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Would you buy an XR400 for an all round bike ?? Would you buy an XR400 for an all round bike ??
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  #1  
Old 7 Oct 2008
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Would you buy an XR400 for an all round bike ??
Im currently bikeless after getting bored with my TDM850 and selling it...

Im skint so the next bike needs to be my only bike for everything..

Thats a daily 40 mile commute involving city and motorways, some UK trips and hopefully some transcontinental riding..

I also want to do some trail riding and green laning..

Maybe even throw it on a plane back to the Americas.. who knows !

Now, I need a do everything bike. My XT600 was too lardy for anything offroad and other trail bikes are too off road orientated...

I've considered other bikes but im on a £1500-£2000 budget at the moment.
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Old 7 Oct 2008
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The +s:
Light, nimble and easy on petrol. Will cruise at 60 mph on motorway.

The -s:
Seat is bloody torture (although fitting a sheepkin did make a huge difference: its no armchair, but a lot better!). Its a kickart so not lecky, and no ignition switch: always loc it up. prohibitive oil change schedule. At 40 miles a day, you'll need an oil and filter change every couple of months, if not more...

I've got one, but now that I live here, in such a small city, a push-bike is easy going and so my annual mileage has plummeted about 20k to as little as 4-5K!!

Those are the considerations I'd have: see what you think, but perhaps there are more road friendly 400s out there.... DRz?
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Old 7 Oct 2008
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I'd tend to agree with Warthog - as an everyday bike the DRZ400 would be hard to beat.

It's still only 5 speed, but geared for more comfortable motorway speeds. Has electric start which is huge bonus. Pretty damn reliable too, although slightly more complicated than the XR of course (let's face it, you can't get much simpler!). Oil changes are less frequent too. Consumable parts easy enough to come by too.

The XR would have the edge off-road, but only in extreme conditions (it is noticably lighter than a DRZ, and yet the XR is still considered heavy compared to the current crop of off-road bikes). For your typical RTW type riding, the Dr Zee would be a great travel buddy. Subframe is also pretty substantial (on the S models), so modest luggage shouldn't be a problem either.

Hell, I never thought I'd recommend a Suzuki over my XR400...

You ought to be able to find a decent enough DRZ for your budget, but be aware that they are very nickable, so do check the VIN etc before you buy...

xxx
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Old 17 Nov 2008
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I think XR is better than DRZ for the following reasons
Its not hard to kick
Its not as lardy
Maintenance is simpler
I use mine for the very reasons you want one. I commute on it and take it out on the beautiful Welsh countryside and it does both perfectly.
Maybe change the front sprocket to 16t for better road manners and still gives more than enough for slipppery pulling off road, i.e will cruise at 65/70 mph
The seat is pretty much the same as DRZ in comfort stakes and there are plenty of options
Sheep skin. Airhawk.
Corbin do a wider seat but I rekon its expensive
Take seat to have a custom job and will be as good as corbin
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Old 19 Nov 2008
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Wowww Ted surprise surprise
That would be a nice challenge for you.....after a lot of bike changes and swaps lately.
I would love to CU on a RTW XR 400!
Remember Honda is still a Honda(no ofences for other good bikes)
What ever your choice is i hope you keep it more then a full year,hahahaha
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Old 19 Nov 2008
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All-round-bike
Looking at your budget and what the bike will be used for, how about an old(er) Honda TransAlp!?!?!

Very reliable, good gas-milage, easy to maintain and good for just (almost) everything!

I have owned one for the past 2 (+) years, went touring to Hokkaido last year during summer vacation (3.500 kilometers) and it never let me down.

Previous bikes included a Kawasaki ZZR and a Kawasaki KLE - I have to say that the TA is the bike I DO like!
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Old 22 Nov 2008
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Why not a 650??
Quote:
Originally Posted by tedmagnum View Post
Im currently bikeless after getting bored with my TDM850 and selling it...

Im skint so the next bike needs to be my only bike for everything..

Thats a daily 40 mile commute involving city and motorways, some UK trips and hopefully some transcontinental riding..

I also want to do some trail riding and green laning..

Maybe even throw it on a plane back to the Americas.. who knows !

Now, I need a do everything bike. My XT600 was too lardy for anything offroad and other trail bikes are too off road orientated...

I've considered other bikes but im on a £1500-£2000 budget at the moment.
On your budget you could get a good XR650. I can agree that a vstrom would be a better road bike, but if your gonna go off road theres no contest, and nowt to worry about if it gets dropped. Worth a thought??
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