Would you? – OLD Bull Trailriders

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January 5, 2014 at 9:28 pm #103554

Eric Smith
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Ok, I have a nice little Suzuki DR-Z250, it is an 05 model but only has about 1500km on it. I’ve had the suspension sorted and I’m quite happy with it – most of the time. It is as straight as a die and reliable as an axe. It does lack a little bit of power, but hey, it is an air-cooled 4-stroke after all!

My brother has an 07 model WR450F which he has had from new. It has had a bit more work than my bike and I think from memory it is up to about 7000km. He had the suspension touched up by MPE a few years ago, but I’d suspect it is due for a tickle-up now. Engine-wise, he has checked valves (no problem) and has had no real dramas. On the downside, it has been raced (by him).

We figure that they are worth about the same money and he is looking at changing bikes. We are half-considering a swap which will get me a modern 450F and him a bike worth about the same as his to sell or trade. I casually mentioned it to him over Christmas and when we spoke over the weekend he mentioned it to me, which started me thinking: Do I REALLY want a 450F? I’ve had a WR250F in the past, and I loved it. In hindsight I should have kept it, but who knows these things at the time? Most of my riding is either a blat on the fire trails nearby, cruising dirt roads, or tight, slow single track (my preferred riding). To be brutally honest, I doubt I’d be any faster on the tight single track with a 450, and have no desire to be faster on fire trails or dirt roads. That being said, more is more!

I suspect it will come down to riding both bikes back to back and seeing which one floats my boat!

So, what would you do? :blink:

January 5, 2014 at 10:42 pm #252979

Roy
Member

G’day Ecks,

I reckon if it was me it would come down to how much riding I was doing. My guess is you’re not doing that much (like me unfortunately). If I wasn’t doing much riding and the bike was unused for lengthy periods I would keep the suzuki. If I was doing heaps of riding and racking up the km’s I would get the yamaha as you are likely to trade in either bike in the short term anyway.

The yamaha is going to need more maintenance than the suzuki as it has been used more already. No issue if you plan on having it for a short time. Bigger issue if the bike is a long term proposition. I also reckon the suzuki would hold it’s value slightly better in the long term.

Then again from a pure riding perspective the yamaha would be more fun to ride in my opinion. Comes back to what you want and what that’s worth to you in terms of monetary and enjoyment values.

January 5, 2014 at 10:59 pm #252980

scott bocking
Member

Hey Ecks,
I reckon if the WR450 is in good shape I would give it a go. Spud has proven just how reliable these bikes are many more hours on his and he rides it hard and fast. Give it a ride and see if you like how it feels.

STM

January 5, 2014 at 11:26 pm #252981

Greg
Member

6 of one half dozen of another :huh:

I would go the 450, suits me and what I like (and hauls my fat arse :whistle: ) That said I have being enjoying the soft feminine side of dirt biking lately with our pre run 250 :blush: But that said I was on holidays :laugh:

Tough choice Ecks both will provide years of reliability but if you don’t ride much maybe the 250 with no radiator to boil in the tight stuff (although I can’t remember a WR boiling on a ride like those shitbox orange things :pinch: ) The 450 opens up other worlds maybe, open days simpson crossings I don’t know I enjoy any bike as long as I am riding

Will watch with interest

Happy new year

TB

January 5, 2014 at 11:28 pm #252983

Eric Smith
Member

True that fellas! The WRF would be a much better bike to ride, slimmer, lighter, much more power. The DRZ is old faithful and just starts when I hit the button. I do know of a few WRF’s with higher k’s on them so they can do it – not that I will be adding heaps of mileage anyway! Tough choice!

I must admit, I like the challenge of punting the DRZ into places most people wouldn’t expect it to go, but it does make the more technical rides harder than they have to be (lack of clearance and heavy being the main issues).

Not looking to trade in or upgrade in the near future. If I keep the DRZ it will stay in my shed for the foreseeable future. If I swap to the WRF, it would be a keeper as well. As much as I’d love a nice Sherco, it ain’t gonna happen anytime soon!

January 6, 2014 at 2:28 am #252987

Jeffrey Smith
Member

I swapped my 2007 DRZ400 for a 2007 WR450F a while back and have not regretted it. I also don’t mind a bit of fire trail or single trail and the WR does both fine. The extra power never goes astray and the easier stopping and turning saves a ton of energy. I swapped with Bigger Al at nundle one day getting back on a DRZ and the difference in the singles going back to back was huge. By the end of the next single I was huffing and puffing more than I had been all day and couldn’t wait together back on the WR.

January 6, 2014 at 2:42 am #252991

Eric Smith
Member

Jeffro wrote:

I swapped my 2007 DRZ400 for a 2007 WR450F a while back and have not regretted it. I also don’t mind a bit of fire trail or single trail and the WR does both fine. The extra power never goes astray and the easier stopping and turning saves a ton of energy. I swapped with Bigger Al at nundle one day getting back on a DRZ and the difference in the singles going back to back was huge. By the end of the next single I was huffing and puffing more than I had been all day and couldn’t wait together back on the WR.

Ah, see, first-hand experience! I went from a DRZ400 to a WR250F so know what you mean (the WR250F had very similar power to the DRZ400). I’ve not spent any real time on a 450… think I’ll have to rectify that!
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