If u were 186cm/6.1" with a bad back, which would you choose to do a 1000Km journey... road and off road?
They're ~1995 models.
Ridden both, my girl has a xr250, the 250 will not cut it not enough power. The dr400 is a very smooth bike with plenty of power.
neither of those bikes was made to sit on for long distances. if you have a bad back it will be much worse after a long trip unless you are up on the pegs most of the time.
if you have to choose from those 2 bikes then i agree with youngbull, an older 250 will not have enough balls for someone your size, but by the same token i reckon the hondas were more comfortable to ride than the suzis. (but that comes down to individual riders preferences and style, so try both).
Go get an aftermarket seat make sure its a grippy one not a slippery one. Also adjust the suspension so that it is softer. And if you get the dr is gunna be heavier the then xr to pick up if u drop it or it breaks down.
Bigger is better for an on/off road ride of that length and rider of "larger proportions"...
I'm doing this motorcycle tour in the south of Peru in 2 weeks, and the guy said I could choose between those 2.
I guess there will be others so somebody will be on a XR250.
A friend used to have a DR400 and I remember the seat being so hard I thought I was sitting on the mud guard.
Haven't tried an XR250, but I have tried an air cooled XR600... and that from what I remember was comfy.
I did the Cairns, bloomfield, creb tracks and back, started on the DRZ400 and found it to be narrow and uncomfortable, felt like I was ringing it's neck for power the whole time. I swapped over to the XR650 for the bulk of the ride and that was a pleasure to ride in all respects except the kick start.
Hard decision, I have only ridden the XR250 and I'm fairly sure it will have softer suspension and seat and also a lower more upright seating position/centre of gravity.
If it is mainly tight rough offroad stuff I reckon thats the way I would go (if I had a bad back), they have a reputation of being a comfortable easy to handle bike, but if you have long fast stretches of road/trail you will be struggling to keep up with the DR's .
Tell you what why don't you pay for me to come along too, we will get one of each and you can ride whatever one takes your fancy at any time 
Perhaps a better place to ask this question would be a motorbike forum such as this www.dirtbikeworld.net/forum/index.php or many others that are out there.
My current bike is a 2009 Yamaha WR250R, fuel injection, electric start, etc.
For a little 250 it is amazing how smooth it is at 110-120 k's..... but the seat is way harder than a 1995 XR.
What's the split between road and off road?
I've ridden both bikes and to me they're both sheep herders.
If it was my choice, I'd take the DRZ400.
If your worried about getting a sore arse, contact sheepy hollow for a sheepskin cover. If your tour's going to be more road/dirt road, you'd be better off looking for a BMW650.
They're pretty cheap and very reliable.
Or if your strapped for $$, look at the NX650 Dominator.
THis is all going to come down to where your riding and how gnarly the trails your wanting to do.
Reading this brings me back....
I owned a DR200 and a XR250. The XR was a great bike and I'd probably choose it. However from what I've read the DR400 is great too. In the balance I'd go for the electic start and oomph of the DR400. My favourite bike was the KDX200. Awesome.
I really miss having a motor bike. They are really great and somehow give the same feeling as a windsurfer. With the crap winds and cold weather Sydney has I feel the need for a dirt bike.
There's only short trail sections (3%), unpaved road 60% and paved 37%... I'd obviously prefer bigger, but I'd go with the XR250 if the seat was comfy... if I could I'd have a GS1200 or MultiStrada, Tenere, Africa... but all they have is the XR or DR.
Mobydisc I'll do you a deal on my current bike 
if its a 95 model DR wouldn't that make it a DR350? ie no button start and the seat height is really low
Looking at those pics makes me envious Flysurfer. At those sort of altitudes the already asthmatic XR will barely pull the skin of a custard. More cubes the better
Well guys, you only live once, or a couple times if you spend most of your time figuring out how to come back.
Sydney - Lima Peru, air Argentina: $1800
9 Day motorcycle tour: $1700, 5 day: $998
www.perumotorcycletours.com/
He said the only options were the DR400 or the XR250... on the longer 12-15 day tour they have 650's... I think.
1 week in the jungle with a Shaman $360
ayahuasca.pe/
Diving in the Galapagos for 8 days: $3000
Anyone who has ridden both these over long distance will agree with this I think.
If its a DR, then definitely the XR even though its small for a long ride, its superior in every way including comfort.
If its not a '95 model and in fact a DRZ not a DR. Then definitely DRZ 'cause its bigger and better in every way including comfort.
Have fun man. Either way it'll be about the journey, wrong choice in bike might just make it more of a mission and more rewarding in the long run.. haha maybe. (Most people probably won't agree with that last little bit I guess.. haha
PS. XR's in pics above are way newer than '95
I went with the XR250 cos it was cheaper and they're all detuned... could have gone with an XR650L, DR650, DR400 or the XR250... but they don't have full comp insurance so if anything goes wrong it was going to be very expensive with the 650's.
