Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - New DRZ 400 s rider

Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/)

- Welcome to HU (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/welcome-to-hu/)

- - New DRZ 400 s rider (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/welcome-to-hu/new-drz-400-s-rider-8475)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Levine

G'day, I just joined the site as I'm researching the market for a dual purpose Bike. The biggest question is what to compromise on.
I think you guys would probably enjoy reading this thread from Thumpertalk
http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/sho...7&page=1&pp=10

I'd really like a twin cylinder machine, having owned several big singles over the years, but there's nothing on the market light enough to handle OK in the rough stuff, and all those big, wide expensive fairings are definately going to get trashed sooner or later.
Thinking of a KLR650 and beefing up the suspension & front brake.
Or a DRZ400 with a better seat and larger tank.
Do you know of anyone who's put a small frame mounted fairing on a DRZ400 and maybe a lower, fork mounted, front fender.

I don't know of anyone putting a frame mounted faring on a DR-Z, but someone, cee bailey I think, makes a fork mounted one for wind protection. Also you can always adapt a generic one I am sure. As for the fender, no one I know of has lowered theirs, but again I am sure it can be done. If you throw enough money and engineering into something it can usually be done. My question is why you would want a lower front fender.

It's cool to see this old thread still hanging around. Kinda strange it pops up since I recently have started keeping up on the site again.

I don't have the DRZ anymore, or do I have the 1967 Honda Scrambler I had after it any more. It's been long eough I've been through a few bikes.

Currently I have no Bike. :( But, that will change over the summer.

For what I like to ride I'm thinking about adding a street conversion kit to the electric start Yamaha WR250/450 for dual purpose/ Motard. I'm a ex MX/off road racer and am decidely a dirt rider. So really can only see my self riding bikes that I know can go over some of the stuff I know is out there off road. Of course, its the stuff you don't know(or see) that hurts. lol

I'm still sort of home bound and would rather figure I'd get more just local use with this. My long term goals/dreams is to maybe tour some of lower Mexico and the Baja. Not much major over land stuff. Probably not Africa or even South America. Some parts of Canada seem cool to ride and the American Southwest Utah colorado NEveda.

For the type of riding I'm talking about I still think the DRZ is a great bike for that. Stretching out across a desert at 80 mph for hours on end with the kitchen sink, maybe not. Although dig the kitchen sink you can do pretty good if the road is less than "ideal".

I think if you plan well and pack light, you can do all kinds of great adventures around home. You won't be inclined if you have a huge giant bike that only makes sense to ride if your going to lay down 3000 miles and live on it for 3 months.
The DRZ can be ready to go for short trips easily(lack of acc) and isn't as tiring.

As far as the reliabilty goes. This motorcycle has seen all kinds of racing. From off road to Super motard. Ridden by pros, and let me tell you, Pros know how to wear a bike out. I'm sure these have been ridden in Baja 1000's .Thats like 10000 miles for what normal people can do. Deal with the few well known issues and rip.

And like the one fellow said it's easy to work on. The beauty is that it' a pretty high tech engine but, being a dual purpose and a single cylinder it elnds it self to being very easy to work on with simple tools. Even the major stuff. Getting parts is one thing being able to actually fix it is another.

Anyways good to be back. Lets hope I get back on the road(trail really) soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Levine (Post 102680)

I'd really like a twin cylinder machine, having owned several big singles over the years, but there's nothing on the market light enough to handle OK in the rough stuff

Have you seen a Aprilia RXV550? don't know how well they would work for a adventure bike but they are a twin and very lightweight. And they flat haul butt!.
I own a drz400s and they are great bikes. The only minuses are tall seat height and uncomfortable seat. A Renazco lowered seat takes care of both of those problems. The DRZ400 will wax a KLR or a dr650 to its top speed. their is no comparison on that but the 650's feel better on the highway (I feel fine on my drz though). The DRZ is a good bike but I actually want to trade up for a KTM 450 or 500 which are Great bikes! I do short (under 1000 mile) trips and mostly offroad so the lighter the bike the better. Ktm also makes the 690 which is very light for its size. It all comes down to what you like to do. I find the smaller enduros (drz400,ktm450exc and 500, husaberg,etc..) will still go down the highway as fast as you want to go but still have the ability to go up any single track trail or other that you feel like hitting. I have been out with guys on 650's (bmw & klr) that could not go on the trails that the rest of us hit. In fact the only time they felt comfortable was on the roads. They should have just brought their Harleys :rofl:
Also in Mondo Enduro those guys went around the world taking the longest land route possible on dr350's the drz400's predecessor.