Cheap and cheerful country lane tool
Discussion
Not long ago sold my Daytona 675R of many years to put towards a house deposit etc.
Moving to a market town, not particularly rural but plenty of B roads and lanes on the outskirts leading to surround villages etc.
I'm already feeling a bike-sized hole in my life so was looking at something cheap and basic to replace the triumph with.
I'll be commuting a few times per week to another town for work, and longer drives or if I'm going shooting etc I've got a cheap CR-V to use.
So I'd be looking for something I could just zip around on if I need to pop to a local-ish shop or village, where taking the car and parking might be a bit of hassle, and cycling is a no go because I hate cycling
Back in the day I'd look for a dirt cheap 125cc 'enduro' style bike but the market seems to have changed since then. It seems like 125's are pricier due to being learner-friendly, so that leaves me with things that I know a little about - Suzuki DRZ400, Yamaha WR250, Honda CRF250L, and then the older (sometimes much older) stuff like Honda XR, Yamaha TT / XT...
It's a bit of a minefield really as I don't know what to avoid etc. Budget is going to be low (although flexible if needs be) so that rules out newer stuff. I don't mind something old that needs some tinkering but would like to avoid serious unreliability or big resto / repair bills..
Any suggestions? Shall I just get a pit bike from Facebook marketplace and ride around illegally? Answers on a post card
Moving to a market town, not particularly rural but plenty of B roads and lanes on the outskirts leading to surround villages etc.
I'm already feeling a bike-sized hole in my life so was looking at something cheap and basic to replace the triumph with.
I'll be commuting a few times per week to another town for work, and longer drives or if I'm going shooting etc I've got a cheap CR-V to use.
So I'd be looking for something I could just zip around on if I need to pop to a local-ish shop or village, where taking the car and parking might be a bit of hassle, and cycling is a no go because I hate cycling
Back in the day I'd look for a dirt cheap 125cc 'enduro' style bike but the market seems to have changed since then. It seems like 125's are pricier due to being learner-friendly, so that leaves me with things that I know a little about - Suzuki DRZ400, Yamaha WR250, Honda CRF250L, and then the older (sometimes much older) stuff like Honda XR, Yamaha TT / XT...
It's a bit of a minefield really as I don't know what to avoid etc. Budget is going to be low (although flexible if needs be) so that rules out newer stuff. I don't mind something old that needs some tinkering but would like to avoid serious unreliability or big resto / repair bills..
Any suggestions? Shall I just get a pit bike from Facebook marketplace and ride around illegally? Answers on a post card
darkyoung1000 said:
Something like a Sinnis /Mutt/Herald 250 probably fits the bill. You can get one for around £2k, air cooled single (old Suzuki design I believe), carb fed, 20hp, 80mpg and very simple.
I have it in Herald flavour and it’s a lot of fun to ride flat out everywhere!
Haven't really heard of those but I'll have a look for sure, cheersI have it in Herald flavour and it’s a lot of fun to ride flat out everywhere!
smithyithy said:
They do seem like the very sensible option, but the cheapest around around £3k which is realistically more than I'd want to spend :/
Good bike for the back roads, ok for gentle greenlaning and 6 speed gearbox helps on the road too.Prices are creeping back down to pre-covid levels, £2500 will soon get a good one - I sold mine in 2020 for £2750 and they did go up somewhat after.
Out of all of my bikes it’s my little 250 that I use the most and get the most fun out of so I think you’re looking in the right place.
All of the bikes you listed are good choices, super reliable with great spares availability. I’ve first hand experience of the CRF250L, the WR250R (which I own) and a CCM 404 which has the DRZ motor in it.
Basically the DRZ is the fastest (just) and feels the oldest, because it is. Only 5 speed and runs a carb with all of the pros and cons that brings. The CRF is the most modern but you can tell it was built to a budget, these things were cheap when new. Typical Honda that they maintained the build quality but corners were cut and they show in the performance, the CRF is the slowest with the most basic suspension but with 6 speeds and fuel injection its very easy to live with. I might be a little bias but I’d say the WR250R is the best of the bunch but it’s also the hardest to find as they were close to double the price of the CRF they never sold nearly as many. In dozens on drag races and 2nd/3rd gear pulls my 250 is 98% match for the 400 motor but feels much smoother and has lower maintence. It’s also a 6 speed with fuel injection but I also found it the most comfy and the most stable on the road.
As with any off road capable bike you need to buy on condition, a well looked after example of bike A will be a much better buy than an abused example of bike B.
All of the bikes you listed are good choices, super reliable with great spares availability. I’ve first hand experience of the CRF250L, the WR250R (which I own) and a CCM 404 which has the DRZ motor in it.
Basically the DRZ is the fastest (just) and feels the oldest, because it is. Only 5 speed and runs a carb with all of the pros and cons that brings. The CRF is the most modern but you can tell it was built to a budget, these things were cheap when new. Typical Honda that they maintained the build quality but corners were cut and they show in the performance, the CRF is the slowest with the most basic suspension but with 6 speeds and fuel injection its very easy to live with. I might be a little bias but I’d say the WR250R is the best of the bunch but it’s also the hardest to find as they were close to double the price of the CRF they never sold nearly as many. In dozens on drag races and 2nd/3rd gear pulls my 250 is 98% match for the 400 motor but feels much smoother and has lower maintence. It’s also a 6 speed with fuel injection but I also found it the most comfy and the most stable on the road.
As with any off road capable bike you need to buy on condition, a well looked after example of bike A will be a much better buy than an abused example of bike B.
Do you need an enduro and what's a low budget? £2k for 125s doesn't strike me as low budget.
I'm going to say early 600 Hornet on the assumption you're not going off road and are sticking to tarmac. A decent one can be had in the £1,000-1,200 range. Go for 2000-on to get the 17" front wheel to make tyre choice easier. Plenty around so you can be choosy to get something decent. Good build quality and excellent reliability (but if you're handy change the oil cooler o-rings if they're not been done). Upright riding position works on smaller lanes but still enough go for longer rides should the need arise.
I'm going to say early 600 Hornet on the assumption you're not going off road and are sticking to tarmac. A decent one can be had in the £1,000-1,200 range. Go for 2000-on to get the 17" front wheel to make tyre choice easier. Plenty around so you can be choosy to get something decent. Good build quality and excellent reliability (but if you're handy change the oil cooler o-rings if they're not been done). Upright riding position works on smaller lanes but still enough go for longer rides should the need arise.
BMW F650GS single cylinder. Very economical single (70mpg), with more size, presence and grunt than the smaller bikes suggested, but without being a monster. 5 speeds and only 44bhp so runs out of puff above 70. Actually reasonably competent offroad even on stuff like Tourances which are a mostly street tyre.
As mentioned above, CCM 404, you'll pick one up for less than the equivalent year DRZ, but the CCM has the better E engine, higher compression, better cams, flat slide carb, plus WP suspension and Brembo brakes, it's a better bike.
Plus a lot of them come with both sets of wheels, road and off road.
Plus a lot of them come with both sets of wheels, road and off road.
stang65 said:
Do you need an enduro and what's a low budget? £2k for 125s doesn't strike me as low budget.
I'm going to say early 600 Hornet on the assumption you're not going off road and are sticking to tarmac. A decent one can be had in the £1,000-1,200 range. Go for 2000-on to get the 17" front wheel to make tyre choice easier. Plenty around so you can be choosy to get something decent. Good build quality and excellent reliability (but if you're handy change the oil cooler o-rings if they're not been done). Upright riding position works on smaller lanes but still enough go for longer rides should the need arise.
Yeah it's tricky because the bike will sort of determine what I use it for, rather than the other way around if that makes sense? I'm going to say early 600 Hornet on the assumption you're not going off road and are sticking to tarmac. A decent one can be had in the £1,000-1,200 range. Go for 2000-on to get the 17" front wheel to make tyre choice easier. Plenty around so you can be choosy to get something decent. Good build quality and excellent reliability (but if you're handy change the oil cooler o-rings if they're not been done). Upright riding position works on smaller lanes but still enough go for longer rides should the need arise.
I think I'm leaning towards something smaller and lighter, it will generally be something I can hop on and ride a few miles down the road to the farm shop or into a nearby village or whatever just to pick up a few bits. If it's off-roadable then I'll probably end up taking it down some single track / unpaved lanes just to get around the area, rather than a proper road bike that I'd end up using for longer journeys instead of the car.
In my mind I'm picturing a road legal 'crosser, but without the weekly engine rebuilds
- small (as in narrow and light), nippy, basic, can be thrown down a rutted unpaved track if needed, road legal enough to just quickly start up and do trips of a few miles here and there..finishing touch said:
I also have a 30 year old BMW Funduro.
Keeps up with traffic on the A roads and would sit at motorway speed if you asked it.
I fitted a top box to make trips to the shops feasible, and all for a grand.
That looks a cracking bike for the money!Keeps up with traffic on the A roads and would sit at motorway speed if you asked it.
I fitted a top box to make trips to the shops feasible, and all for a grand.
Edited by finishing touch on Friday 1st September 14:28
smithyithy said:
ThreadKiller said:
In the traditional Biker Banter fashion… recommend your own bike… TTR250!
Whare are they like mate? There's one on AT that looks cool and would be in budget (probably sold by the time I come to buy though).. I do like the style of them and they seem quite quick
Parts not easy to find.
I wanted a bike to potter on that didn’t mind the pot holes and was good for light green laning and trails. It’s been great for that.
19hp so I wouldn’t describe it as fast. But light weight means it’s quite nippy and will plod along very easily in 2nd or 3rd on the trails.
I bought it as a temporary bike whilst my DT175 is repaired and not sure what I will do with it when that’s done.
I really like it and it’s a much easier ride than the DT. But the DT has more “charm”.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff