Testing the waters again...

[OreoGaborio]

After riding a little KLX250, I wanna get dirty again

Looking for:
- Small to mid size woods & street bike (something I can register).
- Push button preferred.
- 4 stroke preferred.
- Budget - somewhere around 2 grand (unless it's a smokin deal for the PERFECT bike, in which case 2.5)


What models should I be looking at?

I'd even consider something like the KLX. It was super fun, though I wouldn't mind a little more powah and capability... I had to clutch it up in 1st fer christ's sake!

[TheIglu]

DRZ is plenty streetable, reliable as a tank, good torque for lugging through trails and is cheap to come by. Not $1k cheap, but $2k is easily doable, maybe even less.

Tons of aftermarket support and not a "rebuild the top end every season" type of bike.

[Chippertheripper]

All that for a grand is a tall order. Even an old dr350 is going to be a little higher than that (unless you find the right seller). The drz, although fairly vanilla is a pretty versatile machine. If you can find a drz400e with a title, you'll be even better off. Happy shopping.

Oh, if you DO end up with one, skid plate and thumpertalk case savers should be priority número uno.

[gregp]

Both the KLX300 and the KDX200 would be great choices. Both should be easily registered for the street if you know what you are doing. Both are very reliable and light on maintenance over the long term, compared to more high strung models.

[Kitt]

I sold a tits kdx 200 (or 220) to Black Squirrel for the $1500 range... something like that would be perfect.

[R7]

1998 XR400 in great shape. Registered and titled in MA. Has newer tires, chain and sprockets, bark busters, shock and fork springs for 205lb rider. Comes with a Dakar dual sport kit that was mounted on the bike to get the street legal title. Would make a great DS bike!! Bike starts and runs great. Asking $1,500.00 OBO. Contact Jeff at 413-478-4535 after 6PM.

This bike even made Tony look like a good rider
It's posted on NEDB, there's a bunch there in the sale section.

Keep in mind with a 1-2K bike, you will be working on it a lot and the costs will add up. Jump into the 3k range and you can usually get a real solid bike.
After riding a 2-stroke in the woods, I really don't care to ever ride a thumper in the woods again

[TTD]

I had an absolute blast on my XR400. It's not a motocross bike but will do everything else you ask of it.

As for the KDX, there is no way you needed the clutch for a wheelie... at least I didn't.

[Paul_E_D]

I've pondered the street plate thing a lot. I think you can get a LOT more bike for the money if you just get a dirtbike. Depends on how likely you are to adventure ride, but I prefer just dirt. You will tend to find some fairly local riding and do that most of the time. If it doesn't require a street plate, then you will have wasted a lot of money. Bike/taxes/plate/ins/ It does really add up. Sure, you'll miss some rides that require the plate, but when racing, pennies are important.

[gregp]

The NEDB classifieds are a good place to search for street titled bikes as there are often many NETRA enduro and turkey run bikes listed there.

[Paul_E_D]

Other thing is that if you are looking for this to be a training tool, then less is more. Riding the snot out of a xr100 in a small pit or playriding area is waaaay better for skill development than plodding around on a heavy DS bike on trails. No offense to trail riders, that stuff is fun. It all depends on your reasons for riding dirt.

[OreoGaborio]

I've pondered the street plate thing a lot. I think you can get a LOT more bike for the money if you just get a dirtbike. Depends on how likely you are to adventure ride, but I prefer just dirt. You will tend to find some fairly local riding and do that most of the time. If it doesn't require a street plate, then you will have wasted a lot of money. Bike/taxes/plate/ins/ It does really add up. Sure, you'll miss some rides that require the plate, but when racing, pennies are important.

True that... the "plate-able" thing is something I'd like but may not necessarily utilize. Having a street title at least gives me that option if I want to register it (like right NOW for instance, where my Tuono is out of service until I add a couple links to the chain )

[KB]

Pete you need a KTM 250 excw, or the one that Mark has the 200. Both are plate able in mass.

You can't go wrong with either option!

You are welcom to ride mine anytime!

KB

[R7]

I've pondered the street plate thing a lot. I think you can get a LOT more bike for the money if you just get a dirtbike. Depends on how likely you are to adventure ride, but I prefer just dirt. You will tend to find some fairly local riding and do that most of the time. If it doesn't require a street plate, then you will have wasted a lot of money. Bike/taxes/plate/ins/ It does really add up. Sure, you'll miss some rides that require the plate, but when racing, pennies are important.

It's easy to say this when you can ride from your house to a tollerated area, and there is a lot of available riding in your general area. A street plate has trippled the available riding in my area for me

Paul, I agree with both your points, and am not offended as a woods ripper. I can make my elephant dance in the woods, and still ride it to work everyday. That's really all I need.

Mark, I know you'll see this, I'll come back with lower gearing and redeem myself.

There's no need to worry about redeeming yourself, you get lots of credit for riding a big bike like that in the trails I have

[TTD]

A street plate has trippled the available riding in my area for me

I'm with Mark on this one!

Love my street plated dirty bikes!

[Ken C]

I have a DRz400e that is street legal. The "e" model is more capable, however I've ridden with guy on "s" models who I couldn't keep up with.
The DRz is very versatile. I can ride it to work, and it can handle some pretty gnarly terrain. It is a bit large and cumbersome for really tough stuff, but it does what I need it to do at my pace.

[Kitt]

http://burlington.craigslist.org/mcy/2475115419.html

[union]

Other thing is that if you are looking for this to be a training tool, then less is more. Riding the snot out of a xr100 in a small pit or playriding area is waaaay better for skill development than plodding around on a heavy DS bike on trails. No offense to trail riders, that stuff is fun. It all depends on your reasons for riding dirt.

Like anything it all depends. Sure poking along on the trails will give you little to no skill benefit but so wont poking along on a track. Ive seen people roll the jumps all day. Ive also seen people afraid to twist the throttle in the woods. Ride around in first gear all day anywhere you gain nothing. Trails can be as beneficial as a MX track for skill gain as long as you challenge yourself. Id ride more MX if it was closer. As it stands now I have trails behind my house and more trails about 15min away. We had Oxford for MX but I dont even know if they are still open. Havent heard a thing about them. Everything else is more then an hour away.

I've pondered the street plate thing a lot. I think you can get a LOT more bike for the money if you just get a dirtbike. Depends on how likely you are to adventure ride, but I prefer just dirt. You will tend to find some fairly local riding and do that most of the time. If it doesn't require a street plate, then you will have wasted a lot of money. Bike/taxes/plate/ins/ It does really add up. Sure, you'll miss some rides that require the plate, but when racing, pennies are important.

I think a street plate is worth the trouble. Opens up more riding and adds to the resale value. If I had to make the choice, which I have, between a capable bike such as MX bike or a true dual sport that is easier to gain a road plate Id go with the MX bike. It will make the actual riding easier and with a little work you can get a street plate.

Oreo is you want to come out here and try my 250 youre more then welcome.

[OreoGaborio]

Think a 2001 KTM 250 EXC 4 stroke would be underpowered?

[csmutty]

Think a 2001 KTM 250 EXC 4 stroke would be underpowered?

It would be a little lackadaisical on the street but would rule on the trails.

[OreoGaborio]

The KTM 250 EXC RFS is off the market... seller had a change of heart.

Found a 2001 Yamaha WR426 on craigslist that looks pretty nice but way over my budget.

EDIT: link removed from post... had to type it in from my phone since CL is blocked at work.

[Chippertheripper]

Link fail... But ive seen the ad you're talking about. All I know of that gen yammy is they can be a BITCH to start. Especially when hot and stalled. (could be a wive's tale, but is generally true of any big 4t thumper)

[OreoGaborio]

removed the link.... had to type it in manually since CL is blocked on the pc.

[OreoGaborio]

Thread cleaned up a little to keep things tidy.... Mainly just removed some expired ads and side discussion.


Haven't found a winner yet, so lets keep the ads rollin in! Thank you guys so much for the help so far

[OreoGaborio]

300exc http://nh.craigslist.org/mcy/2495652648.html
More than I wanna spend & not a 4 stroke, but might be an option.

300exc http://nh.craigslist.org/mcy/2483467838.html
Same bike, 2 years younger, little less pretty, little less money.

200exc http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/mcy/2519408680.html

[R7]

The 426 is a great bike as long as you can get the trick down to start it, though it is a bit heavy compared to newer bikes. I never had a problem starting them, hot or cold, stalled, flooded etc.. it would start every single time. I just couldn't ride it for shit at the time.
I say this to my boss all the time...but he never listens.... Spend it now, or spend it later, either way, you will spend it! (in their case, they end up spending double or triple simply for not listening) In other words, dig some extra cash from your pocket now and look for a newer, more reliable and more user friendly bike that will put a bigger smile on your face.