Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Dirt wannabe question. So be gentle.

Some of you know, I have been seriously considering a dirt bike for a while. People in the know have advised that a suzuki drz400e would be a perfect start.

All that is good and I am saving up for a trailer and getting the tow bar fixed and the bike too. But I have to test a massive hypothesis first.

In my mind, the biggest plus about getting into dirt bike riding is that it works with wet/cold weather really well. Given the Melbourne winter, there are weekends where riding on the road is just not a great idea for more reasons than one. I think it would be a great idea to be able to do some trail riding on not so sunny, warm days. This alone is the single biggest reason for me to invest in this alternative form of motorcycling.

Is the above a wrong idea? For those in the know, can you share on how frequently you ride in winter/wet days?

I am thinking I might actually enjoy something with straight handle bars for a change every now and then

wet days are fun, having some form of shelter back in the pits is always a good idea tho, a second pair of riding gear if your doing more than a days riding is always good.
drz400 is a fantastic bike if you look after it, i personally find them a bit heavy in the twisty sections in the bush i prefer something a bit lighter like a mx bike electric start is great when your knackrd
my flat mate, his wife and i ride atleast twice a month im not overly a fan of the wet but once your out there its all good and in the bush i dont really notice the rain all that much

Viv DO IT! you will ave a ball, DRZ is great for starting out & the electric start will be your best friend

oh and on the hot days, WATER! and fuck loads of it, we hardly ever eat on rides maby a few snacky things but thats about it usually a mean feed on the way home, but on average a ride at lue will see me going thru at least 3+ litres of water

robracer wrote:Viv DO IT! you will ave a ball

On wet days too rob? Does riding on dirt automatically mean that you don't care much about rain affecting traction like you do on the road?

Been looking at some of the husky pics you put up on fb every now and then. It looks so cool, but I have been told that riding the husky is for the experienced and skilled rider, so the learner friendly drz it is for me at this stage....

enduro bikes will always have more bite than the likes of a drz or xr ect depends on what you want really you see so many people selling the likes of kx450f's and down grading to 250s just because they cant handle the power, im not a fantastic dirt or road rider i do like the power of the drz will chug along nicely even at near stall speeds and a pipe always helps unleash a little more from them, they will never be a good jumper if you want to track it, the weight and slugish suspension lets it down a little but they are still a top notch trail bike and gotta love that rec rego

robracer wrote:..... & the electric start will be your best friend

Hell YES !!!!

There's no reason why you cant ride every day, wet is fun and more challenging..
Riding in the heat will take its toll.. make sure you take plenty of fluids and some lollies for engery..

A DRZ or KLX is the perfect bike for your first foray into dirt riding. They are ultra-reliable and still have enough grunt to get you to where you need to be. I know plenty of blokes who started out big bore dirt bikes, who now ride 250's and 300's, and are still just as quick.

Riding in the rain, on 4 degree days is awesome... if you have the right gear!!

Riding in the wet, after it's rain is even better!!!

Riding in the dry is shit.

nothing fun about trying to kickstart a bike on an epic incline!!!

aardvark wrote:A DRZ or KLX is the perfect bike for your first foray into dirt riding. They are ultra-reliable and still have enough grunt to get you to where you need to be. I know plenty of blokes who started out big bore dirt bikes, who now ride 250's and 300's, and are still just as quick.

Riding in the rain, on 4 degree days is awesome... if you have the right gear!!

Riding in the wet, after it's rain is even better!!!

Riding in the dry is shit.

Thanks mate. That is reassuring.

Is the KLX an enduro vs the trail bike drz is? Why is it so much more expensive than the drz? Any opinions on drz or the klx450?

Wet is great , cold is OK as Ardy has pointed out , with good gear .

BUT....... 10 yrs ago there was no such thing as an electric leg on a dirt bike . FFS you pussies stop with the " oooh can't start it on a hill , need a button . " sheit

Get a real dirt bike ...... one with a KICK Start .

My newest bike (and my most modern) is kick only And I will use it to show Jason around the forests of Blackwood . And he will ask for a ride .


And whats more ... a kick start will teach you to swear like a bullocky

the kid wrote: FFS you pussies stop with the " oooh can't start it on a hill , need a button . " sheit

I've had an electrical short in the 'burg for a while now. Put a new fuse in, use the electric starter and the fuse dies. On my last ride (the one where I broke my arm) I ran out of fuses.

After braking my arm I had to kick the bloody thing on an incline. You really know you're alive when you have to hold your bike up with your broken arm and use your left leg to kick start a bike that has the kick start on the wrong fucking side!

vivek67 wrote:Is the KLX an enduro vs the trail bike drz is? Why is it so much more expensive than the drz? Any opinions on drz or the klx450?

Enduro and trail bikes are the same thing. Some will argue that enduro bikes are lighter and faster with stiffer suspension, but that's the way all bikes have slowly evolved over the years. The DRZ is quite plush to ride compared to a KTM 300EXC, but it's like the difference between a ZX6 and an Aprilia RSV4. Both sportsbike, just different.

Up until a few years ago, the DRZ and the KLX were the same bike, with different plastics. Then Kawasaki went to 450cc. Who knows why there is a price difference on the new models. Manufacturing cost, difference in sales numbers, different equipment levels, variance in profit margins?

aardvark wrote:

the kid wrote: FFS you pussies stop with the " oooh can't start it on a hill , need a button . " sheit

I've had an electrical short in the 'burg for a while now. Put a new fuse in, use the electric starter and the fuse dies. On my last ride (the one where I broke my arm) I ran out of fuses.

After braking my arm I had to kick the bloody thing on an incline. You really know you're alive when you have to hold your bike up with your broken arm and use your left leg to kick start a bike that has the kick start on the wrong fucking side!

Note to Vivek ..... Buy some piece of EuroTrash with an arse about kick start at your peril . Also note ... BIG 4 strokes are bitches to bump start , if not impossible , whereas a small capacity 2 stroke can be kicked , bumped , whatever you like and it will start .

Do it, you know u want too

Yeah drz/KLX 400 is a great reliable entry level bike for the money.

Oh yeah, riding in the wet can be slippery and a lot of fun, mind you some trails become more challenging when wet. Best fun getting fit that I know of.

the klx450 is based around an older model kx450f there is nothing really on the market that is comparable to the drz400. i cant really comment on the klx but i have ridden a few other 450 and the drz. i prefer the power of the drz as im not really a fast rider so i think the drz has plenty enough for me, but i like the light weight feel of the likes of a kx450f i find it easier to move around the bush but the power can be a bit sharp
it seems the drz is the benchmark trail bike or you can spend a little more and go for the klx or wr, in thoes bikes you do get what you pay for, more power better response and better suspension and more light weight feel
lately ive been riding a xr250 and i dont seem to have any trouble keeping up with mates on bigger bikes its very light and nimble and never tiring. just lacks the power on the hill climbs