Where is this? I originally wanted to say Kitchen Creek, but they did a DAMN good job sealing that off! Lol Im thinking of getting a DRZ. Either that or a DR/XR 650. My KLR is so darn top heavy that any top case ruins the what little offroad performance it has. Always looking for that unicorn adv/dual sport that can crush 200 highway miles and 100 sabdy/rocky/washed out offroad miles in a single weekend lol
This is South Main Divide up above Wildomar, CA. I’ve done rides like you’ve described on my DRZ. It will do it, but it’s definitely not the most comfortable bike for long highway rides. Have you considered some of the newer offerings from Kove or CFMOTO? I’ve heard good things about their small adventure bikes. The new RE Himalayan also looks pretty cool. Ride safe!
For closed course stuff I agree, take everything off. Gotta carry tools and stuff on rides like this though. Don’t want to get stranded miles from the staging area with no way to get back. Not fun.
Just bought a 2024 drz400s over a crf300l. Only complaint is the weight. Feels top heavy. I just changed the sprockets and put knobby tires on because I mostly trail ride. Thing will climb a tree if you can hang on to it . Don't be afraid to drop it eather . It can take it
Enjoyed watching this. At one point in the video you mention firmer suspension. Did you put cannon racecraft springs in it and i so, what weights did you use. What was your total weight including your riding gear?
@@EachAdventure I ended up going with a KLR650 due to the types of riding and the fact that I felt the Versys was a bit too small for my size but I did enjoy riding it at the dealership! Either way, it's stuff like this that helps newbies like me make an informed decision and for that, I thank you!
Im 65 and have owned 20+ motorcycles, i just sold my Honda vfr1200f that dynoed at 193 hp. I spend my days now riding my DRZ, i love this bike. Ive put 4k miles on it in the last 4 months riding the Tahoe National Forest, i think its the best bike of this type you can get. 20/50 oil is the only recommendation i would make, otherwise its perfect.
DRZ is a great platform, the 400 is perfect for a starter bike. Aftermarket parts are somewhat inexpensive and widely available. I’ve been riding since the 70s and have had several DRZs. However, my current favorite is my XR 400 set up for dual sport. But at almost 60 the kick start only kinda sucks some days.
I've really enjoyed my DRZ. It's not the best bike for some of the more difficult rides I go on, but it will take you just about anywhere you want to go. I'd love to get my hands on an XR400 one of these days. Ride safe!
KX250F would definitely be a better bike for fast desert riding or on the track... but I think the KLX300R would a better choice for moderate trails or technical terrain.
CSC continues to make small improvements to the TT250. The price is still only $1995 plus fees. INCREDIBLE value. These bikes and cockroaches will be all that's left after the Apocalypse!
I'd really like to get my hands on a newer one just to see what the differences are. Most of the big concerns that I had have been addressed (speedo, lighting, etc), and some of the others like the skipping chain I think could be remedied by running a MX grade chain. Thanks for watching!
The KLX actually has relatively decent suspension, but it’s true that what comes on the CRF is not great. The suspension on the DRZ is actually quite good though, so that’s probably a good choice if it’s something you care about. Thanks for watching!
Daily contacts, my brother, and remember to blink. Not blinking and long-term contacts are likely culprits. It's the same anytime you're concentrating, whether that be on a dirt bike, at your desk, or wearing VR goggles. If you continue wearing glasses, use some dish soap on the lenses of your glasses to keep the fog away, and look into goggles built for glasses (they have extra foam and ventilation to help keep the glasses lenses a little farther from your face).
Thanks for the tips! I did end up getting daily contacts and they definitely help a lot. I’ll have to try the dish soap trick when I need to wear glasses. 🤜 🤛
I honestly feel like the weight makes it a bit more stable. It’s definitely a little less playful than an analog bike, but you don’t really notice the extra weight when you are moving.
Yup, I agree with both of those points. I ran a makeshift windscreen on mine for a while which did help, but I never swapped the tank because the aftermarket one isn't that much bigger. KLR is definitely the way to go for ADV... but you can do quite a lot with the DRZ even with the limitations.
Great video! I have a 400sm that is built for off road. If you ever want an extra riding buddy (safety in numbers) let me know. I gotta check out that main divide road now. Where is the entrance? Cheers!
Sorry for the late reply! I really like the SM model, and they look super cool when built for off road. The fires probably closed the whole mountain, but Main Divide is the first left turn you can make coming up Ortega Highway from Lake Elsinore. Most of this video is the section between the Wildomar OHV area and where it ends in De Luz/La Cresta. I’d also be down for a ride, but my schedule is extremely hectic right now so unfortunately I don’t have a lot of time. Thanks for watching and ride safe!
Thanks for the video. Looking at buying one of these as I want something light that can do both highway and some off road that isn’t too insane. Liked and subscribed 👍
Thanks! It's definitely a unique bike. It's cool to see that there are new options coming out this year as well. I'd take a look at the CFMoto IBEX 450 and the new Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 if you haven't already. Ride safe!
I’m not super familiar with the ATV market these days, but something between 80 and 125cc would be good. As far as where to ride, anywhere in the desert is going to be good for beginners. El Mirage is a good spot for beginners, just don’t go on a holiday weekend because it can get pretty busy. Ride safe!
@@EachAdventure Here in Greece they are 2.5 used with plates. I'm looking into buying one and maybe eventually turn it into a race bike. There's nothing like it. Ktm is good, lighter and more powerful, but that Honda reliability is just a world of peace and fun without constant rebuilds.
That modification was done by the previous owner to accomodate a steering stabilizer. The stabilizer didn't come with the bike when I got it, but the switch was relocated to the pinch bolts on the upper part of the triple clamps.
I have a Bashan raven and it has a 3.4gl. i thought it was pretty much just a better built hawk (assembled in Texas), but that's pretty cool if the hawk has a 3.7gl 😮 you can get all the way across the state without a gas stop. I love mine, i like that the sprocket ratio is 17/46, she doesn't get buzzy till over 50mph. Still considering a 42 in the rear, im a small guy so not worried about torque. Basically turn her onto an adventure bike 😅 planning on ordering a windscreen this week too. Awesome content, would love to see more Chinese bike comparisons 👍👍
That’s awesome! It’s cool to see all the options that have popped up since I made this video. I sold mine a few years ago, but I’m strongly considering getting another one. I love the simplicity of the bike, especially in a world that is increasingly complicated.
Nice! The path looked a little bit better than last time. That time the dirt was all dried and cracked that you almost fell off. Shout out to Norco! Woot woot!
The trail is in much better shape now, but it’s super dry which results in very loose/slippery terrain. A small summer rain storm would be ideal. Fingers crossed! 🤞
Exactly how i feel.When ridong up i say i will never go uphil but on the downhill i say to my self i am gona come back.And the next day i am there again😂
The trail starts right here: goo.gl/maps/mj882qec5Cors6yL8 The access road that leads to the top is gated at the bottom, so you have to use the trails that are behind Ridge Ranch Park to get to the road. Ride safe!
DRZ (right model) has around 40np at the rear wheel and good reliability.Problem is it handles like a dump truck as standard.CCM had a good idea and used the DRZ engine in an all new chassis
@@EachAdventure i was thinking about that also!My crf 300l is underpowered IMHO, it shows if you are riding as a pack in more open terrain with guys of your level.problem is ccm very expensive secondhand here in greece and if you "make your own bike" it could end up costing 2/3 of the cost of a kove rally....prob best to buy the kove they are reallly very good...so far
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100% agree! It's actually made a pretty big difference so far. Endurance is much better now than before, and the confidence I have in the bike and my own abilities has gone way up.
I have 3000 miles on my D7 and it's great! As a Dirt Biker, I had to get used to the brakes but the trick is use two fingers on the rear and one on the front so if you panic and grab a handful of brake you won't lock the front. My trails are a lot steeper and rocky so you pay for mistakes with blood! Polygon is a lot of bike for the money. I have over 2000 miles on my Canyon E-Bike too!
That's awesome! I really like the bike and have ridden it a ton. What you said about the brakes also makes total sense. I'm more worried about switching back to the moto and grabbing the front break thinking it's the rear. 😬
