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Thinking of replacing the the XR. But, with what?

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Posted by: xrkx---------------------

Looking for opinions out threre.

I have an 03 XR400 with some simple mods and lately I have been thinking of selling it to get something defferent. I ride mostly with the wife and some family. All trail riding but was thinking of running a few enduros or harescrambles too. The trails I ride 95% of the time are very deep sand and lots of BIG whoops or muddy with lots of BIG whoops. Lots of them. Did I mention that there were lots of BIG whoops on the trail? The sand and whoops are the reason I was thinking of getting something a little lighter and snappier.

I was thinking of something like a 250 two stroke motocross bike with some light mods to make it a better trail bike. Maybe a KDX200/220 (I have always liked KDX's). Or should I just stick with the XR?

I know what a 250 two stroke would be like and I have spent lots of years on the older design KDX's but have never ridden the 96 KDX or newer. To those of you who have ridden a 96 or newer KDX200/220, how do you like the way it compares to the XR400? Remeber I am deep sand and whoops.

Thanks for your thoughts.


Posted by: trout---------------------

Hey! this is eric... Did you make it out on Saturday?

You can try my cr250 out there and see how you like it.


Posted by: kdxtodd---------------------

The 95 and up kdxs are great. Its a night and day difference between the 2 bikes. The kdx will feel so light and flickable and make the xr feel like a tank. The kdx will feel like it floats over the whoops The xr has more torque, but a kdx with a pipe and silencer will have a bit more horsepower. A 250 would be an even bigger difference. Since you already have been riding for a while and are used to a bigger bike, the 250 may be the best bet in the long run. :thumb:


Posted by: 2strok4fun---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by xrkx
Looking for opinions out threre.

I was thinking of something like a 250 two stroke motocross bike with some light mods to make it a better trail bike.


That describes a KTM exc. Definatly worth a look. Im happy.


Posted by: xrkx---------------------

I grew up riding XR's and like them. Spent a few years on older KDX's. And a couple of years on 250 twostroke MX'ers. (Along with a good number of others in that mix.) That was back in the 80's-early 90's. Got back into riding a couple of years ago with the wife. She is now on a KX100 and after riding that it makes me kind of miss the hit of the twostrokes. Not that I don't enjoy the XR400, but twostrokes are a lot of fun.

I really don't want to replace the XR with a $6000+ bike right now but I might would be willing to spend about $4000 on a new KDX200. Or find a decent used 250MXer for less and do a little restoration to it. I think that I might would be happy moving over to a KDX, but I am not certain and it has been about 12 years since riding a KDX or 250 twostroke MX bike. I am pretty sure I would be happy with a 250 twostroke but I would prefer to purchase a new one so I could brake in right and make her last.

So.... Should I just keep the XR, which I do enjoy. Get a new or slightly used KDX. Or find a decent used 250MXer.

Thanks for the ideas.


Posted by: kdxtodd---------------------

4000 will buy you a brand new kdx. You can get a SWEEET used 250 for that kind of money, like an 02 or 03 yz250. Go for the two fiddy :thumb:


Posted by: OnAnySunday---------------------

Try it before you spend your money.
The KDX is an excellent ride, but i would think more of a woods bike. 250 MX'rs are good too, but more track oriented.
I would think the XR more suitable for desert conditions.
You said "deep sand and whoops".
Sounds like you need something -w- a lot of bottom and midrange torque to get you going. XR.
You can always do a few mods to boost the BHP levels, and tweak the suspenders a bit too if your looking for a better ride.
Yea, they are lighter, but at speed in the desert a few pounds dont make a whole lot of difference.

In the end it's YOUR call, but check out your options first.
MX bikes are great, but their not for everybody.


Posted by: kdxtodd---------------------

Hold on, I don't think you can do anything to an xr400 to make it a better low to midrange torquer than any modified 250 2-stroke. An xr400 is just a big, smooth, heavy trail bike.


Posted by: xrkx---------------------

Just for the info, I am not riding dessert stuff. My riding is all trails that are just wide enough for an ATV. No real high speed stuff. I live on the coast of SC and it is all sandy where I am.

Thanks for the bike thoughts.


Posted by: OnAnySunday---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by kdxtodd
Hold on, I don't think you can do anything to an xr400 to make it a better low to midrange torquer than any modified 250 2-stroke. An xr400 is just a big, smooth, heavy trail bike.


You shouldnt have to do anything to it.
The XR should have more low end grunt stock.
Thats what XR's do best. :thumb:
Mid range & top end will belong to the 250.
The KDX has a fair amount of "grunt", but displacement doesnt lie.
With almost twice the engine size the XR should be able to easily outchug the KDX in deep sand or mud.
Would be interesting to see a BHP / tourque graph chart for both bikes.
Plus the XR has more "flywheel effect", which should help also.


Posted by: xrkx---------------------

From some of the charts that I have seen on the XR400, the average hp number seems to be about 30. With full Gordon Mods the average number seems to be about 33.

I have never seen a chart on a KDX but I would like to see the numbers to compare the horse power to weight ratio. I bet it ends up being pretty close.


Posted by: blanc---------------------

Buy a GasGas 2stroke 250 enduro, they are just amazing, loads of lowend, faster that a kdx yet not quite with the 250mx, but i can ride it faster than my Honda cr250 because it is so smooth and easy to ride! They are a blast, very reliable, very stable and do not stall very easy!


Posted by: Patman---------------------

My bro' in law had both a KDX and a XR400 and I spent quite a bit of time on both. Two really different bikes that do the same thing. One is lighter the other a torque monster. It really sounds to me like you should pick up a KTM 300 E/XC and be done with it. Best of both worlds plus it's already setup for trail/enduro.


Posted by: blanc---------------------

A Gasgas is yards a head of a KTM for the average rider, if you are a pro and would like a more mx orientated to race and pump money into to keep it in tiptop buy a ktm. The Ktm is a great bike but you would do yourself more justice on a GasGas, Think of a KDX250(NEW1 IF THERE WAS SUCH A THING), with olinlins(sp?) rear shock and wp forks, loads of trick parts and a bulletproof engine. A gasgas has more torgue than a KDX yet can keep up (acceleration) with a 250 mx and beat it in a long drag race! They are amazing in the woods, great for harescrambles and even good at beginner motox!


Posted by: kdxtodd---------------------

Theres a chart on justkdx.com of a modified kdx200, I think it had 34 hp. and 26 or 27 lb/ft of torque. Thats quite a bit for a little 200cc motor .


Posted by: kdxtodd---------------------

Power to wieght the same for an xr400 and kdx200, no way


Posted by: xrkx---------------------

If I do sell my XR, then maybe I will just find an older CR500 to play around with. No need to worry about power to weight ratio then.

Thanks for all your thoughts.


Posted by: kdxtodd---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by xrkx
If I do sell my XR, then maybe I will just find an older CR500 to play around with. No need to worry about power to weight ratio then.

Nope, now you just have to worry about staying alive


Posted by: riverz---------------------

Have you considered a WR? They're a bit expensive new and I've been told not to go older than 2001 but they have mindless torque.


Posted by: kdxtodd---------------------

[QUOTE=OnAnySunday]You shouldnt have to do anything to it.
The XR should have more low end grunt stock.
Thats what XR's do best. :thumb:
Mid range & top end will belong to the 250...
With almost twice the engine size the XR should be able to easily outchug the KDX in deep sand or mud.
QUOTE]
Depends on what kind of 250.
If my kdx could keep up with a wr400 in deep sand and mud, than the XR400 would get wooped by the kdx, modified though.


Posted by: blanc---------------------

I would think and Know that a GasGas and TM250 Enduro bike are right for the job. They have huge amounts of lowend. The 96-8 of both brands absolutely whip the Kdx and the XRs in the woods(Which is what they do best). They are low maintanience race bikes(compared to my old cr) and are easy and not intimidating to ride!! I am not so sure about Ktms i think they are more mxlike power delivery! Think of GG and TM as a better equipted, larger displacement works KDX. They come stock with everything eg hydraulic clutch, goodbars, talon hubs,excels, messico/fmf pipe woods silencer etc They have everything you want and more! Ohh and when you really get on the pipe in the open they are dam fast too.



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