Off road enduro

[RLP65202]

I am completely uninfomed on anything on two wheels off road. I want a good torquey machine that I can take into the woods and ride the backroads on, but still pull up to the tailgate street leagaly. I rode a friends WR250r and loved the top end and road manners, but the torque for offroad was extremely dismal. (I guess it is hard to comapre a 250 to my SV1000). Basically I want a maintenance free street legal motorcross bike.
I welcome any ideas. Looking arround $3k

[Ammo]

good luck with those requirements - street legal, maint free, and motorcross don't get used in the same sentence very often.

[RLP65202]

But that is what I want!

[Ammo]

unless things have changed in the past year or so, really your only choices for a hard core offroad street legal machine has been KTM or Husky, but both are racing fourstrokes which equal spending quality time with it on a regular basis.

from there you go to machines like the Kawi KLX250/KLR650, yamaha XT250, Suzuki DR or Honda XR650L which certainly aren't MX machines, but easier to live with in regards to maint and capable of backroad adventures.

not sure how MO views it, but some states allow plating MX machines, but all are going to be maint involved.

as far as size, in the USofA bigger is always better

but.... unless you have some wide open places, or a sand paddle, *most* folks will do better on a smaller machine with less torque. you want good tractable power, not tire shredding, arm stretching power when in the woods. its a LOT easier to steer when you can control it without the back stepping out getting you sideways or the front lifting and sending you into the trees.

I've had big bore thumpers, but the last one I had was a 250 and I could go faster and ride longer in tight woods on that bike than any others. didn't have to wrestle and fight it.

[earz]

+1

Any of the MX machines (150, 250 or 450) will require regular valve adjustments (usually @ 100 hours or less) which require camshaft removal and valve shim swaps.

I'd recommend, depending on how old/new you're looking at, a 250 trail oriented bike (i.e. KLX250, XR200, XR250, etc). You can always change sprockets pretty easily, but the stock gearing will be about the closest happy medium for woods riding and then jumping on the highway. Another option is the DRZ400 (or Kawi's version - KLX400). They are kind of heavy for a woods bike, but originally came with headlight/taillight.

[RLP65202]

Yes the WR250r, & the DRZ400 are currently at the top of my list. I am fairly mechanically competent, but regular valve adjustments are most likely above my ability and/or out of my budget. Again thank you for the advice/direction as my off road experience is limited to 4wheels.

[Pegasus1]

I am ashamed to say this but I think my dad hasn't changed the oil in his 1980's Honda XL 250 in 2 years. The oil is still clean though. He rides it 4 miles to work 2-3 days a week when weather permits. Those things are almost indestructible. I have had 5 Honda single cylinder engines and they are some of the best and easiest to maintain.

That is my opinion on the subject.

[Ammo]

dang, forgot all about the DRZ. I had an 01 "E" model with plates. The factory street legal was/is a bit different with less power, more weight. capable trail bike but neither are worthy of hitting jumps with. maint was acceptable

also agree on the XR/XL series. pretty much bullet proof, but again, under powered, under sprung, over weight. I've had a couple 80s XRs and could pretty much go anywhere the others would go. a big plus to these bikes is the absence of radiators. if I was riding a lot in rocky areas it would be a plus to not worry about busting one and loosing cooling.

however, if its torque you want, my buddy is selling his 96 ATK605. its got a bit of oomph.

[RLP65202]

I told you to let me buy it when you posted: "argh-new-bike-me-maybe"
Is it an '01 or a '96? If it is really for sale let me know.

[Ammo]

i'll confirm his price and it is in fact a 96