Which Bike

[GregMember]

Austblue wrote:

Quote:

I’m glad you didn’t take my comments as a shot at your knowledge because it’s no slight on you that someone has convinced you that the new bikes are nightmares. In fact some of them are, but more importantly most aren’t and for every bad story you read about there’s 499 blokes too busy enjoying riding their “shitboxes” to post up and whinge about them.

Thats so true Trent Also your 18 months riding has nothing to do with this so I wouldnt mention that :dry:

TB

[Bruce CurtisMember]

TMs run a single ring piston (or the ones I’ve seen do) great for power etc, but wear is high, that’s the only higher maintenance thing (although riding with Coley these days, he is no harder on a cycle than I am, so that year 300 ’06, musta been fragile).

AB why I don’t ride a TM is because everyone of them I have tried feels foriegn, nice power, nice brakes, weird steering and the ergos are not me. was mates with the former TM/Husky dealer in town here, tried most of the demos and just couldn’t come to terms.

Yes I stand corrected on the WRR Moto, but is still in the same league as the GASGAS pampera etc, if you choose to leave the oil for 4k I hope it’s got a good filtration system, I’m with Dan, 1k would pull me up.

How about a KLX450? s’posed to be an easy ride with good reliability?

[Mick DMember]

Yeah a KLX450 deserves a mention too Blue. THe ones I have seen on the trail seemed to be up to the job.

[Steve WyethMember]

Also, a lot of people that complain and bag out modern four strokes haven’t even owned one. I did change to a 2 stroke because it was heaps of fun to ride, however, a top end on the 450 was at the back of my mind. I don’t think it needs one, it’s just that you never know until it happens.

As an all round bike that can cut sick on the fire trails, hit up some longer rides, race a series or Pony Express, rip up single track, shred hills and even munch some tar when asked I agree with Mr Blue, you can’t look past a modern 450…pick a colour.

Nobody has mentioned either that the power of a 450 isn’t really much more vicious than a DRZ. I mean it is more powerful but it’s not like riding a nitro meth drag car through the bush. My GIRLFRIEND learned to ride bikes on my 450 :laugh: There are also a number of ways that they can be easily tamed down as well which nobody has mentioned.

Stop being a big fairy, buy the Maico 700 and get on with it :laugh:

EDIT: KLX is good, a bit heavier than the other 450’s but better service intervals so could be suited to the original poster. Green450 and Corey8 both punt theirs well. I had a go of Green450’s bike and the power is as good as any 450, the ergo’s I found to be a little more relaxed though.

[TrentMember]

Good call on the KLX.

[GregMember]

Yeah Blue they have a good wrap and the one I rode was a real nice bike certainly more trail then the WR’s and CRF’s I have ridden. Never heard of any valve problems or the likes

TB

[Jeffrey SmithMember]

KLX is 1 bike I have been considering. I road a new Sherco 4.5 demo at kowen forest and tourque in low revs was no better or even less than the DRZ. It did feel a little lighter to throw around but to be honest, by the time I had a go on it I was already knackered from riding. Once the revs picked up there was definately more get up and go the the DRZ.
I actually asked the guys at Trailzone magazine what would be a good option as an upgrade from the DRZ without all the maintenance hassle of the modern 450 (and yes I know the maintenance isn’t really that bad but I am lazy and spoiled by the DRZ)and they would have recommended the Sherco if I hadn’t told them I tried and didn’t like it. Maybe I should look at something more like a 510, 530 or 570. I haven’t looked into it yet but they couldn’t weigh more than the DRZ I reckon, should have good tourque and better ergo’s for a big bloke like me. ( I ave only just thought of this and have almost talked myself into it.)

[Steve WyethMember]

Jeffro the 530 and 570 are almost identical in weight to their 450 counterparts and will be significantly lighter than a DRZ. Maintenance is the same as the 450’s though.

I rode Tom’s 530 for a good hour or so last week and it was certainly fun to ride. If I went back to a 4t it would be 530/570 for me.

If you think power/torque of either of the above is comparable to the DRZ something is very wrong

[Mick DMember]

made up your mind yet c-e-l?? :laugh: Or have you been baffled with bullshyte? Kinda wish you hadn’t asked now,I bet?

[Jeffrey SmithMember]

What I meant was it would be better ( yourself), I certainly don’t want to go backwards. I like riding in the lower rev range, I was on the V-strom on Saturday and I liked the way it was just a flick of the wrist and a little rev to get the back to slide through the corner.

[Jeffrey SmithMember]

It’s a passionate debate wherever and whenever the topic comes up, thats for sure.

[Bruce CurtisMember]

I have a really good mate whom I ride with most times, I’ve known him since he was a tacker amd would never steer him wrong.
Now while he’s been riding most of his life he’s no Stefan M, and he’s the first to admit this, but he is competent and has days when he’s on top of the game and as fast as anyone else. He bought a near new 300EXC a few years back when I had one, recently he’s been harbouring evil thoughts about a new bike, so we went and had a look and he rode a few, his pick of the 4Ts KLX450 by a country mile.
He didn’t end up getting one, because we freshened the Kato up and rejigged the forks and he feel in love with it again, but the fact of the matter was of the 4Ts, he swears the KLX was the nicest alround ride.

And he was going to get a great deal off the dealership here….

[Bruce CurtisMember]

Jeffro wrote:

Quote:

What I meant was it would be better ( yourself), I certainly don’t want to go backwards. I like riding in the lower rev range, I was on the V-strom on Saturday and I liked the way it was just a flick of the wrist and a little rev to get the back to slide through the corner.

Haha, remember a few weeks back the talk on ADV bikes, what did I recommend?

Go the big Strommies… nic stuff Jeffro what do you think of it?
have you done a report yet?

[ChrisMember]

micknmeld wrote:

Quote:

made up your mind yet c-e-l?? :laugh: Or have you been baffled with bullshyte? Kinda wish you hadn’t asked now,I bet?

yeah mate yeah!!!

At this point my mind is mush :silly:

It appears to match what I have with a button the DRZ seems to be the go, but if I want to have something that I will enjoy more once I build the skills and confidence I probably want one these 450’s..

[Steve WyethMember]

Ask some guys for a swapsy and see what you like….it was said by someone else here but really is the best advice so I felt worth the reiteration. Riding should be fun, only you can make it that way……

[Author]

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