XR400 Dual Sport
RideABike
conversion. The one I am looking at is a 1997 with 1k miles on it. The guy
is asking $5000. I haven't seen it yet but let's assume that it's in mint
condition.
What d'ya think?
Thanx,
RideABike
Jay C
>I'd appreciate hearing what the going rate is for an XR400 with a
dual-sport
>conversion. The one I am looking at is a 1997 with 1k miles on it. The
guy
>is asking $5000. I haven't seen it yet but let's assume that it's in mint
>condition.
Private sale? US dollars? $3500. You could buy a brand new '99 w/ a dual
sport kit for $5K.
Jay C
'98 XR400
RideABike
I thought the new ones were in the $5300 range and a DS kit is $400? I just
found another ad for $3200 w/o DS kit. I think I'd rather install the kit
(on the $3200 bike) myself so I'd know how to fix the problems that may
arise later.
I fear I may sound like an A#2 rider when I get one. I've been
looking(wanting) for a long time and my buddy(w/XR650L) has lent me an
XR250L for a couple Suzuki Dual Sport rides an now I'm hooked. Actually,
I've always been hooked...I've just talked about it for enough years that my
wife is finally in agreement that I *need* a dirt bike.
RideABike
CBR600F2
XR400(Coming Soon)
Jay C wrote in message ...
Scott Aldrich
: Thanx,
: I thought the new ones were in the $5300 range and a DS kit is $400? I just
: found another ad for $3200 w/o DS kit.
This may depend on what part of the country you're in. The prices
that I was looking at when I got my DR were $5300 for the XR plus $600
for the kit (installed).
That puts it into the KTM range, so if I was going to go that much
money, I would rather go the rest of the way and go with the KTM. I
know that's not the popular opinion, it's just mine.
--
Scott * 98 Suzuki DR350SE */* 85 Honda CR125R */* Yamaha 74 DT125 *
Jay C
>Thanx,
>
>I thought the new ones were in the $5300 range and a DS kit is $400? I
just
>(on the $3200 bike) myself so I'd know how to fix the problems that may
>arise later.
XR400 MSRP is $5250. A dual-sport kit is around $400. Dickering can get
you ~10% off on the bike. BTW, $3200 is not a bad price for a '97 (assuming
the condition is good).
Jay C
'98 XR400 - A#2 rider in(to) my house but getting sick of XR boingers.
RideABike
DR350S. I think I'd rather have the XR4 but if I found a good price on a
DR350S than I'd probably get it. I'm more interested in the XR4 because of
how popular it is...there are tons of after market stuff out there for it.
I'm not sure the same stuff exists for the DR. I'm thinking that as I get
*better* that I'm less likely to find fault with the XR4 and will be able to
hop it up as needed.
RideABike Curt (In MD)
'94 CBR600F2
XR400 (Hopefully soon or maybe a DR350S)
Scott Aldrich wrote in message <71l92j$5...@canyon.sr.hp.com>...
>RideABike (Ride...@hotmail.com) wrote:
>: Thanx,
>
>: I thought the new ones were in the $5300 range and a DS kit is $400? I
just
>: found another ad for $3200 w/o DS kit.
>
Daniel McCoole
>
> RideABike (Ride...@hotmail.com) wrote:
> : Thanx,
>
> : I thought the new ones were in the $5300 range and a DS kit is $400? I just
> : found another ad for $3200 w/o DS kit.
>
> This may depend on what part of the country you're in. The prices
> that I was looking at when I got my DR were $5300 for the XR plus $600
> for the kit (installed).
It also depends on what your state requires to meet DOT standards.
My buddy just converted a '95 Kawasaki 650. Since it already had a headlight
and taillight all that is needed here in New Hampshire is a horn, a mirror,
and a brake light. So he went to the junkyard, picked up a brakelight switch
for a few bucks, a mirror for a couple of bucks, and he bought a small air horn
which he taped to the handle bars. You don't need blinkers in NH.
He went to the DMV to get a change of Title to make it street legal and then
to a garage to get it inspected and back to the DMV to finalize it. So he made
it street legal for ~10 bucks. Of course each state varies so check into it
and you can save yourself at least 400 bucks depending on where you live!
-Dan
RideABike
will be required to do the full kit with DOT tires.
Daniel McCoole wrote in message <363F05FB...@ctron.com>...
Scott Aldrich
: I've got to keep the price down as much as I can. I've been looking at the
: DR350S. I think I'd rather have the XR4 but if I found a good price on a
: DR350S than I'd probably get it. I'm more interested in the XR4 because of
: how popular it is...there are tons of after market stuff out there for it.
There is something to be said for buying a bike that is more popular
(common).
I'll give you an example:
I wanted to put on fork guards and a front disk protector. I was
looking at the plastic, and Maier and Acerbis both sell these. I
ordered the Maier first, and it listed the one for my DRS in their
catalog as being for the '90-'98 models. When it came in, the package
was marked for the '90-'97 models. Sure enough, it didn't fit. I
sent it back and ordered the Acerbis, and the exact same thing
happened.
Apparently, both companies assumed that Suzuki had made no changes
for the '98 model, in reality the '98 DRS is very different from the
'97 model (at least suspension wise). I called Acerbis about it and
while they were very helpful and apologetic about the mix-up, the guy
I talked to had no idea if they would even come out with an updated
version. Of course I now have scratches on my forks (being the
typical spodely rider that I am :-)
I can guarantee that if the same scenario happened regarding the
XR4, there would be an immediate update because of the bikes
popularity.
OTOH, there are a lot of after-market products out there for the
DRS. I have also put on the Works aluminum frame guards, and the fit
for them was excellent. Right the first time. Although I do hate the
way they pick up crap from my boots, I'm thinking of making a
carbon-fiber cover for them.
: I'm not sure the same stuff exists for the DR. I'm thinking that as I get
: *better* that I'm less likely to find fault with the XR4 and will be able to
: hop it up as needed.
There are as many reasons to buy a bike as there are people that buy
bikes :-). Buying a bike is a personal decision. One of my major
criteria was that the bike be street legal. I live in California, so
you never know if the after-market stuff (regarding making your bike
street legal) is even going to be allowed from year to year. The XR4
is a very popular bike (my neighbor owns one also) and seems to be
bullet-proof when it comes to off-road. Honda has an excellent
reputation for making great four-stroke trail bikes, so if you go with
one it's not a bad decision.
The Suzuki DRS is also very popular, and has been around for quite
awhile. Suzuki finally updated the suspension, which really should
have been done years ago. The motor in California is extremely choked
due to emissions controls, but the potential is in there (somewhere).
People I have talked to have done everything from just gearing
changes, to tossing the stock carb, air boot, exhaust and replacing it
all with high performance after-market stuff and putting on big bore
kits to make the bike rip.
It really was a toss-up for me between the XR400R, DR350SE and the
KTM400. I didn't want to spend the amount of money required for the
KTM, even though I will probably spend as much if not more and still
not have as high a quality bike by the time I'm done.
So, the stupid C.A.R.B. crap going on pretty much made the decision
for me. I know that I want to keep riding, with as few hassles from
law enforcement and the government as possible. The DRS meets all
regulations to ride street legally, and looks it (well, at least until
I set it up for a dirt ride :-). It is a very fine street ride, and if
it comes down to that, which I sincerely hope not, then at least I'll
still be able to ride.
RideABike
you have the new DR350S and wondered how it was working for you. One of the
things I like about the DRS is the elec. start - it makes things easy for
future-spodely riders like me.
Curtis (RideABike)
CBR600F2
XR4 or DR350S (hopefully soon)
Scott Aldrich wrote in message <71njkg$e...@canyon.sr.hp.com>...
Scott Aldrich
: A lot of good comments, Thanx. I've lurked for a while and have seen that
: you have the new DR350S and wondered how it was working for you.
So far it's working out great. I have over 1700 miles on it, mostly
street riding. I live where there is excellent street riding areas,
so you can explore the mountains or hit the ocean when you want (or do
both).
I am finding its short comings off-road, I've already put a good
sized ding on the rear wheel from doing some jumps a bit too high. I
have found that I am just as fast (slow) on the DRS as I am on the CR
on a track, but I ride much more smooth on the trails with the DRS
than with the CR.
I can ride all day with the DRS and feel great when I'm done as
opposed to where the CR would beat the crap out of me with the same
amount of riding (but it is fun though :-)
All I can do is compare it against comments from other owners, and
from what I've heard, the DRS is a capable bike. It's not great, and
when pushed, it sounds like it will push back, hard. But that's not
what I bought it for. If I enter an enduro, it will be for the
pleasure of riding in an organized event, riding new trails and
meeting other people, not to win.
I can't really compare it against other bikes, because I have very
limited dirt bike experience. So making any comparison would mean
very little. There is a very good chance that I don't know what I'm
missing. That's fine with me, sometimes ignorance is bliss :-)
I know that Steve used to own a DRS, and he said that when it came
to enduros, the bike left a bit to be desired (correct me if I quoted
you wrong Steve). He is riding a two-stroke 250cc bike, and he said
that it is much better suited for the type of riding that he does. I
respect Steve's opinion, and so If that's what you're after, then the
DRS is probably not for you.
: One of the
: things I like about the DRS is the elec. start - it makes things easy for
: future-spodely riders like me.
Yep, when trail riding, the electric start is great! I don't know
if I'm the only one that seems to do this, but sometimes I'll stall
the bike while climbing a hill (really!). I just hit the button, and
off I go. Actually, now that I think of it, it was pretty handy on
the MX track also. I low-sided a couple of times, and it was nice to
be able to restart that quick as other riders were coming up behind
me. That way I could get out of their way.
It came in very handy the last time I took it to Cow Mountain. I
biffed going up a rock hill, and the bike crushed my right foot (yeah,
it was the bikes fault. That's my story and I'm sticking to it). I
couldn't put any weight on my foot, and I still had several hours of
hard riding to get out. If I didn't have the electric start, it would
have been a lot less fun.
It's also great fun to pull up next to guys on the XR4, and when we
get going I just hit the button and their jaws drop :-) For some
reason though, they seem to think it's fun to get in front of me and
throw roost all over me :-)
Jay C
> It's also great fun to pull up next to guys on the XR4, and when we
>get going I just hit the button and their jaws drop :-) For some
>reason though, they seem to think it's fun to get in front of me and
>throw roost all over me :-)
Throwing roost all over you electric start dorks is merely a function of
pure jealousy...trust me on that one! ;).
Jay C
'98 XR400 - "Damn my right leg is tired"
Leav Home
>get going I just hit the button and their jaws drop :-) For some
>reason though, they seem to think it's fun to get in front of me and
>throw roost all over me :-)
Ha ha! The xr400 can throw some pretty good roost, especially onto the guys
riding electric start bikes. Don't let that battery die.
-Franky
98 XR400
Kevin
I just missed one in the paper.
1997 XR400 dual-sport, 400 miles $3700.
A local dealer will sell a 1999 XR400 for $4650.
Add a Baja Designs kit for about $350. = $5000
Taxes, license, DOT tires, and other goodies would cost extra.
The pluses are better carberation '98 & '99 and a six month warranty.
I'll probably wait until spring, pay a little more, and use the
full warranty.
Kevin
RideABike wrote:
>
> I'd appreciate hearing what the going rate is for an XR400 with a dual-sport
> conversion. The one I am looking at is a 1997 with 1k miles on it. The guy
> is asking $5000. I haven't seen it yet but let's assume that it's in mint
> condition.
>
RideABike
down...or maybe I'll just save them for the dealer and talk them down on a
*new* one!
I had no idea that shops were dealing on XR4s. On the last bike I
bought(CBR6F2) they wouldn't deal much at all. I think I got $200 off list.
The shops were always cryin', saying that "there's no margin on the
bikes...we can't make any money...sniff...sniff". Now I've got some
bargaining material.
Thanx,
Curtis (RideABike)
'94 CBR6F2
'?? XR4/DR350S (hopefully soon)
Kevin wrote in message <36400B...@hotmail.com>...
Jay C
>I had no idea that shops were dealing on XR4s. On the last bike I
>bought(CBR6F2) they wouldn't deal much at all. I think I got $200 off
list.
>The shops were always cryin', saying that "there's no margin on the
>bikes...we can't make any money...sniff...sniff". Now I've got some
>bargaining material.
Everything is negotiable. I think that the YZ/WR400 is putting a beating on
the demand of the XR400 and driving the prices down. I negotiated down from
$5250 to $4700 for mine (almost effortlessly) not quite a year ago. I've
heard of shops advertising prices even less than that.
Jay C
'98 XR400