TRF Forums

A quick note to say hi and to introduce myself

I am located in the Avon river valley around 2 miles as the crow flies from Stonehenge in Wilts in the center of Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA) and after riding road bikes for 15 years and 4x4's for about the same length of time I had my arm twisted to buy something greenlane and trail capable of the 2 wheeled variety. So now there is another newbie out there.

After a few weeks search I decided to get something pretty bombproof to start on. The couple of early TTR250's I looked at were well worn and iffy and I then decided to push the cash envelope a bit and picked up an '04 DRZ400S a couple of weekends ago. It had never seen a trail and had 1 family own it from new and a genuine (as far as I can see) 5k on the odo. Now to start fettling to get it suitable.

List so far:-

Pair of Maxxis IT's - still waiting for these to arrive
CRD rad protectors - prob here today
Case savers - fitted.
Ad-tek sump guard - fitted
New C&S to 'E' spec 14/47 - will fit this when I get the round bits off for the tyres
Now debating about changing the bars then fitted the armoured 'bark-busters' I have waiting

Only 'problems' I have encountered with the DRZ were a sticky front brake caliper (stripped then rebuilt with new HH pads), and the idle needed a tweak as that kept sitting high when I pulled up to an interesction. Otherwise the bike seems 'as new'.

As all my bike wear is road biased I just ordered an enduro helmet and Scott carbon goggles (suitable for speccies). Looking for some secondhand size 9 rough sole mx/trail boots or I will use the road enduro boots (prefer not to though and trash £200 worth of good boots).

Cheers all,
Paul

If it's got standard steel bars then switching to Renthals is a good idea.

They are lighter, stronger and British!

Yep. I have that in hand and plan to get a set of CR highs as soon as the other fettling is complete.

Todays problem has been getting the CRD rad guards to fit. They may on an E but not on an S without severe mods They are now on and everything is back together but they will not have the strength they would have had on the E....but far better than without

The tyres are the latest PITA. Dispatched on the 11th from the supplier and have been sitting in Yodel's warehouse in Southampton since the 13th....but they are having trouble finding them In desperation I have ordered one Maxxis IT for the rear to go with the Trailwing I have on the front. Not ideal but it will at least let me do some light trail work until the courier sorts their life out.

Note to all. Don't buy from anyone who uses Yodel. I did a Google and they get slated everywhere

Paul

Hi Mate,

be worth bearing in mind that HH pads only work properly at temperature..

cheers
JB

Someone did point that out after I fitted them but I will stay with them for now and see how they get on ...if not I will buy some organics.

Bike nearly trail ready....or would have been if I hadn't bu'grd up the piston slide on the Mikuni on Saturday. Now waiting for a secondhand carb to strip for the bits.

Hey, im from salisbury. only ride a 50 cc but does the job... only been a few times. me and a few other from a diffrent website are all sorta new to it aswell... more then welcome to come for a ride with us sometime. once ive fixed my bike! which broke on salisbury plain!

You broke it!

Sorry, just revisited the thread. Since I did the OP I have been out and about several times and the last jaunt was 60 miles and resulted in the need for a severe wash of the DRZ. Also gave me an excuse for a quick oil change.

No fallen off yet but came close at one point due to my more experienced mate keeping the pace up on his 640 KTM and invisble ruts in the grass! All a learning curve I do need to do some more mods so I can stand comfortably on the pegs. Fitted Renthal CR's and a 30mm bar lift but I still seem to be too far forward and leaning on the tank with my knees.

Next planned jaunt is to do as much as is legal of the White Horse Trail.........

nice one mate. im always falling off! went and did 80 miles on the plain the other week. few days ago went and road the shaftsbury drove and ox drove which was full of water and mud! b