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 Post subject: Re: Where to start? Which bike?
PostPosted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 10:07 pm 
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125cc

Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2016 6:19 pm
Posts: 145
I wish my KTM had a clutch cable .less to go wrong ,and possibly change it for less than £20


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 Post subject: Re: Where to start? Which bike?
PostPosted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 10:39 pm 
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650 cc Monster

Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:11 am
Posts: 2440
Location: St Albans
I had a RFS engine 450 which was far too fast for smooth progress with far too heavy a clutch for me.

I sold it after competitive riders told me I was far quicker on the crf250x which I could wring without fear instead of on off on on he KTM 450

The KTM 250 exc or the 350 exc post 2011 may be interesting to own when I do upgrade my 61 plate crf250x


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Mario Costa-Sa
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 Post subject: Re: Where to start? Which bike?
PostPosted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 10:43 pm 
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650 cc Monster

Joined: Sun Nov 11, 2012 7:31 pm
Posts: 3512
My 453 is one finger clutch, it's got a 400 bottom end with a big bore kit on..so....benign down low, rips up top.... The Honda struggled getting my 18 stone lump up hills.... And was a lot more hard work than the 453....


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 Post subject: Re: Where to start? Which bike?
PostPosted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 10:51 pm 
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125cc

Joined: Sun May 05, 2013 5:50 pm
Posts: 215
GET A 2 stroke

300 exc, detuned best and most simple trail bike on the market. plenty of them around plenty of knowledge plenty of spares the list goes on ;)


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 Post subject: Re: Where to start? Which bike?
PostPosted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 11:03 pm 
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650 cc Monster

Joined: Sun Nov 11, 2012 7:31 pm
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Yup,that's a good one.


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 Post subject: Re: Where to start? Which bike?
PostPosted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 11:31 pm 
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650 cc Monster

Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:11 am
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Location: St Albans
Chris123321 wrote:
GET A 2 stroke



Is it quiet?

I would like a quiet 2 stroke.

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Mario Costa-Sa
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 Post subject: Where to start? Which bike?
PostPosted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:06 am 
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400 cc

Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 10:50 pm
Posts: 1122
Location: Yorkshire
jonpaul1st wrote:
Don't buy into the myth that modern European enduro bikes aren't trail bikes. EU enduro bikes have to have all the road niceties that qualify them as trailbikes that can be ridden on the road straight out of the box. You don't get that with the Japanese competition machines, many of which cannot even be used as enduro bikes out of the box.

In practical terms the EU enduro bikes make fantastic trail bikes - light, reliable, robust, low maintenance, low depreciation, simple and easy to work on, cheap spares and, most importantly, low impact on the green roads.

Don't rule out a 2 stroke, especially one of the later six speed KTM/Husky/Berg 250/300's.

A rule of thumb is to avoid anything with a cable clutch - a sure sign that the manufacturer is stuck in the 1990's or has otherwise cut corners to build a bike down to a price, which means that either or both reliability and riding experience will be significantly compromised (unless of course you want to experience old skool lack of refinement and reliability).


I disagree with the cable v hydraulic clutch issue

My competition dirt bike with a hydraulic clutch is very on/off whereas my trail bikes with a cable are much more progressive in clutch operation

As for European enduro bikes for trail riding - yes they are ok in the lack of alternative offerings from Japan (except from Honda & Yam)

Reliability - I don't think your European offerings are as trouble free that you are suggesting

However I think Mr Simpson will agree that the DR350 SE is probably the most complete TRAIL bike ever made over the last 20 years - sadly most trail riders today weren't riding trails when the DR was sold new

For pure trail riding it is a consummate all rounder unlike the finicky European 'one trick ponies' enduro bikes you are advocating

Closest to the DR350 is the CRF250L but sadly it is heavier and has less power to boot

After owning all manner of other bikes including KTM's over the last 20 years, I have returned to a DR 350 SE this year and I am loving it, forgetting just how good they were/are

I don't need more power or a better chassis to comply with the TRF code of conduct which advocates a 25mph speed limit on green roads ;)

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Last edited by johnnyboxer on Thu Aug 18, 2016 2:11 pm, edited 3 times in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Where to start? Which bike?
PostPosted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:10 am 
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400 cc

Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 10:50 pm
Posts: 1122
Location: Yorkshire
mario.costasa wrote:
I had a RFS engine 450 which was far too fast for smooth progress with far too heavy a clutch for me.

I sold it after competitive riders told me I was far quicker on the crf250x which I could wring without fear instead of on off on on he KTM 450

The KTM 250 exc or the 350 exc post 2011 may be interesting to own when I do upgrade my 61 plate crf250x


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Good advice - many people would be less tired and ride better on a 250, compared to a 450

Unless you are a pro class expert rider you will be unlikely to use even 10% of a 450-500's true potential and in reality tie yourself in knots with all that power

Most trail riders are 'over biked' but will rarely admit they are and can't cope

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 Post subject: Where to start? Which bike?
PostPosted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:14 am 
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400 cc

Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 10:50 pm
Posts: 1122
Location: Yorkshire
mario.costasa wrote:
Chris123321 wrote:
GET A 2 stroke



Is it quiet?

I would like a quiet 2 stroke.


The Beta XTrainer is the 300cc 2 stroke trail bike you are looking for - twice the bike the 300 exc is, for trail riding

Oil injection too

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 Post subject: Re: Where to start? Which bike?
PostPosted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:43 am 
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650 cc Monster
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Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:34 pm
Posts: 4279
Location: East Sussex
mario.costasa wrote:
Chris123321 wrote:
GET A 2 stroke



Is it quiet?

I would like a quiet 2 stroke.


Exceptionally quiet.

Four stokes are inherently noisier than 2 strokes. The bass tones of a thumper means the sound carries further.

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