What bike should i buy?

If that 501 is really an 05, with the FCR and KOKUSAN, I would say you already have the best there is.

Save your money and continue to ride the 501.

The 450 will have less power at low rpm and the 550 will have more.

I have a 00 501 and a 04 550. I had SEMs stator failures on the 501 and got the 04 550 with the KOKUSAN because of the higher reliability. I would have gotten a 501 if they had been available in the USA.

I still prefer the 501 engine for my style of desert riding.

Regards,

Joe

in europe? in denmark? i'd go with the 450. it's got far too much power for most people. i think it'll be as powerful as your 501 except when climbing perhaps.

you don't need a 550 in europe.

regards

Taffy

yes they are spoilt in the states. fact is over here in europe we're lucky to hold the throttle flat for more than 3 seconds. so agility is paramount.

the best enduro machine by far is the KTM200EXC autolube which ktm stopped making 4 years ago. the next best machine is the yamaha WR250 which they stopped making 6 years ago.

regards

Taffy

you ask what bike should i buy ???

you have already bought it , it is parked in your garage . well done !!!

Taffy said:

yes they are spoilt in the states. fact is over here in europe we're lucky to hold the throttle flat for more than 3 seconds. so agility is paramount.

the best enduro machine by far is the KTM200EXC autolube which ktm stopped making 4 years ago. the next best machine is the yamaha WR250 which they stopped making 6 years ago.

regards

Taffy

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I know sometimes the machinery you get in europe varies from our own as the dates don't seem to jive,but just to satisfy my curiousity,are you talking about the old WR250 two stroke?It seems to me it ceased to be imported over here long before that.I always thought it was a long overdue,merciful death.

Fordster,
The Yamaha wr250 2t was in the line as late as 1999 here,they were not selling well so many thought they were gone .Taffy is correct ,by my thinking as well the 200 exc/mxc is a great woods bike....mine is not for sale

.SIXDAYS
( If we drive outside the closed tracks, we have to pay 180% tax for the plate, my BERG would cost 18.000 $ for the plate only. But it rains 50% of the time ??? What does this mean..If you ride a off-road bike and do not ride on MX tracks or other closed circuit tracks,you have to pay 180% of the cost of the bike in tax?Is it illegal to ride off-road anywhere except closed circuit tracks in Denmark?.

Nsman,I agree the 200exc is a good bike.The 2t WR250 I only rode once and thought it was an awful,underpowered,ill handling pig.Not that I'm a big fan but I always thought the KDX line was much better although,obviously,no EXC.

yes i was on about the old WR250 from 1999 and the french were still getting them in 2000. they've got a mythical status over here amongst some people although i myself, never rode one.

regards

Taffy

ford832 said:

Nsman,I agree the 200exc is a good bike.The 2t WR250 I only rode once and thought it was an awful,underpowered,ill handling pig.Not that I'm a big fan but I always thought the KDX line was much better although,obviously,no EXC.

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Yeah KDXs are real rocket ships :lol: :lol: :lol: . A WR250 would smoke any KDX. The WRs imported to the US never progressed beyond the '94 YZ250 motor, which although hard to jet was pretty fast. I have a '98 "Canadian" model which was way different than the US spec WR. The US WR stayed the same from '94 to '97 when they quit importing them here. I've ridden both KDXs and KTM 200s and can say they wouldn't touch a "Canadian" spec WR250 (or US WR) in any way except maybe handling. The awful bulbous tank on the US model WR caused it to handle poorly, but with the same tank and geometry as a YZ250, the Canadian model handled like a YZ, which ain't bad. I had Noleen install an OHLINS 360cc kit in my WR and it hits like and open bike, according to a French friend of mine, they love these things over there. Yamaha guys freak out when they see "Ohlins-Made In Sweeden" cast into the cylinder!

I don't believe I said they were "rocketships"-just a better woods bike.I've been wrong before though so maybe I'll ask Jeff Fredette.A CR500 is a "rocketship" but I wouldn't want to ride one on the woods.As for an old WR250 smoking a KTM 200EXC it may-in a straight line but I have my doubts-having ridden the WR,200EXC,and KDX220.Hard to believe that the KDX sells well due to being a good forgiving woods machine-the EXC line sells well due to being a racier version of the same-and the WR is dead.Oh well,if the French like them,I guess thats good enough for me
BTW,living in Canada as I do,the one I rode was a Canadian model.

sixdays said:

Hi nsman
Yes, we have to pay 180 tax, if we use it outside the track, and yes off-road is illigal in public places, so we don´t pay the tax on the enduro machines ( a few does), but my KTM 640 Adventure costs about 25.000$ with the tax Strange country!

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Are all vehicles driven on public streets and roads charged that 180 tax?

Regards,

Joe

ford832 said:

As for an old WR250 smoking a KTM 200EXC it may-in a straight line but I have my doubts-having ridden the WR,200EXC,and KDX220.Hard to believe that the KDX sells well due to being a good forgiving woods machine-the EXC line sells well due to being a racier version of the same-and the WR is dead.Oh well,if the French like them,I guess thats good enough for me
BTW,living in Canada as I do,the one I rode was a Canadian model.

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The Canadian models were the same as the YZs of their respective years, except softer suspension, 18" rear wheel, kickstand, lighting coil, and wr tranny. So what you are saying is that YZs are ill handling and underpowered when compared to KDXs and KTM200s. I too have ridden a KDX200, my boss' wifes, it was a cute little bike that did turn well and had crappy suspension. The KTM200 I rode is my buddies girlfriends, and was also a cute little bike, a little faster than the KDX but way underpowered and undersuspended compared to a WR/YZ 250. If you girls like those bikes, fine with me.

Your reference to Fredette's success on the KDX reminds me of my riding buddies constantly sighting Summers success on the old XR600s back in the '90s, and how that proved their POS 600s were superior to my Husky 610. Id always ask what they liked better about the XR, the heavier weight, or the fact that they make far less power. :lol: If that 550 is too much for you in the woods, I could loan you my girlfriends XT225!

In reguards to the point of this thread, I say if your 501 isn't doin it for you, step up to a 650 rather than a 450 or 550. They weigh practically the same, and it's easier to just mind the throttle in the tight stuff, than it is to swith to a bigger bike in more open terrian!

The Canadian models were the same as the YZs of their respective years, except softer suspension, 18" rear wheel, kickstand, lighting coil, and wr tranny. So what you are saying is that YZs are ill handling and underpowered when compared to KDXs and KTM200s. I too have ridden a KDX200, my boss' wifes, it was a cute little bike that did turn well and had crappy suspension. The KTM200 I rode is my buddies girlfriends, and was also a cute little bike, a little faster than the KDX but way underpowered and undersuspended compared to a WR/YZ 250. If you girls like those bikes, fine with me.

Your reference to Fredette's success on the KDX reminds me of my riding buddies constantly sighting Summers success on the old XR600s back in the '90s, and how that proved their POS 600s were superior to my Husky 610. Id always ask what they liked better about the XR, the heavier weight, or the fact that they make far less power. :lol: If that 550 is too much for you in the woods, I could loan you my girlfriends XT225!

In reguards to the point of this thread, I say if your 501 isn't doin it for you, step up to a 650 rather than a 450 or 550. They weigh practically the same, and it's easier to just mind the throttle in the tight stuff, than it is to swith to a bigger bike in more open terrian![/quote]

Don't get me wrong HFM.I'd never for a minute suggest that anything was superior to your super manly Husky or WR.Perish the thought.Although,I suspect I know who really rides the XT. And no,I don't find the 550 too much although I've yet to own a bike(including 125's) that I could truly ride to it's potential-not as manly as some I suppose :roll: Rereading your posts however,and your advice to go bigger for the open areas and deal with it in the tight stuff I would have to say your version of the woods and mine are two different places.Mine is exactly what it sounds like,not fields and fireroads with the odd tree thrown in to break the monotony.I'd definately be interested to see your Husky and WR in action.If you ever feel like an east coast vacation-look me up.I'm sure I can arrange a ride or two.As for what bike to buy(this has been alittle off topic although I am enjoying myself )I would have to say simply whatever suits your riding style,terrain and abilities.BTW,maybe what your POS XR riding buddies liked about their mounts was their ability to get them back home again-not necessarily a bad trait you know.....

ford832, Sorry man, I must of hit a nerve, just ribbin ya. Bad habits I learned from Thumpertalk I guess, you didn't use to ride a DRZ400 did ya? The last time I threw a leg over the 225 I had to go see a proctologist to get it removed! OUCH! The sight of a 320lb guy on a XT225 seems to be quite funny, according to my neighbors laughter.

For the record all my XR lovin' buddies switched to them new fangled water cooled YZFs years ago. Welcome to the '80s. They can't believe they rode those POS XRs and now think my 610s are cool. I know of two of them who lost XR600 engines, and one tranny-yet my '95 610 lives on with a bazillion miles, octagon shaped Excells and all (So. Nev. is sorta rocky).

Being a died in the wool Chevy man, I guess we're genetically predisposed to scrap! All in fun.

Not at all HFM.This kind of thing is right up my alley-ask nsman or Kelsow I hate to see it end this easily.The east coast ride offer still stands though.My sister in law lives in Elko and is coming down this summer so maybe you could smuggle yourself and a few husky bits in with the baggage.How heavy could the carry on be? :lol:

BTW,I only ever rode a DRZ/KLX once.It belonged to a friends boss.I took it around the practice track and when landing one of the jumps my lower extremities met hard with the bikes' upper extremeties.I rolled off it in the pits and that was it for me :cry: