mention the seat height) and took away my confidence for a while.
As a starter to green laning if your bike is more powerful it will probably just take you a little longer to settle in, and you may drop it more often. If you don't ride the really challenging lanes until you've put some hours in I'm sure you'll be fine on a 450.

Burny882 · Novice

Cheers rich thanks for the advice

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

Burny882 wrote:
So a 400 ktm you reckon, is there much difference in a 400 and a 450???

Yes.

The 400 has a much smoother power curve, thanks mainly to it's gearbox, whereas the 450 is a bit more agressive in it's power delivery.

Burny882 · Novice

So a 400 exc could be the way to go, cheers nick

Vikings · Clubman A

Or go down the 2t route. Tuneable power delivery. Light weight.

brownie · Expert

The thing with buying a 250 is you will be buying another bike soon after I think. Im same sort of size as you and I used to find that my 250 was working hard all the time. Especially On the long road sections. Having said that the 250 was fine til I rode a bigger bike.
Biff was the same with his 'girls' bike lol

Burny882 · Novice

Well I have had a drz 400 before and I will be using on the road aswell so I'm swaying towards the 400/450 still but just got to find the right nike at the right price lol

Simmo · Expert

Pete wrote:
Wouldn't recommend any 450 as a starter bike unless you are very tall indeed and well built too.
Better to start with a 230 or 250 as it will be easier to learn on.

+1

delvey91 · Devon's Best

450 all the way !!

Burny882 · Novice

Leaning that way jack

Vikings · Clubman A

Got a mint 2010 30h old bike for sale prob soon as I'm Loving the 250 t2 at the mo.

D13dkt · Clubman A

Vikings wrote:
Got a mint 2010 30h old bike for sale prob soon as I'm Loving the 250 t2 at the mo.

for £2000 i will have that smile

TTR · Powermonger!!

Spent a couple of days in Southern Spain earlier this week trail riding on 2013 Husabergs. The 250 was fine, the 450 was a brilliant "hooligan" machine but the 350 was just right. Trev and I loved them and it was hard to prise us away from them to come home

We are both over 17 stone and the 350 had more than enough poke to pull us out of trouble even on the longest steepest climbs.

The 450 was apt to light up the rear wheel without much throttle provocation which wasn't always helpful. We left Matt to play Knighter on the 450 which he did very well bearing in mind he hadn't been off road or even ridden a motorbike in three years blankstare

Even so, unless doing enduros, the 350s were OTT for "just" laning in Devon - much better suited to open going.

Burny882 · Novice

Cheer ttr, guess will have to get few test rides and see what suits

RichT4 · Champion

I agree with Brian.

I think my next bike could well be something like the Husky TE310 - I think a modern 300/350 is ample for lanes/track or enduro if it suits your fancy.
I don't think I would ever buy a 250 now, even though I know the modern ones are very quick if rev'd hard/high enough. I also suspect the lower torque of the smaller engines make climbing easier but there is a certain sense of fun/adventure/satisfaction getting up or over something on a bike that is a bit of a brute.

Burny882 · Novice

I can see your point rich, guess I will be doing some reserch

Nige · Expert

Some of the modern 250 4t bikes look like they dont make enought low end power and end up stuck spinning up in the higher revs.
Id think about a drz or ttr to start with that can be sold on quite quickly when you know what way you want to go

Wheely · Expert

WR250F is a very capable beast even if you are a bit of a lump

For those that say you'll quickly want to change I'm not so sure. I've had a WR250, 2 x WR450 and now I ride a KTM200 - which is my fave by far !! ALL those bikes will get you through the lanes easily and through the challenging technical stuff - ALL those bikes have more power than you'll ever need unless you are racing (and ALL of those bikes have enough power to win plenty of races too).

I wouldnt necessarily buy a bike just to look to change in a few months (even though thats happened before) - do your homework, maybe try and ride a few, and you can easily end up with a bike you are happy with for years. And that includes most of the enduro-biased 250s. Remember the more racey engines will require a bit more TLC than your average XR or DRz - so consider this too.

Happy hunting

russell11031967 · Devon's Best

CRF450 FOR ME NEVER OWED ANYTHING BETTER smile NO MORE TO SAY

Wheely · Expert

russell11031967 wrote:
CRF450 FOR ME NEVER OWED ANYTHING BETTERNO MORE TO SAY

This isnt about you disbelief

LOL

russell11031967 · Devon's Best

SORRY I WILL SHUT UP cry JUST REMEMBER I HAVE BACK UP NOW IN YOUR UGLY MATE wink HONDA ALL THE WAY

Wheely · Expert

Perhaps the CRF450 is a bike for uglies then.............. is that what you're saying

russell11031967 · Devon's Best

WHAT JUST LIKE THE KTM IS FOR PRETTY BOYS biggrin biggrin biggrin

maggotman · Clubman A

get an rfs ktm if u do go that way easyer mantanance

jt · Powermonger!!

TTR wrote:
Trev and I loved them and it was hard to prise us away from them to come home

So that will be the Husaberg thats 'really' a KTM then eh Bri so you are admitting in Public you love KTM's biggrin wink Now just get over that Blue fetish and you will have seen the light.....

Nige · Expert

Have a look at dano82's CRM

Pete · Devon's Best

Nige wrote:
Have a look at dano82's CRM

Good advice.

The CRM is hard to beat and it is a genuine trail bike, not just a competition machine with a numberplate and no sidestand.

wackyracer · Powermonger!!

I've enjoyed all my trail riding over the last 30 odd yrs on many a different bike but one of the main ingredients has to be who i ride with and where.......

Loads of people from this site in many locations wink

But mainly in Devon with the DTRF group smile

Its not so much what you ride its who and where (am i on the right forum wink biggrin biggrin )

Biff · Expert

30 years. , you must have started early fella

Good point well put

russell11031967 · Devon's Best

Totally agree Mr Wackmister best thing i did was join the TRF got to ride in lots of new places and ride with a lot of great guys

Kwaka Geoff · Clubman A

russell11031967 wrote:
Totally agree Mr Wackmister best thing i did was join the TRF got to ride in lots of new places and ride with a lot of great guys

That statement gets a big +1 from me too!

jt · Powermonger!!

Pete wrote:
a competition machine with a numberplate and no sidestand.

You having a poke at KTM's again Pete? - I'll have you know my Tim special has lasted at least a year now wink

Vikings · Clubman A

Never had one fall off.

TTR · Powermonger!!

jt wrote:
TTR wrote:
Trev and I loved them and it was hard to prise us away from them to come home
So that will be the Husaberg thats 'really' a KTM then eh Bri so you are admitting in Public you love KTM's Now just get over that Blue fetish and you will have seen the light.....

biggrin biggrin biggrin

I got no problem with Katooms jt and will probably own one again at some stage. I didn't enjoy the 200EXC on the road but it was great on the dirt.

However, it is a tad worrying to see on here recently that a KTM with less than 3,000 miles under its belt has already had to have a new piston, battery, CDI and the starter motor refurbished amongst other stuff or is that not typical? confuse

If I bought a Husaberg I could still have some blue in my dirtbike life though wink