1st off roader, ideas?

[iguana]

Just thinking of giving some gentle green laneing mainly over the winter and wondering what sort of bikes come well recomended.

Prob looking in the sub £1500 market & only road use = to & from green lanes.

I know sod all about off roaders but assume the Transalp/Dominator type things to be a bit big & heavy & alkward off road, while smaller strokers may not be as reliable as 4 stokes as they get older & have had lots of previous owners abuse?

Yam XT225 a good contender?

[Stig]

XT is a good but a Suzuki DR350Z or an Honda XR would do nicely too.

[mel]

I'd say XR400 they're bomb proof, DR's are the usual susi fagile stuff, and WR's are a bit too highly strung for a 1st off roader, doubfull if you'd get any KTM,CCM stuff thats any good and not getting on a bit in that price range.

[thruster]

XT225 aka Serow is an excellent first (and maybe last)bike as it has a low seat and electric boot, both of which you will soon learn to appreciate.
DR350 is heavier but will possibly be marginally better on the road.
XR is tall and has no electric boot = heart attack.
CCMs are the most wonderful things in the world but, as Mel says, you ain't going to get a goodun for £1500.
If you want something at the larger end of the market, try the KLX650 which, although it gets a bad press, is a very capable trailbike and can be had in your price range.

[iguana]

Cheers guys, I'll try & check out the recomendations when Ive go a few spare £.

[dern]

Hmm, p'raps I should put the kx500 back together I've had in my garage for... a long time

[iguana]

dern said:

Hmm, p'raps I should put the kx500 back together I've had in my garage for... a long time

Good idea coz if I manage to scrape together a few £ and get an offroader, you can come over & help me on our local trails as I no doubt smash me & the bike up on my 1st few goes

[dern]

iguana said:

Good idea coz if I manage to scrape together a few £ and get an offroader, you can come over & help me on our local trails as I no doubt smash me & the bike up on my 1st few goes

I'm up for that although I won't be much help as I've never even ridden it .

You don't know how to weld by any chance do you?

[iguana]

dern said:

You don't know how to weld by any chance do you?

Well I've had a go at it before, results not pretty, but still it can't be too hard to do it properly- afterall the girl in Flashdance could do it

I say why weld when superglue & duct tape is just so good

[dern]

iguana said:

I say why weld when superglue & duct tape is just so good

Hmm, not sure it'll hold the engine mount that broke off the frame when I took the engine out

[iguana]

dern said:

iguana said: I say why weld when superglue & duct tape is just so good Hmm, not sure it'll hold the engine mount that broke off the frame when I took the engine out

ah ha a tricky one, that will need the triple solution of superglue, duct tape, AND bluetack to sort out then, oh and maybe for the- that will defo sort it mate solution the 'piece la resistance' a bit of string tied round it for extra security

[dern]

iguana said:

ah ha a tricky one, that will need the triple solution of superglue, duct tape, AND bluetack to sort out then, oh and maybe for the- that will defo sort it mate solution the 'piece la resistance' a bit of string tied round it for extra security

Sounds like a *highly* attractive Jack Duckworth repair I made to my glasses once.

I was thinking (in the absense of any welding skills) to try that JB Cold Weld stuff. Ever used it?