Yamaha YZ400 sold, should I buy an XR500 or a Puzey?

I haven't posted anything in ages so thought I'd give a quick update on what happened to the YZ400.

Long story short, it was sold for R16,000 ($2,200) which isn't bad, considering I bought it for R10,000 ($1,400). When I sold it, it was running absolutely perfectly. I had played with the pilot jet a bit more and it was now out at a full 2 turns. The bike started first kick every time once it had warmed up, but it still took 6 or so kicks to fire up when it was cold. I saw the bike a few months later and it looked absolutely stunning, the new owner had fitted new tyres and sorted the stickers out. You would never know that it was a 10 year old bike.

Believe it or not, I'm looking at buying an XR500 again. It's hard to explain why I would rather ride a bike that is totally outdated and ugly, instead of one of the newer machines. All I can say is my previous experience was that it was totally bulletproof, perfect for what I am looking for and that it is an honest, unpretentious bike. My only real reservation is the brakes, which were non-existent on the model I was riding. It had tiny little drum brakes in front which were there for aesthetics only. Luckily that big old single cylinder provides a lot of engine braking.

An alternative which seems quite tempting is the Puzey XTR4-500 (http://www.puzey.co.za/offroadbikes/xtr4500mxl_main.asp), which seems to be a modern take on the XR500 concept. Same lazy, uncomplicated, air cooled motor in a modern chassis with modern brakes. The common objection against this bike is that it is built in China, with all that that entails. After some investigation, the first positive sign is that the bike is designed in South Africa by Mike Puzey and only constructed in China. This means it should carry my 6ft2 frame and also should be quite robust. Secondly, the quality seems to be good. I have checked all references I could find and haven’t been able to find a single negative review.

When finances allow, I might just buy one and give some feedback on how it compares to the XR500, YZ400 and KX125 I rode previously.