Devon TRF Group Forum

Spoonz · Novice

Rieju marathon competition 450

hunter-gatherer · Novice

Do you really need a 450 competition bike as your first trail bike? Many people like bikes of that sort of size, but smaller is often less intimidating & more fun because of it, especioally if you're new to dirt riding. Just out of interest, how tall are you? It would be helpful to give you further advice?

Lost · Expert

There a bargain for the money standard there in a soft state of tune but can be derestricked and go ! Good sus good handling steed with a very reliable Yamaha engine and swinging arm with the EStart ,now the not very good bits there based on the defunct sherco 450 I had one ! Forget diff engine config there very tall in the saddle hard comp seat , plastics not really ave apart from sherco ? My sherco was a nice bike but had its falts Finnish being one with paint peeling off frame after five mins ? I'm biased here sorry to say not a big fan of the local Cornish franchise ?
Suggested alternatives will be meny on this forum but if buying new the new water cooled AJP PR250 looks very good for same money with three diff versions ,second hand well there is tones of stuff and we are back to the same old Q/ what in the future do you want to do just rail ride or compete eg enduro H&H ? Long distance trials ? And how much maintenance are you up to ? Pm if u want to just chat we are all here to help lost biggrin

delvey91 · Devon's Best

Brand new 2011 wr450 4999 including vat at fowlers. baragin of the year they are pre registered and ready to ride

Spoonz · Novice

Thanks for the info so far, I am 6"3 and 18 stone, so I think I need to go for 400 or 450. I originally had a bugget of 3k, but had a trip round a few shops today and I saw the Rieju, it appeared to be fully kitted out, however I an concerned about build quality, getting spares and resale value.
I am able and willing to take on pretty much any maintenance tasks and keep my road bike in A1 condition.
Any other info or recommendations would be very much appreciated!

D13dkt · Clubman A

im exactly the same size and weight as you and the wr450 2004 i have is more than enough, and super reliable, i was rideing a 250 crm before and only changed due to wanting a electric start(lazy)

Nige · Expert

Hi welcome.
The yamaha motor go that bike will be great and support and knowledge will be found for yamaha parts of the bike, But the rest of the bike you may well be on your own.
I think TBM said it rode well but was a bit querkie.

Simmo · Expert

Spoonz wrote:
As a newby to trail riding, I am looking to get my first trail bike and have been looking at the Rieju Marathon Comp 450, I have been into road bikes for a few years and no nothing regarding this brand. Any info good or bad would be very much appreciated.

Do youreally wanta new bike as your first trail bike.. you might hate the pastime. Try something like a XL185, CRM250 etc., cheap as chips, once you have turned really keen then it is worth forking out.

Spoonz · Novice

This is very true, however there does not seem to be much around at the moment. I was looking at the demonstrator on a 11 plate up for £3900. My ideal budget is 3k, so if anyone knows of anything, please give me a shout!

Kwaka Geoff · Clubman A

Hi Spoonz,

In another thread someone recommended a 2008 KTM 450 thats for sale in Exmoor. Looks like a lovely bike, as I think you also commented? You said that it was too far away but if it's what you're after, then (for a small fee - diesel) I could run you up there and back to collect it as I'm Plymouth based and have a Vivaro that I use to transporti my and friends green lane bikes to pastures further afield than one can ride to on such a bike (that said, I did once ride my KTM to Wales and back for some laning fun! 450 miles in total!!! ) Up to you. Just let me know if you need a lift.

Laterz

Geoff

Spoonz · Novice

Kwaka Geoff wrote:
Hi Spoonz,
In another thread someone recommended a 2008 KTM 450 thats for sale in Exmoor. Looks like a lovely bike, as I think you also commented? You said that it was too far away but if it's what you're after, then (for a small fee - diesel) I could run you up there and back to collect it as I'm Plymouth based and have a Vivaro that I use to transporti my and friends green lane bikes to pastures further afield than one can ride to on such a bike (that said, I did once ride my KTM to Wales and back for some laning fun! 450 miles in total!!! ) Up to you. Just let me know if you need a lift.
Laterz
Geoff

Thanks very much for the offer, however I have got a mate on standby, I think I am going to make an offer. Cheers once again for the offer of a lift.

Simmo · Expert

Spoonz wrote:
This is very true, however there does not seem to be much around at the moment. I was looking at the demonstrator on a 11 plate up for £3900. My ideal budget is 3k, so if anyone knows of anything, please give me a shout!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/honda-xl-185s-/130843149138?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item1e76dc0352

doug9270 · Powermonger!!

Spoonz wrote:
Thanks for the info so far, I am 6"3 and 18 stone, so I think I need to go for 400 or 450. I originally had a bugget of 3k, but had a trip round a few shops today and I saw the Rieju, it appeared to be fully kitted out, however I an concerned about build quality, getting spares and resale value.
I am able and willing to take on pretty much any maintenance tasks and keep my road bike in A1 condition.
Any other info or recommendations would be very much appreciated!

Rieju have been around for a long time and there is a dealer in Ottery st Mary !! Have looked at there product and it is put together well.

In addition to the Yamaha WR450 engines, the Rieju machines feature Galfer floating wavy discs, Brembo callipers with dual pistons, dual diameter pro-alloy handlebars, a multifunction digital instrument display, an alloy swing-arm with progressive rear link system (PRS), Excel black anodised lightweight rims, Sachs fully adjustable rear shock with remote reservoir and 45mm Marzocchi Shiver adjustable inverted forks.

MRT450PRO.jpg?osCsid=f5jit7itr4dmr3jqq51u6pfuh0

Ming · Devon's Best

Spoonz wrote:
Thanks for the info so far, I am 6"3 and 18 stone, so I think I need to go for 400 or 450. I originally had a bugget of 3k, but had a trip round a few shops today and I saw the Rieju, it appeared to be fully kitted out, however I an concerned about build quality, getting spares and resale value.

And that's the deal with this. I was in roughly the same boat 4 years ago and bought a Sherco 450i brand new, mainly because I got a good deal as I was mates with the (then) importers. Got it for £4.5k when they were 7K new confuse

However, despite it being a cracking bike to ride there were issues. The gearbox was a weak point and there were several that went bust but luckily mine lasted. I did wonder how long before I had problems and getting spares was a joke and that was with knowing the main men. They got so despondent they relinquished the importing of them as warranty claims were a nightmare. I was lucky to get £3500 9 months later. If I'd bought any mainstream enduro bike I'd either have kept it or got a lot more back on resale. Ask yourself - who is going to buy a Rieju Marathon in 2 years time? You'll be giving it away, even if it does seem cheap at the moment. My Sherco had all top drawer components on it but what about plastics, electrical parts not to mention "bling" - all I could get for the Sherco was some handguards hmm

I'd go for a 2 or 3 years old WR450. You'll lose very little on that over a couple of years.

Spoonz · Novice

Thanks everyone for the advice, I am now buying a WR 450. Cheers!!!

Rob Drake · Clubman B

I do know of a well sorted 2004 450 Husky that may well be on the market soon, ready to ride for £1750.
A bit below your budget but that's never a bad thing.

Re the Reiju, I have a customer with one and it's been no trouble bar getting any new plastics for it. I'd go for one of the £5k Yams if they still have them over a Reiju unless it was a lot cheaper.

Ming I think the Reiju is a Sherco 450i with a Yam engine. So the bike isn't designed around the engine.

Ming · Devon's Best

That would be a good thing, Rob. That was always the weak point and access to valves etc was a nightmare. Took 30 mins to get the bashplate off due to terrible design of mounting bolts.

Best of luck with whatever you do end up with.