DRZ400?

[Johnny Monsoon]

You're kidding right? More at home on dirt roads, that's utter nonsense. Until KTM became so popular the DRZ 400 was one of the most popular enduro bikes going. They can rip up single track, crawl over rocks, and climb hills like a billy goat with the best of them. Granted, the hybrid enduro bikes like the CRF X's and WR's as well as the 2 and 4 stroke KTMS are all you see now in enduro's, but then they put out a ton more HP and are 20-25 lbs lighter then the DRZ.

Compared to the KLX250S, the DRz400 is a wallowing swine offroad.  Frankly, on-road it has no appreciable gains over the KLX for comfort; in fact, there isn't even a saddle comparison between the two; the KLX is a far more comfortable motorcycle, than can do offroad far better, and on road travel just as well.

[johne]

IMHO if you buy a DRZ400 and were looking at the KTM640 also you will shoot yourself within a matter of weeks. Nothing against Suzuki of course (see avatar) but the KTM is just the best dual sport bike between the 2. KTM has been putting a lot of R&D into dual sport bikes for quite some time and I think they have the right ideas. Dakar pretty much proves that. Good luck with your choice.

[Albie]

Compared to the KLX250S, the DRz400 is a wallowing swine offroad.  

LOL, a KLX250s the EXACT same weight as my DRZ400E. I'll say it again since people have trouble following posts. To say the DRZ is better suited to dirt roads then single track is utter nonsense.

[Johnny Monsoon]

LOL, a KLX250s the EXACT same weight as my DRZ400E. I'll say it again since people have trouble following posts. To say the DRZ is better suited to dirt roads then single track is utter nonsense.

The DRz400S (street legal) is 291lb dry.  The KLX250S is 262lb dry.  While the DRz400E (262lb dry) does have an electric start, it does not have the gear, or really, the electrical system to support street-legalizing (not to mention trying to even do that in your state, much less the cost involved).  Take into consideration that this is primarily a trail bike and won't be happy, at all, on the highway for any amount of time.

Sorry, they're just two very different animals.  However, it does point out that the KLX, still, is better ON road, and STILL doesn't suffer, at all, offroad to the E model.

[marc11]

DRZ 400s - $5599
KLX250s - $4799

 

[R.Markus]

DRZ 400s - $5599
KLX250s - $4799

 

I assume you are refering to the price of the 250 being almost as high as the 400?

The 250 was completely revamped and upgraded last year, it is quite a bit modernized compared to the DRZ. Hell, it's also odd to see it in the showroom next to the KLR...with nearly the same price.

By the way...what was the original question again?

[Scratch33]

IMHO if you buy a DRZ400 and were looking at the KTM640 also you will shoot yourself within a matter of weeks.

Do you know whether KTM discontinue the 640 entirely; or just stopped sending 'em to the USA?

[marc11]

Ummm, one should never assume anything.  The point of the cost comparison, as you pointed out, is that the KLX is a new and fully modern.  So, for $800 less you are getting an overall better bike.  Lighter, more modern, better suspension and a better power to weight ratio than the DRZ.  I also suspect lower insurance costs as well as lower tax.  Overall a cheaper bike to purchase on the road.

That was the point.  The DRZ is a fine bike, nothing wrong with it, but when compared to the KLX, and when wanting to ride off road more than on road, it is hard to justify the weight and cost differences.

[R.Markus]

Do you know whether KTM discontinue the 640 entirely; or just stopped sending 'em to the USA?

They are bringing in a limited number for 2007, probably about 100 like the previous 2 years. THey are most likely 2006 leftovers and are identical except that the tank doesn't say "Dual Sport" on it. They aren't in the catalog and I would hurry and get a deposit down at a dealership that is getting one, they'll most likely all be spoken before before they even get to the dealerships (same as the last two years).

In fact, after I bought mine last year the dealership called to say they had several guys really want one and would deal with me on a 950SE if I would trade it back in. Not worth it.

[Scratch33]

Thanks for the info.  Any idea what the going rate is for 'em?

[R.Markus]

Thanks for the info.  Any idea what the going rate is for 'em?

I think MSRP new is $8898. Demand this year will see what they actually sell for...and it's hard to bargain when your putting a deposit down on a new bike that has limited numbers.

I saw this one on cycletrader. It's in TX, but looks to be set up pretty well. Those tank guards are hard to come by (have to be ordered from Sommer in Germany).

[Johnny Monsoon]

I assume you are refering to the price of the 250 being almost as high as the 400?

The 250 was completely revamped and upgraded last year, it is quite a bit modernized compared to the DRZ. Hell, it's also odd to see it in the showroom next to the KLR...with nearly the same price.

By the way...what was the original question again?

It is odd, and one should ask why.  The answer is easy, but understanding the answer is difficult wihtout being able to experience it directly.

A) yeah, the KLX has better offroad bits.  Newer, more modern (or really, more dirtbike spec'd) parts.  The suspension is amazing; and that's tough to say about any UJM that is roadworthy.  In fact, that alone deserves some heavy consideration and late night pondering.  Rider aside, the second focus, even before engine upgrades, is always suspension.  You can jump right to the engine on this little guy; bumping it up to a 330cc bike with a nice carb and aftermarket exhaust which will give you some pretty good power for any of the bikes in this class.

B) As much as it pains me to say it, the KLX250S really doesn't give much up to the KLR on the road.  The fairing and the tank size are the two main points of contention.  The KLX has a higher frequency buzz, but it spins up to something like 11K rpm, where the KLR is running around 7.5Krpm to redline.  The KLX would need soft luggage, where the KLR can accept hard luggage and racks on its subframe.  The KLX may be able to be retrofitted with a rack (likely, I think) but it isn't a common mod at this point.

There are unusual things to consider when getting a DS bike:

One is that you'll have a reduction in speed when on the roads.  That's just a fact of life.  Even with all the engine in the world, a big single with lots of mud-guarding plastics that stick out in the breeze will not be a good upper 10s and early 100s mph cruiser.  DS bikes are most comfortable at legal highway speeds.  

Any DS bike listed will do legal highway speeds just fine; it becomes a matter of range and the amount of wind protection you want.  Bikes with larger tanks actually profide decent mid and lower body wind protection, as well as a longer range.  

Windscreens can be adapted to most any bike with a little ingenuity; and frankly, you can get away with stuff like that a whole lot more readily on a DS machine.  

They aren't great 2-up bikes.  If you are going 2-up with more than a heavy child or a light adult pillion, skip any of the bikes with less than 650cc.  

The suspension exploits of a great dirt-worthy machine are largely wasted on the road.  That isn't to say there isn't a gain with better suspension, but that the long, controlled travel designed to suck up airborne landings will be a bit of overkill.  However, with that being said, it is always better to have more/better and waste it than it is to be wanting.  My KLR650 was fine offroad for just creeping along, but for actually 'playing' the KLX is vastly more fun, and frankly, a lot easier to get where you want to go with a lot less effort (and skill, I think).

The brakes are better on the KLX.  The new KLR has finally addressed the brake issue, but the KLX, with its lighter weight and larger rotor, just works better.

However, the KLX is a slightly smaller bike; more like a dirtbike in proprortions instead of a larger trallie like the KLR or DR.  On a really extended highway trip, I'd likely find more comfortable spots to move around on if I had a larger bike; but I'd readily sacrafice that for the better suspension (if nothing else) of the KLX.

It all really comes down to what you want to do with it.  The KLX is a great jack of all trades bikes; much better than a lot of bikes before it, but it still suffers all the DS limitations; and frankly is not going to be as cheap to buy as a used KLR or DR.  The used KLR or DR will get you just about all the places a KLX will; just at a slower pace and with more effort.  There are some great advantages to the KLR over the others for specific applications (luggage/touring mostly).  Make sure you get a bike that doesn't lock you in financially, and one that allows you to exploit a wide range of disciplines of offroading so you can get a good feel for what you really want to do, and what really interests and engages you.

[Albie]

The DRz400S (street legal) is 291lb dry.  The KLX250S is 262lb dry.  While the DRz400E (262lb dry) does have an electric start, it does not have the gear, or really, the electrical system to support street-legalizing (not to mention trying to even do that in your state, much less the cost involved).  Take into consideration that this is primarily a trail bike and won't be happy, at all, on the highway for any amount of time.

Sorry, they're just two very different animals.  However, it does point out that the KLX, still, is better ON road, and STILL doesn't suffer, at all, offroad to the E model.

The E model has a more then adequate electrical system for street legal electrics. The cost can run around $100, unless you want to  spend a lot of extra money just to buy all the parts in a nice little kit,  plus the usual taxes involved which you pay to register ANY bike. Aside from a couple states it's simple to get street legal registration. I know all this because I've actually done the conversion along with 3 other riding buddies. So I'm speaking from actual KNOWLEDGE.

And once again, I'm not arguing which one is better on road, I've never ridden a KLX 250 so I have no basis to argue that point. BTW, how many DRZ E's have you ridden? Why you keep bringing up a one sided argument is beyond me. All I ever pointed out is it is idiotic to make claims that the DRZ is suited to dirt roads, and not single track. That's a load of crap.

[Johnny Monsoon]

The E model has a more then adequate electrical system for street legal electrics. The cost can run around $100, unless you want to  spend a lot of extra money just to buy all the parts in a nice little kit,  plus the usual taxes involved which you pay to register ANY bike. Aside from a couple states it's simple to get street legal registration. I know all this because I've actually done the conversion along with 3 other riding buddies. So I'm speaking from actual KNOWLEDGE.

And once again, I'm not arguing which one is better on road, I've never ridden a KLX 250 so I have no basis to argue that point. BTW, how many DRZ E's have you ridden? Why you keep bringing up a one sided argument is beyond me. All I ever pointed out is it is idiotic to make claims that the DRZ is suited to dirt roads, and not single track. That's a load of crap.

To properly wire the DRzE for street gear is more than just plug and play.  I'm sure there are probably a couple of kits out there that'll try to make it seem that way, and may fulfill the 'letter of the law' but they won't be adequte for true use.

As far as 'legalizing' a dirtbike:  Nope, can't be done in NE; and that follows for many other states, and is becoming more and more the norm.  That's the whole reason KTM went to issuing all their bikes with a street-legal kit available.

I have ridden an older E.  Granted, it was pretty well used, but it didn't hold a candle to the KLX offroad.  Even in the broad open expanses of flat(er) dirt areas that would let us get up to and maintain speeds of about 50mph, there was a huge difference between the two in gearing.  The extra gearing on the KLX made it feel effortless.  Then there's the instrumentation issue...  The KLX has 'em.

Again, I don't think the DRzE is a bad bike, but street is not its purpose, and it still falls a bit short of the KLX.  I just can't see that it is equitable for a newer or intereted DS rider to get into modding a bike and going through the trouble of registration (if even possible in his state) when a perfectly good (and superior in many ways) machine is available that needs no modification at all for a very reasonable price.

[DNA]

This looks nice for you Pacific Northwet guys.  A bit far from home for me though.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2001-KTM-640-LC4-dual-purpose-with-supermoto-wheel-kit_W0QQitemZ130067344953QQihZ003QQcategoryZ6711QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem