TRF Forums

Just a quick hello from North Yorkshire near Leyburn. Previously commuted on bandits, cb500, sv1000s etc but looking to get into some dirty fun during lunch hours (work from home mostly) and on a weekend (when I get a pass from swmbo!)

Living where I do it would be rude not to get an enduro type bike and since I got rid of the SV (very sad day) I need to get back on two wheels sharpish. I am gradually building up some funds and towards the end of this year will have around £900 to spend on something. Not looking for the latest whiz bang machine. Just something that will take a few knock as it will get dropped etc.

Considered something like Honda XL/XLR250, drx400, ccm 404, yam 250.

I regularly see groups of riders passing through Leyburn. CLean on their way out and caked in mud coming back making a pit stop at the chippy with BIG smiles on their faces so would be great to get to know a few of them and tag along when I get mine.

Cheers

jb

I'm from the Thirsk side of Masham.................so not too far

Plenty of little used lanes near you

Hi Johnny,

Yeh been keeping an eye out for some likely paths to follow. Also may be changing direction on bike choice. Had a read into the CCM 404 dual sport. Seems to tick my wishlist fairly well as I am likely to do a fair bit of road riding to get to and from the muddy stuff. Missed out on one being sold here but will be keeping an eye on the market to see if one comes up towards the end of the year.

Really looking forward to getting back on two wheels again. Will have to arrange a meet when I do.

Cheers

jb

why not try walking a lane in Leyburn before you get the bike, the wensley road out of leyburn as it drops down the hill after the last house on the left is a road which passes under an old railway bridge it very soon looses tarmac and continues in a straight line until it joins the road from Wensley to middleham,thats what we are all smiling about.

A 400 would be good, DRZ's seem popular or XR's

Something more modern would be a WR or KTM etc - but a bit higher than your budget though

Loads of good bikes out here

Oh, I dunno.. I punted a 98 WR400 for £500 recently and an 02 YZ426 for £700.. They werent perfect but I'd greenlaned on them a lot. The irritating thing was the kickstart only, no electric start so you had to avoid stalling them on a long and tricky climb. That does cause em to crop up cheap though:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YAMAHA-WR-400 ... 27c5b64eb0
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-WR400- ... 337468cb96

Dont forget other hidden gems that are outside mainstream consideration:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-SUZUKI-D ... 2c64bd6e8b

these are completed listings, which I often scan to get an idea of what's going cheap. There is another DR350 and also a TTR250 and XT350 on ebay now going relatively cheap.. Here's a link for an ebay search that finds everything £400 to £900 in enduro/unspecified category and 220 - 510 cc (and unspecified cc) - you kinda have to eyeball the rest, because people arent reliable at entering details like the bike type/engine size (but where they have been accurate, it makes sense to exclude results you won't want)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Motorcycles-S ... 581&_pgn=2

Also, don't discount stuff like a Yamaha DT125 - last 2 of these things I bought I gave £100 each for and they've been fantastic on the trails. People often get tracked into thinking that a big engine is a help; most the runs I go on with the TRF I now see that most of the guys are actually on 250s, and theyre usually the fastest in the group and crash the least - my 250 is every bit as quick as the 510 my mate uses and I crash mine far less often; there's only so much power you can get into muddy ground, the rest just works against you

Cheers Slarty, I may well have a wander down there at some point.

Cjard, cheers for the links, some good stuff there so I will keep an eye out. Not in too much of a rush as I want to get our family hol out the way (July) before I get the bike. Nice to know there are some very decent looking bikes within my price range. Don't mind a bit of spannering too so not afraid if I get one which needs a bit of work although I would prefer it to be ridable and then do the work at a later stage.

Really getting the itch to have some two wheeled fun again though.

Slarty as soon as I do I will drop you a pm to see if I can tag along from time to time.

Cheers

jb