Any suggestions for a good all round Enduro dirt bike?

[Mutt]

I need the advice of some more "learned" people. I have a Suzuki DR650 and it's just too big for me. I'm only 5'9" and 180 lbs. My wife has a DR200 and I love the size and feel, but it's way underpowered. I'm looking for a bike that can do 60 mph for small stretches (like highway 72 up to Gross Res.) without hurting it, and still be trail friendly.

I'm looking at the TTR 225, 230, and new 250 but I'm not sold on them yet. I hear mixed reviews on the CRF bikes.

I prefer four stroke and it has to be street legal. I don't mind buying a dirt bike, adding the baja designs kit, and titleing it, but I do want a keyed ignition.

HELP!!! :shrug:

Jim

[jrvyota]

I do not have a lot of ride time on the smaller bikes, If you are willing to do the Baja kit don't hold back on a bike because it does not have a keyed ignition. A good one is very easy to install on just about any bike. I did one on my XR650R It cost me about $20.00 in parts from car quest and I would say it makes my bike harder to steal than say a xr650L sitting next to it.

[trailbuilt]

in the 250cc range the klx 250 is hard to beat ... room to grow and can keep up with the big boys.... If thats to much money there is the klr 250...
Drz 400 is by far the best all around bike IMO...

I ride a KTM 640 Adventure...Its a bad machine..

[Johnboy]

There are lots of options out there that fit your criteria. If you want to keep your feet close to the ground the newer CRF 230 is nice. The CRF 250 and 450 are more race bikes. For that matter, almost anything built in the last 3 years that is a 250 or a 450 is more geared towards racing than dirt roads. XR250 and XR400 are my favorite bikes because they are SO reliable. DRZ400 is also a nice bike.

[mtntj]

I've ridden Hondas all my life so that's way I would lean. An xr250 or 400 will be great rides for you. However anything these days are great, depends on what color you want, and how much if any you want to put into it. My dad still rides his 87 xr250 with plates for the street, he can roll down the highway at 60-70 just fine, and still handle any trail or 4wd road. Good Luck.

[FirecrackerKTM]

225 and 230 are way underpowered. Probably not much different than your wife's 200.

The new Kawasaki 400 is getting rave reviews, and the Suzuki DR400 has been a favorite for those who lean more toward the dirt side of dual sporting. For its class, it's relatively light and nimble.

If you like the exotic, the Euro brands have some pretty sweet setups from the KTMs and Husqvarnas to the Aprilias and BMWs. A buddy of mine bought a BMW X-challenge and LOVES it. But they're $$$.

[Kirby N.]

You will hate the TTR 225 or the honda 230s. My wife had one. Heaviest most underpowered odd ball old school technology motorcycle we ever had. It had about 4 inches of travel in the suspension. I would go with a honda 250 XR if you are tall enough. Even a CRF250X if you want lighter/ better suspension. The KLXs/KLRs are pretty heavy and sluggish (I have a KLX300R in the garage), but they have a lower seat height. I would go with an XR if at all possible. Pretty good Suspension and that air cooled honda reliability.

[Mutt]

I appreciate all your suggestions. I'll keep my eye out for an XR250 and see how it feels.

Jim

[ZJbrandon]

regarding the Yamahas - FWIW, I just bought two 2008 TTRs. The 230 is spec'd for 9.5 and 8.7 inches of travel. (not 4").
However, these are not dual sport, the kit is about $500, plus your tires.
The WR lineup gets good review, and is dual-sport. I would loved to have got me one, but it was near double the price of my TTR230.

:beer:

[woody]

From the sounds of what you are looking for, all I am going to say is WR450F. Bad a$$ bike!