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Just sold my CRF250L and may grab a 2018 DRZ400sm
Decent ride or?
Or.
Although there is brilliant aftermarket support for the platform, it’s still not a real exciting bike. What do you want from it?
Cliff's Cycles KTM
NETRA enduro B-vet
Close your eyes, look deep in your soul, step outside yourself and let your mind go.
Subscribed.
I have a crf250sm as my winter city ride. It has all the power bits ad-ons (exhaust, EJK, header). Curious to know is it more power you are looking for?
Chip's right. The best description I can offer for a DRZ is: "Gutless, but still fun." Or maybe "better than a KLR, sometimes"
Even with all the mods... big bore, exhaust to match, suspension, etc...
Obviously a bit more money, but a KTM 690 on the other hand is perpetually on the want list.
Well, I rode a 2003 DRZ400 that was converted to SM for a few years. Compared to the CRF250L it is lighter, more powerful and faster. I do not know how Honda does it, but they seem to make the heaviest offer in every genre.. or nearly so.
That said, the DRZ really is comparable to the 250L, IMO. The big wins of the 250L vs the DRZ are EFI and the Honda nameplate (read: should be bullet proof). That said the DRZ isn't exactly fragile.
If you are looking for a gas-n-go beater with some mile off-road chops, the DRZ will do that. (Although less so in SM trim.)
If you're looking for an easy SM/dirt conversion, the DRZ will do that. (Although start with a DRZ400S, not the SM.)
Anything else, probably pass.
And I would never buy a DRZ new, their MSRP is absurd given what it is.
The DRZ-SM is fun, but there are as lot of much more fun machines out there for similar money. Or a hell of a lot more fun for just a bit more money.
I loved my DRZ. But I sold it and probably will not own one again.
Riding a DRZ is like having sex with a very large breasted woman with giant nipples.
I went to MMI I know what Im doing here chief
For the record, I’d still be in on the giant nipples. I really don’t discriminate in any way.
Cliff's Cycles KTM
NETRA enduro B-vet
Close your eyes, look deep in your soul, step outside yourself and let your mind go.
Lets also say this "motorcycle" doesn't wait for other motorcycles to finish talking before talking over them...LOUDLY. Lets say this motorcycle has a shirt that says "GLITTER" on it. This motorcycle isn't the type of motorcycle who can't hold down a job for more than a few months. This is the sort of motorcycle who always thinks some other motorcycle is the problem. This motorcycle would think nothing of eating another motorcycle's leftovers out of the fridge. This motorcycle would use the last of the toilet paper, get a new roll out but not bother actually putting it on the toilet paper dispenser, it would leave it on top of the toilet with the old roll just sitting there on the dispenser.
What I'm saying is yes, you can ride this motorcycle, and it is arguably better than not riding a motorcycle, but there are far better motorcycles to ride and those other motorcycles are perfectly happy to LET you ride.
I went to MMI I know what Im doing here chief
Duncan, that is some poetic ass shit.
Cliff's Cycles KTM
NETRA enduro B-vet
Close your eyes, look deep in your soul, step outside yourself and let your mind go.
Like Chip said, what do you want from it? What type of riding?
I had a DR350, the predecessor to the DRZ400.
The DRZ is a good (read: economical/reliable) 50/50 dualsport, at least the S model: it'll kinda do highway, it'll kinda do singletrack, and everything in between.
The DRZ's weakness is its close ratio 5-speed. It's either too low for highway or too high for dirt. If they kept the DR350's 6-speed it would've been perfect.
In regards to the SM version, if you're looking for an around town / hooligan bike, it's not bad. But find an older model for <$3500, and you wont lose money if you decide to sell it.
But if you're planning on doing at least a bit of highway, I'd look elsewhere.
For what you'd spend on that 2018 DRZ-SM, you could pick up an older DR650 in good condition, add SM wheels, and have at least $1000 left over for a 790cc big bore kit or other mods.
You'd have a better street/highway bike (and a second set of wheels for dualsport riding). I currently have a DR790 with sumo and stock wheels and love it.
Or for pure street use, what you'd spend on that 2018 DRZ-SM, you could pick up a Duke 690. Or a bunch of other nice bikes.
I guess I don't see why you'd go from a CRF250L to a DRZ400 in any trim? That's like tossing a bowl of vanilla ice cream for a bowl of vanilla pudding. Sure, it's warmer but still pretty much the same thing?
250L => dual-sport
DRZ-SM => supermoto
It's like spending a lot to put a SM kit on the 250L. Plus or minus.
About $650 to buy the OEM bits to convert a CRF250L to CRF250M last I poked.
Just riding to Salisbury, work, nothing crazy but the CRF lacked power and never intended for that bike to go off road
I’ve owned a 400SM for a summer. I would consider it to be the Vstrom 650 of the supermoto field. Average at all but not great in any.
I took it from Southern CT to NH and back a few times. If you’re older than 25 I would recommend against it as the seat is very uncomfortable and you’re not going to be cruising much faster than 75mph. I tried some single track on it and concur with the transmission not being ideal.
By the time you put a MRD pipe, a FCR carb, the 440 bb kit and some other bells on it you’re better off getting a 690 like below. No affiliation with the owner but for the price of the newer 400SM’s you’d be in the same ball park. Unless you want to pay more for something that hasn’t changed outside of color schemes since 2007.
https://newlondon.craigslist.org/mcy...993154529.html
I ended up just getting an sv650n. Cheaper, faster, EFI, still does fire roads and relatively light enough to throw around. A 690 duke is also a good alternative or a 690 smt if you want the hooligan feel.
Last edited by Crconnor18; 10-29-19 at 08:33 PM.
i agree with a duke or husky...
https://newhaven.craigslist.org/mcy/...997778222.html
https://worcester.craigslist.org/mcy...962632066.html
https://vermont.craigslist.org/mcy/d...994066986.html
https://providence.craigslist.org/mc...967834237.html
https://newhaven.craigslist.org/mcy/...991839121.html
https://hartford.craigslist.org/mcy/...997937700.html
https://nh.craigslist.org/mcy/d/exet...985354698.html
https://hartford.craigslist.org/mcy/...979933718.html
It’s a 2018 all stock with Under 900 miles for 5500
Figured if I didn’t get the good vibes from it I could toss it in the summer and not lose $