thinking of getting dirty...finally

[SVRACER01]

fuck you Joel. logic has no place here. this is the interwebs

[OreoGaborio]

good for you big boy. ill get you some sort of ribbon. was that your first dirt bike? no? then STFU

No, my first dirtbike was a KX250 motocross man eating monster. I already told you that. The 400EXC is more tame and a better chassis for the woods. Stop being a pussy.

[Garandman]

My son has a Honda 100 which is light, simple and indestructible.

But when it came time to buy a "chase bike," I wanted a street legal bike. In E MA most access to riding areas requires riding on roads to connect trails, my wife can use it, and we can use it for short trips.

Street legal bikes are heavier and more expensive, but more practical if the above pertain. The three "usual suspects" are the Honda CRF250L, Suzuki DRZ400S, and the Yamaha WR250R. They each have their pluses and minuses, but a lot of the people I know who have tried them all or owned more than one recommended the WR250R. I am picking a 2012 up in Maine Saturday.

There are many threads on these bikes in the Thumper section of Advrider. The WR250R "mega thread" is over 2,500 pages.

[SVRACER01]

heres another
http://hartford.craigslist.org/sno/4107526047.html

i still dont know the difference between the MXC, EXC, XCW

[Paul_E_D]

That one looks clean. alot of those new items in that deal ARE what costs to maintain a dirtbike. The other thing to check are the head/swingarm/link/shock bearings.

I'm 5 years ahead of you on this learning curve. I've owned 125, 200, 250F. I'm gonna go with the crowd here and say the 2 strokes are cheaper and easier to own. It's not valve adjustment on the 250F, it's the required head work ofter the second adjustment. New valves and machine work cost a lot more than a new piston for a 2t. And involve SO much more work.

Now, for MX tracks, the 250Fs rule the day, but you seem to be shying away from the track. Go for the ring dinger!

[R7]

Wirelessly posted

heres another
http://hartford.craigslist.org/sno/4107526047.html

i still dont know the difference between the MXC, EXC, XCW

Exc/xcw are pretty much the same. One of the years the exc went street legal, while the xcw was offroad only. Mxc is if I recall, woods tuned motor, with mx suspension and gear ratios.

[Chippertheripper]

Sounds about right. At a later year, the w became different (lower 1&2) gearing than the exc/Xc too. Maybe 08?

[TheIglu]

Ox, I hear you on the maintenance on a 2T. In the years and years i've owned my 125, I've had to do two spark plugs and clean the air filter. Luckily I have a well lit garage and tons of tools to do that massive amount of work. If I had to do that in the parking lot at Clough? Man, that would be tough.

Oh wait. That's where I did change the plug. Damnit.


Though I did change the air filter in my basement. Luckily I bought a thumb for my right hand years back and was able to use that to unscrew the one wingnut that holds the air filter in.



You are actually completely off base in regards to maintenance, time and tools. 4 stroke will be much more maintenance intensive and expensive to maintain than a 2 stroke.


Premixing the gas?

If you can put creamer in a cup of coffee, you can premix in seconds.

Oh look, I have a 2 gallon gas tank. Pour in x ounces using $4 measuring cup that says under 32:1, this many ounces to this many gallons of fuel. Shake and bake. Done. That will last you an entire weekend. Damn, where will you find the time to premix!??

Ox, I'll ride with you if you find a bike to borrow.

[SVRACER01]

Ox, I hear you on the maintenance on a 2T. In the years and years i've owned my 125, I've had to do two spark plugs and clean the air filter. Luckily I have a well lit garage and tons of tools to do that massive amount of work. If I had to do that in the parking lot at Clough? Man, that would be tough.

Oh wait. That's where I did change the plug. Damnit.


Though I did change the air filter in my basement. Luckily I bought a thumb for my right hand years back and was able to use that to unscrew the one wingnut that holds the air filter in.



You are actually completely off base in regards to maintenance, time and tools. 4 stroke will be much more maintenance intensive and expensive to maintain than a 2 stroke.


Premixing the gas?

If you can put creamer in a cup of coffee, you can premix in seconds.

Oh look, I have a 2 gallon gas tank. Pour in x ounces using $4 measuring cup that says under 32:1, this many ounces to this many gallons of fuel. Shake and bake. Done. That will last you an entire weekend. Damn, where will you find the time to premix!??

Ox, I'll ride with you if you find a bike to borrow.

youre such a dick...theres 2 X's in my name

heres another. http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/mcy/4119288735.html
i should really figure out how im gonna buy one of these, not to mention where im gonna put it

[nhbubba]

...where im gonna put it

Room in my garage. These things don't have keys, do they?

[Kurlon]

I carry my premix bottle and measuring cup in a backpack when I do long rides. At the pump, petcock off, note how many gallons I put in. Look at measuring cup, find that many gallons in 40:1 column, fill to that mark with oil, add to tank and shake the bike for a few moments. Petcock on and back to riding. Easy cheasy.

[TheIglu]

youre such a dick...theres 2 X's in my name

Relacks Ocks.

[b0xmonkey]

For a guy who says he doesn't want a 2T you're posting an awful lot of craig's links to 2T's....

[Chippertheripper]

Relacks Ocks.

:rofl:

[SVRACER01]

For a guy who says he doesn't want a 2T you're posting an awful lot of craig's links to 2T's....

i think ive been talked into burning oil. which will make the wife happy.

[odduc]

If I could do it over again, I would go for a smoker. I have 3 4T dirtbikes and have had to rebuild the engine on one, adjust valves on another (twice) and the third is due for a top end. The combined cost of those repairs has run me into about the $3000 range. For that kind of money, I could have bought a good used 2 stroke. BUT, I do so enjoy the 'no waiting', instant on power that comes from a 4T with every slight twist of the throttle, in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears.

[tls25rs]

Oxx,

If you are stuck on a 4T and price is a consideration there is always this for sale right now

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...400-1800-O-B-O

Should make a decent woods weapon.

Joel

[Phat Twin]

My riding buddy has a 2011 KTM 350SX-F. Converted to a woods bike, 6 speed tranny, e-start, lights, brake switch, factory connection suspension for 185lbs. Its essentially a 250 sized bike with a 350 four Stroke motor with Fuel Injection wedged into it. Think 350 XCF-W. Thing is spot on in the woods, and rips if you want it to. 100 hours. This bike was what everyone wanted and KTM built new in 2012-13. Light, nimble and the cats ass. Street plated too. Thats the shizzit right there. I think he is looking for 4K or somewhere around there. I can get you info if your interested. I wish I had the cash cuz it would be in my garage right now.

Only reason why he selling it is that he has a 2012 KTM 350XCF-W that he rides as well.

[Phat Twin]

If I could do it over again, I would go for a smoker. I have 3 4T dirtbikes and have had to rebuild the engine on one, adjust valves on another (twice) and the third is due for a top end. The combined cost of those repairs has run me into about the $3000 range. For that kind of money, I could have bought a good used 2 stroke. BUT, I do so enjoy the 'no waiting', instant on power that comes from a 4T with every slight twist of the throttle, in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears.

Yup.

[gregp]

Both motor configurations have their benefits. The FI of my 350 is downright scary sometimes. It barks - hard - with every twitch of the throttle. Sometimes it is difficult to be gentle with the power delivery. The fuel efficiency is pretty amazing, though. I can get 50 MPG or so out of it while trail riding. My old KDX would get 50 Miles Per Tank - about 2.5 gallons, under the same conditions. It was also much easier to navigate through wet, slimy rocks and logs. There is no denying that the "hit" of a 2-stroke motor makes them very fun to ride - and isn't that why we are out there in the first place?

[Paul_E_D]

That XR400 could be a sweet pickup for the right price. Workhorse!

[Garandman]

Just learned something about the WR250R: alternator output is 350 watts. Guys are hanging all sorts of electronic "stuff" on them: heated grips, GPS, LED auxiliary lights, blenders, you name it....

[nhbubba]

That XR400 could be a sweet pickup for the right price. Workhorse!

Air cooled too, simplifies maintenance a little. I hear the XR is just this side of indestructible.

Tom offered the bike to me before he listed it. I suspect I may regret not taking him up on that offer.

[gregp]

XR400's are very nice trail bikes. I owned a 2000 model. I also know an "A" Enduro rider who swears by them, regardless of the KTM wave of innovation. They are *very* capable bikes. The lack of E-start is the only disadvantage. Yes, they are heavier than more recent bikes, but that weight can be an advantage if the rider knows how to exploit it. They are not for everybody, but once upon a time, they were the best there was. I would still consider owning another one.

[SVRACER01]

Wirelessly posted (GS3)

I think I'm pulling the trigger on the 03 ktm 300 in maine