Would you pay $2500 for a plated '05 DRZ 400 with less than 30hrs and 2000 miles on it? It's bone stock and ugly yellow. Is there some stuff I should be looking carefully at? Is that too much dough in a world where I can seemingly buy a somewhat molested '13 for $3k?
I want to do a few dirt classes and rallies and then sell it once I know what I really need to be riding off-road so I don't need to love it - I just need to be able to ride it a bit, and flip it without losing my shirt in the spring.
Is '05 one of the years that Suzuki and Kawasaki were the same bike? I've heard the Kawasaki's of that mid 2000s time period were reviled for top end failures. I don't know if the bad reputation was justified, or the results of people mistakenly thinking the new school 4ts were as forgiving as old school Honda XRs.
If you can't get a better answer than mine here, you might try the Thumper Talk forum, hopefully you'll get answers from actual adults that actually know the specific machines, not stupid know-it-all kids. That is a common problem over there, but when the grown-ups do show up they are helpful.
Andy, what you are talking about is the klx650r I think. I don't think there was ever a green 400.
The funny stuff about drzs is that they seem to nose dive off the lot to well under 4k and then lose a hundred bucks a year until stopping at 2k. They are so common that there is always someone looking for one.
If you want a dirt only/mostly bike look at the 250s. They weigh less and are generally better offroad. Any real time at highway speeds though and go up in size.
If you want a 400 then the DRZ is a good all arounder. I prefer the xr400r Honda but I am pretty picky for my off roaders. A lot of this depends on your state on what is legal. Where are you? In MO, I can plate anything with less than 4 wheels and a title/MSO.
Wild card (because GRM and every thread needs a tangent). Honda XR650R. If you can start it (kick only) this is a dirt bike designed to win at Baja. And it did every year until they went to a 450cc limit. It weighs similar or a little less than a DRZ and is better in every way aside from the magic go button. My God, the torque!
In reply to singleslammer:
At some point the DRZ 400 and KLX 400 were the same bike. To the best of my knowledge Suzuki was the only one offering a dual sport version.
Maybe it was the early Kawasaki KX250f that was known for blowing up? I thought that Suzuki had a hand in that one too, but I could be wrong.
I'm not at all a fan of modern MX 4t engines, regardless of the brand. I completely get that they are technological wonders that have remarkable power per cc, but their maintenance costs are unsustainable for most amateurs. They haven't been good for the sport because of that. The way that kids and rednecks "fix" them only makes it worse.
I guess the advice that I'd give to Huckleberry is to approach any modern 4t thumper with a questionable maintenance history with caution and scepticism.
I had a 2007. I think I paid about $3500 in 2012 with about 700 miles on it. I really liked it, but it was a handful in the woods. It was heavy to me, but for a guy who rides a BMW like yours it shouldn't be too bad. They seem to require a lot of armor for the dirt though. Bigger skid plates, case guards to keep the oil on the inside, and a stone guard for the radiator. I've heard that the sharp inside front edge of the shifter can punch a hole through the side of the engine, even if you lay it down gently.
Also, there absolutely was a Kawasaki version for a couple of years. Same bike, just green.
KLX400 Road Test
If it were me, I'd be getting an air cooled 250. I like Hondas, but I think that the KLR250 is underappreciated.
I had a 2000 DRZ400e for a couple of years- things to look for when buying would be normal bike stuff (wheel bearings, major leaks, etc), horrifying engine noise indicating timing chain/cam issues, and that's about it. They're pretty indestructible.
Personally, I'd be looking for a more modified one. They are heavy, slow, and poorly suspendered stock and you won't pay a lot more to get one with everything already improved. I felt that mine was always a little out of its' element- in the woods I always wished for a little 250, and on rallies I wished for a big 600cc+ thumper, but it was "good enough" for both.
looking at Craigslist prices, $2500 seems about right. You probably won't lose your shirt, but it's not a steal price either.
30 hours and 2000 miles don't match. That's an average speed of 67 mph.
I stand corrected, sorry gang for I have failed you.
I have a KLR250 and had an XT250. Both are great and have plenty of power for woods riding.
I was definitely suggesting the tamer 250s not the I have 35hp from a 250cc craziness that is happening with the high strung bikes. I had a Husky TXC449 that was the same way. It is great to have a 45hp dirt bike but it is constantly trying to kill you and you have to change the oil every 300 miles. Some of the 2 strokes in the over 200cc range aren't bad either. A friend has a WR200 2 stroke (I think) that is a great woods bike. Once again, it depends on your state on whether you can plate that or not.
Woody wrote:
And another with lots of goodies
This one is awesome but am I completely missing the price? Also, while those tires will work off road, going to something more aggressive will help a bunch. I run the Kenda K270s which are considered more aggressive and wish I would have gone with something more like a 90% dirt DOT tire. They are a dream on road but most of my riding is off road.
In reply to singleslammer:
The price shows up in the search results but not the ad. $2300
Ah, yeah, that is pushing the ceiling on KLR250s to me but they are likely worth it. I only gave $960 for mine but is is an '86 model. Effectively the same bike but all the plastic switches are falling apart.
I guess I'm going to pass and look for something the same price with skid plates, bark busters and better suspension already set up for me. I do need a plate and enough bike to ride to the woods - some of these events are 500 miles away. So... A 250 would work but not as well. I think a 400 with some gearing changes can run 70mph pretty well with a 190lb rider and basic camping gear.
This one just happened to be mostly never ridden. The story was his kid bought it, then joined the military and left so it's only been used one summer and parked for 10 years. A shop prepped it to run nice for a quick sale.
500 miles? Oh man are you more of a hard ass than me. I would be trailering that thing. Anything more than 50 miles and the smallest bike I would consider is something like a klr 650. The seats on these bikes are tiny.
The seat concepts options for the DRZ are very nice, I had the "tall" one and could do 300 miles no problem before I noticed my butt starting to hurt.
singleslammer wrote:
500 miles? Oh man are you more of a hard ass than me. I would be trailering ...
Well, I sold my truck, trailer and both race cars so... It's ride or nothing.
The closest one is where I'll start though for sure :-)
DRZ might be the right choice then.
Ok then, yeah buy a DRZ with suspension upgrades if you can find one.
Huckleberry wrote:
singleslammer wrote:
500 miles? Oh man are you more of a hard ass than me. I would be trailering ...
Well, I sold my truck, trailer and both race cars so... It's ride or nothing.
The closest one is where I'll start though for sure :-)
Do a Google search for motorcycle Sweet Cheeks.
In reply to Huckleberry:
Who is putting on the dirt classes? Have you done one before? I've casually been looking for dirt classes in my area but haven't seen much yet.
It is very interesting to know there is a green version of the 400. That will give me something else to look at on CL.
In reply to Toyman01:
That is awesome. Nice find
paranoid_android74 wrote:
In reply to Huckleberry:
Who is putting on the dirt classes? Have you done one before? I've casually been looking for dirt classes in my area but haven't seen much yet.
It is very interesting to know there is a green version of the 400. That will give me something else to look at on CL.
There are a bunch of companies that offer them in PA/NY/NJ areas - and Max BMW in CT holds one every summer at Hunter Mountain but I missed that one. PA even has a free MSF Dirt Bike School they offer but I've yet to find one scheduled anywhere.
I haven't done one - I have some BMX racing, downhill mtn biking and a couple summers as a kid ripping around the woods on my friend's YZ 125 so I've been getting by on muscle memory and body armor. (I was not allowed to have 2 wheeled devices with engines so Wayne had two :) ). So far I've gotten where I'm going but it's never pretty. Classes can't not be fun so I'm going to do some soon.
