In the next few months I'm thinking of getting a motorbike for exploring Sarawak and some off-road scrambling.

About me - I'm 46, a bit overweight (5'10", 86kg), haven't really ridden a bike since I was about 22. I'm NOT interested in racing or going really fast.

What I want is a 4-stroke road-legal bike with knobbly tyres for off-road use. Basically I just want to ride around, explore some logging roads, have a bit of fun. Nothing too serious.

Some bikes I'm interested in:


Demak DTM150 - this is pretty much perfect for what I'm looking for, except 1. they seem to come with small wheels and road tyres? and 2. a few people have said the quality is bad, it will break easily, will leave me stranded in the jungle.. Are they as bad as people say? Does anyone have any GOOD experiences with DTM?

Demak DTM 200 - this isn't even available in Sarawak yet. Again photos show this with tiny wheels and smooth tyres, useless off the road. Can these be purchased with proper scrambler wheels or not?

KTN 200 - This *looks* good but it's not a KTM it's a KTN... I've never heard of this brand? Are they any good and can you get spare parts for them?

Nimota Ranger X - again this looks good but what about spare parts? Reliable? Or not?

Kawasaki KLX 150 - Seems to have a good reputation but it's TINY! I'd feel rather stupid riding such a small little motorbike...

KLX 250 - HUGELY expensive! 21K!!? Has bad reviews on Youtube, which is surprisingly considering the 150 is so popular here? Has fuel injection and is big enough - but that price is horrible for a bike I know I will be falling off...

Honda CRF250L - Probably my perfect bike but even more expensive than the Kawasaki 250, at about 23K..


Can anyone give any input on these bikes? Perhaps recommend something else?

Also, I see some nice bikes advertised sometimes but in West Malaysia. How easy and how expensive to ship to Kuching?


Sorry for so many questions but people in bike shops here are not very helpful so far.



TQ

UG

It feels OK sitting on it, though I can put both heels firmly on the ground which is a bit strange for a scrambler.

However as I walk around and look at the thing, it just seems small. So I asked the shop guy to take a snap of me on it. Ever seen a circus bear riding a bicycle...?

I think it would be a practical bike, relatively light and easy to throw around (or pick it back up again) but it's a bit like a fat lady... great fun to ride but you wouldn't want your friends to see you

UG

Thanks!

So do you still ride, and if so, what?

I think the power is OK for having fun with. I used to have a lot of fun with 50cc and 80cc bikes as a youngster, so a 11.5 HP 4-stroke is probably fine for just messing about with.

I've been off-road scrambling twice in Sarawak, both times to the same place ( a logging road, very steep and rocky in places) using my friend's Suzuki TS125 2-stroke, and his 400cc 4-stroke. The 125 was OK, I'm just too old for a screaming 2-stroke 'rev rev rev' all the time! The 400 however was a bit too big and heavy to enjoy yourself, though certainly fast.

So I'm looking for a 125 to 250 4-stroke..?

And if you know such a bike 2nd hand in Sarawak let me know

Sooo long since I last replied..

I ended up buying a Honda MTX 200 2-stroke. Very fast and powerful, though also a 30 year old bike. I do rather like the Nimota Ranger, and the lazy 4-stroke engine is more suited to my style of riding.

I will probably sell the Honda and use the money for a Nimota..

The MLE seems a nice bike but impossible to get spares now.

We go around Bau, Lundu, all over the place.

Well I have finally sold the Honda - light and powerful but too old and she deserves better than being abused off-road.

The MLE is apparently a current company, I was thinking of a German brand. Unfortunately no stockists in Kuching, on Sabah and West Malaysia. They do have one stockist but the guy has none and doesn't want to get any or something.

So I tried buying a Demak 200 and was told I could not take it for a test ride until after buying it. What?

Why is it so hard to just buy a motorcycle here?

Update - in the end I did indeed get an MLE XTM200

I call her Emily (MLE)

I've had many adventures with her, she is generally a great bike.

Downsides for off-road are:

Rear suspension too hard. After awhile my ass is hurting..

Rear brake lever snapped off on rocks or tree root. Replaced with steel one going OVER the foot peg, not under.

Engine ground clearance is not that good. Can easily get stuck on logs or rocks.

Reliability:

Very good. Very easy electric starting BUT I had to replace the ignition switch. I think too many other keys on the ring, bouncing around off road it damaged the original lock. Replacement was cheap and works perfectly.

Wire on the front suspension started wearing through the insulation. I noticed in time and was able to cover it again with a plastic tube and tape.

Apart from that she's been a tough, reliable bike with good power, easy handling and I enjoy riding her. I am still thinking of a KLX in the future though, unless I can find a softer suspension leg for Emily (no luck finding one so far)

You can see my adventures on liveleak .com, user name 'Bigs'

UPDATE 2:

Much as I loved Emily I finally sold her, giving in to the general consensus on a KLX 150 S.

Yes, I deliberately went for the smaller one, not the newer L model, as I love how easy it is to ride and get unstuck if jammed in mud or somewhere. Very light and easy.

Named it Biglet, as it's a big little thing

Hehehe, playing catch-up with old threads here... I too ended up moving on to the Kawasaki 250, in my case the KLX250.

Overall great bike.

My knee, damaged from a motorcycle accident when I was a teenager, began giving me so much trouble that last year I ended up have a knee replacement surgery, so now have titanium knee.

As such have finally retired from riding off-road, and now drive a modified Hilux off-road instead lol.

Still have the KLX for around town though, as it's way faster than any car.