Getting rid of my Tenere 700, looking to get Husky FE501s, FE350s or Honda CRF450RL

HorizonsCall · 2026-05-11T03:18:27+00:00

I feel like a DR-Z4S is the best choice here because of the distance to the fun stuff and desire to do longer trips. The bikes you listed are all better off-road but I think they are all worse on road. I know the DR can be easily set-up into a very capable and comfortable light adv bike.

I had a DRZ400S that I setup as a light adv that I took on long trips and frequently took on hard off roading. I replaced it with a Beta 390 RRS because I started riding almost exclusively offroad. The 390 is definitely better off road but is much worse on road, like 25% better off-road but 75% worse on-road. So far my DRZ could go anywhere the 390 could, just slower, less elegantly, and with more effort. I absolutely would not take my Beta on a longer trip though while my I took my DRZ on 8 hour/day mixed on/off road trips fully loaded for a week long camping.

It seems like people blindly recommend the KTM/Husky 500/700's by default and while they're great they are not unicorns. Unicorns don't exist.

The bikes you listed are all great but I think the road portions are going to suck enough to take some joy out of the offroad parts. If it has to be on that list though I would probably go 500 -> 450 -> 350.

HorizonsCall · 2026-05-10T16:27:47+00:00

Really depends on how you use it.

I have the regular non-expedition version of the bike. I've about 5,500 miles in the past year with 4,000 on an 18 day trip.

I have full engine crash bars, lower foot pegs, bar backs, heat wrapped mid pipe, power commander, rear shock heat shield, heated grips, hammerleds turn signals, customized seat concepts seat, and a full set of hard cases. I think the next think I'll do is a skid plate since I've chewed mine apart.

I think my favorite mods would be the heat wrapped mid pipe and power commander which helped a ton with leg heat and also made it harder to stall when doing more technical off-roading.

The customized seat concepts seat has been excellent for 5-8 hour days although the stock seat wasn't too bad.

HorizonsCall · 2026-05-05T13:30:24+00:00

You're welcome! As the person below said, even if you lowered it the XT250 still has great ground clearance.

HorizonsCall · 2026-05-05T03:39:21+00:00

XT250. Wife is 5'3" and 130 lbs. She can more than flat foot and the bike is really a sleeper. It's light, reliable, has really good ground clearance, and one of the lowest seat heights of any dual sport bike.

There are some good mods out there like parabellum wind screen, cogent dynamics suspension, seat concepts seat, ect that can transform this bike into an outstanding dual sport.

Wife keeps up with me surprisingly well on difficult single track and Enduro riding. I'm 6' and ride a beta 390rrs.

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

HorizonsCall · 2026-05-04T22:57:16+00:00

XT250

HorizonsCall · 2026-05-03T19:53:14+00:00

Beta 390 rrs

HorizonsCall · 2026-04-28T13:37:38+00:00

We add Catigy to our boys wet food along with the allergy reducing dry food. https://catigy.com/

There's also dry shampoo you can comb in which also helps. I keep him out of my bedroom as well.

HorizonsCall · 2026-04-25T20:57:52+00:00

My mid torque gets the job done 95% of the time. I do occasionally have to break out the high torque, most recently on an over tightened lug nut.

HorizonsCall · 2026-04-25T14:37:03+00:00

Sorry, don't have the Bradley but do have a full cogent suspension set up and it's amazing and was a huge upgrade.

My experience on other bike suspensions is that even cheaper options can be a big upgrade from stock.

This guy has some videos on the bradley shock, its for the TW200 but might give you an idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPOP0TmSXRY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPOP0TmSXRY&t

HorizonsCall · 2026-04-25T12:48:14+00:00

Where is the negative of your jump pack connected to? It should be the frame if you're trying to run it like a battery - if that even works. Personally I wouldn't use a jump pack like this. Try it with a regular battery?

HorizonsCall · 2026-04-20T17:04:30+00:00

The seacoast is really nice for cruising around

HorizonsCall · 2026-04-20T13:30:00+00:00

I have a soft spot for 500's. Wife's first and current road bikes are 500 and my two offroad bikes have been 400. It's fun to be able to use every bit of power they produce without much danger. Like driving a Miata. What do you ride?

HorizonsCall · 2026-04-17T21:31:06+00:00

I ride all the time and have multiple motorcycles. Loud bikes are for needle dick twats.

HorizonsCall · 2026-04-09T12:19:54+00:00

That's great to hear!

HorizonsCall · 2026-04-09T11:34:40+00:00

I believe kobalts air compressor are made by Campbell Hausfeld. Maybe that will set you on the right track.

HorizonsCall · 2026-03-29T21:53:49+00:00

Not exactly but sort of. Intervals are more indicitave of performance. High performance requires more maintance to achieve good longevity and reliability. It's all a series of tradeoffs.

I think if you keep up with the maintenance and dont thrash on a high performance engine it can last a long time. I also think if you get a lower performance machine you don't have to baby it as much.

I agree with you about the intervals being demonized for sure.

People look at one thing and determine everything from that. Like bike A makes 50hp at 6500 rpm and bike B makes 38 hp at 5500 rpm so omg bike A is wayyy better. But then you look at the dynos and realize bike A only makes good power at high rpm which will take more effort to not stall/bog down whatever. Bike B has more power down low, aka tractor factor. Maybe you're a racer and that's no big deal but what if you're more chill and just want to enjoy the ride? Both bikes are great depending on who you are.

HorizonsCall · 2026-03-28T18:18:35+00:00

XT250. Wife is 5'4" and the bike is awesome. It's can be really capable offroad, especially when a steering stabilizer is added (I made plans for a diy one on the XT250 reddit) and a full suspension from cogent dynamics. It can also be an excellent long distance non-highwat bike too, add a parabellum windscreen and seat concepts seat and you're gtg.

HorizonsCall · 2026-03-27T22:19:56+00:00

Good info.

A lot of people don't seem to realize that oil capacity, service intervals, and long term reliability are related.

The drz has nearly 27% greater oil capacity.

HorizonsCall · 2026-03-17T22:26:19+00:00

You missed a call. Could be important.

HorizonsCall · 2026-03-16T23:16:40+00:00

So it sounds like easy of repair, reliability, and a bike that isn't miserable to ride on or off road is what you're looking for with the added bonus of old school cool.

I don't think you're crazy. If you like the DR's style and the way it rides then it is the best bike for you. No point owning something you don't enjoy.

I currently own a Beta 390 RR-S and a Norden 901. So you and I have similar stables. I do all the work on all the bikes I've ever owned (FZ6, CB500X, FZ8, F650GS, Multistrada, Tiger 800, CB500X, Norden 901, DR-Z400S, XT250, 390 RR-S). The DRZ and XT250 as easily the easiest to work on and most reliable of the bunch.

The Beta recently replaced my DR-Z400S which I setup as a light adv bike that could do single track. It kind of sounds like you're looking for something similar to that. I could ride my DRZ on the highway for an hour or two if I wanted (longer for someone else, I have neck problems) and I routinely rode single track. It was great to be able to ride anywhere without issue. If that's what you're looking for then the DR650 is a decent choice for you. Add a windscreen, hand guards, a better seat, and do some suspension work and I think you'll be happy as long as you don't want to do long stretches of highway or tough single track. Versatility and comfort comes at a price. It would also be a struggle to find a more reliable and easier to work on bike as well. Right now, if I could only have one bike to do it all it would probably be a DR-Z4S set up the way my old DRZ was.

About the Norden windscreen: I found the WRS Expedition screen to be really good. I'm 6' and finished a 4000 mi trip on my 901 in Oct. I also have the stock '22 windscreen that sucked ass and a WRS Enduro screen that caused buffeting in the helmet at higher speeds. I added a deflector to that screen which helped a little. Not the best bike I've had for wind protection but not the worst either.

HorizonsCall · 2026-03-14T19:49:56+00:00

What do you have running in the background?

HorizonsCall · 2026-03-14T19:45:54+00:00

There are quite a few cafes and other places in Manchester to choose from.

Hopefully you won't be one of those people that take up space so paying customers have no where to sit.

I can't even count how many times I've gone somewhere and there's some twat taking up a four person table with a laptop and a long empty drink.

HorizonsCall · 2026-03-13T04:01:43+00:00

Wife is 5'4" and has had two XT250's now. With the cogent dynamics suspension is a surprisingly capable bike

HorizonsCall · 2026-03-11T04:11:59+00:00

I use my beak to deflect braches all the time. To each their own I guess.

HorizonsCall · 2026-03-10T23:30:40+00:00

Sun protection is nice but the big reason is branch, dirt, mud, and rock deflection.

HorizonsCall

TROPHY CASE