Wanna be enduro rider - Ebbw Valley.

Alright lads (and lasses?)

I'm from the Ebbw area and I'm interested in joining the off road / enduro community and taking full advantage of Wales' green lanes, but firstly I need to buy a suitable bike.

I currently have a road bike, which I'd like to p/x for a dual sport bike, or a road legal enduro bike that doesn't need fiddling with after every 30 seconds of use. I'm struggling to find local dealers, so any suggestions on this would be very welcome? So far I've been to Marsh MX in Merthyr.

I have about a 4 mile daily commute to work so I'm hoping to use the bike for this, as well as green lanes. I've done some research and the DRZ400 repeatedly gets mentioned as a noble steed, but I'm after some alternative and reliable suggestions?

Lastly, I'd like to roll out with some charitable people who don't mind taking a complete newbie along with them. I promise to provide plenty of "Epic Fail" moments in return

Cheers.

Chris aka TIMMMAAAY!!!

Welcome aboard Timmmaaay. Can't be of much help concerning the bike, but i'm sure someone else will be able to give you some words of wisdom .

Thanks Robert. I finish work in 4 minutes, so I think I'll do some more research :bounce:

You'll probably hear variations of the following opinions here and most other places

KTM's are the only bike worth owning because they're so fast and have fantastic handling etc, to unreliable pieces of orange shit - with much the same said of GasGas's, Husabergs etc.
Anything Jap eg. (CRF's WR's DRZ's) are outdated, ill handling old men's bikes or again fantastic and super reliable - just depends who you ask!

But for what my opinion's worth, bit's of the info are probably true and bits are probably bollocks, but if you enjoy trail riding enough it don't matter a toss what you ride!
I've ridden all sorts, from shit to decent bikes (but never a KTM ) but the enjoyment level has always had more to do with who you ride with, and where etc. than what colour you choose!!

Ps. - Welcome

Welcome along.

You've answered your own question, there is only one bike to get, DRZ!

Don't listen to any of the cobblers you here of this lot about ktms, they are all deluded. If you do fancy a Ktm, just get up any of the local mountains and pick up the bits that fall off everyone else's Ktm, then build ya own!

If you're new to off roading, get something like an xr or ttr with no rads on that will get mashed when you fall off.

I have a drz, which for what I want suits me, they are bomb proof, but they way a ton and are limited by the suspension, but for a bike you can off road on a Sunday and ride to work Monday they are fine.

Just keep asking questions.

hello, i'm a bigger nebie than yourself i'm doing this madness on on a 125 thats older than both my kids ages combined
could'nt have been made more welcome, despite the fear that someone is gonna tap me on the shoulder and whisper in my ear "excuse me sir if thats your little trail bike can you feck off cos this is the big boys club and we don't want your sort"
has'nt happened yet but still keep looking over my shoulder
whenever i mention should i get a better(younger) bike to people i just get told as gary mentioned don't fecking matter so long as you out there

Kawasaki kdx 220 Honda crf230 Honda xr400 yamaha wrf250

Mogs wrote:Kawasaki kdx 220 Honda crf230 Honda xr400 yamaha wrf250

Wow and that coming from a ktm owner Whats that tell you eh

Think first of all you need to deside if you want a trail bike or a enduro.

Don't get anything to big. A 250cc offroad bike aint nothing like a 250cc onroad bike...

Ive got a CRF 230, i use it for the commute, electric start very good on juice trailriding. The only down side is there are no indicators When you're turning right it gets dodgy . Beta Alp has a Suzuki 250 air cooled engine i think has electric start and kick indicators could be a good all rounder