DR 350 or XR 400?
David Miller
Which is the better bike a DR350 or XR400?
Bruce Clapp
I know that there are a million people that will flame me, but I had a
chace to ride a 96 XR400, and I don't know if I would like it over a DR. I
will admit that there are a lot of things that were set up differently That
seemed ackward at first. The power was good, and I liked the suspension.
David Miller <da...@frankmillerfineart.com> wrote in article
<6enfcn$o...@argentina.earthlink.net>...
acss...@acs.eku.edu
In article <01bd1fb0$d212e240$4c25...@thunder.tsa.com>, "Bruce Clapp" <bruce...@ovalstrapping.com> writes:
> I know that there are a million people that will flame me, but I had a
> chace to ride a 96 XR400, and I don't know if I would like it over a DR. I
> will admit that there are a lot of things that were set up differently That
> seemed ackward at first.
Like what?
dsc - acss...@acs.eku.edu
DirtCrashr
>I know that there are a million people that will flame me, but I had a
>chace to ride a 96 XR400, and I don't know if I would like it over a DR. I
>will admit that there are a lot of things that were set up differently That
>
>David Miller <da...@frankmillerfineart.com> wrote in article
><6enfcn$o...@argentina.earthlink.net>...
>>
>> Which is the better bike a DR350 or XR400?
Not a flame, but I disagree. I swapped bikes with my buddy who has a DR350
with the big-bore kit and e-start (he has to have e-start because he broke his
back and can't risk injury from kick-starting). He raced off on my bike and I
chased after him. I plowed the front end in nearly every corner and he didn't
(and I usually don't) and while it made good power I just couldn't catch up
since I spent most of the time trying to save it... If you need e-start and
just want to have fun the DR350 is a great and very capable bike.
DirtCrashr - '97xr400
VLJ
David Miller sez:
>Which is the better bike a DR350 or XR400?
It depends. If you're looking for a playbike that will see more pavement than
dirt and won't be required to do much in the way of serious technical dirt
riding, the DR gets the nod. If you plan to do more serious dirt riding, the
XR spanks the DR in most categories.
The DR can be made very dirt worthy if you sink some buck$ into the suspension
and have the swingarm stiffened, etc. but you'll get that right out of the box
with the XR.
Good ridin' to ya,
Victor Johnson
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
'75 Goldwing "Big air. Kids today, that's all they want, big air.
'89 Hawk GT I say keep it on the dirt, that's where the fun is.
'98 XR400R You want big air kid? Pull my finger."
- Smooth Johnson (master of the berm)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
njk...@ix.netcom.com
David Miller wrote:
>
> Which is the better bike a DR350 or XR400?
Okay, before I state my OPINION I will say two things since some RMD'ers
get all 'upset' that I do not state these 2 facts up front:
1) I do own an aftermarket business called Suzuki DR Suspensions. It
DOES not mean I am pro-Suzuki and anti-everything else. We own and ride
all brands, it's just that we make our business on DR links.
2) Many of my friends ride XR's, KX's, etc etc. We like DR's, XR's,
and even have a WR400 coming into our stable soon.
There, that said, here are my opinions on which is better.
The xr400 costs, on average, $1000 MORE than a DR350.
More people race xr400's because the highly influential mags say the
xr400 is a racebike and the dr350 is a playbike. It's a fact that
magazines influence a lot of buyers.
Both bikes have horrible stock suspension.
The xr400 has a bit more lowend and the dr350 has a bit more topend.
The xr400 has a horrible carburetor and a horrible clutch, but the DR
has brakes that are nowhere near as good as a Honda.
If you take the $1000 that you'll save on the DR you can stick a Thumper
435 kit in it, modify the suspension, stick on an aftermarket airbox and
exhaust, etc. and have a bike that is utterly worlds faster, better
suspended, and better handling as a racebike than the xr400.
I think the xr400 is a good bike but not for the price. I feel it is
basically an xr600 with an 400 motor in it with a very tall seat heigth.
Please do not flame me personally. These are just my opinions (free
country we live in, right?) and do not mean any harm towards any rider
of any brand or cc displacement. Believe me, I have to say this cuz
we've received some harsh email from riders.
Norm
Suzuki DR Suspensions
http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/2299
ICarryGun
>I think the xr400 is a good bike but not for the price. I feel it is
>basically an xr600 with an 400 motor in it with a very tall seat heigth.
>
>
Actually, the XR400 is basically an XR250 with a BIGGER engine. Very (overly)
quick and nimble (as nimble as 260 lbs can be) and good grunt.
BTW, The crappy carberation has been fixed in '98 and the suspension has also
been improved (but is still not quite there - but if it was, it wouldn;t be a
Honda!!)
o_
Jay O\-O
'84 MX250LC
'86 XV1100
'93 KLR250
'98 XR400R
Nitrous Oxide
On Wed, 18 Mar 1998 13:50:39 -0500, njk...@ix.netcom.com wrote:
<snip anti flame stuff>
Time to opine.
>The xr400 has a horrible carburetor and a horrible clutch,
Carb is fine, they just got the set up wrong on 96/97s (first models
remember) and also a lot of unecessary confusion was created by
supplying bikes with the air box suppresor in and the exhasut diffuser
when in fact the bike was set up by Honda to run with these out. 98
bikes sorted.
Clutch springs and lifter were changed for 97 from 96. I expect a few
teethings from a new model and to be fair they are few. What we have
now with the XR is maybe not a balls out enduro bike but a fair one
with exceptional reliability and I suspect longevity.
>If you take the $1000 that you'll save on the DR you can stick a Thumper
>435 kit in it, modify the suspension, stick on an aftermarket airbox and
>exhaust, etc. and have a bike that is utterly worlds faster, better
>suspended, and better handling as a racebike than the xr400.
Hmmm! HRC kit and 38bhp at the back, nice torque/power curve.
>
>I think the xr400 is a good bike but not for the price.
You want to see what we've had to pay in UK. 96/97 retail was $7,680
on the road. Assumes 1.6 US to 1 UK. Prices dropped a bit now with
cheaper parallel imports from Europe. You can get an XR400 now for
around $6,500 US.
>Please do not flame me personally. These are just my opinions (free
>country we live in, right?
I think UK's free too.....so ends opining.
acss...@acs.eku.edu
In article <351132C1...@newbridge.com>, Scott Ball <sb...@newbridge.com> writes:
> <P>I think the xr400 is a good bike but not for the price. I feel
> it is
> <BR>basically an xr600 with an 400 motor in it with a very tall seat heigth.
That is basically... not correct.
dsc - acss...@acs.eku.edu
Alevelrdr
>I think the xr400 is a good bike but not for the price. I feel it is
Yes and the KX 100 is basically a 6 story office building without the air
handling equipment and OSHA approved lighting .
Harvey Muschmann
Another fine product of public edukation.
David Miller
What didn't you like about the XR400?
Bruce Clapp wrote in message <01bd1fb0$d212e240
$4c25...@thunder.tsa.com>...
.jim cook wudsracer
On 18 Mar 98 08:07:50 -0500, acss...@acs.eku.edu wrote:
>In article <01bd1fb0$d212e240$4c25...@thunder.tsa.com>, "Bruce Clapp" <bruce...@ovalstrapping.com> writes:
>> I know that there are a million people that will flame me, but I had a
>> chace to ride a 96 XR400, and I don't know if I would like it over a DR. I
>> will admit that there are a lot of things that were set up differently That
>> seemed ackward at first.
>
>
>Like what?
>
>dsc - acss...@acs.eku.edu
>
I would take a modified suspension DR350 over a XR 400 anytime I was
near the woods. I liked the XR 250 better than the 400. It is much
more nimble.
wudsracer
acss...@acs.eku.edu
In article <35121f6f....@news.arkansas.net>, dirt...@arkansas.net (.jim cook wudsracer) writes:
>>
> I would take a modified suspension DR350 over a XR 400 anytime I was
> near the woods. I liked the XR 250 better than the 400. It is much
> more nimble.
> wudsracer
I guess that's why they make different kinds...
A 250 may be more nimble, but it doesn't have enough power for me.
dsc - acss...@acs.eku.edu
Rbtbone
David Miller wrote:
>Which is the better bike a DR350 or XR400?
Well - good question. I rode a 95 DR with a big bore kit (Thumper 435)and
modified suspension(springs and boxed the swingarm) to the Dist 36 C Enduro
Championship. When looking for a new bike last year I rode a friends XR400 and
basically though it was down a LITTLE on power compared to the DR435 but the
suspension had the potential to be good with less effort than the DR. However,
the XR400 felt real small to me - I liked the thinness but the peg height and
handlebars were wrong for me. They are perfect for my friend though - he is
about 5'7". That's why I decided to get the XR600 - fits me to a tee with the
Hi-bend Pro tapers and ya gotta love the grunt of that motor.
RBTbone
96 XR600 (can you say roost!!)
95 RM125(the kid's MX bike)
Chris Briggi
Maybe great timing. I just got a 95 dr350 new from the dealer. I am
currently looking at doing something positive to the front forks. I am
looking at race-tech's heavier springs (.43 to my 180 lbs) and possibly
the emulator. I also found the DR350 home page that Kevin Unthank runs,
and most info was good, but funds could be tight (unless Vegas in May
proves really good at the tables - before the supercross!)
Suggestions?
Chris Briggi
DR350 '95 - District 36 member :)
cow...@core.rose.hp.com
> Maybe great timing. I just got a 95 dr350 new from the dealer. I am
> currently looking at doing something positive to the front forks. I am
> looking at race-tech's heavier springs (.43 to my 180 lbs) and possibly
> the emulator. I also found the DR350 home page that Kevin Unthank runs,
> and most info was good, but funds could be tight (unless Vegas in May
> proves really good at the tables - before the supercross!)
I did my front forks with what you are considering, and agree with everyone
when they say that it was well worth it! I put in the .46 RT springs (I
weigh 215) and added the emulators. The latter are an incredible
improvement. When I took it out after installing them and rode over a curb,
I literally had to look back and confirm that there really was a curb
there -- I didn't feel it! I put in 15W fork oil to increase rebound,
and recently turned the emulator bolt in another turn (now 5 turns) and added
another inch of oil to get rid of the occasional bottoming.
Doing the work yourself is no biggie, and it's fun to understand what's
going on inside your forks. The only tricky part is removing and installing
the damping rod bolt. If you have access to an impact wrench, I highly
recommend it -- it was the only way I could get the bolts tight again.
E-mail if you have any further questions.
Bryan
cow...@core.rose.hp.com
'97 DR350SE
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