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12 Nov 2009
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what first bike..on a budget
Hello....am quickly getting bitten by the bike bug...Up till now have always travelled 4x4....apart from when i went rucsacking at 18......
Need help on decideing what type of bike for a new rider(who has riden before)for a 6ft 3 person....and on a bit of a budget......Would be looking at a trial run on whatever i get to a place i know well Northern italy and do some tracks...So would need to be able to take my weight and luggage.. Really not bothered by old bikes as have always driven classic landrovers,,,,many thanks stu.
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12 Nov 2009
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Hmmm,
possibly Suzuki DR650SE or Yamahas XT600, as a compromise for the all purpose bike. If more offroad would be applicable, maybe Suzuki DRZ400S or SE, if more road biased Kawasaki KLE500 or Honda Transalp 600.
Except for the Suzuki DRZ400, all the others should be out there for reasonable prices, second hand. All the best, and welcome
cheers Michael
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12 Nov 2009
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Many thanks....must admit i do like the look off the Tenere and they are quiet reasonably priced......Thought if i get one thats cheap enough and needs a bit off work doing......it will give me something to do through the winter and get a chance to learn about the bike....(Just going through a move to Scotland)so ive got a good place to start to practice sleeping by the bike etc...Also it looks a lot cheaper to do my test up in Aberdeenshire......
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12 Nov 2009
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One end of the country to the other  That'd be a good test for a new bike (& rider) 
Get out there & try a few first. Money's still tight, so should be able to pick up a bargain.
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13 Nov 2009
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Yes ive never been one for a small move up the road....when visiting the other week to Stirling for a job interview......ended up going to loch lomond just for a chill and a sleep in the car.......while sat their couldnt beleive how many Bmw 1200 gs,s went past....everyone was on new bikes with nice new top notch gear on......prefer old dirty used stuff myself....very nice bikes but a lot out of my price range.....although i do like the 650 dakar and have seen a few reasonably cheap that need tidying up....
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13 Nov 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m2catter
Hmmm,
possibly Suzuki DR650SE or Yamahas XT600, as a compromise for the all purpose bike. If more offroad would be applicable, maybe Suzuki DRZ400S or SE, if more road biased Kawasaki KLE500 or Honda Transalp 600.
Except for the Suzuki DRZ400, all the others should be out there for reasonable prices, second hand. All the best, and welcome
cheers Michael
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You can get a 2003 DRZ400S for about £1400 !
Thats probably cheaper than the 650, Transalp or even the KLE !!
__________________
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Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
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13 Nov 2009
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Think about the KLR
What about the KLR 650. A great bike and is really cheap. A few mods and rtw you go. Lots of options available and is very reliable. The seat height is perfect for you!
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13 Nov 2009
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My Short list
Honda Africa Twin 650 or 750 (not so cheap)
Suzuki DR 650SE
XTZ Super Ténére
Having just come from that area, I hope your shed is heated 
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14 Nov 2009
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Hi,
if you can get a DRZ400S for 1400, as one member mentioned here, that is cheap, provided condition is good. They have the best reputation here in downunder, excellent trail bikes. I had a Honda XR400R myself, but would prefer the DRZ400 over the Honda. A friend of mine rides one. If trails are the target, the DRZ400 is a bulletproof funbike, and lightyears ahead of all 600/650 dual purpose so called Enduro bikes. Just look at the weight and quality parts for suspension used, it says a lot.
All the best Michael
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14 Nov 2009
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DRZ and KLR What are these???
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14 Nov 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4x4overland
DRZ and KLR What are these???
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Suzuki DRZ400.. Comes in 3 flavours but you really want the "S" for overlanding but they are very similar.
Its 80% offroad bike, 20% bike road... Don't buy one unless you like to explore the rough stuff. (this one is mine below).
Let down by the horribly uncomfortable seat and general MX bike rattle. Very capable though.
The KLR is cheap as chips and hard as nails but built to a budget...The Yanks LOVE them and I can see why.
Much more of an all purpose bike and probably ideal for your needs.
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14 Nov 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tedmagnum
Suzuki DRZ400.. Comes in 3 flavours but you really want the "S" for overlanding but they are very similar.
Its 80% offroad bike, 20% bike road... Don't buy one unless you like to explore the rough stuff. (this one is mine below).
Let down by the horribly uncomfortable seat and general MX bike rattle. Very capable though.
The KLR is cheap as chips and hard as nails but built to a budget...The Yanks LOVE them and I can see why.
Much more of an all purpose bike and probably ideal for your needs.
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I do like your bike very nice ....specially the fluffy seat......I do intend to get it muddy and do some rough stuff.....Have been looking into the enduros as a hobby too looks like fun....Just one question on the Suzukis though.....My mates into raceing bikes and has an R1.....When i said to himone day that i liked the clourful Gsxrs to look at he said ooohh you dont want a Suzuki the build qualitys crap......is this true with enduro type bikes?????
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14 Nov 2009
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Kawasaki Suzuki collaboration ?
Is the KLR one of the bikes that Kawasaki and Suzuki collaborated on ?
Nice DRZ tedmagnum how long at time do you disappear into the bush for ? I see you are carrying lots of fuel.
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14 Nov 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4x4overland
I do like your bike very nice ....specially the fluffy seat......I do intend to get it muddy and do some rough stuff.....Have been looking into the enduros as a hobby too looks like fun....Just one question on the Suzukis though.....My mates into raceing bikes and has an R1.....When i said to himone day that i liked the clourful Gsxrs to look at he said ooohh you dont want a Suzuki the build qualitys crap......is this true with enduro type bikes????? |
As a previous Suzuki salesmen I'll have to admit that the finish on the ROAD bikes was pretty crap in the late 90's and even into the naughies...
This was just the quality of the finish on the fairings, forks, cases etc.. It was purely cosmetic and it's IMO completely irrelevant on an Enduro bike.
The fluffy seat is just a sheepskin thrown over. A very common modification and costs about £10 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gixxer.rob
Is the KLR one of the bikes that Kawasaki and Suzuki collaborated on ?
Nice DRZ tedmagnum how long at time do you disappear into the bush for ? I see you are carrying lots of fuel.
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The KLR is way older than the collaberation days I think...
I got the DRZ solely for a trip to Capetown. After taking an XT600E to south america and HATING the weight and basic suspension offroad, I decided I wanted something more up to the task. I have an Africa Twin which I use for more road based trips.
That tank is only 14 litres (original is 10l) and the 10L jerry is 10L giving me 24 Litres and hopefully 300 miles !! Nothing compared to some lol.
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14 Nov 2009
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Quote:
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Just one question on the Suzukis though.....My mates into raceing bikes and has an R1.....When i said to himone day that i liked the clourful Gsxrs to look at he said ooohh you dont want a Suzuki the build qualitys crap......is this true with enduro type bikes?????
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As Suzuki road bike man I would disagree with the suzi's having crap build quality as tedmagnum said. I've 3 GSX-Rs (97, 2000, K4), 96 RGV and worked on many others. Although I would say the build finish lacked a little here there, not as good as say Honda. The mechanical side has always been great.
Quote:
I got the DRZ solely for a trip to Capetown. After taking an XT600E to south america and HATING the weight and basic suspension offroad, I decided I wanted something more up to the task. I have an Africa Twin which I use for more road based trips.
That tank is only 14 litres (original is 10l) and the 10L jerry is 10L giving me 24 Litres and hopefully 300 miles !! Nothing compared to some lol.
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I ask about the DRZ tedmagnum because I took a XTZ 660 Tenere to cape york and found it too top heavy off road but was great on the way there and back on the black stuff. I had a DRZ a bit later but only ever used it for short trips, never more than a weekend.
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