[Eric SmithMember]

Does that make Aldi a motorcycle accessories shop as well Bruce? They sell a lot of bike bits like GPS units, tank bags etc…

[Eric SmithMember]

Not too sure that this is true to the theme of good pie shops, but I’ll give some of these a go since I don’t get to good bakeries very often! Nice work blokes!

[Eric SmithMember]

There is indeed a sherco dealer in Narromine, nice bloke too. No idea about the GG thing though, I don’t think that is the case. Somehow I doubt he makes a heap of sales, as Axel says the minds in this area are not that open to new things. Don’t start me on the Holden/Ford thing Axel, otherwise I will start on the feral ute thing!

I wouldn’t be super keen to open a new shop in this area for that reason, and also the fact the most internet service is faster, cheaper and easier. Hell, a phone call to Sutto’s will get you what you need for cheaper and faster than the local clowns at the moment!

BTW Moto, how was the bike this weekend??

[Eric SmithMember]

Ok Al, I will probably be there again on Sunday next week. Getting to the good bits too. The more help I get the more and better the tracks I can put in! I will be in touch to let you know what is going on anyway. You’ll love it!

[Eric SmithMember]

I went to Wallareen today to cut in some new tracks for the 28-29 November ride. I didn’t take my bike because I thought I would use Dad’s old CT200 auto-ag.

Imagine my surprise when I pulled it out of the cobwebs and found this:

There is another one, and I thought it might be a better option…

Hmmm…

I went with the first one because I knew it from years back. Now this thing had sat in the shearing shed for two years at best guess, probably more. The battery was well and truly dead and the alternative is a LHS hand recoil start. I put a bit of air in the tyres, added some oil and fuelled it up. The thing started First Pull! I shit you not!

Hondas. All the rest are wannabe’s. I don’t care what other brand you name, if you sat a bike in a shed for 2 years (the fuel tap wasn’t even turned off) there is no way in hell it would start first kick. Just no way. Only a Honda would do that.

Mind you it was an experience to ride! No brakes, no power, crap ergos and pogo stick suspension!

For the record, the second bike also fired up but needed a little bit more tinkering.

Unbelievable!

[Eric SmithMember]

You’re in Diddel!

Ok folks, I was back at Wallareen today cutting in new tracks… holy cow this is gonna rock (literally!) I have decided to put in some ECKS-Berg options for the crazy or very good riders keen to try anything! There will be a less impossible way around, but the ecksberg sections will put hairs on ya chest!

I will put the wheels in motion and a thread with the final details etc will be posted in the next day or so.

Stay tuned!!

[Eric SmithMember]

micknmeld wrote:

Quote:

Bloody KTM’s

Yeah, thought you’d say that!

[Eric SmithMember]

Moto wrote:

Quote:

Bloody Yamaha’s.

Yeah, thought you’d say that!

[Eric SmithMember]

axel wrote:

Quote:

Good stuff Ecks. I agree. I wouldn’t rule out an XR400 either though. Or KLX250/300 DR250? I have a feeling electric start is influencing the decisions here….

Mmmm.. yes, but that’s not a bad thing! I remember a ride where the battery died on the WRF and I had to kick it all day. No problem when you are fresh but on the side of a hill when you are raspatoogered it becomes a whole different matter!

Good ride though! :laugh:

[Eric SmithMember]

Allan954 wrote:

Quote:

Ok so now I thinking it is a toss up between DRZ400E or a 250F?

Can so one tell the difference between CRF250X and a CRF250F?

WR250F Yamaha is the other high on the list, what sort of service costs would I be up for if riding 1-2 times a month?

the feedback is great, so thanks.

Having owned and loved both the DRZ4 and a 250F, here are my thoughts:

Your height and weight shouldn’t be too much of an issue on either a DRZ4 or a 250F

DRZ – nice trail bike, able to do longer transport sections but quite capable in tight stuff with the right rider. They have good power, not world-beating, and are quite user-friendly. Needs new bars, taillight extender replaced, probably blinkers front & rear, ideally replace front headlight and derestrict the engine to be a decent off-road bike. However, at 90kg you will need to either buy a second hand DRZ with the suspension done for someone of similar weight, or allow about $650 to $1000 to get it sorted out for you. The springs are just too soft for a 90kg rider (like me). Excellent for fire trails, winding single track and can be muscled around tight and steep tracks, but it does take a lot out of the rider to do that.

WR250F – much more enduro based machine. The seat is harder, the bike is lighter and slimmer and generally better in the ergonomics department. Good bars, OK blinkers and taillight (although I have swapped my taillight extender and blinkers for smaller units). Not a lot has to be done to these to make them a good off-road bike. Power is actually fairly similar to the DRZ, but without that huge torque down low – it is still respectable, just not quite the same. Again, the suspension will need sorting for your weight (and mine). Excellent for tight and steep single track, not quite as full-on as a 2-stroke and in Erzberg type situations a 2T will win hands down each time.

I serviced my DRZ at the same interval I use for the WRF which is about 350km between oil/filter changes. I am also religious about keeping the air filter clean. Most blokes reckon a DRZ will be fine with longer intervals, that is a decision for you to make. I figured oil and filters are cheap compared to an engine rebuild! Oil is about $60 for 4 litres, a filter is (I think) about $10-$17 depending where you buy and you use 1.2 litres of oil per change. Depends on the km you do in a ride as to the frequency of the changes, mine are about every three months but I don’t get to ride much any more.

So there ya go, it will depend entirely on what you want to do with the bike. Given that you are getting back into riding I would recommend the DRZ simply because it is more things to more people, and can be used in the tough stuff in the right hands, while a WRF is not entirely happy doing open miles. It will do it, just not much fun!

RE the CRF, the X model is the enduro model and the R is the motocross model so no rego. The R model 250 has dual exhausts I believe, as well as no lights and minimal switch gear. The CRF will be very similar to my comments on the WRF, although I am not sure about the suspension needing to be done.

[Eric SmithMember]

Moto wrote:

Quote:

Do your knees hurt as well?

If so I don’t think you’re ‘handling’ the situation properly

Hmmmm… not my knees no…

Funny though, most of the blokes working in these shops have the same name… Ben, Ben Dover!

[Eric SmithMember]

I’ve seen a Peewee 80 do the same thing, probably with as many hours! Ag bikes do cop a flogging in their long lives!

[Eric SmithMember]

True, Dave will charge like a wounded bull and most people just fork out the dough without asking questions.

I think it is almost a waste of time trying to deal locally. All the dealers within 2 hours of me that I have dealt with I walk out with a bad taste in my mouth. The bitter bitter taste of disappointment!

[Eric SmithMember]

Diddel wrote:

Quote:

Is it to be expected to be worth 8 hours in the car?
On a good note I could have a Monday RDO worked up by then.
I like hills for hilling, semi open for drift and being a pest for fun.

Mate, its riding somewhere different with a top bunch of blokes, drinking piss, talking crap – Of course it is worth 8 hours drive!

In all seriousness, Catombal has some of the best tracks I’ve seen, challenging to say the least! And the Wallareen riding will be a blast, well worth a visit!

Wello is nothing special, but the company and the riding is what this is about! (Nice try though Rocket!!)

Getting close to final calls… anyone else gonna put up their hand?

[Eric SmithMember]

BOLLOCKS wrote:

Quote:

oh i give up :blink:

Good! Take ya midget fetish elsewhere! :laugh:

This is a motorbike forum not a bloody horsey/midget forum!

[Author]

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