Well I'm excited to say that I have finally replaced my trusty Siouxsie DR650 with a new mount. I found her on the mainland after nearly being tempted by an equally ravishing pumpkin in Victoria (EXC450). I have really missed riding off-road since last July and the De Cosmos Caper... Since then, I replaced my Cafe'd W650 with a Vstrom (Siouxsie-Too). A great bike it is, truly, but a true-dirt worthy bike it aint. Perish the thought. Those mag wheels getting a branch stuck in them? 472lbs, an exposed oil filter, and no way to switch of the ABS means that you are, at most, fire-road capable, but forget single track.
As you know, I have been looking for a svelte, sub 400cc bike (low insurance rates are a must), dual-sportable and a trusty mount for 6 months or so. My first choice was the tried and true DR400S. It fits the bill, the wallet and the insurance bracket, but the design is dated and it has a few issues, particularly the earlier models. All models suffer from a close-ratio 5-speed gearbox and a cramped (for me) riding position twinned with, at best, adequate suspension which all mean that for pure off-roading, it will need some modding. Something I don't mind doing, but I got my DR650 so good, that to go through all that again with a marginally lighter version would be counterproductive. Also I wanted a significant leap in off-road capability and weight savings, while retaining a semblance of dual sportiness and reliability. While the smaller DRZ is an improvement in off-road performance over a DR650, after a trying a few, it isn't as significant as I thought. In truth, after trying them, I was left a little cold. The other idea was a street-legal Yamaha WR250R. The suspension is better than a DRZ400, but the engine is buzzy and the power is down. For short jaunts, it would exciting and flickable, but for longer dirt trips, it might be tough going when laden with gear.
KTM have produced some lovely bikes that have always appealed to me. I have ridden a friend's KTM on several occasions and realized what they mean when they say "once you've sipped the cool-aid, you won't go back". They are a simply a class apart. Light and agile, they're alive in your hands, responsive to your every thought. They make riding a breeze compared with the heavier big thumpers from Japan, although, thanks to their racing heritage, they can be a little flighty and, like any thoroughbred, tempt you to go faster than you should... Certainly the few times I have tried the pumpkins, they have left an impression on me that I couldn't forget - they are truly, as one friend puts it, "a magic carpet ride". But the maintenance (oil, filters, valves) of many of them is far more intensive than a Jap thumper...a double edged sword then.
So I was caught in the middle then. I want it all: something reliable, fun in the dirt, light, agile and an easily handler. Something big enough to ride without being too cramped, but light enough to play. Something that can carry some camping gear, but not a monster. Something that is tractable in the technical stuff, sporty but not racy, daunting or wearing. I don't mind a regular maintenance schedule for oil and filter cleaning (something all dirt bikes need given the environment they operate in), but I don't want something that requires a ton of mods to make it trick enough to enjoy. And it must be road legal but cheaper to insure than a DR650, which means the KTM450EXC wasn't the perfect bike given the ccs. The new 350 probably would be, but the price...
And whatever this bike was going to be, it had to be 100% dirtworthy and at least 10% road worthy (just enough to be legal and get me the few miles to the trails). After all, my new "Dual Sport" doesn't have to be particularly well mannered on the road; I have a Vstrom for that.
So cue Ingrid. She is a 2010 Eurochick with some pedigree. I am very pleased with her so far, although I have only ridden her for a short jaunt, it was enough, despite her neglected cosmetics, to spend some hard earned cash on. She blew me away with her manners, suspension and engine.
Right now, as is tradition when any new bike gets into my garage, she is in pieces as I explore her inner workings. The Rekluse clutch has to go though! Luckily the original clutch parts came with her, and after checking valves, greasing swingarms and wheel bearings, replacing fluids and filters, I will be fixing the LED indicators and checking out the engine mapping. Lots to do then.
What is she? Well it's all in the name. Meet the coy Ingrid.
