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Author Topic: what is the best bike?  (Read 8825 times)
Adamclarkson

Posts: 85


WWW
« on: July 12, 2007, 11,33:24 AM »
what do you ride, whats good about it etc, is yours the best?
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2011 KTM 300 EXC
Love that 2 stroke punch!
Ken R
Committee 2013/2014
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Posts: 699


Himalayas gateway, only 16,000ft to go.
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2007, 10,36:21 AM »
G'Day Adam, I reckon my FE550E is pretty close to the best trail bike out there, thats when it's actually out there of course. (If you have ever owned European Adam you will know what I mean) It handles good, brakes fantastically, will out accelerate most bikes yet will pull from zero revs up hills and has the most fantastic FAT mid range. The engine really is the stand out feature of the bike, even with all that mumbo it does 150 ks on 9 ltrs consistently (no it doesn't spend all day on the pilot jet) Having 6 gears means it can cruise at 120ks as well as pulling the occasional - pass somebody at 130 in 5th, change into 6th and accelerate up to 150 plus, all this on out of the box gearing. It is not too tall yet has 300mm of travel both ends. At the shop the spares arn't too expensive and more importantly are usually available. I gotta say I just love riding the thing, even on bitumin.
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SEX - It's OK, but nothing like the real thing!!
Mat R
Treasurer
Committee 2013/2014
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Posts: 1775


Treasurer
« Reply #2 on: July 19, 2007, 05,27:23 AM »
I think my DR-Z 400 is great, mainly as it's mine.  I spent a weekend at a mate's place in the Wombat state forest with bikes going past all day.  Used to have an IT before going the road bikes and miss the dirt.  After that weekend I had a look at the on-line ads and bought the DR sight unseen.  Had heard some good reports on them and they were cheaper than the XR's.

Anyway the next weekend I went and picked it up and it runs as expected.  It is the kick start non-ADR model so have it rec registered now.

Once I got the bike all the other expenses kicked in, new riding gear, a trailer and new car with a towbar.  The trailer and car had been on the cards for a while and the bike just added that extra reason.

Have ridden the DR in the Wombat area and at the Broadmeadows track.  Still need to get some spares and other stuff sorted for more challenging rides.
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When is the next ride?
Paul Smith
Guest
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2007, 04,24:04 PM »
I've got an '04 Berg FE650 another horse or two and a heap more torque than the 550. Only the Berg 550 has close to the power of the 650. Nothing else comes close. The Berg 650 demands a big, strong, fit, fearless and skilled pilot who is 100% committed and can afford to ride a bike that is more expensive on tyres than fuel. It perfect for me but for 99% of riders it isn't. In fact '04 was the last year they made a full 650 the 05 on are 628cc - they reduced the stroke to make the bike more managable for a bigger group of riders.

The 04 WP forks are a bit harsh. They got heaps better in 06. The electric leg will not start the bike when cold (common on 04 650's). Two throttle pumps and one kick with choke do it every time though. After going for a Euro bike after many japs I doubt that I'll ever go back. To me, I'd rather spend a bit more time in the shed pampering and preparing an awseome bike than riding a lower maintenance lower powered bike.


The answer to the question though is simple. What ever bike you can ride is the best one to you. If you have a JR80 it is the best until you get something else.

Any bike is better than none just ask a rider without a bike !!!
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Rowen
Full Member 2013/2014

Posts: 227
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2007, 01,24:02 AM »
Quote
The Berg 650 demands a big, strong, fit, fearless and skilled pilot who is 100% committed
Quote


Ha ha ha, im pissing myself. LOL

Good one Paul.    :lol:
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Paul Smith
Guest
« Reply #5 on: July 24, 2007, 12,58:48 PM »
Quote from: Rowen S
Quote
The Berg 650 demands a big, strong, fit, fearless and skilled pilot who is 100% committed
Quote


Ha ha ha, im pissing myself. LOL

Good one Paul.    :lol:


Yep quite a few people have told me that I should be committed - is that what they mean ?

 :lol:

I forgot to mention that the 300exc hauls ass as well. I know there is a big ass joke in there but I'm not game to touch it just incase my glass house shatters !!
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Greg C
Guest
« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2007, 01,14:50 AM »
I ride a 525 EXC and love it...best bike I've ever owned and this is the longest time I've ever held onto a bike as I just dont see any good reason to part with it.  It still runs strong and is basically the same tech as an '07 model with the exception that the newer 525 got tamed a little too much for my liking.  Yeah the '03 is the brutal one Tongue

Obvviously I like the power delivery.  Why?  Basically because I'm one lazy bastard.
I may be a bit quicker on lets say, a 250cc 4 stroke...but the effort required to maintain that pace on a smaller bike is more than I'm prepared to put in hehe.

Suspension is okay but I never liked the forks, but after removing some bushings and drilling some holes in the inner sliders, they've improved out of sight.

Other things like jetting was very simple...I just threw in a JD kit (easy as pie) and noticed an immediate improvement, especially the mileage, but I also did the Honda diagphram mod at the same time so the improvement in fuel consumption could be attributed to this as well.

Also have heated hand grips coz I'm a girly man and I'm putting in a Rekluse auto clutch as we speak...not for any riding advantage (I prefer the clutch actaully) but because I've developed chronic teninitis in my clutch fingers and literally cant use the clutch after about 30 minutes from pain.  I can hang on all day without pain but as soon as I clutch...OUCH!

What else...I hate that it chews rear knobblies.
I love lofting the front over anything, any time without any effort (the lazy factor again).
The front brake takes some getting used to...gets a bit squishy.
Maintanance I would say is low...well lower than what I would expect from such a high performance bike.  I've had this bad boy for over 3 years now and I've adjusted the valves 4 times.  In all those times the valves have been bugger all out anyway.  The first adjustment was the worst but since then they've been great.  3 years...countless kms and 4 adjusts...go figure.  Actually make that 5 ajusts as I'm about to tear into her before the ride this weekend.
I do run Flashlube fuel additive though so maybe this has something to do with the valave reliability.

I probably could change the oil in her more often.  Sometimes I let it go for anything up to 1000kms but I've torn into the gearbox and clutch for a look and not a shred of wear anywhere.  Barrel still looks like new and not a mark on the piston...havent checked the ring gap but hey it doesnt blow smoke Wink

Basically I've put this thing through the wringer for 3 years and it wont quit and thats why this bike is the best ever made kthxbye.
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dennisd
Full Member 2012/2013

Posts: 222
« Reply #7 on: August 03, 2007, 10,31:47 AM »
Well I have ridden Ken's FE550 and it is indeed avery nice bike. Very easy to ride and feel comfortable and confident on. It goes up hills very easily. However I must disagree with Ken, I think the brakes are crap! A death trap. Maybe it is just me and the way i like to have my brakes set up, but I have never yet had a problem with the front brake locking up - yet the front wheel was locked tight and it was a little hairy for a little while riding with the front wheel locked. Just as well I had done the Heffernan advanced rider training and practiced the trick of riding with the front wheel locked.

I normally ride a Yamaha - a WR450 and I think it is great. Much better brakes than the Huzaberg. Heaps of power, but you can also ride fairly slowly and it still goes well. My only real compaint is that it is abit tall for me - I have lost count of the times I have fallen off because I could not reach the ground with my feet. The trick is to just keep going and not try to put your feet down. The Yamaha is also pretty good in that you do not really have to do anything other than good tyres to be trail ready. These days they come with bark uster style hand guards, pro taper bars and you do not need a steering damper like on a KTM...and the suspension is pretty good straight out of the crate. All I ever hear about KTMs is the maount of modes to steering and suspension to get it right. Whatever you buy, a good metal bash plate is a must.

You will do very well with any of the bikes suggested. Much of it is person preference and what you get used to. Of course cost and maintenance comes into the equation as well. And it is important to consider the size of fuel tank and gence touring range. It amazes me that Yamaha and others put such tiny fuel tanks on their newest bikes - useless. My WR450 is an '04 with 10 litres, but the new ones only have 8 - crazy.

Have fun.

Dennis
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Dirtpilot72
Full Member 2012/2013

Posts: 613
« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2007, 02,20:00 AM »
Dont listen to people that own only one bike because what would they know. I own 12 bikes ranging from 50cc to 1150cc. That makes me a bit of an authority on the subject!!!!!! First of all forget Hasselbergs. What the owners of these outdated machines fail to tell you is that they fall to pieces after about 1000km. The technology was new in 1989. They are made by KTM as their budget cheapo line if you cant afford a KTM. I highly recommend the Honda CT110 as the perfect bike. They are Australias top selling motorcycle since 1979. They are cheap to buy. You can buy 6 of them for the price of 1 Hackberg. They are light at 100kg, low seat hight (D.Dorman take note), relieble(50000km between rebuilds), have a pack rack, crash bars and cheap spare parts(you wont need any). They under the seat fuel tank was copied by the now bankrupt VOR motorcycle company. The new 450 BMW has copied many CT110 features such as the fuel tank. If you are a really good (really really good) then i would recommend a BMW 1150 GS. Advanced technology such as fuel injection, twin cylinders, shaft drive ect make this the weapon of choice for the serious rider. 250km top speed and tons low down power, what more do you need. If these bikes dont suit you then get a Yamaha WR250F. Its simply the best!
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Peter r
Full Member 2013/2014

Posts: 2482
« Reply #9 on: May 03, 2010, 09,26:22 AM »
Any Bike is Better than no Bike !!
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chrism

Posts: 338
« Reply #10 on: May 03, 2010, 10,32:38 AM »
I don't think the new Berg's are old tech and there certainly not cheaper than a KTM.

I think the best bike is a WR450f, and I own one!!
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