to cross train or not to cross train.....

[automagp68]

So my wife is on a 2016 Freeride and i cant stand that POS

The brakes are a JOKE! They either lock or they do nothing.

I have tried every trick in the book. She has stainless steel pistons with the special coating on it. That crazy high temp rf6 brake fluid etc.

She has gone through 2 sets of fork seals from over riding the suspension etc. The tank size is a joke, the tuning was even worse and required me to drop $500 on a lectron. Just hate that bike. Have to tear it almost down to the cylinder to even put a spark plug in it

 

Im currently riding a 2017 beta rr after having been on ktm 300,s for the last 5 years. both XC and XCW new model every year.

I am really liking my Beta and have a few friends with Xtrainers that are in love with them.

Plopped down a deposit on one yesterday for her as a surprise. 

On the Beta xtrainer Facebook group i have seen lots of people having issues. Its making me nervous. Bad starters, tons of electrical problems, one guy even has a cracked frame.......

Am i trading one disaster in for another?

Wanted to hear from you xtrainer guys on what issues you have had on what year bikes.

I know the difference between the bikes riding wise very well as i have ridden them both extensively. More talking about reliability and failure.

 

 

 

[wwguy]

Other than suspension, the Xtrainer basically has the same core technology, design, and build reliability as your RR.

[FUHL]

Issues are more talked about then the good stuff. People report problems to find solutions.

I have had mine over a year, no complaints.

[ccullins]

I think if you search any bike (or  vehicle for that matter) you will find all kinds of issues from people. Most of the time when there are no issues people don't say anything. 

IMO most issues are owner related and caused by ether bad or no maintenance. Did the guy with the cracked frame keep his motor mounts tight and check his head stay? 

Really an X-trainer is as reliable as your 300, most of the same parts. How are your friends bikes? My uncle and his friend use them as dual sport bikes for a few years and have had no issues. 

I'd get one for my wife if she rode?

[matgaz]

2 hours ago, wwguy said:

Other than suspension, the Xtrainer basically has the same core technology, design, and build reliability as your RR.

What he said ^

[automagp68]

1 hour ago, matgaz said:

What he said ^

but slightly smaller frame right

 

[Marylander]

16 minutes ago, automagp68 said:

but slightly smaller frame right

 

Correct, the xtrainer has a smaller frame.

[automagp68]

20 hours ago, Marylander said:

Correct, the xtrainer has a smaller frame.

hmmmmm wait on an 18????????????

[ohiodrz400sm]

I had the horn terminals ground out on the frame which caused the display to go out and the engine management light to come on. After 30 minutes searching for a pinched wire I final noticed the arc marks on the frame. I also found the map switch came unplugged because the bullet terminals didn't fit tightly.

I have been riding mine hard for 10 hours. Other than the trials bike suspension settings ( which can be stiffened up reasonable cheap) it a fun bike to test yourself on the trails with

[bikesandcars]

It's in a category by itself, if you want one you know it. The minor gripes are worth the benefits of the overall package. Mine is running well zero problems, but not many hours, work is keeping me down

 

 

[automagp68]

7 hours ago, ohiodrz400sm said:

I had the horn terminals ground out on the frame which caused the display to go out and the engine management light to come on. After 30 minutes searching for a pinched wire I final noticed the arc marks on the frame. I also found the map switch came unplugged because the bullet terminals didn't fit tightly.

I have been riding mine hard for 10 hours. Other than the trials bike suspension settings ( which can be stiffened up reasonable cheap) it a fun bike to test yourself on the trails with

Trials bike suspension?

it can't be worse then the free ride, the suspension on the free ride is a joke

Im trying to just make sure I'm not throwing money out the window

But knowing how bad the free ride is I doubt its any worse

 

[weantright]

9 hours ago, automagp68 said:

Trials bike suspension?

it can't be worse then the free ride, the suspension on the free ride is a joke

Im trying to just make sure I'm not throwing money out the window

But knowing how bad the free ride is I doubt its any worse

 

XT has a slightly better suspension then a Freeride. Better brakes and frame geometry. Better motor and seat height. Just like all Betas you must check connectors, bolts, horn connectors and reset the chain tension when new. For those that use the bikes in wet terrain, waterproof these connectors. I like dielectric grease and use it on all my bikes. First bike to need a counter shaft seal was the XT. Overall the XT is a perfect bike for a smaller non high speed aggressive rider. She should like it better then the freeride. Wait for the info on the 2018 to be release and decided then.

[automagp68]

2 hours ago, weantright said:

XT has a slightly better suspension then a Freeride. Better brakes and frame geometry. Better motor and seat height. Just like all Betas you must check connectors, bolts, horn connectors and reset the chain tension when new. For those that use the bikes in wet terrain, waterproof these connectors. I like dielectric grease and use it on all my bikes. First bike to need a counter shaft seal was the XT. Overall the XT is a perfect bike for a smaller non high speed aggressive rider. She should like it better then the freeride. Wait for the info on the 2018 to be release and decided then.

I guess im going to end up with a 17, i dont want to wait untill late fall. Riding season for us in colorado will be over.

 

[Vultan]

I think the Freeride has good suspension, just needs stiffer springs and maybe a re-valve. The Formula brakes are my biggest complaint. We're bolting on my 2006 525 rear brakes on my loaner FR 350 and stainless pistons up front. I'm not a fan of the FR 250R, but LOVE the FR 350. I hope the 2018 FR 250F is just as fun!

I bought the 2016 300RR instead of the XT, because I had concerns about the supension. I like to ride slow, but have to ride fast often to keep up with my friends. I have stiffer fork springs and a re-valve, with clickers almost all the way negative for slow & technical trail. I also have the SC low seat, so I'm about the same height as the XT. It's my trials bike with a seat. I haven't been on the XT yet, but I'm sure I would have been just as happy with one of those. 

 

Edited June 24, 2017 by loynz

[ohiodrz400sm]

Trials bike suspension?



it can't be worse then the free ride, the suspension on the free ride is a joke



Im trying to just make sure I'm not throwing money out the window



But knowing how bad the free ride is I doubt its any worse



 

The suspension is downsized compared to most full size bikes, the shock more so than the fork.

I weight a little over 200 lbs and think the bike is a blast. It's the 1st true enduro bike I have ever owned, everything else for the last 25 years has been MX. I put 15 weight fork oil in and cranked the preload down and it's much better. It's still too soft for me but as long as I don't go charging into holes, sharp edges or anything that looks like stadium whoops it's pretty good. It hooks up fine on the trail and goes over logs and rocks just fine. It even handle jumps fairly well within reason.

If your buddy has one go ride it and see what you think.

[jviz1]

Being in Colorado, here's a used xtrainer few hours from you with upgraded front and rear suspension.  Only bummer is it's been lowered, but that can be easily reversed.  Pretty well setup.

http://www.ksl.com/classifieds/listing/44679487

 

[automagp68]

22 minutes ago, ohiodrz400sm said:

The suspension is downsized compared to most full size bikes, the shock more so than the fork.

I weight a little over 200 lbs and think the bike is a blast. It's the 1st true enduro bike I have ever owned, everything else for the last 25 years has been MX. I put 15 weight fork oil in and cranked the preload down and it's much better. It's still too soft for me but as long as I don't go charging into holes, sharp edges or anything that looks like stadium whoops it's pretty good. It hooks up fine on the trail and goes over logs and rocks just fine. It even handle jumps fairly well within reason.

If your buddy has one go ride it and see what you think.

O yea I've ridden his about 5 hours actually

I thought it was pretty nice

A little soft for my weight but 150lb female it should be just fine

I was not super impressed with the clutch smoothness but she will get a rekluse anyway

 

5 minutes ago, jviz1 said:

Being in Colorado, here's a used xtrainer few hours from you with upgraded front and rear suspension.  Only bummer is it's been lowered, but that can be easily reversed.  Pretty well setup.

http://www.ksl.com/classifieds/listing/44679487

 

actually the lowered is ok, what scares me is why a guy spent a ton of cash on the marzochis or however you spell it for a his "wife" that then doesn't like a 2 stroke?

Something seems fishy about that ad

 

[Marco the Pool Boy]

2 hours ago, automagp68 said:

O yea I've ridden his about 5 hours actually

I thought it was pretty nice

A little soft for my weight but 150lb female it should be just fine

I was not super impressed with the clutch smoothness but she will get a rekluse anyway

 

actually the lowered is ok, what scares me is why a guy spent a ton of cash on the marzochis or however you spell it for a his "wife" that then doesn't like a 2 stroke?

Something seems fishy about that ad

 

Actually it seems kinda typical to me, many of us have built a toy and then did not like it, the garage only holds so much. That thing has been lowered too much IMHO, but bout $450-500 would bring it back to a height/suspension travel and valved/sprung for her weight through some OC Zoke specialists in the northwest 

Bling on a used bike is only worth a small percentage of what we invest 

If I was looking for a 300 I'd call and speak with this guy, nice deal!! 

[automagp68]

9 hours ago, Mark-us-B said:

Actually it seems kinda typical to me, many of us have built a toy and then did not like it, the garage only holds so much. That thing has been lowered too much IMHO, but bout $450-500 would bring it back to a height/suspension travel and valved/sprung for her weight through some OC Zoke specialists in the northwest 

Bling on a used bike is only worth a small percentage of what we invest 

If I was looking for a 300 I'd call and speak with this guy, nice deal!! 

I disagree, $6200 + 500 to redo suspension ? I can buy a 17 for $400 more

not worth it

 

[Marco the Pool Boy]

11 minutes ago, automagp68 said:

I disagree, $6200 + 500 to redo suspension ? I can buy a 17 for $400 more

not worth it

 

Asking price is never selling price, any one of us can rationalize it pro/con easily. I never said I would pay that amount no matter the farkles.  Also it depends on what you are going to spend on upgrades on a new bike.

I got easily $3k+ in upgrades and in all actuality they're worth $0 when it comes to selling used......Whatever