Bikes which waft

[A_morti]

I know you lot think the roads in UK are shit, but I'm living in Malta, and I know the roads here are shit.

My cb300r would be ideal in UK, but over here the suspension is too stiff and I'm worried about denting the rims.

My riding buddy just got a ropey xt660x and while I don't know about the form, the functionality of 8" suspension travel front and rear seems pretty handy compared to my CB with 5.1" at the front and 4.2" at the rear.

So... Some questions for those on here with more experience of different types of bikes. Looking at you @weeksy , @Couchy !

How much suspension travel do you need to waft over dodgy roads? Do Motocross tyres make a significant difference? What road-looking bikes match that description? I'm not likely to go abroad and the highest speed limit on the island is 80km/h, so 650cc and under, only. Preferably 500cc and under, 300cc is plenty.

Do I just need to get over the dislike of off-road styling and buy a crf300?

Also: it needs to carry a large top box, and my kid. I'm not sure if the high exhaust on a CRF is a problem for that?

[Supermofo]

Dunno about some of your questions but having been to Malta last 2 weeks of Aug the roads are shocking! UK has a way to fall to get to that level.

Personally I think XT660X's are cracking bikes, my bro had one and it was really good as a road moto and the engines are bullet proof.

I'm guessing you'd need Adv/off road styling to get a bike with big suspension travel. A CRF300 would probably be ideally, if it has pillion pegs the exhaust is probably fine as it must have been factored in to the design. If it doesn't have pegs then might not work.

CB500X worth a look?

[Taipan]

I bought his Bros one and can confirm they are excellent bikes. I was literally flipping a coin whether to get another or the MT-09 I ended up with, simply because I know they make light work of Londons potholes etc.

[Demannu]

Drz400
Get a spare set of 17" wheels for when you're feeling frisky.
As for mx tyres. Bloody horrible on tarmac. Sidewalls too stuff and the knobblies are designed to bite into dirt, so just slip on a firm surface.

[Skub]

I was in Malta a few years ago,so I understand what you mean about the roads. I don't know if anything is going to 'waft' those roads.

Get a go on your mate's XT660,it would be the direction I'd be looking.

[A_morti]

@Supermofo the cb500x got extra travel from 2019, bringing it to just under 6". Seems... average

@Taipan ta for that. Did it actually make light work of potholes then?

@Demannu sorry, I asked wrong. Not necessarily knobby Motocross tyres, but the kind you'd get on a GS. I've had an f650gs single and it was nice enough, but it was a while ago and I don't really remember clearly.

[JackyJoll]

Almost anything trailie will have fairly helpful suspension. I’d go for a light bike: sub-400cc.

Yes, I’m sure you’ll be happier on trail bike tyres, on anything other than good tarmac.

[Taipan]

@Supermofo the cb500x got extra travel from 2019, bringing it to just under 6". Seems... average

@Taipan ta for that. Did it actually make light work of potholes then?

@Demannu sorry, I asked wrong. Not necessarily knobby Motocross tyres, but the kind you'd get on a GS. I've had an f650gs single and it was nice enough, but it was a while ago and I don't really remember clearly.

Yes, so did my 690 Duke. Any super/streetmoto is brilliant for this.

[Taff]

In theory a bigger front wheel will roll over bumps better, so something with a 19" or 21" front. These bikes will likely have more suspension travel as well.

[Taff]

And Michelin anakee tyres are ace btw.

80:20 road bias

[A_morti]

Drz400

Just done a quick dive on those.

The specs seem decent, it's light and has adequate power. But in the meantime I've grown accustomed to mod-cons. I wouldn't consider a carby bike as a daily rider anymore.

[A_morti]

Just hypothetically...
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 383843710/
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 299501998/
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 130573207/

[Supermofo]

Drz400

Just done a quick dive on those.

The specs seem decent, it's light and has adequate power. But in the meantime I've grown accustomed to mod-cons. I wouldn't consider a carby bike as a daily rider anymore.

All the DRZ's I've seen recently are old, mainly knackered and very expensive for what you get. You'd get a 690 Enduro with less than 15kg extra but over double the power for not much more money. No brainer to me.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

DRZ400 is perfect for what you need, the trail bike S model would probably be better, I had one for 9 years, used it for commuting and trail riding, it never went wrong, I don't see what the problem is with the carb.
If you must have injection, CRF250 would suit you.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Drz400

Just done a quick dive on those.

The specs seem decent, it's light and has adequate power. But in the meantime I've grown accustomed to mod-cons. I wouldn't consider a carby bike as a daily rider anymore.

All the DRZ's I've seen recently are old, mainly knackered and very expensive for what you get. You'd get a 690 Enduro with less than 15kg extra but over double the power for not much more money. No brainer to me.

Why do you think DRZs are expensive, it's because they're good and don't fall apart.

[Supermofo]

Just done a quick dive on those.

The specs seem decent, it's light and has adequate power. But in the meantime I've grown accustomed to mod-cons. I wouldn't consider a carby bike as a daily rider anymore.

All the DRZ's I've seen recently are old, mainly knackered and very expensive for what you get. You'd get a 690 Enduro with less than 15kg extra but over double the power for not much more money. No brainer to me.

Why do you think DRZs are expensive, it's because they're good and don't fall apart.

Because they are old and compared to newer better bikes don't seem good value to me.

Although that applies to a lot of 2nd hand bikes are the moment not just DRZs. I got £3500 trade in for my Duke II in 2004, cheapest I can see on bike trader is £3000, 18 years later! Same with Z750s. I paid £5500 new in 2006, some people want £4k of them now.

[A_morti]

I don't see what the problem is with the carb.

Ethanol content in fuel is only getting higher, and I just don't have the patience to rebuild a carb anymore. You also you don't get a Cat on carby bikes, so you do arrive at work with that vintage unburnt fuel smell all over you. You don't always notice it yourself, but others do.

It's horses for courses and YMMV, but carbs just aren't for me anymore.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I don't see what the problem is with the carb.

Ethanol content in fuel is only getting higher, and I just don't have the patience to rebuild a carb anymore. You also you don't get a Cat on carby bikes, so you do arrive at work with that vintage unburnt fuel smell all over you. You don't always notice it yourself, but others do.

It's horses for courses and YMMV, but carbs just aren't for me anymore.

Never had a problem with the carb on the DRZ, so long as you use the bike it won't be a problem, if you're leaving it for a while, drain the carb, there's a screw on the bottom to do this. I don't remember it smelling of unburnt fuel either.

DRZs were sold all round the world, they were designed to run on petrol with quite high ethanol content, from vague memory I think the hand book warned about using fuel with 25% ethanol content.

But if you don't want one, don't buy one.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

All the DRZ's I've seen recently are old, mainly knackered and very expensive for what you get. You'd get a 690 Enduro with less than 15kg extra but over double the power for not much more money. No brainer to me.

Why do you think DRZs are expensive, it's because they're good and don't fall apart.

Because they are old and compared to newer better bikes don't seem good value to me.

Although that applies to a lot of 2nd hand bikes are the moment not just DRZs. I got £3500 trade in for my Duke II in 2004, cheapest I can see on bike trader is £3000, 18 years later! Same with Z750s. I paid £5500 new in 2006, some people want £4k of them now.

Personally I wouldn't pay more than £1500 for a DRZ, what other people pay is up to them, how many of these expensive bikes are selling?

[Supermofo]

Why do you think DRZs are expensive, it's because they're good and don't fall apart.

Because they are old and compared to newer better bikes don't seem good value to me.

Although that applies to a lot of 2nd hand bikes are the moment not just DRZs. I got £3500 trade in for my Duke II in 2004, cheapest I can see on bike trader is £3000, 18 years later! Same with Z750s. I paid £5500 new in 2006, some people want £4k of them now.

Personally I wouldn't pay more than £1500 for a DRZ, what other people pay is up to them, how many of these expensive bikes are selling?

No idea but cheapest DRZ on bike trader is £3k, only 3 below £3k on ebay.

At £1500 I'd take a punt on one.