Good first dirt bike??

[McBiggity]

I think i'll be looking to get something over the winter. I have no idea what to look for. I'd rather have a 4 stroke just for maintenance reasons.
any ideas-
looking to keep it under $3k.

[OreoGaborio]

Alex, Brent & I all bought our bikes off of this website for CHEAP....
http://forum.stacyracing.com/

Keep an eye out. If you want 4 stroke, do it up, but two strokes WILL be found for cheaper... EVERYONE wants the 4 strokes... why? I don't know 2 strokes aren't much more work to maintain... maybe a little more TLC needed, but the work is easier & the engines are much less complex than the 4 strokes.

I've been doing my research

http://forum.stacyracing.com/viewtopic.php?t=3327
http://forum.stacyracing.com/viewtopic.php?t=5539
http://forum.stacyracing.com/viewtopic.php?t=5196
http://forum.stacyracing.com/viewtopic.php?t=4556

Just a few examples

[McBiggity]

maybe i'm just scared of the 2 strokes since I know nothing about them.
i'd be open to them if they really aren't all that troublesome

[McBiggity]

what's a good size bike??? i'd ideally like something that will handle all types of trails, maybe some mx track.

[OreoGaborio]

from what i've heard, there's really not much to em at all... i don't know much about em either, but I'm learning.... once i started lookin into it, they're such simple engines that any maintinance can't be all that tough... just gotta mix the gas, check the plug every once in a while to make sure it's staying tuned well, do a top end every season or so & you're good to go.

I found an article that makes "reading" a sparkplug a cinch. I'll see if i can dig it up for ya. Just look at the plug, match it up to the picture in the article & it tells ya just what you need to know to fix it.

As far as what size, i really can't believe how well my 250 2 smoker did this past saturday in the trails... granted I gotta adjust the clutch lever & get used to it cuz I kept stalling, but there were a few tight sections that it did pretty well in. Tons of low-end compared to the 125, but Clayton can handle his 125 pretty damn well. He even said he's suprised how well it does after everyone was dogging on the 125 being a bad trails bike... he's just gotta get softer suspension cuz he's such a lightweight.

Originally i was lookin for a 125, but i'm super fukin happy w/ my 250... I thought it was gonna be too big & too powerful, but I love the damn thing you're more than welcome to take it for a spin some day. i also liked Clayton's 125 & Alex's 250F... in fact, i don't have seat times on many dirtbikes, but i haven't met a dirtytoy I didn't like

I dunno, i'm still a dirt newb... I'm sure the other guys will chime in soon & give you a better feel for what direction you wanna go in. *cough2502smokecough*

[highsider]

Before I got into dirt riding, I shared your fear of 2-stroke motors. They do have a pretty routine rebuild schedule, but if you get one that is well-cared for, there is no reason you can't get a good amount of life out of it. I have (sort of, someone left it at my house ) a 2003 Kawasaki KDX 220 that has been ridden hard every year, and has neer been rebuilt. It runs like a champ, is quick, and doesn't smoke much.

2 strokes are light, quick, and easy to start.

Also, rebuilding a 2-stroke is pretty easy, I'm told.

But for what you want to spend, a four stroke should be easy to come by. My only advice would be to spend the money for an electric start, as a 4 stroke can be a pain in the ass to start when its hot. With a 4 stroke, they live longer, and you dont have to mix gas with oil. Also, they tend to be easier to street register if you should want to do that.

[R7]

Originally posted by McBiggity
maybe i'm just scared of the 2 strokes since I know nothing about them.
i'd be open to them if they really aren't all that troublesome

It'll cost you more in oil and filters for a half season of riding a newer 4-stroke than it will for regular oil changes and to refreshen the top end of a 2-smoker for a full season. If you know how to mix gas and oil, I wouldn't worry about a 2-smoker, they do last longer than people give them credit for

Though my experiances are with Yamaha, I've never had a reliability issue with any 2-strokes i've owned. My first 2-stroke quad was 4 years old when I bought it, beat the bag out of it for 3 years, put 2 new pistons and rings in (it was a twin), beat it some more and sold it a year later... ahhh I miss the good ole days of riding sun up to sun down saturday and sunday, 52 weeks a year

[OreoGaborio]

nice, nice... feel the 2 smoke love

[oreo_n2]

a friend of mine has been hinting at selling his KX250 for a while. its freakin mint too... i think he wanted $2000... so he could go buy a blaster.

[TheIglu]

Go for a 125 2-smoke. Just as fast in the real world (trails) and a HELL of a lot easier to kick over. Right pete?

Plus they sell cheaper than 250's and have the same frame/suspension/brakes/goodies.

I got my '01 CR125 for a grand. You should be able to come close to that.

[KB]

Originally posted by McBiggity
what's a good size bike??? i'd ideally like something that will handle all types of trails, maybe some mx track.

You should stick to something like an Xr50

KB

[KevinB]

Most important question is what type or riding do want to do, woods or mx.
For woods I go for a KTM, either a 2 or 4 stroke, Kawasaki KDX- 2 stroke or Honda or Yam 4 stroke. Woods bikes come with larger fuel tanks, wide ratio gearing, softer suspension, lighting, smaller rear rim(allows you to run a tire with higher sidewall) and motors tend to be detuned.
For MX, bikes are usually lighter,with snappier motors and stiffer suspension.

2 strokes are gas and go for the most part. Rebuild top end every year or two, air filter cleaning and tranny fluid every couple of rides.
4 strokes (high performance) Oil change after every ride, valve adjustments,air filters and tranny lube every couple rides.

Kevin

[a13x]

Originally posted by TheIglu I got my '01 CR125 for a grand. You should be able to come close to that.

Not really. You got really lucky (and you know that) and bought from a kid who didn't know shit about dirtbikes and was pretty lazy about posting it up for sale. 1000 for a 01 CR125 is not even close to going rate. I just picked up the new Want Ads to see what the street rate was (since I'm selling mine) and 99-04 CR125's range from 1500-2600 respectively.


That said, I have a great starter bike for sale. A 02CR125. Two strokes are actually far less maint. intensive than the 4-strokes, by far.

If you are interested in my CR drop me a PM. It's in good shape, has FMF pipe/silencer, skidplate, blah blah. Pete rode it, he can vouch.

-alex

[knobby]

Originally posted by McBiggity
I think i'll be looking to get something over the winter. I have no idea what to look for. I'd rather have a 4 stroke just for maintenance reasons.
any ideas-
looking to keep it under $3k.

Frankly, for maintenence reasons, I would look at a 2-stroke. Very simple motors, and if you take care of them, they will be just fine. Easy start, light, and lower maintenence IMO.

[McBiggity]

Originally posted by rmbbikes
You should stick to something like an Xr50

KB

[TheIglu]

NEDB has two stroke 125's in the same year range as mine for around a grand all the time.

[ChR1s]

IMO, the most versatile bike would be a modern, performance 250cc four-stroke. Preferably a newer one with auto-decompression. They have very wide powerbands with power that is easy to modulate, and get excellent traction. They don't often come cheaply though. A woods version with e-start (Yamaha WR250F or Honda CRF250X) would be a bike that is friendly enough to start out on, but still plenty capable for all but full-on MX.

Also, don't forget to budget some riding gear in -- never ever ride w/o MX boots.

[TheIglu]

I agree with Chris on all points. If it's in my budget next year, I'll be looking for a WR250 or CRF250X for a woodser and I'll keep the CR125 as a MX bike.

Since you have the budget to get one, I'd go with exactly what he recommended. If you want to spend less, a 125 2-smoke will be fun and cheap.

[McBiggity]

yeah- i'm searching right now. not in a rush, want to make sure whatever I end up with will last me a while

[OreoGaborio]

http://www.thumpertalk.com/classifie...=18809&cat=all

http://www.thumpertalk.com/classifie...=18666&cat=all

http://www.thumpertalk.com/classifie...=17447&cat=all

small bike, but cheap & close - http://www.thumpertalk.com/classifie...=17895&cat=all

this might be a winner - http://www.thumpertalk.com/classifie...=14451&cat=all

ooooh, another possible winner - http://www.thumpertalk.com/classifie...=16786&cat=all

http://www.thumpertalk.com/classifie...=18896&cat=all

another good lookin deal - http://forum.stacyracing.com/viewtopic.php?t=5539

expensive 125 w/ tons of goodies - http://forum.stacyracing.com/viewtopic.php?t=4524

http://forum.stacyracing.com/viewtopic.php?t=4306




These should be all w/in 150 miles of YOU... Want me to keep goin?

[McBiggity]

thanks Pete!

[a13x]

Originally posted by TheIglu
NEDB has two stroke 125's in the same year range as mine for around a grand all the time.

*shrug*


Bigs what kind of riding do you want to do? What kind of $$$ you want to spend? That helps. 125 2st be a good, cheap, smart choice no matter what however.

ps: My bike - 2002 CR125 / $1800

[TTD]

Lots of good posts... and somehow I agree with everyone.



Well... on some points, anyway.

I do agree that two stroke bikes are really no problem to maintain.

But... I agree with Chris on the newer, 250 four strokers (the wood's models, over the MXers)

Main reason being easier to get street legal and registered and easy delivery of power.

But as many people have proven... you can ride just about anything in the woods... especially with a few mods.

Glad you're getting dirty! We all gotta do more dirt riding next year.

[OreoGaborio]

Mike, in my late night browsing I stumbled upon this thread on Thumpertalk... think you'll like it as it's got 9 pages of people bickering back & forth about exactly what you're interested in learning more about....

250F vs 125... and some 250 2 smoke discussion as well.
http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=277343

Well at least there's a FEW informative posts in those 9 pages one that caught my eye is on page 9 at the very end posted by burgunder.

If it helps you decide, you're more than welcome to throw a leg over my KX..... just don't dent the pipe

if you can ride an EX500 fast, you can ride a 2 smoke fast

oh, btw, here's one of those "how to read a spark plug" articles I was talking about. The original one I had in mind was much more extensive, but this one does the trick:
http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/techinf...q/faqread2.asp

[gmdboston]

I have a KTM 125SX I set up for woods. The whole peaky power curve, high maintenence thing is bullshit. You can ride mine if you like.