[yetibone]

I hear you. Yep, my old DR350S was easier to handle in tight woods, or in sand. I'd like to have a DRZ400S, and was looking for one when I found the XR. I settled on the Honda after my fruitless search for the Suzuki though. There weren't many used DRZ's for the street to be had ten years ago.

I'm used to the big XR now. The weight tires me out, and slows me down, but it;s not like I was fast, or athletic to begin with. It's really not that bad if you consider that it's a 23 year old design that was based on a now 31 year old design that was introduced in '84 as the XL500. You can't ride the thing like a modern KTM, or Husqvarna simply because of that. Basically, it's a design that's beyond it's prime, but Honda still makes them, parts are everywhere, and it still suits me pretty well, because it hasn't hurt me too bad, or left me stranded.

I'd give up my XR in a minute if I could find a '74 Yamaha DT360, that had a title, and lights still on it. I had one of those as a teenager, after the XL250 ate it's camshaft for a second time, and STILL consider that to be the bike I liked the most. Big torquey 2 stroke with a comfortable seat that was so reliable.