Best Light-Weight Enduro Bike?

[R Doug]

OK, I sold my dual-sport (which I already miss riding) because the bike is not relevant for where I live.  I'm at least 2 hours to the all day fire roads and trails now.  But, I now have a trailer so being able ride from my garage to the trails doesn't have to be my only option.  

That said,  I'm looking for a non-plated light-weight enduro bike to trail ride in wooded areas.  Is a 450 too big?  Is a 250 too small?
 
I'll most likely evolve to running some hare scrambles in addition to trail riding.  
 
Thoughts?
 
Yamaha WR450 or 250 F?
 
Honda 450 or 250X?
 
KTM 350 EXCF?  
 
Husaberg FE 390 or 450?
 
Husqvarna TXC 250 or 310?
  
 
Sorry… no Suzuki or Kawasaki for me.  It goes back to my childhood where I prefered Yamaha and Honda and I'll not likely be convinced otherwise.  

What's the best for the money?  I know I'll most likely love the KTM with the punch of a 450 and the weight of a 250.  Plus, it's hard to beat WP suspension.  But, it's pricy and how much better is it than what comes on the Yamaha or Honda?  

[Sport-Touring]

[garry]

A 250 two-stroke would be nice. Light is right for a woods bike. A 250 has plenty of power. Get something cheap that's been used so you don't mind beating/crashing the living crap of it. You can even get  a plate for a 250 2T with a dual-sport kit to connect trail sections.

[Reddog*]

KTM 300 XC-W 2008 or newer has the magic button and a six speed. Tractor to Rocket ship in a down shift.

I have a 08 TXC 250 with an Athena 300 kit, nice bike but accessories are more of a pain to find than the KTM.

[R Doug]

I like the newer bikes with F.I. delivery, but it's not a deal killer.  I'm going to start looking a used bikes and see what I find.

For the comparro on the new, I would lean towards one of the Yamaha WRs and add a street legal kit.  

The WR450 is 273 lbs wet, has FI and a 5 speed gearbox ($8.1K new).  The 250 is 256 wet with a carb and 5 speed gearbox ($6.9K new).  

The KTM 350EXC-W comes street legal out of the box with FI, 6 speed gearbox, but has a price of $9.5K!  Wow.  And, of course, the KTM will have higher maintenance schedules.  It's a sweet bike, but you do pay to play.  

Of course, all of this is contingent upon me finding out more about where I can ride and how frequently I'd be willing to trailer there to ride.  If I end up not being able to ride it much, why get it?  

[Cablebandit]

252 wet...    

[garry]

2008 YZ125 for $2000 in the local CL. 190 lbs dry. 250 pounds is a lot on single track.



Want to buy new? KTM 200 XC-W. 209 pounds without fuel.

[R Doug]

   I had a 125YZ as a kid.  What great memories!

I'll be spending a lot of time on a 125 in a few weekends during the cornerspin class.  I plan on talking to the instructors and find out good areas to ride plus get their recommendation for which horse they would use for the course.  

[black hills]

KTM 300 (EXC/XC-w) is IMO the best woods bike ever made

[R Doug]

And for nearly $10 large new... it better be.  

[DogBoy]

There are good used examples out there. Two strokes are cheap to maintain. If the trails in your woods are super tight, the 200 XC-W is a good alternative.

[R Doug]

I spoke with a lot of locals yesterday at the bike show in Charlotte.  They said a 250 is the perfect weapon of choice for the type of trails in my area.  The closest set of tails is an hour away and there's 35 miles of trails.  I was warned they are very rocky.  90 minutes away is another set of trails (~40 miles worth) of woods and open fields.  Once I reach out to 2+ hours (one way), I could be in the really good stuff around Asheville.  But, I'll need a plated bike as many paved roads are used to connect trail to tail.  The bad news is NC is difficult to plate a non plated bike.  It can be done, but I was told it isn't easy.

Thinking it over, while I would LOVE to start trail riding, I need to pick my poison.  Between the track bike and my road bike, I will not have time to ride trails.  Hell, I work most Saturdays for 3-4 hours now.  I have to plan rides and try to make them stick.  With my efforts of getting more track time and balancing that with rides on the street bike this year, I would be wasting money purchasing a trail bike right now.  

The good news is, I have signed up and scheduled 4 track days between now and the end of May.  And, I'm taking the GSXR to the shop for a top end job followed by me doing a complete fluid flush and refill.  I'm going to put my time and resources in the GSXR and see what comes of it this year.  If I decide that trail riding is what I wan to do after some seat time this year on the track bike, I'll sell the GSXR and get a trail bike.  And potentially, I'll pick up a second street bike which can double as a track tool if I still wish to sneak in a day or two per year.  How's that for a plan?  

Fook'n bikes... if it's not money, it time.  I suppose there are worse things which a person could be addicted.    

[black hills]

picked up a '09 300XC- with a scotts, skid plate, disc gaurd, handgaurds, HD tubes, and heavier springs with 400mi. on it last year for $5,000.  

[robrm250]

KTM 300xc period,best enduro bike I have ever raced or ridden and I have tried alot.My son has had a couple KTM 200's xc plus xcw they were a little to pipey for me but hey I am a old fart race 45b class 48yrs old.I really liked my yamaha yz250 2 stroke probably a tad faster racing on it but the 300 is a better all round play bike plus race bike.