guys, i need help!!!

[wokkawokkawokka]

gday,

im looking at building a motard to use as a daily commuter, as running 2 cars is absolutely killing me (and at $550 each for tyres im not drivin my other toy :shock: ill put a pic up as soon as i work out how to use this pooter thing) but these are the things that will determine my choice:

i travel 500ks a week (at least)
i wanna be able to switch back relatively easily for muddy weekends
i havent ridden trailies since i was a wee tacker but rode a vtr1000 for 3 years

and the killer, i only have $7000 tops to spend

any help on what bike (looking at wr400/yz426 but open to suggestions), and any hints and tips i can get.

cheers

[jakestein]

Go through Motorcycle Trader.
Heaps of bikes around that price BUT not garenteed to come with enduro wheel set.

Also I have a standard wr450f wheelset w/ spacers that you can have for $650 Lace them to some rims and your ready to rock :) ( If you go yami)

Dont let the guys here tell you anything 'bad' about wr's I just done 800km in a day and loved every freezing,windy, km of it :lol:

[Wobbly]

Hey mate ... for that sort of mileage you probably want something a bit less competition oriented than the WR's ... otherwise you'll be doing oil changes every week and they need a fair bit of TLC with that sort of mileage. I ride my DRZ every day but only about half that mileage (about 230k's each week) and change my oil around every 1500k's, but it has a 2 litre oil capacity compared to the WR which I think is about 1.2?

So you could either go for something like that, or perhaps a larger and heavier, but ultimately even more reliable scoot. The big XR650R is another good one, oil changes around 1000-1500k's, big relaxed feeling power plant, and screw + locknut valves for oh-so-easy adjustment. Or a LC4 if you don't mind the throb, as they've got a huge sump (3.5l?) and will go for a few thousand k's between oil changes.

For the sort of coin you're looking at I'd start with a decent bike and standard rims running clubman type tyres (ie. metzler me33, bt45, etc). That makes changing over for a dirty weekend a bit harder, but saves spending the dough on the motard wheels, which for a new set will set you back about $3000 alone (unless you can find some cheapy cast rims and machine them up to suit, but its a bit of work).

Or if you want to do the 17" thing then you can always go and older and slower bike such as a XR600, DR650 or TT600 and whack the mootang wheels on it. Won't be a horsepower monster, but dead reliable and still good fun :up:

[Flash]

DRZ not a YZ/WR but better than a XR!!!
or get finance and get a real bike(HUSKY) with 2 year warranty!

[jakestein]

Told ya they will go against the WR :lol:

A husky would be good but 12k+ so way over budget ;)
1.2 ltrs try 1.3 :D

A xr650r would be great.

[wokkawokkawokka]

my last trailie was a cr125 12 or so years ago so im a little concerned about the weight of the 650 when i decide to go for a bush bash, the other thing is the tray on my toy is about 5' off the ground so id like somethin i could actually lift if (read:when) i drop it

[Muzzard]

Mate, Goin' by the avatar and the nickname, Your a serviceman or an ex-serviceman like me, And if so in an airborne regiment or attached to a recce sqn.
If this is the case you will understand when I say to you,

'Get a WRF now that man'. :lol:

[Tom]

I had an XR400 til about a month ago, and it was great for riding every day (Except for that bloody kickstart) and you only need to change oil every 1500ks or so.

I've recently upgraded to an XR650 and haven't ridden it with the motard setup yet, but it's a real ball tearer with the dirt typres on. Does monos in the first 3 gears (first 2 without clutch) and thats before the HRC kit has gone in it (project update pending).

However, i did test ride a DRZ400 with Motard setup prior to buying the XR650 and it was great too, not as much power, but electric start was great. The XR650 doesn't weigh much more than the DR400 so if that's the only problem get and XR650.

[Flash]

Hey Jake you wont here me knock the yamaha's but when you compare them to the Husky(motard) they are about 3k+ more with no warranty!!
My MX bike is a Yamaha and my next MX bike is probably going to be as well. :D

[wokkawokkawokka]

the dr 650 is beginning to look like a goer but im still not totally convinced yet, got to have a couple more rides first. maybe when i get time to scratch myself away from work i can go for a decent run instead of lunchtime testrides

[Wobbly]

There's always something like this :-k

>>> CLICK HERE (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/VERY-TRICK-KTM-LC4-SUPER-MOTARD_W0QQitemZ4568577686QQcategoryZ102677QQrdZ1Q QcmdZViewItem) <<<

[dicky]

old and busted.
there is an '03 at eurobrit for 8 & a bit, still no reg but it has the hiflow head and the wide swingarm for all that extra motard goodness.
doesn't really help as the original post did mention swapping abck to dirt.
an lc4 is a big heavy bike in the dirt, they are enduro bikes, not mx'rs.

dicky.

[Wobbly]

Still quite a few around the 7-8k mark in the traders though :-k

[jakestein]

Hey Jake you wont here me knock the yamaha's but when you compare them to the Husky(motard) they are about 3k+ more with no warranty!!
My MX bike is a Yamaha and my next MX bike is probably going to be as well. :D

My build has equaled well under 13k and thats including rego.

My next full time off roader will be a husky.... No shit :)

[wokkawokkawokka]

ok looks like i may have finally found a bike,

98 yamaha TTR600

6500 km set up with rgv rims plus originals

$4700

(due to playin a little rough on the weekend my budget dropped by $2000 now i gotta rebuild my front diff on the "other" toy)

if any one can advise me as to whether or not i should dish out my hard earned for the ttr i would be much obliged

[Muzzard]

Sounds all Good to me, Cheap with additional wheelset.
Can also double as 'outta the shit' transport when diffs fall out! :roll:

[Flash]

Hey Jake you wont here me knock the yamaha's but when you compare them to the Husky(motard) they are about 3k+ more with no warranty!!
My MX bike is a Yamaha and my next MX bike is probably going to be as well. :D

My build has equaled well under 13k and thats including rego.

My next full time off roader will be a husky.... No shit :)

Aren't the wr 450s 12999 on the road plus wheels and tyres and brakes and suspension valving?

[Muzzard]

If you buy an Enduro bike in the city Ash...
Come to the country and see what you pay for them... :lol:

[Flash]

Really :shock:

[wokkawokkawokka]

yeah muzz and the way i drive that may be more often than not :lol:

shame its a 3 hour drive to go pick the ttr up

oh yeah i posted a pic of the other toy in the misc gallery its a little old but the only difference now is a tray, full rollcage and bigger tyres :roll: :twisted: geez i hope i can get the bike up there!!!

[Wobbly]

Sounds like a good deal wokka - the TT's are reliable busses and will handle the regular commute with ease. Quite a bit of after market gear like large tanks and all that sort of stuff too :up:

[Flash]

If you buy an Enduro bike in the city Ash...
Come to the country and see what you pay for them... :lol:

What about MXers?

[Muzzard]

Wokka, Nice truck mate...
Put some thought into that I see.

Cant really go past a look, at least a few decent pics, of the TTR for that price.
As Neil said they are pretty good units for what you would want.

Ash,
Models are changing again so, You would no doubt shop a good MX deal in Elizabeth Street now or better still Ringwood, than here because of volume of sales. No-one here wants the friggin' things, cant register 'em easily, and these days most folks tend to abide by the rec-rego laws here. A lot of policing has taken place through the Strathbogies and Beechworth areas over the last 12 months.
WRF/CRF/XR/DRZ/KLX are all big sellers here.

[jakestein]

My bike was just under 10g it was about to be used as a demo as the other demo was sold.

[wokkawokkawokka]

muzz, some thought and a hell of a lot of blood sweat and beers went into that little truck!!!

anyways i got a few pics emailed to me, detail's a little shabby but doesnt seem too bad. i put em up in the gallery as i dont know how to post them directly here (i only just started using more than one finger to type) :lol:

[Wobbly]

That's a nice looking tard! He's obviously put some effort into it, nice and clean etc. Posting the pics on threads is reasonably easy, but needs a couple of steps. Basically you put the location of the pic between two markers like so:

http://www.someseversomewhere.whatever/blah/heresmypic.jpg

The trick is working out where the location is. Easiest way is just right click on the picture you want when you see it as you want on the screen and select 'properties' and there should be a 'location' listed that you can cut & paste. Then its easy to do it like:

http://vsmr.net/albums/tt600/ttr6002.jpg

ala:

http://vsmr.net/albums/tt600/ttr6002.jpg

[Muzzard]

Jeez Wokka,
I think I'd be doin' the 3 hours for a geek in the flesh and maybe do a deal mate...
Certainly looks OK from here... Like Neil said a bit a thought and work there and tidy a unit. :D

[Flash]

I've seen one of these motarded already, Cheltenham near work.Looks shit hot :up:

[Muzzard]

And not been entered into Ghost Rider Ash?
Post him up mate, Someone might own up to it... ;)

[Flash]

I did, one of the first. It weas only after seeing this one I knew what it was

[wokkawokkawokka]

im headin down to take a look at the bike this weekend so is there anythin model specific i should look out for?

[Flash]

Yes there is check for,-










an engine a frame mabe a couple of wheels oh yes maybe a tank and if you want to ride it make sure there is handle bars :lol:

[dicky]

Have a good look at the wheels, try to see if they are centred in the forks and swingarm. Check for any play in bearings or spacers.
Check the rear tyre to see if the chain is rubbing on it excessively and chewing the rubber off the side.

Check the front brake to see how good it is at pulling stoppies.
Likewise with the carby jets, crack the throttle in first to see how well it mono's.

dicky.

[Muzzard]

As far as I know Wokka, There are no major issues with the TTR.
Like Dicky said, Check all the major things like the centre lines of wheels for alignment in frame, look around headstem for paint fractures that would indicate being stressed or bent.
Look under neath the seat at the rear subframe for alignment also.
Cover the exhaust once warm with your hand and listen to the engine without the noise from the pipe for rattling and clunking that seems excessive.
Ride the bike.
Check for swingarm bearings and link bearings for wear as these will run you several hundered dollars if they need replacing.

Good Luck, ;)

[jakestein]

The gear change is something to check aswell.

[Wobbly]

Wot they said. I normally look for any play in the wheels on the bearings, check for notchy steering (stem bearings), general wear and tear, no excessive engine knocking/clunking etc. Bearing stuff is easy enough to fix, but stuffed ones cost money so make for good bartering material.

Give it a good flogging and then measure the size of the grin on your face :D

[wokkawokkawokka]

just chatted with a guy from work and he was tellin me that after buyin a 97 TT-R 600 he sold it 2 months later simply because it didnt have enough power. hmm

btw flash thanx for your checklist, i looked again at the photos and i think i found a problem...

in one shot the bike has four wheels!!!!!! :lol:

[Wobbly]

Take it for a spin is probably your best bet :up:

[wokkawokkawokka]

GODDAMNITALL...

work decided to send me to adelaide, only just got back.

at least the bikes still for sale, shame i cant get out to see it for 2 weeks, but thats life

[bing]

I'm new to all this but I have a DR650 and plan to put the 17's on it for a bit of onroad fun. I know it's not the latest, greatest or lightest but it is a fun bike and cheap to run and service.

Does anyone have experience with the DR's?

[Wobbly]

I've had a couple of mates who have had them as offroad touring bikes and thought they were great. Motard bits are a little hard to come by for them, but not too bad if you make some of the stuff up yourself. I know there's a couple of guys on supermotojunkie who have tarded DR650's though...

Welcome aboard! 8) :up: