If u were 186cm/6.1" with a bad back, which would you choose to do a 1000Km journey... road and off road?

They're ~1995 models.

DR Suzi...

neither of those bikes was made to sit on for long distances. if you have a bad back it will be much worse after a long trip unless you are up on the pegs most of the time.

if you have to choose from those 2 bikes then i agree with youngbull, an older 250 will not have enough balls for someone your size, but by the same token i reckon the hondas were more comfortable to ride than the suzis. (but that comes down to individual riders preferences and style, so try both).

Bigger is better for an on/off road ride of that length and rider of "larger proportions"...

I'm doing this motorcycle tour in the south of Peru in 2 weeks, and the guy said I could choose between those 2.

I guess there will be others so somebody will be on a XR250.

A friend used to have a DR400 and I remember the seat being so hard I thought I was sitting on the mud guard.

Haven't tried an XR250, but I have tried an air cooled XR600... and that from what I remember was comfy.

Hard decision, I have only ridden the XR250 and I'm fairly sure it will have softer suspension and seat and also a lower more upright seating position/centre of gravity.
If it is mainly tight rough offroad stuff I reckon thats the way I would go (if I had a bad back), they have a reputation of being a comfortable easy to handle bike, but if you have long fast stretches of road/trail you will be struggling to keep up with the DR's .

Tell you what why don't you pay for me to come along too, we will get one of each and you can ride whatever one takes your fancy at any time

Perhaps a better place to ask this question would be a motorbike forum such as this www.dirtbikeworld.net/forum/index.php or many others that are out there.

My current bike is a 2009 Yamaha WR250R, fuel injection, electric start, etc.
For a little 250 it is amazing how smooth it is at 110-120 k's..... but the seat is way harder than a 1995 XR.

Reading this brings me back....

I owned a DR200 and a XR250. The XR was a great bike and I'd probably choose it. However from what I've read the DR400 is great too. In the balance I'd go for the electic start and oomph of the DR400. My favourite bike was the KDX200. Awesome.

I really miss having a motor bike. They are really great and somehow give the same feeling as a windsurfer. With the crap winds and cold weather Sydney has I feel the need for a dirt bike.

if its a 95 model DR wouldn't that make it a DR350? ie no button start and the seat height is really low

Looking at those pics makes me envious Flysurfer. At those sort of altitudes the already asthmatic XR will barely pull the skin of a custard. More cubes the better

echunda said...

If your % is correct, stay away from the 400 and 250 and get the F650.

I don't think he has the option of a 650, but yeah if by the sound of it it is fairly open, fast trails/road I would go as big as available, the 400 at least.

Sounds like it would be a fantastic trip, with any luck you will be to busy checking out the scenery to worry about your back etc.

FlySurfer said...

Well guys, you only live once, or a couple times if you spend most of your time figuring out how to come back.

Sydney - Lima Peru, air Argentina: $1800

9 Day motorcycle tour: $1700, 5 day: $998
www.perumotorcycletours.com/
He said the only options were the DR400 or the XR250... on the longer 12-15 day tour they have 650's... I think.


1 week in the jungle with a Shaman $360
ayahuasca.pe/

Diving in the Galapagos for 8 days: $3000

dont get the shaman thing. Guess it's a cheap week?
Personally seeing your back xrays i reckon the 250 might be more comfortable. softer seat and you'll be going much slower! Lighter and easier to throw around when you're tired.

FlySurfer said...

Well guys, you only live once, or a couple times if you spend most of your time figuring out how to come back.

Sydney - Lima Peru, air Argentina: $1800

9 Day motorcycle tour: $1700, 5 day: $998
www.perumotorcycletours.com/
He said the only options were the DR400 or the XR250... on the longer 12-15 day tour they have 650's... I think.


1 week in the jungle with a Shaman $360
ayahuasca.pe/

Diving in the Galapagos for 8 days: $3000

mate for $360 in peru you can just about buy your own jungle complete with shaman, and trip on ayahuasca until your brain turns to jelly.
btw- the real shamans won't have anything to do with gringo tourists.

myusernam said...
dont get the shaman thing. Guess it's a cheap week?

Tripping for a week in the Amazon jungle... why not?

stamp said...
mate for $360 in peru you can just about buy your own jungle complete with shaman, and trip on ayahuasca until your brain turns to jelly.
btw- the real shamans won't have anything to do with gringo tourists.

stamp ur probably right, but I can't fix being a gringo + there's a big cultural chasm between the authentic shaman and the tourist show, it'd take me months to find and engage one.
I'm actually going with a guy called Percy Garcia, he gets good feedback from http://ayahuasca.tribe.net/, maybe cos he came on a BBC documentary... he also wants close to twice as much

DR400 it is... if I get there and I can sit on a XR and the seats mo'comfy, I'll try and swap.

FlySurfer said...

if I could I'd have a GS1200 or MultiStrada, Tenere, Africa...

KTM 990 Adventure? That'd be my pick...