First Dirt bike options?

[jorbar1551]

Eventually, within the next year and when i get the money, i'm looking to buy my first dirtbike. I've been riding street for the last couple years, and i'm looking to buy a bike, mostly for trail riding.

I dont need the greatest bike out there, and i'm not set on any type or model of bike i want to buy, but it needs to be atleast something that can haul my 200lb body up and down hills.

Im looking at an older model (mid 90's) 250 2 stroke. I'm not against 4 strokes, but a 2 stroke sounds like a lot of fun.

The only thing limiting me is the price. I would like to spend at most 1500.

what kind of bikes should i be looking at?

 

[2strokeYardSale]

KDX200 or KDX220

Light enough, powerful enough, reliable, common, inexpensive, six speeds, decent fuel capacity, 18" rear wheel. Just put in stiffer fork springs, pull the airbox lid, and have fun.

 

[WoodsChick]

KDX200 or KDX220

Light enough, powerful enough, reliable, common, inexpensive, six speeds, decent fuel capacity, 18" rear wheel. Just put in stiffer fork springs, pull the airbox lid, and have fun.

Took the words right outta my mouth.

Also, Kawasaki has been making them forever and they've sold zillions of them. Lots to choose from, always a good deal on one somewhere, lots of aftermarket support and hop-up equipment available. The KDX is very easy to ride and is forgiving of a dirt noob's many mistakes. It will take good care of you.


WoodsChick

 

[Butch]

Took the words right outta my mouth.

Also, Kawasaki has been making them forever and they've sold zillions of them. Lots to choose from, always a good deal on one somewhere, lots of aftermarket support and hop-up equipment available. The KDX is very easy to ride and is forgiving of a dirt noob's many mistakes. It will take good care of you.


WoodsChick

I third that. Most older two stroke 250's are pretty light and strong and cheap. Find a clean one and all you will have to do is ride it.
Riderideride. The key word.

 

[corndog]

Buying a KDX 200 for off road use would be like buying a 650 Savage to ride with a biker gang. Probably the best bet would be to pick up the newest YZ250 you can afford, shoot for '96 or newer. Buying dirt bikes this old is a bad idea in general, they have a pretty short lifespan. I recently bought a five year old dirt bike, and have been suffering a little...or maybe it's just because it's a Suzuki.

 

[2strokeYardSale]

I'd say the KDX200 is more the SV650 of dirt bikes. There are plenty of tamer dirt bikes, pretty much all the non-MX four strokes 250 and under.

A 250 MXer can be pretty damned intimidating for a first dirt bike. Are you really recommending one for a newbie? That's like starting on a GSXR750 for a first street/track bike.

 

[Justin]

I'd say the KDX200 is more the SV650 of dirt bikes. There are plenty of tamer dirt bikes, pretty much all the non-MX four strokes 250 and under.

A 250 MXer can be pretty damned intimidating for a first dirt bike. Are you really recommending one for a newbie? That's like starting on a GSXR750 for a first street/track bike.

i second this opinion... get an older bike first. Shit, you might not even like riding dirt... and your less likely to get too hurt when you take your first of many dives...

 

[WoodsChick]

I'd say the KDX200 is more the SV650 of dirt bikes. There are plenty of tamer dirt bikes, pretty much all the non-MX four strokes 250 and under.

A 250 MXer can be pretty damned intimidating for a first dirt bike. Are you really recommending one for a newbie? That's like starting on a GSXR750 for a first street/track bike.

Dang, Mr. YardSale...are you reading my mind? I have long said the same thing. Both are bullet-proof budget bikes with mass appeal and a cult following that can be improved upon greatly when needed (as in, after you learn what the hell you're doing on one.) Both bikes are ridden by newbies and experienced riders alike. Neither one does one thing spectacularly, yet they both do everything very well. They are also very versatile, as evidenced by many miles of dual-sporting my SV650.


WoodsChick

 

[WoodsChick]

i second this opinion... get an older bike first. Shit, you might not even like riding dirt... and your less likely to get too hurt when you take your first of many dives...

Words of wisdom.



WoodsChick

 

[Butch]

critical question: how big is jorbar?

If 100 pounds, the 250 2 stroke is a handful. If 200 pounds, the it is reasonablly tame.

 

[WoodsChick]

Buying a KDX 200 for off road use would be like buying a 650 Savage to ride with a biker gang. Probably the best bet would be to pick up the newest YZ250 you can afford, shoot for '96 or newer. Buying dirt bikes this old is a bad idea in general, they have a pretty short lifespan. I recently bought a five year old dirt bike, and have been suffering a little...or maybe it's just because it's a Suzuki.

Spoken like a true newb.

Try telling that to Jeff Fredette. He probably isn't aware of it, since he managed to medal in over 20 ISDE's in a row on a KDX. That is a feat that is almost incomprehensible to anyone that knows anything about the ISDE. If that isn't a testament to the lowly KDX's off-road worthiness and reliability, I don't know what is.

And if you're talking about true off-road riding, as opposed to riding on a MX track, a KDX would serve the original poster's purpose way more admirably (and safely) than a MX bike like the YZ.


WoodsChick

 

[WoodsChick]

critical question: how big is jorbar?

If 100 pounds, the 250 2 stroke is a handful. If 200 pounds, the it is reasonablly tame.

Jorbar wrote "it needs to be at least something that can haul my 200lb body up and down hills." Hell, if that's his only need, then a TT-R 125 would do the job. But he also said he wants it for trail riding. The Japanese companies do not make a 250 2-stroke off-road bike, they only make MX'rs. Unless, of course, he can find an RMX250 or even a Yamaha YZ250WR. Good luck, as they didn't make them for very long, and they didn't sell very many of them. I know a 250MX'er can be made into a decent trail bike, but for a beginner that wants to learn to ride trails and probably doesn't know how to go about making a MX'er more trail-friendly, I would still be a little hesitant to go that route.

Just my


WoodsChick

 

[corndog]

Spoken like a true newb.

WoodsChick

That's not very nice, but judging by the looks of your arm, I can see why you might be recommending it. And you think Jeff Fredette wouldn't be faster on something else??? Oh wait, ISDE isn't really racing, it's a guestimation game.

 

[Archimedes]

Here's my advice. Buy the most bike you can afford. A couple years ago I bought my first adult riding dirt bike. Figured, I haven't ridden dirt for 20 years, I'm a renoob, get something easy to ride and tame. Bought an 05CRF230. What a mistake. The thing can't get out of it's own way and the suspension is horrible. It was about as much fun to ride as mowing the lawn. Not saying I was too good for it, just that it was zero fun. Only good thing about it was I didn't lose much when I turned around and sold it. I made the mistake of thinking I could skimp and settle and I'd still be happy. I was wrong.

Get something that puts a smile on your face every time you twist the throttle.

 

[Archimedes]

That's not very nice, but judging by the looks of your arm, I can see why you might be recommending it.

Ummmm, I think woodschick is a reallllllly experienced dirt rider, so I wouldn't be slingin mud in that direction...

 

[WoodsChick]

That's not very nice, but judging by the looks of your arm, I can see why you might be recommending it. And you think Jeff Fredette wouldn't be faster on something else??? Oh wait, ISDE isn't really racing, it's a guestimation game.

You're right, corndog; I apologize. It wasn't very nice of me to assume I knew anything about you or your experience just by reading your post, even though it struck me as something someone would say that didn't really know that much about off-road riding. Now, I guess I can expect an apology from you for doing the exact same thing, thanks If you must know, the arm injury actually happened racing MX many years ago on my new 1997 CR125.

And I never said Jeff Fredette wouldn't be faster on something else. The issue here isn't what bike is the fastest. The issue is finding a bike for a total dirt newb with very limited funds that just wants to ride trails. My point was that the KDX was trailworthy enough for Jeff Fredette to ride one year after year in the ISDE, despite your insinuation that it wasn't a good off-road bike. The fact that the KDX was durable enough to actually finish every year is pretty amazing in and of itself, and that's not even taking into account the fact that he medaled every year on it.

Have you ever spoken to someone that's raced in the ISDE? Ever ridden with an ISDE finisher? I can guarantee you that your opinion of the ISDE not being a race differs quite greatly from theirs.


WoodsChick

 

[My900ss]

Buying a KDX 200 for off road use would be like buying a 650 Savage to ride with a biker gang. Probably the best bet would be to pick up the newest YZ250 you can afford, shoot for '96 or newer. Buying dirt bikes this old is a bad idea in general, they have a pretty short lifespan. I recently bought a five year old dirt bike, and have been suffering a little...or maybe it's just because it's a Suzuki.

1. Your opinion of the KDX Kawi differs from just about anything I have ever heard about them.

2. Do you really think a YZF250 is the best dirt bike for someone to start with? Conventional wisdom would disagree.

3. Dirt bikes have a short life span?? Hmm 93 XR600R...runs good, 93 XR100R...runs good and 88 CR500...runs good. I would say your bike and how it runs is more so a reflection of your choice of a specific bike and your ability to maintain your own bike not all older dirt bikes.

4. Pick a fight with WoodsChic and expect alot of people regular to Dirty Barfing to defend her. Her advice is always sound and her pictures will make you envious. Your advice to date has not been so sound and I have yet to see a photo from you...

 

[951dude]

+1 for the KDX 200/220

I'm not a new rider, but the KDX I have now is simple to maintain, cheap, and very user friendly in terms of powerband and ergos.

Only gripe I have is the range sucks without an aftermarket tank- but thats true of all 2-strokes. But I'm going on some really long rides, never have a problem at small places like Hollister.

 

[corndog]

Alright, there's a lot to reply to here, I'll do my best!

First things first, my fire back at Woodschick was a minor jab, not Internet anger. These things kind of suck online because you can't hear my tone, or read my body language. I really wasn't expecting an apology from you, your comment was nothing more than a minor jab as well, all in good netfun.

I understand why you recommend the KDX. I just think he would out grow it too fast to make it worthy of buying. He's 200lbs, rides motorcycles already, and probably likes to go fast(avatar is kind of a clue). He seems to like two strokes so I recommend a 250 two stroke(not a 250f). The YZ250 motor is crazy reliable, and parts are plentiful. The rest of the bike is well made. I bought one new in '93, and in '96, excellent bikes. I bought a Suzuki just because I felt like trying something different.

Are we all kissed and made up now woody?


Now on to my new 900ss buddy!

1. I love you.

2. I love you.

3. I love you.

4. I love you.

Sounds kweer I know, but the pics you posted were excellent!

 

[My900ss]

Pic 1 is me having fun on the CR500 at Hollister, pic 2 is me on the CR500 not quite making it to the top of a hill at Carnegie and pic 3 is me on the XR600 at Stonyford. Ride them hard, have fun, treat them well and they will last. No I do not think it would be popular opinion that a YZ250 is a good starter bike, but to each their own opinion. ride safe and have fun!