Stop at 0:25 😀. Technology peaked out in the late 1970's .... They knew how to build a good machine with some power behind it given a truck , farm tractor or motorcycle . The operator conformed to the machine . Just bought a 1978 Suzuki PE 175 and really like that bike ! 👍
Not to mention, for some of us, older used bikes are the only way we can enjoy the sport. For a single dad with 2 boys, spending $18,000 on up for 3 new bikes just wasn't going to happen. Plus we get to enjoy fixing them up during the winter. Great job as always. Please keep em coming.
It is a great feeling when those bike projects get finished. I just finished fixing up my Yamaha TT-R230 and it was an awesome experience. Frustrating at times, but still awesome!
I just bought a an almost-new condition 2017 drz400sm 5000k miles with the full yoshimura rs2 exhaust fat bars upgraded tail light and jet kit for $5000 the thing Rips. Always look for something used with upgrades you get a way better deal.
Hermit DaVlog I think you are the only person I have ever seen reply to your audience. A lot of you tubers are just here to make money from their videos and NEVER respond. Major respect and appreciation to you even if you are here just to make money. You seem like good people and a practical kind of guy.
Great Vid. Totally agree with you. I just purchased an 1985 XR200R for 300 bucks. I took the bike apart and replaced parts as needed, the engine was perfect. Spent about 200 bucks total. Now the 35 old XR looks and runs like new.
Just bought a 1998 xr400 and I love the thing like nothing else. I haven't got much money but even if I did I wouldn't want anything 'better' because for me there is nothing 'better'. The bike even left the factory the same month I was born 'march 98'
I rode and did some "home brew" modifications to a 1998 when it was brand new! This was a friends bike bought brand new. The XR400 is legendary and even was back then, that said it felt old even when it was new because the high-performance 4 stroke revolution was just starting then. Its a great bike, keep it for a long time.
I couldn't agree more says the guy who bought two new bikes, but also bought two used bikes. When I was brand spankin new I bought Xena from the dealer for the same reasons you mentioned. However, now 5 years into this dual sport adventure I would probably buy a used bike over a new one. I think the biggest factor in my decision is that I now know what to look for and can have some confidence in my decisions. MrDuhFactor has been an amazing help, that guy deserves a medal in community helping and general awesomeness.
biggest problem i had when i bought a new car. great. a new car that i can't scratch dint or ding or its value will tank! guess i have to drive like a granny for the next 5+ years...
When I first got into dual sporting, about 4 years ago, I bought a brand new Honda CRF250L and spent a vulgar amount of money putting in the 300 big bore, full FMF exhaust, fuel programmer, Race Tech G3-S shock, gold valves in the forks, etc. As I got more into riding and further discovered my wants and needs, I realized that no matter what the upgrades, it's much too big and top heavy for the technical riding and 50-60mph roads I typically ride. I purchased a 2000 KTM EXC 200 for the technical stuff, a 2008 CRF230L for dual sporting, and a 2009 Kawasaki KLX250SF for daily commuting in the city and all 3 of those bikes used cost about what I paid for the stock CRF250L. I definitely recommend that anyone getting into the sport for the first time buy used to find out what you really want in a big and then possibly consider buying new down the road if it ends up being the better option.
Hermit DaVlog I think if I build up another dual sport, I'm going to try a KLX300 with a Lectron carb, perhaps a Bill Blue 350 kit and suspension upgrades. I would imagine you have your pumper carb pretty well dialed in by now, but Lectron is doing more development for 4 stroke carbs and you may want to consider one in the future. I have one on my EXC 200 and love it. I'm planning on throwing a Lectron and 350 big bore on the KLX250SF towards the end of the year.
I've looked into Lectron and I like what they're doing. Kinda reminds me of how Glock started in that they just discarded what everyone has always done and figured out what made sense to them. If I ever have a bike that I know will be a good application I'll try one for sure.
Your right man. I got a xr400 recently. And I got because there is lots of knowledge/parts/information on the bike , and its price ment a scratch or huge motor failure would not ruin my day. Great vid mate.
Spot on..ive got like 10 total that I think I'm close to 1500$ total for all of them ..they mostly needed carbs n tanks cleaned but all were never case split n bone stock. .gotta love old school ..made to last
Well what I tell people is if you're buying a DRZ400S, XR650L, DR650 or KLR650 it really doesn't matter as long as the old bikes is in good condition. If you're gonna buy a CRF450L you might as well buy it new. The two best beginner bikes DRZ400S CRF250L Both you can buy used because they are bullet proof. Get them with only a few thousand miles or less on them.
Got me a 98 XR600R for the dirt and a 05 XR650L for going places on\off road. Ill start thinking about a new bike when i start getting passed by newer bikes. 80% rider 20% bike. My 600r still rips!! Love em both
It is a really hard choice between buying an old bike and a new bike. For the older Japanese bikes that are tried and true, I would say that if you can find a good deal used then definitely go for it. If you are looking for a newer and more expensive euro bike, I feel like the used market a completely different beast because there isn't the same amount of information floating around and the parts and labor are generally more expensive. I 100% agree with your channel recommendations, and I feel that one of the best things about this community are people who are willing to help and share information like those guys you mentioned :)
Good points. My advice is more for if you don't know where to start. If you know you want a KTM350 EXC with fuel injection then you probably know if it's worth and extra $2K to get it new.
Just found your channel - good stuff! Totally agree with you. I have two street bikes that I got used for cheap, worked on them myself (started as a complete novice) , and now they're awesome. The best part is that I don't worry about minor incidents or scratches. I just ride!
I would love to own a new tenere 700 , but I live in the US in 2019 and am somewhat cash starved. It's still a dream , but in the meantime I'll keep riding my xr400r , hell yeah !
This is a good topic. I cut my teeth on old bikes, well lets be honest these were early 1970's junk bikes really, I have some 8mm film and VHS footage of those old pieces of junk just check my archives. Old bikes were what I could afford, I also had the knowledge or aptitude to make them run and keep them running. Mind you this was all in the pre-internet era, so there was some "thrill of the hunt" driving down alley's in small towns. Not everyone can work on things like this for various reasons, this is where the "new" bikes are probably the best choice if your starting out. I have to say with old bikes, it makes you appreciate some of the newer bikes. I bought my first brand new in the crate bike in 2001, my KX250 and damn did it seemed expensive at $4400. I wanted to get more serious about racing and move out of the vintage class. Now that I am older, my skills honed, my collection has grown, I have a greater appreciation for nearly all types of motorcycles. Our hobby is very diverse and compartmentalized when you look at specifically "new" bikes, old bikes help broaden our scope a little.
I couldn't agree more. I have a 91 xr200 and i had the head gasket go on me last summer. I was 16 at the time and had no previous experience rebuilding engines. I went on you tube and the thumper talk forums and managed to get it running all by my self for 120 Canadian pesos opposed to the $800 from the shop when i blew it up the year before. Another perk of this is i know know how the bike works and im very confident that i will be able to fix and maintain it at a whole new level. Im currently looking to get a Ktm 450 exc so I hope my maintenance is on point.
Some good advice man! I know I'm way late to the game but I ship out in just about 6 months and my wife says when I get back I can get a bike! I'm so stoked!!!! I'm caught in a hard place though.... Iwant SOOOOOOOOO badly to get a dual sport... But I am not confident with bikes yet... I can work on them! Not very fearless when it comes to riding it anymore.... I used to love adrenaline... Still do to... Just have kids now haha.... Well I figured it out while writing this... Dual sport it is! I can just chill out on some trails forget everything of paivment!!! Till I head home that is! :-) good videos man!!! Love it!!
I've only bought 1 brand new vehicle and it was my 13 klr650 I paid the premium to have a virgin. as a mechanic i hate going back over someone else's work and wanted this bike done my way and all correctly
I just bought 2007 klr for 1800. It had only 2k miles but needed ton of crap. Rear brake were not working so when I went to rebuilt the cylinder it was missing piston.
been riding since 1964, only had 1 new one( for 1 year). I have more fun when I'm not concerned about laydowns and crashes. Just acquired a '79 xl500r.more fun!✌😁.
I purchased a new CRF250L in 2013 as my first dual sport. It was also my daily commuter in the city so I wanted something fuel injected, warrantied, and with a low enough seat height that I could handle it without a lowering link or suspension mods. I had it for 3 years and poured an insane amount of money into a big bore, suspension, exhaust, fuel programmer and was able to get it down to about 300 pounds over the stock 320 pounds. The more time I spent with the bike offroad though, the more I realized that I predominantly enjoy slow, technical singletrack and mellow trails and a 300 pound bike is not ideal for that. For the amount of money I put into that bike, I could have bought 2 or 3 quality used bikes. As a newbie, I learned the expensive way that even significant modifications to a dual sport don't really make up for the fact that the bike is quite heavy and best suited to its dual sport nature. Your recommendation for new riders to purchase a used bike while learning and discovering their riding preferences is spot-on.
I agree with everything you say. I believe it to be true & valid. & I greatly respect it. I don’t like wrenching at all. I know how. But I don’t wish to do it unless I am absolutely forced to do it. (Like trail side wrenching) I like riding. I like turning on the key & poking the start button & riding. I don’t even change my own oil. I absolutely hate doing it. I have owned 15 bikes, new & used. I have found I wrench far less on new bikes. Someone has to buy the new ones, so you can have old ones to buy. I wish I enjoyed fixing up bikes. I will just admire & appreciate that you do.
I agree more on the side of used bikes. One of the cooler things in particular is project bikes; start with a bike that you get for real cheap and then build it into whatever you want. You get a fun experience out of working on it and then you get to have even more fun riding it! Leads to some overbuilt bikes that will never make back the money put into it on the used market, but if you're planning to keep it, does it really matter?
Great video. I have owned around 20 bikes over the years. Two were new. Not because I thought new was better, but because I wanted the new bike experience.
The Xr's and Dr's are bulletproof and since made for years parts are cheap and everywhere. Reliability beats performance when Im out in the boondocks riding alons and the Xr's are the best for that.
Just bought a 2012 WR250R w/3000 miles and a 2005 DR200 w/4000 miles for the wife. Both are in great shape. We're mountain bikers that are going to try dual sport next spring. I paid just under 5k for the 2. If we hate it, I'll get my money right back.
The new bikes are pretty, and amazing when everything works and it's completely fresh and shiny. The problem I have with buying new just for the sake of not running an old bike is I don't have major sponsorships. Nobody is paying me to ride this shiny new bike, and when it breaks I have to pay for that too. It won't be long and my 98 will be vintage, but that won't make it perform any less. My 87 KX500 is vintage, but it's still a 500 and I can freshen up the top end for under $400. The fuel injected two strokes being released are very intriguing however. :D
The thing about used bikes is there are some idiots around here that couldn't even wrench on a skateboard, I got burned on a XR650L with 8800 miles that it turned out never had a complete oil change. Now I'm needing a new top end but at least I won't have a bike payment.
lifewithlurch Except the guy doing the predelivery start up and test ride. I’ve seen people rag a brand new bike pretty hard during that time. Not saying it’s the norm, but probably not that uncommon.
Riding an old bike inspires confidence because you're unafraid of potential damage, or it won't cost as much. Putting a new bike through the wringer is much more frightening, because most people hate to get a scratch when it was initially perfect.
I'm just buying my first bike an XR250. I bought it €1000 and it's in good condition. I still have to get my motorcycle Road licence so I'm really starting from nothing. And you're right about the Internet. Just by watching the videos I already know so much about motor bikes. Since I do all the maintenance on my car I expect I won't find working on the bike any more difficult in fact bikes are much simpler machines especially a bike like the XR
ya my first dual sport bike i bought 2 years ago. it is a 1975 honda xl350. horrible suspension, but damn does it look good and cool when im out riding up hills and offroad were new guys on dual sports are scared or cant go through the same area
I just got a 93 xr600r and its the best bike I ever bought! my brother has the 97xr250 and 2001 400r. I got the 600r for 1500, the 250r for 1200 and the 400r for 900.
My plan is to get a bank loan to buy a used bike. Found a 2016 wr250r in Alberta with 400kms for 5K. My Vstrom is worth around 3.8-4K but its tough selling here in Manitoba so once the strom sells it'll go straight to the loan and I'll have it paid off almost instantly. I bought my 05 Canyon sle with cash a couple months ago. Reason for the loan is I only have just under a couple thousand saved right now and i'm planning a road trip with a few buds and the bike is close to where we're going.
I live in Northern California , not sure how many places I can ride in like the place in this video . Considering my options as to used or new . Would hate to buy a lemon that runs fine for awhile and then craps out on me . But I do like the idea of being able to actually work some on a machine that I buy , got a '15 Ram 2500 4x4 and can't do anything more than mudgaurds wiper blades and windshield fluid . Was looking at DR 400's about 6 years ago but the truck I had at the time just gobbled every spare dollar I had , no worries in that area now but not being the most mechanically knowledgeable guy buying used makes me a little nervous . But I take expensive risks in my work so why should this be any different . Not afraid of wrenching . Great video , take care .
I would say it depends on the market place that one lives in. When I purchased the XR650L I purchased used and couldn't have been happier but dualsports in my area isn't popular so usually when one comes up for sale you can purchase it at a reasonable price. I purchased the YZ used and spent 500 dollars and sold it for what I had into it so anytime I can ride something a while and sale it for what I have into it I'm happy. I purchased the 450x new but a leftover model and have it up for sale and probably will be lucky to get half of what I paid for it. Side note I had to change the jets in the carb whereas the used ones the previous owner had already done that. I purchased the KTM 250xc new and once again a leftover model. I am so happy with the way the 250xc handles and the dealership has it jetted right that I couldn't be happier. I know to some it was stupid to buy new but for me since everything I own is paid for and I am the one that is writing the check for it I reckon it's none of those folks business. Long story short if someone wants new and can afford it I say go for it otherwise no matter how good of a used bike that person finds they'll still be dreaming of a new one. Sorta like a Chevy man buying a Ford, he'll never be happy with the Ford because he's a Chevy man. Stay Safe
I have a few bikes a wr for daily driving a kmx 125 for hard enduro and a yz 125 for motocross the wr never brakes down and I haven’t had a single issue with it except the clutch line snapping the kmx has softer suspension and lower seat height which is great for hard enduro and the yz 125 is a great motocross bike and handles so much better than a old pre 2000s dirt bike
Definitely a used bike. You can save a significant amount of money by buying used, and as long as you do your research and find what to look for in a used machine, you will most likely end up with a machine that will last a long time. I recommend going through your used bike thoroughly after purchasing to ensure everything looks good and you get familiar with your machine.
No one ever mentions about kawasaki super sherpas when comparing good dual sports? I have one and love it, I am 5'10 and it feels perfect. It as really good on trails as well as surprisingly smooth on the road(even at a steady 55mph). It is small, light, capable as well as bulletproof. I think it looks sweet too, has some character unlike alot of modern bikes..
I see it this way. ratted out dirt bikes, no, unless your mechanically inclined. Lightly abused older bikes are great for new people. Tons of aftermarket stuff for them and you won't have to worry about reliability.
So basically buy an 80s Honda. i'm good with that. I started on one way back and I wish I still had it to play on. If I had a choice now I would have bought 2 used bikes instead of 1 new one. Would have spent the same and would have had something better on road and something better off road. Oh and if people are really hung up you can get a new bike that's really from the 80s aka KLR/DRZ
bought a new 2014 dr 650 off the floor in 2016 for the same price used ones were going for, but really not a lot of used dual sports in my area of ohio, love it even though shes tried to kill me a time or two. I do think used is the way to go if you can get what you want.
Old. Have owned. 2002 gs500. 2005 z100. 2005 cbr1000rr. 2008 hayabusa. 2003 vtx1800. 2007 zx14. 2005 Vulcan 1600. 2008 zx10r 2008 mean streak 2008 z1000 . Currebr bikes 2002 vtx1800 2005 cbr1000rr 2007 klr650. Love cbr 1000rr it is comfortable and super powerful. All bikes were used except 2002 gs500. Hayabusa and zx10r were stolen . Geico is great insurance
Keep in mind that if you buy a new one ne you will drop it. It is inevitable. It will be Scratched up in no time. Off-road riding is not as easy as you think on a heavy motorcycle. It takes a lot of practice.
My first bike was a used bike. My second bike was a new bike, but now it's a used bike. But, then I bought a third bike that was used, but it was my new bike at the time. Hmmm.
Im picking up an almost new 2011 drz400s (949miles) was bought brand new from a dealer in 2013 original owner felt it was too tall parked it in his garage and bought a shorter bike $4200
Speaking of old bikes, I recently bought a 2008 CRF450X with all of the street legal doodads. Got a good-ish deal, the only negative was that it came without a title. If I remember right your XR400 was a similar situation. In one of your videos you recommended a particular website to look up your bike by VIN to ascertain whether it was stolen or not. Unfortunately I am honestly much too lazy to try to find that video and trolling the interweb frightens me. What was the website you recommended? Thanks in advance for the information.
.....LOL!!!! The same "dilemma" plagues most buyers of "New trucks"!!! Sure,... Now,..They have a "Great NEW truck" but are then AFRAID to treat it like a "WORKING Truck"!!! LOL!!!
Used dual sports are hard to come by in pa.. a 10 year old drz400 goes for like 4-5k... so you my as well buy new.... you are literally better off buying a china dualsport so you can atleast hit some trails and saving to buy. New
I found a brand new street legal WR400F in 2015 for $2400. I tricked It out & now it eats brand new KTM'S for lunch. Bikes like this are now illegal in California. AKA (priceless).
It is quite obvious that in Colorado, they don't have night school. Someone needs a refresher course in economics and fuzzy math. Everyone knows if I buy a new KTM 500EXC for $14,500 OTD and put 20 hours on it. It now is a "sorted" bike and is worth $14,800. Plus you get to save the sales tax, LOL. No dealer prep, LOL. No freight, LOL. And if said used bike is over 3 years old it is a classic, ultra rare and they want brand spanking new replacement value for it. Hermit, you need to come to California and see how the real world is. On second thought, I should go to Colorado and see how it should be. My vote is for the older, well maintained older bikes. Like The Sick Horse Ranch, I have an old KX, 250 though, and it'll scare the crap out of me just as easy as the newer stuff. And with the older ones it doesn't seem to hurt as much seeing take a nap on the trail.
Ha Ha, for some reason the old Kawis are a dime a dozen here in Oregon, and from my experience it's certainly not because they're unreliable. I don't do any engine work that doesn't NEED done and the 500 is the only bike I have worked on in any major capacity in the last 6 or 8 years. It needed a cylinder replate when I bought it.
Lloyd Wellington so you're telling me I could buy a bike off the showroom floor put 20 hours on it and I could sell it for more than I bought it for? That doesn't sound right....
Blake, I was just making light of the delusional people living here in CA. As in the kids that go buy a new bike and two payments into it they figure they can't afford it. So it winds up on CL for $1,500 and take over the balance. They want to come out of it unscathed. Stupidity has a price, take your lumps.
I've only owned and ridden the DRZ400S so I can't give you much of an opinion. I see lots of old DRZ400S that cost about as much as a DR350 so I've never given much consideration do the 350, but I bet there's some people out there who love that bike and will tell you it's the best thing ever. I have considered getting a DR200 before, but didn't like that there's not as much part support as there is on the DRZ400 or XR250 so never got serious.
Combing through the comments I saw this. I have a DR350 and have worked on/ridden a DR200 as well as the DRZ400"E" model. The DRZ400 in any trim is the bike to have out of all those purely because it has a more "modern" water cooled engine design, which equals more efficient power. The DRZ has an improved frame design in which to hang its better suspension. That said the DR's are simple, reliable, and a bit less complicated, both are anemic with "stock" jetting and benefit from some time testing and tuning with pilot and main jets. Neither will set your hair on fire.
I have never bought a new dirt bike. You lose a fortune. It's going to get all dirty and scratched up, and resale will be almost nothing compared to what you paid for it new. Old is better than new. I currently have a 2001 Yamaha XT225, with a lot of mods. It is a great trail bike. But. I used to have a 1979 Yamaha DT250 2 stroke, and it was hands down a better bike. Mostly because it was a 2 stroke, but it also handled better and had a much better seat. It had the early triangulated swingarm monoshock, which IMO is much better than the complicated multi link setup with 20 bushings to wear out. I had a 1997 KLR650, and it was a decent bike. But I also had a 1979 Honda XL500S, and it was better in every way. Lighter, better seat, still had plenty of power, and it had a kickstarter, something ALL dirt bikes should have. They older bikes looked light years better than the newer ones, and were just in general more fun to ride at a moderate pace. I'm not into ripping along off road at 80 mph. I prefer to take it easy, and go exploring off road, without being in a rush. I gave up MX racing 40+ years ago. New bikes as in modern bikes are mostly junk. They are not really bikes any more, they are computers on wheels. EFI, ABS, liquid cooling. I could never enjoy a bike, street or dirt, with a computer on it. I didn't grow up with that trash, and want nothing to do with it. I want something I can understand and work on myself. Buying a new car is the absolute worst thing you can do. With all the fees the dealer and government charge you, and the initial depreciation hit, your going to lose 40% right up front. Add in interest and full coverage insurance and you are going to get screwed big time. I am a mechanic, and I drive a 54 year old car and a 37 year old truck. Very easy to work on and keep going, and mostly trouble free. Very simple, not much to go wrong. And the best part is they have no computers or emissions crap on them. And unlike most older Japanese bikes, all the parts are available for them. If there is one problem with Japanese vehicles, it's that their manufacturers do not support them, and there is no aftermarket for Japanese vehicles.
Used bikes and the owners that price them are unfair and unrealistic. That's why cheap Chinese bikes new are half the price of a 15 year old popular name brand bike of the same style.
To clarify: the internet was invented by scientists and academics as a way to share information in command / control economies and in defense networks (i.e., nuclear systems). You should probably think twice before telling a millennial what the internet was invented for.
Stop at 0:25 😀. Technology peaked out in the late 1970's .... They knew how to build a good machine with some power behind it given a truck , farm tractor or motorcycle . The operator conformed to the machine . Just bought a 1978 Suzuki PE 175 and really like that bike ! 👍
Not to mention, for some of us, older used bikes are the only way we can enjoy the sport. For a single dad with 2 boys, spending $18,000 on up for 3 new bikes just wasn't going to happen. Plus we get to enjoy fixing them up during the winter. Great job as always. Please keep em coming.
Great point, I should have mentioned that. I love that my old bikes give me a winter project.
It is a great feeling when those bike projects get finished. I just finished fixing up my Yamaha TT-R230 and it was an awesome experience. Frustrating at times, but still awesome!
I just bought a an almost-new condition 2017 drz400sm 5000k miles with the full yoshimura rs2 exhaust fat bars upgraded tail light and jet kit for $5000 the thing Rips. Always look for something used with upgrades you get a way better deal.
Hermit DaVlog I think you are the only person I have ever seen reply to your audience. A lot of you tubers are just here to make money from their videos and NEVER respond. Major respect and appreciation to you even if you are here just to make money. You seem like good people and a practical kind of guy.
Great Vid. Totally agree with you. I just purchased an 1985 XR200R for 300 bucks. I took the bike apart and replaced parts as needed, the engine was perfect. Spent about 200 bucks total. Now the 35 old XR looks and runs like new.
I just bought my first dirt bike and as a 54 year old male and I did exactly what you said, I bought an good used XR250r. I love it.
Just bought the same bike $ 2000 hardly a scratch on it and the danm thang rips
Oh year is 2002
Just bought a 1998 xr400 and I love the thing like nothing else. I haven't got much money but even if I did I wouldn't want anything 'better' because for me there is nothing 'better'. The bike even left the factory the same month I was born 'march 98'
I know exactly how you feel.
punk kid ! you just made me feel really old lol
I rode and did some "home brew" modifications to a 1998 when it was brand new! This was a friends bike bought brand new. The XR400 is legendary and even was back then, that said it felt old even when it was new because the high-performance 4 stroke revolution was just starting then. Its a great bike, keep it for a long time.
thejunkman I plan on it, in fact that's probably one of the main reasons I chose the xr400; longevity.
I couldn't agree more says the guy who bought two new bikes, but also bought two used bikes. When I was brand spankin new I bought Xena from the dealer for the same reasons you mentioned. However, now 5 years into this dual sport adventure I would probably buy a used bike over a new one. I think the biggest factor in my decision is that I now know what to look for and can have some confidence in my decisions. MrDuhFactor has been an amazing help, that guy deserves a medal in community helping and general awesomeness.
You sound much smarter when you're agreeing with me.
sounds like a great TSHIRT LOGO lol
biggest problem i had when i bought a new car. great. a new car that i can't scratch dint or ding or its value will tank! guess i have to drive like a granny for the next 5+ years...
Recently bought my first bike 1982 Honda xl500r.
When I first got into dual sporting, about 4 years ago, I bought a brand new Honda CRF250L and spent a vulgar amount of money putting in the 300 big bore, full FMF exhaust, fuel programmer, Race Tech G3-S shock, gold valves in the forks, etc. As I got more into riding and further discovered my wants and needs, I realized that no matter what the upgrades, it's much too big and top heavy for the technical riding and 50-60mph roads I typically ride. I purchased a 2000 KTM EXC 200 for the technical stuff, a 2008 CRF230L for dual sporting, and a 2009 Kawasaki KLX250SF for daily commuting in the city and all 3 of those bikes used cost about what I paid for the stock CRF250L. I definitely recommend that anyone getting into the sport for the first time buy used to find out what you really want in a big and then possibly consider buying new down the road if it ends up being the better option.
Fantastic story. I've bought a new bike and five used bikes and I still haven't figured out what I want, but I think I'm getting close.
Hermit DaVlog I think if I build up another dual sport, I'm going to try a KLX300 with a Lectron carb, perhaps a Bill Blue 350 kit and suspension upgrades. I would imagine you have your pumper carb pretty well dialed in by now, but Lectron is doing more development for 4 stroke carbs and you may want to consider one in the future. I have one on my EXC 200 and love it. I'm planning on throwing a Lectron and 350 big bore on the KLX250SF towards the end of the year.
I've looked into Lectron and I like what they're doing. Kinda reminds me of how Glock started in that they just discarded what everyone has always done and figured out what made sense to them. If I ever have a bike that I know will be a good application I'll try one for sure.
Your right man. I got a xr400 recently. And I got because there is lots of knowledge/parts/information on the bike , and its price ment a scratch or huge motor failure would not ruin my day. Great vid mate.
Thanks!
Spot on..ive got like 10 total that I think I'm close to 1500$ total for all of them ..they mostly needed carbs n tanks cleaned but all were never case split n bone stock. .gotta love old school ..made to last
If you are new at riding I suggest you buy a used bike that is light weight. You progress from there.
Well what I tell people is if you're buying a DRZ400S, XR650L, DR650 or KLR650 it really doesn't matter as long as the old bikes is in good condition. If you're gonna buy a CRF450L you might as well buy it new.
The two best beginner bikes
DRZ400S
CRF250L
Both you can buy used because they are bullet proof. Get them with only a few thousand miles or less on them.
I meant to also say I totally agree with u, I bought a 2006 super sherpa last year and could not be happier. Thanks for all the vids u make!
Welcome!
Got me a 98 XR600R for the dirt and a 05 XR650L for going places on\off road. Ill start thinking about a new bike when i start getting passed by newer bikes. 80% rider 20% bike. My 600r still rips!! Love em both
It is a really hard choice between buying an old bike and a new bike. For the older Japanese bikes that are tried and true, I would say that if you can find a good deal used then definitely go for it. If you are looking for a newer and more expensive euro bike, I feel like the used market a completely different beast because there isn't the same amount of information floating around and the parts and labor are generally more expensive. I 100% agree with your channel recommendations, and I feel that one of the best things about this community are people who are willing to help and share information like those guys you mentioned :)
Good points. My advice is more for if you don't know where to start. If you know you want a KTM350 EXC with fuel injection then you probably know if it's worth and extra $2K to get it new.
I bought a beautiful starts on the first kick Yamaha xt350 a few weeks ago and i love it
old guitars have soul, just like old dirt bikes
Just found your channel - good stuff! Totally agree with you. I have two street bikes that I got used for cheap, worked on them myself (started as a complete novice) , and now they're awesome. The best part is that I don't worry about minor incidents or scratches. I just ride!
I would love to own a new tenere 700 , but I live in the US in 2019 and am somewhat cash starved. It's still a dream , but in the meantime I'll keep riding my xr400r , hell yeah !
dan clark haha,same same from Holland
This is a good topic. I cut my teeth on old bikes, well lets be honest these were early 1970's junk bikes really, I have some 8mm film and VHS footage of those old pieces of junk just check my archives. Old bikes were what I could afford, I also had the knowledge or aptitude to make them run and keep them running. Mind you this was all in the pre-internet era, so there was some "thrill of the hunt" driving down alley's in small towns. Not everyone can work on things like this for various reasons, this is where the "new" bikes are probably the best choice if your starting out. I have to say with old bikes, it makes you appreciate some of the newer bikes. I bought my first brand new in the crate bike in 2001, my KX250 and damn did it seemed expensive at $4400. I wanted to get more serious about racing and move out of the vintage class. Now that I am older, my skills honed, my collection has grown, I have a greater appreciation for nearly all types of motorcycles. Our hobby is very diverse and compartmentalized when you look at specifically "new" bikes, old bikes help broaden our scope a little.
So true, so very true.
Don't forget the Honda lineup with the XL bikes
I couldn't agree more. I have a 91 xr200 and i had the head gasket go on me last summer. I was 16 at the time and had no previous experience rebuilding engines. I went on you tube and the thumper talk forums and managed to get it running all by my self for 120 Canadian pesos opposed to the $800 from the shop when i blew it up the year before. Another perk of this is i know know how the bike works and im very confident that i will be able to fix and maintain it at a whole new level. Im currently looking to get a Ktm 450 exc so I hope my maintenance is on point.
Some good advice man! I know I'm way late to the game but I ship out in just about 6 months and my wife says when I get back I can get a bike! I'm so stoked!!!! I'm caught in a hard place though.... Iwant SOOOOOOOOO badly to get a dual sport... But I am not confident with bikes yet... I can work on them! Not very fearless when it comes to riding it anymore.... I used to love adrenaline... Still do to... Just have kids now haha.... Well I figured it out while writing this... Dual sport it is! I can just chill out on some trails forget everything of paivment!!! Till I head home that is! :-) good videos man!!! Love it!!
I've only bought 1 brand new vehicle and it was my 13 klr650 I paid the premium to have a virgin. as a mechanic i hate going back over someone else's work and wanted this bike done my way and all correctly
I get that.
I just bought 2007 klr for 1800. It had only 2k miles but needed ton of crap. Rear brake were not working so when I went to rebuilt the cylinder it was missing piston.
been riding since 1964, only had 1 new one( for 1 year). I have more fun when I'm not concerned about laydowns and crashes. Just acquired a '79 xl500r.more fun!✌😁.
I agree. It needs to be something really special for me to go new.
I purchased a new CRF250L in 2013 as my first dual sport. It was also my daily commuter in the city so I wanted something fuel injected, warrantied, and with a low enough seat height that I could handle it without a lowering link or suspension mods. I had it for 3 years and poured an insane amount of money into a big bore, suspension, exhaust, fuel programmer and was able to get it down to about 300 pounds over the stock 320 pounds. The more time I spent with the bike offroad though, the more I realized that I predominantly enjoy slow, technical singletrack and mellow trails and a 300 pound bike is not ideal for that. For the amount of money I put into that bike, I could have bought 2 or 3 quality used bikes. As a newbie, I learned the expensive way that even significant modifications to a dual sport don't really make up for the fact that the bike is quite heavy and best suited to its dual sport nature. Your recommendation for new riders to purchase a used bike while learning and discovering their riding preferences is spot-on.
i would rather have 5 old bikes then 1 brand new
I'd rather have 5,000 old bikes thAn 1 brand new
Come back to TH-cam and make more videos like this please
Definitely do your homework. Got a klr650 (great bike) but I didn't know about all the things that you "have" to do to make them durable 🤔
I agree with everything you say. I believe it to be true & valid. & I greatly respect it.
I don’t like wrenching at all.
I know how. But I don’t wish to do it unless I am absolutely forced to do it. (Like trail side wrenching)
I like riding. I like turning on the key & poking the start button & riding.
I don’t even change my own oil. I absolutely hate doing it.
I have owned 15 bikes, new & used.
I have found I wrench far less on new bikes.
Someone has to buy the new ones, so you can have old ones to buy.
I wish I enjoyed fixing up bikes.
I will just admire & appreciate that you do.
I agree more on the side of used bikes. One of the cooler things in particular is project bikes; start with a bike that you get for real cheap and then build it into whatever you want. You get a fun experience out of working on it and then you get to have even more fun riding it! Leads to some overbuilt bikes that will never make back the money put into it on the used market, but if you're planning to keep it, does it really matter?
I hear all that!
Great video. I have owned around 20 bikes over the years. Two were new. Not because I thought new was better, but because I wanted the new bike experience.
When I grow up I want to be just like you.
But better looking :-)
New bikes are too expensive for a normal man with normal income supporting a family anyway.
The Xr's and Dr's are bulletproof and since made for years parts are cheap and everywhere. Reliability beats performance when Im out in the boondocks riding alons and the Xr's are the best for that.
Totally agree.
I love my DR350!
Just bought a 2012 WR250R w/3000 miles and a 2005 DR200 w/4000 miles for the wife. Both are in great shape.
We're mountain bikers that are going to try dual sport next spring. I paid just under 5k for the 2. If we hate it, I'll get my money right back.
The new bikes are pretty, and amazing when everything works and it's completely fresh and shiny. The problem I have with buying new just for the sake of not running an old bike is I don't have major sponsorships. Nobody is paying me to ride this shiny new bike, and when it breaks I have to pay for that too. It won't be long and my 98 will be vintage, but that won't make it perform any less. My 87 KX500 is vintage, but it's still a 500 and I can freshen up the top end for under $400. The fuel injected two strokes being released are very intriguing however. :D
I agree. The KX500 is so cool, and fuel injection could be the thing that makes these old bikes start to get much less appealing.
The thing about used bikes is there are some idiots around here that couldn't even wrench on a skateboard, I got burned on a XR650L with 8800 miles that it turned out never had a complete oil change. Now I'm needing a new top end but at least I won't have a bike payment.
One benefit of new, is I can control every part of that engine's break in.
lifewithlurch Except the guy doing the predelivery start up and test ride. I’ve seen people rag a brand new bike pretty hard during that time. Not saying it’s the norm, but probably not that uncommon.
@@jimarmbrester1721 I like to grenade the engines on my brand new bikes to break them in, best way to break in a new $7,000+ bike. Lol
Riding an old bike inspires confidence because you're unafraid of potential damage, or it won't cost as much. Putting a new bike through the wringer is much more frightening, because most people hate to get a scratch when it was initially perfect.
I'm just buying my first bike an XR250. I bought it €1000 and it's in good condition. I still have to get my motorcycle Road licence so I'm really starting from nothing. And you're right about the Internet. Just by watching the videos I already know so much about motor bikes. Since I do all the maintenance on my car I expect I won't find working on the bike any more difficult in fact bikes are much simpler machines especially a bike like the XR
ya my first dual sport bike i bought 2 years ago. it is a 1975 honda xl350. horrible suspension, but damn does it look good and cool when im out riding up hills and offroad were new guys on dual sports are scared or cant go through the same area
I just got a 93 xr600r and its the best bike I ever bought! my brother has the 97xr250 and 2001 400r. I got the 600r for 1500, the 250r for 1200 and the 400r for 900.
That's an awesome stable!
Bought a klr 2005 with 1755 miles on it $2300 and a 2002 xr 250 never even rode hard $ 2000 cant beat that you can keep the new stuff
My plan is to get a bank loan to buy a used bike. Found a 2016 wr250r in Alberta with 400kms for 5K. My Vstrom is worth around 3.8-4K but its tough selling here in Manitoba so once the strom sells it'll go straight to the loan and I'll have it paid off almost instantly. I bought my 05 Canyon sle with cash a couple months ago. Reason for the loan is I only have just under a couple thousand saved right now and i'm planning a road trip with a few buds and the bike is close to where we're going.
Hey as long as you can sell it for what you owe you can't be that bad off.
I live in Northern California , not sure how many places I can ride in like the place in this video . Considering my options as to used or new .
Would hate to buy a lemon that runs fine for awhile and then craps out on me . But I do like the idea of being able to actually work some on a machine that I buy , got a '15 Ram 2500 4x4 and can't do anything more than mudgaurds wiper blades and windshield fluid .
Was looking at DR 400's about 6 years ago but the truck I had at the time just gobbled every spare dollar I had , no worries in that area now but not being the most mechanically knowledgeable guy buying used makes me a little nervous . But I take expensive risks in my work so why should this be any different . Not afraid of wrenching . Great video , take care .
I would say it depends on the market place that one lives in. When I purchased the XR650L I purchased used and couldn't have been happier but dualsports in my area isn't popular so usually when one comes up for sale you can purchase it at a reasonable price. I purchased the YZ used and spent 500 dollars and sold it for what I had into it so anytime I can ride something a while and sale it for what I have into it I'm happy. I purchased the 450x new but a leftover model and have it up for sale and probably will be lucky to get half of what I paid for it. Side note I had to change the jets in the carb whereas the used ones the previous owner had already done that. I purchased the KTM 250xc new and once again a leftover model. I am so happy with the way the 250xc handles and the dealership has it jetted right that I couldn't be happier. I know to some it was stupid to buy new but for me since everything I own is paid for and I am the one that is writing the check for it I reckon it's none of those folks business. Long story short if someone wants new and can afford it I say go for it otherwise no matter how good of a used bike that person finds they'll still be dreaming of a new one. Sorta like a Chevy man buying a Ford, he'll never be happy with the Ford because he's a Chevy man. Stay Safe
Well if I was Tankerman rich I'd probably be buying new bikes too.
Shoot if I had your money and prestige I would buy your neighbors house and hold weekly pig races and hog calling contests. Stay safe
I have a few bikes a wr for daily driving a kmx 125 for hard enduro and a yz 125 for motocross the wr never brakes down and I haven’t had a single issue with it except the clutch line snapping the kmx has softer suspension and lower seat height which is great for hard enduro and the yz 125 is a great motocross bike and handles so much better than a old pre 2000s dirt bike
all my bikes have been used and all were good. most expensive one, 3000 bucks.
Definitely a used bike. You can save a significant amount of money by buying used, and as long as you do your research and find what to look for in a used machine, you will most likely end up with a machine that will last a long time. I recommend going through your used bike thoroughly after purchasing to ensure everything looks good and you get familiar with your machine.
Absolutely!
I forgot great video, ride safe my 2 wheel friends.
Thanks, you too.
No one ever mentions about kawasaki super sherpas when comparing good dual sports? I have one and love it, I am 5'10 and it feels perfect. It as really good on trails as well as surprisingly smooth on the road(even at a steady 55mph). It is small, light, capable as well as bulletproof. I think it looks sweet too, has some character unlike alot of modern bikes..
You're right. No one ever mentions those.
I see it this way. ratted out dirt bikes, no, unless your mechanically inclined. Lightly abused older bikes are great for new people. Tons of aftermarket stuff for them and you won't have to worry about reliability.
I can agree with that.
So basically buy an 80s Honda. i'm good with that. I started on one way back and I wish I still had it to play on. If I had a choice now I would have bought 2 used bikes instead of 1 new one. Would have spent the same and would have had something better on road and something better off road. Oh and if people are really hung up you can get a new bike that's really from the 80s aka KLR/DRZ
HA! Good point.
bought a new 2014 dr 650 off the floor in 2016 for the same price used ones were going for, but really not a lot of used dual sports in my area of ohio, love it even though shes tried to kill me a time or two. I do think used is the way to go if you can get what you want.
Nah, like I said if you know you want a new bike then you know.
Old. Have owned. 2002 gs500. 2005 z100. 2005 cbr1000rr. 2008 hayabusa. 2003 vtx1800. 2007 zx14. 2005 Vulcan 1600. 2008 zx10r 2008 mean streak 2008 z1000 . Currebr bikes 2002 vtx1800 2005 cbr1000rr 2007 klr650. Love cbr 1000rr it is comfortable and super powerful. All bikes were used except 2002 gs500. Hayabusa and zx10r were stolen . Geico is great insurance
Keep in mind that if you buy a new one ne you will drop it. It is inevitable. It will be Scratched up in no time. Off-road riding is not as easy as you think on a heavy motorcycle. It takes a lot of practice.
Thank you.
Where do you ride? It’s beautiful
Thanks for the videos bro they are very helpful to me
Sure thing!
Did you say something about getting a 88 KDX 200 on another video? Ride safe my 2 wheel friends.
I like the 96+ KDX. Someday when I see one stupid cheap I'll get it jus to check that box.
What about something like a DRZ? A new one that is last years model is just over $6k.
A ten year old used one is often listed for $5k?
eveRide's WR was pretty worn out when he bought it. He had to do valves after less than one year.
Although, if it's worn out, a big bore kit might be the best fix.
My first bike was a used bike. My second bike was a new bike, but now it's a used bike. But, then I bought a third bike that was used, but it was my new bike at the time. Hmmm.
You're making my head hurt.
Im picking up an almost new 2011 drz400s (949miles) was bought brand new from a dealer in 2013 original owner felt it was too tall parked it in his garage and bought a shorter bike $4200
That's good advice, thanks.
I here a funny sound coming from this video.
It's not you it's me.
Speaking of old bikes, I recently bought a 2008 CRF450X with all of the street legal doodads. Got a good-ish deal, the only negative was that it came without a title. If I remember right your XR400 was a similar situation. In one of your videos you recommended a particular website to look up your bike by VIN to ascertain whether it was stolen or not. Unfortunately I am honestly much too lazy to try to find that video and trolling the interweb frightens me. What was the website you recommended? Thanks in advance for the information.
www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck If an insurance company paid a claim on a stolen vehicle it will probably be in there.
.....LOL!!!! The same "dilemma" plagues most buyers of "New trucks"!!! Sure,... Now,..They have a "Great NEW truck" but are then AFRAID to treat it like a "WORKING Truck"!!! LOL!!!
Quality topic!
Thanks!
Weird question, is this Salmon Arm, Canada?
Used dual sports are hard to come by in pa.. a 10 year old drz400 goes for like 4-5k... so you my as well buy new.... you are literally better off buying a china dualsport so you can atleast hit some trails and saving to buy. New
I found a brand new street legal WR400F in 2015 for $2400. I tricked It out & now it eats brand new KTM'S for lunch. Bikes like this are now illegal in California. AKA (priceless).
The marketing team at ktm has exactly 2 TH-cam accounts it seems as there are exactly 2 thumbs down at present
Whichever one you can afford to buy
yep, I think it's time to sell off Destiny and buy a nice, used Goldwing... seems more my speed
Can't go wrong with an old Goldwing.
It is quite obvious that in Colorado, they don't have night school. Someone needs a refresher course in economics and fuzzy math. Everyone knows if I buy a new KTM 500EXC for $14,500 OTD and put 20 hours on it. It now is a "sorted" bike and is worth $14,800. Plus you get to save the sales tax, LOL. No dealer prep, LOL. No freight, LOL. And if said used bike is over 3 years old it is a classic, ultra rare and they want brand spanking new replacement value for it. Hermit, you need to come to California and see how the real world is. On second thought, I should go to Colorado and see how it should be.
My vote is for the older, well maintained older bikes. Like The Sick Horse Ranch, I have an old KX, 250 though, and it'll scare the crap out of me just as easy as the newer stuff. And with the older ones it doesn't seem to hurt as much seeing take a nap on the trail.
Ha Ha, for some reason the old Kawis are a dime a dozen here in Oregon, and from my experience it's certainly not because they're unreliable. I don't do any engine work that doesn't NEED done and the 500 is the only bike I have worked on in any major capacity in the last 6 or 8 years. It needed a cylinder replate when I bought it.
Lloyd Wellington so you're telling me I could buy a bike off the showroom floor put 20 hours on it and I could sell it for more than I bought it for? That doesn't sound right....
I think the joke here was California.
Lloyd, if you need help escaping I can send you GPS coordinates to the tunnels that will get you past the NV border.
Blake, I was just making light of the delusional people living here in CA. As in the kids that go buy a new bike and two payments into it they figure they can't afford it. So it winds up on CL for $1,500 and take over the balance. They want to come out of it unscathed. Stupidity has a price, take your lumps.
I'd like your opinion on a 94' dr 350SE. How it stacks up against the drz400S and the dr200, thanks.
I've only owned and ridden the DRZ400S so I can't give you much of an opinion. I see lots of old DRZ400S that cost about as much as a DR350 so I've never given much consideration do the 350, but I bet there's some people out there who love that bike and will tell you it's the best thing ever. I have considered getting a DR200 before, but didn't like that there's not as much part support as there is on the DRZ400 or XR250 so never got serious.
Combing through the comments I saw this. I have a DR350 and have worked on/ridden a DR200 as well as the DRZ400"E" model. The DRZ400 in any trim is the bike to have out of all those purely because it has a more "modern" water cooled engine design, which equals more efficient power. The DRZ has an improved frame design in which to hang its better suspension. That said the DR's are simple, reliable, and a bit less complicated, both are anemic with "stock" jetting and benefit from some time testing and tuning with pilot and main jets. Neither will set your hair on fire.
Any recommendations for a new battery? I have a Honda 450x that needs some love lol. Thanks guys
My Kdx 200
I have a 2002 XR 100
If you part it out you have to worry about strange people seeing where you live.
This is why I've never sold you anything.
Hermit DaVlog Do you advertise as Hermit or Ned?
What state is this??
I have never bought a new dirt bike. You lose a fortune. It's going to get all dirty and scratched up, and resale will be almost nothing compared to what you paid for it new. Old is better than new. I currently have a 2001 Yamaha XT225, with a lot of mods. It is a great trail bike. But. I used to have a 1979 Yamaha DT250 2 stroke, and it was hands down a better bike. Mostly because it was a 2 stroke, but it also handled better and had a much better seat. It had the early triangulated swingarm monoshock, which IMO is much better than the complicated multi link setup with 20 bushings to wear out. I had a 1997 KLR650, and it was a decent bike. But I also had a 1979 Honda XL500S, and it was better in every way. Lighter, better seat, still had plenty of power, and it had a kickstarter, something ALL dirt bikes should have. They older bikes looked light years better than the newer ones, and were just in general more fun to ride at a moderate pace. I'm not into ripping along off road at 80 mph. I prefer to take it easy, and go exploring off road, without being in a rush. I gave up MX racing 40+ years ago.
New bikes as in modern bikes are mostly junk. They are not really bikes any more, they are computers on wheels. EFI, ABS, liquid cooling. I could never enjoy a bike, street or dirt, with a computer on it. I didn't grow up with that trash, and want nothing to do with it. I want something I can understand and work on myself.
Buying a new car is the absolute worst thing you can do. With all the fees the dealer and government charge you, and the initial depreciation hit, your going to lose 40% right up front. Add in interest and full coverage insurance and you are going to get screwed big time. I am a mechanic, and I drive a 54 year old car and a 37 year old truck. Very easy to work on and keep going, and mostly trouble free. Very simple, not much to go wrong. And the best part is they have no computers or emissions crap on them. And unlike most older Japanese bikes, all the parts are available for them. If there is one problem with Japanese vehicles, it's that their manufacturers do not support them, and there is no aftermarket for Japanese vehicles.
No aftermarket for Japanese vehicles? Honda Civic disagrees with you, dude.
If I knew the other person and the bike I might otherwise no.
I Love old bikes
Me too!
*subscribed* :)
Thanks!
Too many movies....military doesn't say "over and out"...it's just "out"
I aint the military nor am I trying to appear to be.
Used bikes and the owners that price them are unfair and unrealistic. That's why cheap Chinese bikes new are half the price of a 15 year old popular name brand bike of the same style.
Just avoid used bikes ....when they ask for way to much cash . Some of these used bike hold way to much value .
if you can afford to buy new things, then buy new things, because it helps your economy and creates jobs.
To clarify: the internet was invented by scientists and academics as a way to share information in command / control economies and in defense networks (i.e., nuclear systems). You should probably think twice before telling a millennial what the internet was invented for.
Used is the way to go... Unless Honda comes out with a true 500 adventure bike, I might go new for that one!