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Help me figure out what dirtbike to buy

sckego

sckego

doesn't like crashing
Joined
Jan 28, 2011
Location
San Jose
Moto(s)
are fun
Name
Kegan
BARF perks
AMA #3283468
I've done loads of searching and reading and I've got no idea what I should be looking at. Or rather, I've got way to many ideas, and need to narrow them down.

I want a dirtbike, light, flickable, fun for singletrack at the local parks or out in Mendocino NF. I'm a noob on dirt, want to be able to have fun and learn, not looking to race or get into crazy MX type stuff or any of that. Green sticker at a minimum, plated would be a bonus (not planning on street riding it very much, if at all, just having the option would be nice). As light maintenance as I can get away with... frequent oil changes no prob, valves (as long as they're easy to check) ok, I'd like to stay away from anything requiring scheduled engine rebuilds...

I'd also like to be able to find something with a quick-swap supermoto setup, or at least a bike that I can put together a setup for without too much trouble--ie, off the shelf parts, no need for custom brackets, changing out calipers, or any of that.



My buddy is trying to talk me into an XR400. Seems like a great low-cost, low-tech, low maintenance dirtbike. No plate, and seems like finding one with a supermoto setup is a slim chance. Still, seems like the perfect learner dirtbike.

I did a bunch of research and decided DRZ400S would be the ticket--also very low maintenance, does fine off-road (though a bit heavy?), parts and sumo setups are plentiful, street-legal, everyone and their mom loves 'em.

Then I see this on CL... Husqvarna TE 250, dirt + supermoto, street legal, and from my reading, decently easy maintenance. Do I want another Euro (read: $$) thumper? I don't know, but that thing looks sick, comes with the dual setup I want, would be at home on the dirt or kart track...

What else is there? I'm *pretty* sure I want to stay away from the CRF/YZ/RMZ type bikes due to maintenance, but feel free to try and convince me otherwise. Another KTM? Yam WR?

School me...
 
Oceansides said:
Lighter is better. Theres a KTM 300 for like 750 on sale now. Plated too
Click to expand...

Seeing as how I know nothing about them, are European 2-strokes of legal drinking age low-maintenance?
 
Great thread....as I'm in exactly the same boat. Looking forward to all the responses.
 
Haha. I'm in the same boat. Lookin for a dirt bike and trailer. I have been repeatedly told by everyone not to go for a 2 stroke. So looking for a 250 4 stroke. Intrested in seeing the responses here.
 
You said light but the xr 650r is pretty awesome if your good size human its a good fit.:ride
 
Ive been doing this a long time. Here's what I think.

The last KTM dirt bike I had was 500MXC. Big, powerful (65 claimed HP), fast ass bike. A piston was $360. Rings were $60.00 era., x 2 rings. A clutch, 9 plates , 9 solid copper friction plates, $27.00 ea., recall close to $500 for a clutch pack.

I've owned a few CR500s. A piston used to be $60. Might be $90 now. Just as fast, and reliable as a stone.

You could buy a new bike, whatever you wish, but you'd probably cry the first few times its sliding upside down, diwn some cliff trail or off a ledge. It hurts to scuff a new, expensive bike.
Right now, I'm looking at an 04 KX250 2 stroke. As fast as I want it to be, 2 stroke reliability and relatively cheap maintenance. I had an 06 YZ450F Limited Edition, but I just couldn't keep up with what that bike was doing, I wasn't riding it hard enough to make it work right.

I've known some guys that really hauled ass on XR200s and KDX200s and 220s. And didn't hardly ever work on them.

As for licensed, everyone I've ever known with a licensed bike out in the dirt, either broke the lights and turn signals off of it, or lost the license plate out in the boonies.

For a beginning dirt rider, I'd suggest a used bike, just because crashing a new pretty bike really sucks. What to buy? I'm thinking 250 myself, but then again, I like powerful bikes.
 
Last edited:
WR250 if you're set on four stroke

You won't want to ride a DRZ on single track. You can and it will be fine, others can do it with ease, but it is certainly not light and flickable compared to a 2stroke 125 or 250

You'd be better off getting a cheap ($1500) green sticker 2t 125 or 250 and a cheap 150 4t supermoto. Trying to do both wont be easy unless you get like a crf250 or wr250
 
What's your budget? If you're looking new-ish, the KTM 350 EXC-F is fantastic. Plated / street legal, fuel injected, maint is "reasonable" (for a KTM), and they're plain awesome. Weighs about 255lbs in street trim, about what other 4 stroke non-plated MX/enduros weigh. Very forgiving but something you'll definitely not outgrow. This is obviously something at the higher end of the spectrum, but if it's something you're going to stick with.. it might make sense. Used '12s and 13s can be had, try CL or advrider.
Another choice, as you listed, is the DRZ400S. They're heavier (about 310lbs I believe?) but they'll work as a good dirt/dual sport machine if you're just learning and don't yet have a truck/trailer to haul your bike to the dirt.

That Husqy TE250 sounds decent, too.
 
i've spent time on few dirt bikes. 90 KX125, 99 CR250, 03 CR250, 06 CRF450X, 09 YZ250F, 10 YZ450F and a few smaller ones. the most reliable was the 99 CR250, only put 1 top end in it in 10yrs. the most powerful was the YZ450F by a long margin, motor work and all. but the one i would recommend for an adult dirt noob would be the easiest to ride, the YZ250F.
 
Definitely used, budget is around $4k (aka price-neutral once I sell the KTM). Two bikes would be nice, but I'm out of room in the garage, so I'm trying to do the same two-birds-one-stone combo I have with the 625SMC, just something that's better at dirt at the expense of streetability.

I've ridden a 2-stroke briefly and didn't really like how it felt. My buddy's XR200 on the other hand was a lot of fun. Not looking for outright power or speed, just a good time. Part of me is thinking just screw the supermoto aspect and pick up a $2k XR400... but damn that TE looks sexy.
 
I think that Husky 250 would be great! With the dirt setup it would be fun to ride off road, and having the plate is great. Sometimes you get lost and come out on a dirt road, so it is really nice to have the freedom to go where ever you want. Then with supermoto wheels you could take it to a cart track.

The 250 would be pretty limited as a street legal bike. Gearing is very short (you'll go thru the 6 gears quickly).

The Suzuki DR400 is a decent bike, but it is heavy with foo-foo suspension. If all you ever want to do is foo-foo riding you'll be ok. But if you want to pick up the pace and push things a bit, the Suzuki DR will not be your friend.

A step up from the Husky is a KTM 530/450. But you'd want to avoid the 2008/2009 models (too many issues), so you'd be looking at a 2007 (525/450) or 2010+ (530/450). And getting one with a plate and supermoto wheels will be pricy.

XR400? Do you drive a 1990 Honda Civic? :) New these bikes were great trail bikes. Very reliable, cushy suspension, not much to break on them. But, finding one now they are old. So yes they were super reliable 15 years ago when they were new, but now they've been thru several owners and possibly been beat to hell.

If you have lots of money, go for a 2010+ KTM 530/450. If less money available, go for the Husky. If you like foo-foo stuff, go for the Suzuki DRZ400. If you like old stuff, go for the XR400.
 
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