After 10 years or so of not riding at all, I decided for my 30th Birthday present to myself that i was going to do something about it.

Picked up what appears to have been a bit of a bargain 2000 DR 125, went and did CBT again, did the theory test and last weekend passed Mod 1 DAS and hopefully getting around to Mod 2 shortly.

In the past I'd always had two strokes, mostly competetion bikes (CR's mainly) but I did have a KMX 125 on the road while I was 17.

The little DR runs fairly well (just need to have a play with gearing and maybe the jetting a bit yet) and is fairly tidy but I know they're not the most desirable of bikes as they are fairly sluggish (in comparison to say the XLR 125) and I like the fact that off road it seems to be able to surprise those on more conventional bikes so I'm getting kind of attached to it.

I'd liken it to a Serow in terms of physical size but with a bit less go - but it does still make me smile.

I'm a bit torn as which direction to go really; I'm looking to end up with a bit of an all rounder at the moment, something that I can get away for some short trips on, maybe take in a few lanes on a weekend and an odd bit of commuting.

But, I've always had a hankering for an XR 250/400 or a DR 350. I know deep down the XR or DR would probably be the more sensible choice but for what the little DR stands me at, am I daft for thinking about maybe doing a few subtle mods and hanging on to it?

There's very little info online that I can find on the DR 125 but from I can gather I should be able to drop in a set of earlier RM 80 big wheel forks for an extra inch or so travel on the front - not got very far on the rear yet.

There's nothing wrong with small engined bikes, but if you're just after an 'all-rounder', you'd surely be better off with the mid-engined trailie. Almost as nimble at slow speed or when man-handling it, but loads more go and happier cruising at speed. Being able to lift up your front wheel easily is a massive advantage on the trails.

Finding a good DR350 is hard these days, and they all die the same way - top end wear - so fixing up a duff one isn't too easy. I've fancied an XR400 for quite some time, as an alternative low-tech mid-sized trailbike, though I've always been a bit worried by the 5 speed gearbox.


The thing I always liked about 125s was how physically small they are/can be. The last cg125 I had ended up styled as a 1960s trial bike rat, and I could pick the thing up off the ground entirely (despite being very scrawny). If your dr125 is sized up more like a bigger trailie (I've never seen one), then it seems to me you're missing one of the biggest reasons for having a 125.

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UK to Mongolia 2009, on a DR350

Cheers for the reply,

Physically it is quite a small bike, about 7 inch or so of travel at each end and fairly short wheelbase - we had a bit of a play round in an old gravel pit a few weeks ago and most guys were on trials bikes but there was a DR 250 and a DR 350 along too. Everyone was fairly surprised at what my little DR would do, what it lacks in power it makes up for in agility. I ut some wider and slightly taller bars on t to make it less cramped and that's helped make it more comfortable and also makes ridign stood up easier now too. I'm not what you'd call lanky but not really a big lad either at 6ft and 13st.

I did get a go on the 250 and the 350 - despite them sharing loads of bits they rode totally different, the 250 was quite revvy but almost a bit more awkward (jap import trail version with various oddities like auto height adjust suspension) whereas the 350 was just ace (why oh why did I not swap from two strokes when racing).

Finding any DR350 seems to be getting harder from what I've seen - there's a few of the steel tank trail versions appear from time to time on ebay but not many of the kick start, plastic tank ones.

How do/did you find your 350 on longer road days?

One thing I really like about the Xr's is the agricultural nature of them - they sort of remind me of a landrover in many ways in that you could pretty much carry a big hammer, an adjustabe spanner and a big screwdriver to fix them with

DRZ400S.... Good greenlaner and takes very little to turn it into a competent travel bike. If a little slow on the highways.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

It's one I've looked at but at the moment I don't think I can stretch my budget to a DRZ for a bit.

Do the DRZ have any weak points to look out for when looking for one though?

Might have done something a bit daft, just bought a mostly complete older DR 125 on ebay for £70 - figured it's worth that for a spare set of (ali) wheels and tyres, engine and brake parts, so it might be staying a bit longer

Just sold my XR400 (had 2 for 7 years between them) - great bikes but no electric start and no ignition security. The former is expensive to retro fit and the later means commuting is an issue (I had 2 since the first one got nicked). If that's not an issue I'd highly recommend one.


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True, no proper ignition switch on the XR400. I simply fit a hidden switch that interrupted juice to the coil. DONE. NO START.

Switch was hidden up under side panel. $3 switch, ten minute hook up.

If your bikes get nicked a lot it's not a bad idea to fit a hidden Ign. switch even on bikes with a proper key ignition. I've done this on several bikes that had to sit on City street all day when I was commuting. But if the thieves have a Van and Batt operated Disc grinder ... all bets are off.

I must be a sadist, I love kickstart bikes

I'm in Australia at the moment, travelling on an old XR600. It's completely rooted at the moment, but am about to blow a load of money on it (done this a few times already) resurrecting it. Over here all XRs come with a bizarre electrical system:
Ignition is like normal, direct off its own coil(s) on the stator.
Head and tail lamps are normal, direct AC off the stator. (lighting coil)
But there's also a DC circuit that runs the indicators/brakelamp/horn. No battery, but a capacitor instead so they still work at idle. This a different set of windings on the stator as far as I understand it.

This is standard on XR400/600/650R and I think 250 as well. Probably slightly heavier than the plain enduro setup that most markets got, but totally practical for trail/dualsport use. Some guys claim to power their GPS from the DC circuit, and/or fit a tiny battery so they charge a phone etc with the engine off.

I love my XR, but one of the many things I will be doing this rebuild, is improve its waterproofness so it doesn't get drowned going through the deeper creeks and rivers. Only managed about 12k km out of this piston because of that Not a problem with the design of the bike, just a problem with this one being 23 years old and knackered!

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UK to Mongolia 2009, on a DR350

Just reread your post mollydog, about kickstarting after laying the bike on its side. My xr600 hates that as well. Occasionally it'll go after a dozen kicks or so. But sometimes doesn't want to go at all.

My method:
Turn fuel off, hold throttle wide open, hold in decomp lever and kick about 20 times. Fuel back on, kick as normal and should go first kick.

I don't think it's the bikes, it's the shitty carbs that all XRs came with. Think the 400/600/650R are all basically the same horrible round slide carb. I've just bought an FCR cheap from a fellah on ADVrider. Once I do my engine rebuild this thing is going rip seriously Next step will be to track down a front end of a CRF or modern CR, then I'm going to enter the Finke Desert Race on it. Massive waste of money, and great way to hurt myself? Definitely! Fun? Bloody oath! Came off and broke my hand last month, jumping from a small rock step - Only thing that bothered me was having to tone down the riding for a bit! I love it all! Something to do with being young and free I think, that and having got married (to the girl I met on the mongolia trip), and realising how easy it is to get sucked into the monotony of normal life....

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UK to Mongolia 2009, on a DR350

Well, you married a beautiful, fun, sweet, adventurous and educated girl ... it was probably not too hard after all!

I mean, besides having your hairstyle messed up seriously....

Have fun on your desert race!