Green Laning !😜

[Dave@ERT]

There’s nothing wrong with the Himalayan, but they’re more of an all terrain plodder than a proper off roader. If you want something new and low maintenance there’s a limited choice really, as most bikes tend to be either proper enduro style, meaning high seat height, loads of power and ‘competition’ style engine maintenance, or road based like the CRF250L. The little Hondas are cheap, reliable bikes but they’re very much based around a road bike, meaning the engine is revvy, rather than torquey, the suspension isn’t the best and they’re quite heavy. Don’t think I’m knocking them, as they’re a great, cheap, reliable way into green laning, but they’re not brilliant off road. Roughly, how tall/heavy are you ?

[Dodgy69]

5 9.....11.5 stone. Slim lad. Do like the crf. All 4k plus 2017 >. Brand new 300cc for 4999. 250cc same. Rally does seem the better bike.

[Dave@ERT]

My guess is that whatever you buy....you’ll end up wanting something else within a year or two !? As with most things, it’s not really until you’ve done a bit that you’ll know exactly what you want and what direction you want to go in ! You can’t go too far wrong with a CRF250L. They’re not going to set the world on fire at any one thing , but they’re a good all rounder, dead reliable, and you’ll always be able to get most of your money back in a year or so ! I’d be tempted to go for a secondhand one...if you buy new you’ll end up swopping tyres, changing the gearing, fitting bush guards etc...whereas a secondhand one will probably already have all of this done already. As an off road bike the L is better than the Rally as it’s lighter, lower and has less plastic bits to break

[Dodgy69]

Been searching all week for a bike and my conclusion is...there's a lot of tatty shit about.

Phoned up two dealers, they would deliver and give me full refund if I wasn't happy with condition, but could see that getting unpleasant. Honda Centre Shrewsbury getting new 300 crf in, in late January, I'm on the list just incase. Don't mind paying for a nicer one because it will get plenty of use knocking about locally on the country roads and down to the outlaws House, a proper shitty road.

SBS sold me a new lid and boots and very happy I am. Both with plenty of discount. I remember the fun of owning something similar, many years ago, slow, slippy but great fun, a completely different riding experience from faster, road riding, but both styles sitting happy with me.

Just need to get Weeksy on board and it could be a "RTTL off road extravaganza weekend" sometime in the future.

[crust]

Any good. ???

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154099234767

My personal opinion is no,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-ttr-2 ... ect=mobile

Is more useful, you want as light as you can get away with, you'll be picking it up a lot to start with.

Fromage is right. The Enfield is too heavy and cumbersome. There's a guy who rides with us on TTR250 like the one in the link - he has no problems getting about on the lanes and they're solid, reliable bikes.

[crust]

I'll second that- i'm not exactly local to mid-Wales but have had many brilliant weekends on the trails out there over the last 10 years or so ( we usually stayed in either Machynlleth or Rhyader and rode out from there) , my couple of mates that i used to ride with up there don't anymore, and much as i love the trails down where I am, I'm always up for morevariety and I'd be up for tagging along with you and Dodgy too sometime

I'm in.

So when a we loading up the BYV and heading Waleswards?

[matt]

A lot of people love the Himalayan. I suppose it depends on what kind of off roading you see yourself doing.

[Asian Boss]

I remember when the TRF was all social inadequates on battered MZs with steel toe cap wellingtons.

Now it's canny lads with a left foot 12:1 compression kick start Husaberg in the work van and a grand's worth of Fox MX kit.

[Dodgy69]

Progress made today and a nice little red bike sitting next to the tracer. photos tomorrow.

220 mile round trip with mates trailer. 19 plate crf 250 L. 230 miles on clock. Sorting insurance in the morning, then out with mate to get dirty. Skid plate and handgaurds ordered.

Thank you Santa.

[Dodgy69]

A lot of people love the Himalayan. I suppose it depends on what kind of off roading you see yourself doing.

I quite like them, bit different...but for now I've turned Japanese.

[Couchy]

There’s nothing wrong with the Himalayan, but they’re more of an all terrain plodder than a proper off roader. If you want something new and low maintenance there’s a limited choice really, as most bikes tend to be either proper enduro style, meaning high seat height, loads of power and ‘competition’ style engine maintenance, or road based like the CRF250L. The little Hondas are cheap, reliable bikes but they’re very much based around a road bike, meaning the engine is revvy, rather than torquey, the suspension isn’t the best and they’re quite heavy. Don’t think I’m knocking them, as they’re a great, cheap, reliable way into green laning, but they’re not brilliant off road. Roughly, how tall/heavy are you ?

My 250 rally goes everywhere my mates on their proper enduro bikes go, I lead all the ride outs and no one ever complains it’s holding them up. On the roads sections it’s by far the best bike to be on and I don’t have to fill up every 70 miles or so. I’m also the only one running heated grips and the only riding to the area rather than taking the bike in a van. I’m 6’2” and 14st and have ridden off road all my life, there’s nothing at all wrong with a crf250l or rally for trail riding, tbh I can’t see a bike that’s better when you factor in a whole 9 hour day taking in 80 miles of tarmac linking 20 miles of lanes.

[Couchy]

Progress made today and a nice little red bike sitting next to the tracer. photos tomorrow.

220 mile round trip with mates trailer. 19 plate crf 250 L. 230 miles on clock. Sorting insurance in the morning, then out with mate to get dirty. Skid plate and handgaurds ordered.

Thank you Santa.

Ace, get proper tyres ASAP, I use Bridgestone ed03/04. Get some proper HD tubes too and run 15-20psi. I’ll arrange a peaks run when we’re allowed to travel afar

[Dodgy69]

Peaks would be great. Stock tyres still on, don't know what they are. Need some hot grips ASAP.. or hot gloves. £44 tax

Do your front indicators stay on Couchy, drls. mine do Not sure about those. Its got an abs button. I will push and twist things tomorrow, see what happens, if I get insurance sorted.

[Dave@ERT]

Couchy, I’m not trying to knock the CRF at all...in my next post you’ll see that I’m actually suggesting it as a good allrounder to get into green laning. I think it’s very much a case of every trail bike being a compromise and if you’re doing 80 road miles to every 20 on the trails...and you’re 6’2”...the Rally you’ve got is, as you rightly say, is just about perfect We’re very fortunate being on the Shropshire/Welsh border as we can organise a day with about 80 miles off road and 20 on !! Also, being 5’9” and 70kg, smaller, lighter bikes tend to suit me better. We’ve got quite a few fairly technical trails too, which are much easier on lighter, gruntier bikes....although a good, experienced rider, such as yourself, will get up most things on any bike !

Congrats on the new purchase, sounds like you’ve bought a nice one ! Michelin Trackers (around 15psi) are what I’m currently using, although again, every tyre is a compromise so it just depends on where you ride. Well worth lowering your gearing if you decide to do much serious off roading. The CRF’s run very high road gearing and gearing it down plenty will make the trails much easier...although, again, at the expense of your road riding.

ENJOY !!!!

[Couchy]

Couchy, I’m not trying to knock the CRF at all...in my next post you’ll see that I’m actually suggesting it as a good allrounder to get into green laning. I think it’s very much a case of every trail bike being a compromise and if you’re doing 80 road miles to every 20 on the trails...and you’re 6’2”...the Rally you’ve got is, as you rightly say, is just about perfect We’re very fortunate being on the Shropshire/Welsh border as we can organise a day with about 80 miles off road and 20 on !! Also, being 5’9” and 70kg, smaller, lighter bikes tend to suit me better. We’ve got quite a few fairly technical trails too, which are much easier on lighter, gruntier bikes....although a good, experienced rider, such as yourself, will get up most things on any bike !

Congrats on the new purchase, sounds like you’ve bought a nice one ! Michelin Trackers (around 15psi) are what I’m currently using, although again, every tyre is a compromise so it just depends on where you ride. Well worth lowering your gearing if you decide to do much serious off roading. The CRF’s run very high road gearing and gearing it down plenty will make the trails much easier...although, again, at the expense of your road riding.

ENJOY !!!!

I did see the following post and agree with all the above. I’ve got -1 front sprocket and it’s a good compromise between road and off road.
Much as I think my bike is perfect I do miss the power for wheelies and sliding around at will. A big part of me is considering a 500 EXC, rally fairing comfy seat and big tank, along with a larger oil capacity and a Cush drive it could be a great bike for my use.

[Dave@ERT]

Yes, a good friend that I ride with most weeks rode his CRF down to the Pyrenees a couple of times for a weeks off roading and did exactly the same. He left the standard gearing on for the trip down and then swopped to a smaller front sprocket upon arrival.
I’m probably similar to yourself....I’d like a ‘quiver’ of different trail bikes (equipped with different tyres) depending on where I’m going and what I’m doing....but reality then bites and I’ve ended up with a ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’ !! The main thing is just to be out there on the trails ‘doing it’ eh !!...soooo much better than sitting here typing about it !?

Ride safe
Dave

[Yorick]

I'll just drop this in

20201220_104702.jpg (491.27 KiB) Viewed 2143 times

[Dave@ERT]

Looks ok I guess....although it’s hardly comparable to a heavily rutted, muddy lane in Wales...in mid December !!?? Looks fantastic, I’m suitably jealous !! We usually head south to NZ for the winter, although Covid has put a stop to it this year, so I’m currently sulking and trying to readjust to cold, wet weather and short days...and I’m not enjoying it !!

[Dodgy69]

Maiden voyage today and an absolute blast. It was pissing down aswel. This is going to be great FUN.

Only done 30miles but my mate knew a local lane. Deep water, rocks and mud. New boots were brilliant dry and warm, helmet good but arse did get damp but was wearing some old textiles i found in the loft.

Thought I was coming off about 5 times but mate says, keep power on and drive through it...success. Took me a while to get used to the front moving about on the mud, but confidence grew, and a great couple of hour's was had.

Bike did seem a bit short of punch and agree, -1 on front should help. I need a few more miles on it before I can get the revs up proper, so I'll wait and see. Brakes are poor but do the job, should improve in time.

Mates got a wr400 and I could tell the power difference but I reckon once run in proper, the 250 will do a good job for someone with my ability. Gonna get plenty of use over winter, oil and filter at 600 and good to go.

Hastings direct were fookin useless and couldn't add crf to tracer policy or do a separate policy, so in January when tracer is due told them not to auto renew. Bennetts online brilliant. Just add your bikes and quotes come up, so from today, tracer are crf fully comp is £170.



shell gas station near me phone number

[Dodgy69]

and clean again.