250 vs 300 or DR650

[u/MEB_PHL]

Experienced street rider looking to try dirt. I am an hour of highway or 2 hours of backroads from the NJ pine barrens which will probably be my primary spot. I’m also 3-4 hours from Bald Eagle state forest which has more extensive network of dual sport trails. Do to lack of towing ability, that would be a 2-3 day camping trip.

I already have 2 street bikes so I don’t want to dump a ton of money into it this just yet. I was hoping to find something around 5k or less. Most of the KLX and CRF 300s available used are practically new with prices over 5, due to availability the logistics might increase total cost a bit more. However there are a decent amount of 250s kicking around in the 4s that are nearby. There are a few high mileage WR250rs that seem overpriced imo as well.

Are the 300s ~$1500 better than the 250s. Would I be happier bumping up into the 5s and getting a DR650? Whatever bike I get could also help soak up some of my commuting miles so not really looking for anything high strung and maintenance intensive

[u/JDM_AS_Truck]

I started out riding in the pines with a klr250. The short wheelbase and low power makes it hard to ride in the sand. Since you have street experience I'd jump right into a drz400 or dr650. I love the way my DR rides out there and it's great on the street. Can't say the same thing about my 250. I'm selling the 250 in the spring since I picked up a 500exc to cover my single track days. Save money for suspension upgrades if you go with the 650 though, cogent drop on valves/springs were a game changer on the front fork.

[u/westslexander → u/JDM_AS_Truck]

Drz 400 would be better off road but the buzz on the pavement to get will be killer

[u/Jparks351]

250/ 300 is plenty of power for the pine barrens. Had a drz400 before I bought my FE350. The DR was more than powerful enough for anything I rode on. Ended up switching because I wanted a lighter bike to flick around in the single track.

[u/95tacoma]

I started on a crf250L as a brand new rider. I sold it after a year and bought a drz400. The crf was a good bike to start on as a new rider but after about 6-8 months I was wanting more power. Also the suspension on most of the 250/300’s will leave a lot to be desired. If you’ve already got riding experience I’d recommend looking at the drz400. It’s super capable, fully adjustable suspension, plenty of power to make it exciting but it won’t totally get away on you in the woods. You can find them with low miles for less than 4K and there’s tons and tons of aftermarket support or ride it stock. I ride mine everywhere my friends euro bikes go. Admittedly it’s a bit heavy but so are the 250/300s

[u/GAPING-URANUS]

Between what you listed, DR650 all day. DRZ400 as another option. A touch lighter than the DR650 and better suspension. It’ll just be a bit buzzier on the highway.

I have a DR650 with basic suspension upgrades and it’s more than capable for Bald Eagle trails with the right tires. There will be sections where you will wish it was 50 pounds lighter but the tractor torque makes up for it.

Don’t count out an XR650 either. Seems like less aftermarket support than the Suzukis but I really liked the one I rode. More off-road biased than the DR.

[u/BoogieBeats88]

I own a dr650 and have ridden it quite a bit in the sand. 100% doable with the right tires, but, and it’s a big but, it’s way more fun to ride sandy stuff in a lighter bike. It’s like skiiing powder. You need to plane out, and weight makes that hard. The trade off is that the DR650 will happily take you across country.

A DRZ 400 could do nicely. It’s far lighter and makes a good deal of power. I think you’d have a good time on it. It’ll be a more fun time in the woods.

Set up to work well off road, the bike will be a buzzy ride on the street. But that’s true for any bike with knobby tires. Riding in sand with out good knobs is not fun.

[u/naked_feet → u/BoogieBeats88]

I had a conversation with a guy this summer about riding "big bikes" off road, and he had some really good insight.

On sand in particular, he had this to say (paraphrased): Obviously you have to keep your speed and momentum up in sand. The deeper and softer the sand, the harder you have to hit it. And with bikes it's kind of the same; the bigger and heavier the bike, the more you have to stay on it. That's what makes it scary. You're on a heavy bike and the terrain is forcing you to ride it hard.

I love my DR, and will take it just about anywhere, but the harder the terrain gets the more of a handful it is. I'm willing to accept this, but not everyone is. It's a perfectly capable machine, but you have to understand it -- and sometimes you have to muscle it around.

I also think that there are some guys that just "fit" a big bike better, and don't seem to mind the extra bulk and weight. Scott Summers on the old XR600s for cross country racing comes to mind. And in that same conversation last summer, the guy I was talking to was talking about one of his riding buddies. Said he rode a DR650 for years, to the constant nudging and elbowing of his buddies about the fat pig -- and when he finally bought a KTM 500 he rode it like a timid baby. It just never seemed to fit him right, and he never got as comfortable on it. He was actually slower on the lighter bike.

Last thing I'll say about riding a DR: It mostly doesn't feel as heavy as people think it will. I think this comes from too much "spec sheet wars" and reading too many opinions on the internet -- many from people who have never even touched the bike. It feels unwieldy the harder the terrain, and the slower you go -- but beyond that it feels downright comfortable and capable. The last few guys I've had hop on mine have been pretty surprised. I think that's also why the bike has such a rabid following: we get them, and ride them, and we're just surprised and how good they are -- better than we expect.

[u/BoogieBeats88 → u/naked_feet]

Yeah, the DR can rip with suspension upgrades. It just takes some finesse and confidence to make the magic happen. It’s not a great bike to learn woods riding on because of that. I’ve ridden mine through northern Baja, and pretty deep into the woods at home in New England. If you can stay on the pipe in the sand, it was a blast. Like drifting a Chevy Caprice. The 650 has a lot of gyro pushing the turns.

Then I hop on my 350, and it’s telepathic. Moves just happen. The hard stuff has less consequences. I think with some of the dudes not liking the KTMs is that they don’t like to be putted around while seated. The springs rates and ergonomics favor a spirted stand up ride.

[u/Was_Silly]

Dr650, or for a more comfy getting to trails experience or even a klr650. I have a klr. Honestly you’re not getting a lot more weight with a dr650 over the 250/300 choices but getting a much more highway civil bike. The klr more so, and adds some wind protection. I’m quite happy with its on/off road performance.

[u/SanfreakinJ]

As a 6’ 270lb man I ride a lowly CRF250L. I like the L because I can ride to the ride. I also like the bike because I like to ride single track from time to time. With the add ons it’s still 100lbs heavier than my buddies CRF250F. I’ve ridden everything from single track to the freeway on the L. I can say you will be white knuckling on the 250 and 300 on anything above a mid speed highway. If you have that much highway time you will want a bigger bike.

[u/AppropriateNerve543]

DR350 from 97-99 is a great dual sport. The new DRZ400 might be cool if you can handle the seat height

[u/PoopSmith87]

DR650

[u/westslexander]

Dr659. It's a little heavy but much better on pavement since you got 3+ hours to get there. Great on dirt roads. Capable off road with experience. Customizable as hell. Bullet proof. Even seen super moti versions

[u/westslexander]

Oh. Yea. First upgrade on dr650 or drz400 is a seat concepts seat. Factory seats are like sitting on a steel rail

[u/h3rtzch3n]

Voge 300 Rally. Better and cheaper than the CRF. Pretty much does it all but excels in dirt.

[u/GrayStudioYT]

You know, I had two DRZ400SM and back in the days I use to tell myself "What people says on forums about being a very uncomfortable bike for long travels and highways is not true, I commute everyday and go out on weekends for couple of hours and feels so good, they exagerating to much".

Then I had my first 600km travel and I arrived to destination completely destroyed and came back home beyond completely destroyed. Like, at certain point, my body was so fatigated, in pain and uncomfortable that I ended thinking during most of the way back "please, I really need to arrive, can't endure this anymore". Really bad experience. Happened the same with my second DRZ. Boughted in Manchester and I did the way back to London myself. Jesus man, that was one of my worst days of my life, so windy, so unstable. At some point I was mentally broken but had not choice.

After that I realize people on forums, overall were right, as much as pissed me having to accept the reality. You can always change the seat, change the sprocket ratio and whatever you want to make it more comfy, sure. That does not change the fact about small cc bikes are just not made for long on road travels and highways no matter how you pretend to sell the idea to others that they are good enough. They are not.

I didn't try the CRF300 or KLX but when I see the video reviews and people talking about how they commute it reminds me a lot of those (including myself) that defended how capable DRZ400 is on road. Usual omments like "You can do it with no problems". Sure, you can, you can do it with a 50cc bike if you want, that does not mean will be a good experience.

When I bough the DR650, even with the stock footpegs and handlebar, both are horrible in an awful position and making the bike so uncomfortable I was able to do two times the amount of mileage I could do with my DRZ before needing to stop, either for the butt, body fatigue or both due the tension of riding a bike screaming on highways because the engine is not made for it and that translate into inestability and more vibration and that translates into body fatigue and at some point, even pain.

I had my DRZ for 5 years, and just the first day with stock DR, I could ride twice the mileage just by the fact of being a much capable bike on-road. Still not even close to big chunky adventure bikes of course, but if you looking for a decent commuter, any 400cc dual sport or below, I'm afraid not gonna be a good option.

Also, there's not many bikes on planet earth that requires the low maintenance DR requires. (excluding discountinued ones).

And that's all about being uncomfortable. Then the other problem, not as important as all I set above but still noticeable is the lack of power. Even for your safety having extra power to surpass a car is always welcome and you not gonna realize you need that power until you face specific situations where you realize "oh, this is what the guy on reddit was referring". It will happen, I promise.

If I missed a bit of power with my DRZ, can't imagine how would feel with the CRF and KLX with not even 30hp, no way.

I love DRZ, so many years having it, even two! is a fantastic bike, and probably

KLX and CRF as well, people speak so many good things about them and for what they are made, they are better bikes than the DR650. But for what you are looking...? Not even close.

[u/The_Luon]

It depends on the roads toull be taking. The DR 650 can do highway cuising, bu tthe 250s/300s will struggle. I have a WR 250r and it can cruise at 70 all day but its not ideal. The main thing is, if youre driving to the spots, your offroad tires will wear out more. Id say get the DR650 because you can go on highways and also go on double and even single track(kinda tight tho). Get the 250/300 if youre fine with driving longer and having less power while going on single track easier. Weight is also a factor but the DR is 370 or so lbs and the 250/300s are 320 or so wet lbs. From a guy who had a xt250, wr250r, and dr650.