Beginners offroading
Discussion
Been offered a cheap but very tidy restored 1987 Honda XR 250. having never done any offroading /green laning I'm thinking this might be something usable to give it a try on?
It's road legal and comes with MOT. Runs fine, engine sounds sweet.
I'm starting from a zero experience point and don't have any off road kit lol, but thinking join local TRF or similar to begin with. There's a few local pay n play places I could go to start with to get a feel for it.
Insurance is less than £100 so it would be a very cheap venture other than buying some decent clobber with a bit of protection.
Worth a crack? Any recommendations on decent kit without breaking the bank welcome too.
Have a road bike and cars so this would just be a hobby/toy to learn some new skills on etc.
It's road legal and comes with MOT. Runs fine, engine sounds sweet.
I'm starting from a zero experience point and don't have any off road kit lol, but thinking join local TRF or similar to begin with. There's a few local pay n play places I could go to start with to get a feel for it.
Insurance is less than £100 so it would be a very cheap venture other than buying some decent clobber with a bit of protection.
Worth a crack? Any recommendations on decent kit without breaking the bank welcome too.
Have a road bike and cars so this would just be a hobby/toy to learn some new skills on etc.
smifffymoto said:
Any bike is fun off road and small capacity is no hindrance.
Kit wise you don’t have to spend a fortune,you can wear normal clothes if you like but, and this is a big but,don’t skimp on your boots.Buy the best you can afford,with an enduro sole.
Cheers. What's the difference between my RSX road bike boots and proper enduro sole boots , just more substantial? Kit wise you don’t have to spend a fortune,you can wear normal clothes if you like but, and this is a big but,don’t skimp on your boots.Buy the best you can afford,with an enduro sole.
How cheap ?
Most ride Enduro bikes for a reason
Loads of cheap gear on Facebook and eBay
When I started I did a couple of Enduro practice days on the basis I could do a lap and then recover and I wasn't affecting anyone else
Also if it broke down it wasn't a long walk back to the van
Glad I did because the first ride I did with the trf which was supposed to be 4 hours, ended up being eight, which would have killed me had I done that straight away
Most ride Enduro bikes for a reason
Loads of cheap gear on Facebook and eBay
When I started I did a couple of Enduro practice days on the basis I could do a lap and then recover and I wasn't affecting anyone else
Also if it broke down it wasn't a long walk back to the van
Glad I did because the first ride I did with the trf which was supposed to be 4 hours, ended up being eight, which would have killed me had I done that straight away
KTMsm said:
How cheap ?
Most ride Enduro bikes for a reason
Loads of cheap gear on Facebook and eBay
When I started I did a couple of Enduro practice days on the basis I could do a lap and then recover and I wasn't affecting anyone else
Also if it broke down it wasn't a long walk back to the van
Glad I did because the first ride I did with the trf which was supposed to be 4 hours, ended up being eight, which would have killed me had I done that straight away
Cheap enough not to care if its destroyed or damaged etc. Don't know yet what gear I need tbh, think I'll start gently and easily on some local pay n play areas with perhaps some tuition etc. Joined the TRF last night to find out a bit more local info.Most ride Enduro bikes for a reason
Loads of cheap gear on Facebook and eBay
When I started I did a couple of Enduro practice days on the basis I could do a lap and then recover and I wasn't affecting anyone else
Also if it broke down it wasn't a long walk back to the van
Glad I did because the first ride I did with the trf which was supposed to be 4 hours, ended up being eight, which would have killed me had I done that straight away
Sounds ideal then 
Main thing is MX boots, essentially you struggle to walk in them, they're that stiff and that's what you need
Any gloves will do
Pair of decent hinged knee guards
Either body armour or most just wear an Enduro jacket which has elbow shoulder and back armour, you could wear a road textile jacket if you wanted
Main thing is MX boots, essentially you struggle to walk in them, they're that stiff and that's what you need
Any gloves will do
Pair of decent hinged knee guards
Either body armour or most just wear an Enduro jacket which has elbow shoulder and back armour, you could wear a road textile jacket if you wanted
KTMsm said:
Sounds ideal then
Main thing is MX boots, essentially you struggle to walk in them, they're that stiff and that's what you need
Any gloves will do
Pair of decent hinged knee guards
Either body armour or most just wear an Enduro jacket which has elbow shoulder and back armour, you could wear a road textile jacket if you wanted
Thanks for that very helpful. Main thing is MX boots, essentially you struggle to walk in them, they're that stiff and that's what you need
Any gloves will do
Pair of decent hinged knee guards
Either body armour or most just wear an Enduro jacket which has elbow shoulder and back armour, you could wear a road textile jacket if you wanted
200Plus Club said:
Been offered a cheap but very tidy restored 1987 Honda XR 250. having never done any offroading /green laning I'm thinking this might be something usable to give it a try on?
It's road legal and comes with MOT. Runs fine, engine sounds sweet.
I'm starting from a zero experience point and don't have any off road kit lol, but thinking join local TRF or similar to begin with. There's a few local pay n play places I could go to start with to get a feel for it.
Insurance is less than £100 so it would be a very cheap venture other than buying some decent clobber with a bit of protection.
Worth a crack? Any recommendations on decent kit without breaking the bank welcome too.
Have a road bike and cars so this would just be a hobby/toy to learn some new skills on etc.
I used to ride XRs and had a number of them in various sizes, but the 250 was my favourite because it was relatively light and it was possible to ride it quite quickly in technical terrain. On one of them I put a 280 kit, Pro-Meg pipe and upgraded carb. Of those, the 280 kit made the most difference.It's road legal and comes with MOT. Runs fine, engine sounds sweet.
I'm starting from a zero experience point and don't have any off road kit lol, but thinking join local TRF or similar to begin with. There's a few local pay n play places I could go to start with to get a feel for it.
Insurance is less than £100 so it would be a very cheap venture other than buying some decent clobber with a bit of protection.
Worth a crack? Any recommendations on decent kit without breaking the bank welcome too.
Have a road bike and cars so this would just be a hobby/toy to learn some new skills on etc.
Mine were all late 90s onwards models. But I borrowed an 80s one and was surprised that it felt better than mine. I think the COG may have been lower and the engine seemed less revvy.
I went on a trip to Wales with some older boys who were riding XRs, nothing bigger than 250, and they were able to do things that those on bigger bikes could not. They were using them like trials bikes but with cross-country ability. They had higher and wider bars.
Ramble over; if it’s priced right buy it. You’ll have loads of fun and it will be cheap to run and maintain. I would venture to suggest that when you’ve eventually been persuaded to buy a bigger, electric start, enduro bike you will miss the little XR.
Louis Balfour said:
I used to ride XRs and had a number of them in various sizes, but the 250 was my favourite because it was relatively light and it was possible to ride it quite quickly in technical terrain. On one of them I put a 280 kit, Pro-Meg pipe and upgraded carb. Of those, the 280 kit made the most difference.
Mine were all late 90s onwards models. But I borrowed an 80s one and was surprised that it felt better than mine. I think the COG may have been lower and the engine seemed less revvy.
I went on a trip to Wales with some older boys who were riding XRs, nothing bigger than 250, and they were able to do things that those on bigger bikes could not. They were using them like trials bikes but with cross-country ability. They had higher and wider bars.
Ramble over; if it’s priced right buy it. You’ll have loads of fun and it will be cheap to run and maintain. I would venture to suggest that when you’ve eventually been persuaded to buy a bigger, electric start, enduro bike you will miss the little XR.
Deal done! :-)Mine were all late 90s onwards models. But I borrowed an 80s one and was surprised that it felt better than mine. I think the COG may have been lower and the engine seemed less revvy.
I went on a trip to Wales with some older boys who were riding XRs, nothing bigger than 250, and they were able to do things that those on bigger bikes could not. They were using them like trials bikes but with cross-country ability. They had higher and wider bars.
Ramble over; if it’s priced right buy it. You’ll have loads of fun and it will be cheap to run and maintain. I would venture to suggest that when you’ve eventually been persuaded to buy a bigger, electric start, enduro bike you will miss the little XR.
200Plus Club said:
Louis Balfour said:
I used to ride XRs and had a number of them in various sizes, but the 250 was my favourite because it was relatively light and it was possible to ride it quite quickly in technical terrain. On one of them I put a 280 kit, Pro-Meg pipe and upgraded carb. Of those, the 280 kit made the most difference.
Mine were all late 90s onwards models. But I borrowed an 80s one and was surprised that it felt better than mine. I think the COG may have been lower and the engine seemed less revvy.
I went on a trip to Wales with some older boys who were riding XRs, nothing bigger than 250, and they were able to do things that those on bigger bikes could not. They were using them like trials bikes but with cross-country ability. They had higher and wider bars.
Ramble over; if it’s priced right buy it. You’ll have loads of fun and it will be cheap to run and maintain. I would venture to suggest that when you’ve eventually been persuaded to buy a bigger, electric start, enduro bike you will miss the little XR.
Deal done! :-)Mine were all late 90s onwards models. But I borrowed an 80s one and was surprised that it felt better than mine. I think the COG may have been lower and the engine seemed less revvy.
I went on a trip to Wales with some older boys who were riding XRs, nothing bigger than 250, and they were able to do things that those on bigger bikes could not. They were using them like trials bikes but with cross-country ability. They had higher and wider bars.
Ramble over; if it’s priced right buy it. You’ll have loads of fun and it will be cheap to run and maintain. I would venture to suggest that when you’ve eventually been persuaded to buy a bigger, electric start, enduro bike you will miss the little XR.
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