Java

But my biggest complaint about MX bikes is the maintenance required. I am hearing that you have to rebuild the top end on the new thumpers about every 40 hours or so.

I just want something low maintenance, enough power to ride aggressively and enough suspension to handle both trails and track time.

From all my research, there are few bikes that fit this description.

XR has the bulletproof motor, but weak suspension (for tracks at least). MX bikes have the performance and suspension but need more routine maint. and top end jobs like the 2 stroke family. I am willing to sacrafice performance for reliability and maint. I just want to know that when I get out there, I can ride whenever I want without having to worry about compression, piston/rings, etc.

I hate working on things so reliability is always top of the list. In all my 30+ years of riding, I have not found a bike yet that is as reliable as the XR family.

A MX bike would be lots of fun to ride, more nimble, etc. but I don't want the work associated with it. Frankly speaking, the reviews I have read on the new 4 strokers have left me leary of the newer bikes.

I would like to test ride a few just to see what I might be giving up, but the bike above had a real kick in the arse and super fast throttle response. Lot's of pull on the low end. Did not get a chance to really open it up, but it sure felt very strong through the first few gears.

I know it costs more than other XR's, but it also has a lot more aftermarket mods to support the additional cost. I know I am paying for some of his labor, but the bike is essentially only 3 years old.

tigmaster

that power has to come from somewhere. what kind of engine work was done to it because then u will be right back where u didnt want to be. well i guess it is still steel sleeved which makes one of the biggest differences in how long before a 4 stroke needs rebuilding. my bore is nikasil coated aluminum and wears like crazy. bike is an '04 and i could not find a hone mark on the wall and already had a ring lip just after less than 3 years. and to compare this, my car is steel sleeved and its a '96. the bore was perfect with the hone marks still intact. so i guess u save a lot of reliability by by a steel sleeved bike, even though 2 strokes are steel sleeved, but they wear because of the ports. also, im not trying to convince u to buy an mx bike, but u should be giving the same care to the xr as u would an mx bike. all i do on mine after a ride is wash the bike until its completely dirt free. should do this with the xr also. i clean my filter and airbox. should do this every ride with the xr also. yup thats about it. i check the air in my tires before i ride and once in a while take 2 bolts out to check valve clearance which u should do to the xr also. when it comes to a rebuild, which is done more often than the xr then if the piston is still good, a new set of rings is put in and the bore honed. my bike has an aluminum rear sprocket and so did that xr which means pretty quick sprocket changes. my rear tire my wear quicker also, but what i am trying to say is that you should be doing the same amount of maintenance to either of these bike but with thew xr u can get away with not doing it because it wont seem like anything is wrong.

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Java

Perhaps my next bike will be a CRF or WR and put in a steel sleeve and valves so it won't wear out so quickly. I guess I will need to talk with an engine guy to see about how to reduce the wear out factor of the newer 4 strokes.

Don't get me wrong, I love the new bikes, but I need to keep costs below $3K. As mentioned, all the bikes I saw were $4K and above for an 04 or newer. Therefore, I want to get a bike that is ready to ride and that is as close to what I want as possible.

As for maintenance, I agree that air filter, checking valves, etc. are all important, but having to change the oil every 5 hours of riding is way more than needed on an XR. That would be like every 2 rides for me. I could easily do 7 or 8 rides on the XR before changing the oil and it was never a problem.

I am not talking from experience of owning a newer MX bike but just going off of what I read on review sites. So I could be completely mistaken by the amount and type of maintenance required. But that is what put me off them.

I think they are damn sexy, but history with XRs goes back to 1971 and I know how solid these bikes are, I am much less familiar with these newer bikes so I would rather wait to see how well the technology proves out before spending a lot of money on one.

tigmaster

what makes the xr need an oil change less often? im not trying to be sarcastic but please tell me because idk a huge amount about the xr. the clutch is still submerged in the oil right?

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Java

I don't know enough about the new bikes to understand why they are higher maintenance.

However, I suspect it is similar to driving condtions for a car. For example, I drive an S2000 and I know that when I track it more, the oil breaks down faster and I have to change the oil more often that when I am street driving. I change the oil in the car after a day or weekend of track time. However, when street driving, I can go 5K before needing an oil change. The big difference is that I am constantly pushing the car harder on the track, reving it higher and running it hotter.

To get the performance out of these motors, they are essentially using F1 technology (same as my S2000) which means these newer engine components are thinner, lighter and the motors work harder, rev higher, generate more heat, higher compression and under much more stress. All this adds up to more maintenance, more frequent oil changes and top end replacements.

wr250f95

the yz250f revs to 13,000 rpms, the xr revs to around 8,000.
the yz has a more compicated engine.

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"LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY IN A WELL PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT, SHOUTING'...HOLY S**T... WHAT A RIDE!"

this, is why I ride.

tigmaster

ok, so u want a bike that u wont be riding very hard? u just want a trail bike?

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I want a multi purpose bike. When riding with wife and daughter, I want something that will comfortably cruise with plenty of low end pull and torque.

When riding with friends, I want something that will jump when I twist the throttle, that has the power peformance to keep up.

I want something that will climb hills like a mountain goat without having to keep the revs up just to stay in a power band.

I want something that can handle the bumps and jumps of track and trail.

It does not need to be the very best of any one quality, but something that is good at all of them.

Like they say, Jack of all trades, master of none.

wr250f95

an xr400 may be a better choice.

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"LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY IN A WELL PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT, SHOUTING'...HOLY S**T... WHAT A RIDE!"

this, is why I ride.

tigmaster

ya, i would suggest a bigger bike if u dont want an mx series.

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