| Author | Message | ||
     Macbuell |
I'm looking to buy a dirt / trail bike to mess around with this coming spring. I will not be doing any motocross riding just trail riding and playing in the dirt. I'm looking for opinions on what bike would be perfect for that. I've heard that I should stay away from 125cc two-strokes but I really do not know anything about off road bikes. Keep in mind that I don't want to spend much over $1,000. Thanks for the help. | ||
| Firebolt020283  |
id say go with a used honda xr or crf if ur using it for trail riding but thats just my opinion | ||
| Racerx1  |
Kawasaki KDX200 or KDX220...easy to start, awesome full size trail bikes you won't outgrow . Feels like a torqy 125... KTM200EXC also a great choice | ||
| Tramp  |
stick with a 4-stroke- even 30-yr. old Xrs and Crs and KXes and KDXes are a balst and very bulletproof. I raced Motos and faltrack as a youngster amd feel it's the best way to hone balance point/throttle control skills. personally, I love using my S2 on the falttarck and on the Moto track, but i eat up rear shocks on the whoop-dees. really keeps my streetriding on that thing crisp, especially in the snow. | ||
| Fullpower  |
Honda XR250. best offroad/trail bike ever sold. mine has a 56 tooth rear sprocket, and climbs like a mountain goat.  | ||
| Fullpower |
if you weigh more then 175 pounds, then a case could be made for the XR400, also a bulletproof design. both the XR250 and XR400 are darned near indestructible, they are air cooled, so you will never run out of coolant, you can ride half a day on a tank of fuel, and they are real easy to maintain. | ||
| Macbuell |
Thanks for the info. It's greatly appreciated | ||
| Djkaplan  |
$1000 kind of limits your options here, so it might be the deal you stumble upon that guides you. If you're new to off-roading, the most important factor is a bike you can physically handle. You'll need a light bike with moderate power, so this may eliminate larger displacement 4-strokes. Definitely stay away from used motocross bikes (unless the deal is too good to pass up). Used race bikes are generally pretty thrashed and aren't worth the effort or cash to keep running. I'm sure if you look hard enough, you might find a mid-displacement dual-sport bike somewhere, this might be your best bet. | ||
| Reepicheep  |
I am continuing to watch for the exact same thing. They are hard to find at that price, all I have seen are really trashed ones. Consider bringing up your price to $2000, in which case you can score an old but very nice KLR-650 or Suzuki DR-650, and have a street legal trail bike. | ||
| Newfie_buell  |
You mean like this ONE!!!!  I absolutely love that thing and it can go up hills like this one  | ||
| Newfie_buell |
That one is a 1990 model and is Kickstart ONLY. A good friend of mine still can't start it but he only weighs about 140lbs.....funny thing is he can stand on the outstretched kickstarter and it don't move. | ||
| Motomadman  |
IMO the best bikes these days are high-performance 250 four-strokes. Out of the $1000 range though. Sounds like you're most likely going to be happy with a Yamaha TTR, Honda XR or Suzuki DR. The Kawasaki KDX200 two-stroke is a good choice as well. Make sure you go larger than 200cc for a four-stroke. Yamaha makes a 225 that's pretty popular. The 150cc four-stroke bikes are good for kids and wifes (no offense to any ladies out there). | ||
| Al_lighton  |
Older XR250/XR400, definitely. Indestructible, reliable, been around forever so any part you ever need is available. $1k would be an excellent deal for one that wasn't totally thrashed, though. My wife's $1200 '01 TTR125L is fun to ride, but you'd outgrow one like it in no time, especially if you were trail riding instead of small track or lot riding. $2000 will get you a bike you can ride for a while, less will probably net you one you'll want to replace sooner than later. Might be false economy to stay to $1k. Al | ||
| Tramp |
set your buell up with knobbies and call it a day | ||
| Vr1203  |
800CC single cylinder!!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4504808715&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT  | ||
| Sandblast  |
"In addition it is a true canyon carver and with an experienced rider one can ride circles around sport-bikes on any windy road"  | ||
| Firemanjim  |
Marc,depends on your size,intended usage,and off road experience. All older 4 strokes are heavy, fairly underpowered compared to their 2 stroke brethern,softly suspended,and can be a bitch to start after laying over.If you are bigger guy you are going to need more power.Tight woods or wide open fire roads?Bigger bikes are harder to manuever on single track.4 stroke=valve adjustment,timing chain,etc,2 stroke=easier to work on,just need sooner intervals for things like rings.Though you can do a top end in camp.The 2 stroke enduros--KDX 200/220,RMX 250,EXC 200/250/300 are all nice bikes.And there is something to be said for the later 2 stroke 125's,light,nimble,good power,cheap.My son has a 1999 YZ 125 and its a blast even for my 175 lbs.Give us more of an idea what you are looking for. | ||
| Newfie_buell |
I love that DR800 WOW, Most of my riding is not with motocross guys, as for tight trails and woods riding the DR650 has given me no problems. If I were to buy a new one it would definately be the DRZ400 or Kawasakis Equivalent. Lighter and I'd guess more power. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Yup Newfie, that's the one! I ran across one near here for $600. Clutch was completely shot, most of it was held together with bailing wire (literally), seat was trashed, forks were leaking, and it had this kinda scary "clankish ring" each time it fired that had me concerned about the crank bearings. Is that normal? Anyway, even given all that, I probably would have bought it, except we were right in the middle of a move and trying to sell one house and buy another, and the guy had no title, and could not tell me much about it's history (some guy gave it to him for some work he did). The timing was wrong to go hunting for 2 decade old dirt bike parts, rebuilding engines and forks, replacing a clutch, and trying to get a replacement title for something that had clearly been street licensed at some point. I chickened out, knowing I could probably go buy one that runs well and has clear title for $2000. | ||
| Reepicheep |
(but if I saw it again tomorrow, I would probably come home with it :/ ) | ||
| Newfie_buell |
I paid $3000 Canadian for mine and it may have been a little on the high side but you know it is something I enjoy and thats worth every penny. I have had three offers to sell it for what I paid so I know I won't lose even after using it for a while. I guess its like the Buell - if I had to sell the S1 tomorrow I wouldn't get a heck of a lot for it but you know selling it is certainly not worth the grin factor that it causes. Now if I could find one like you described I'd take it in a second as well. Bikes here on the island are pretty easy to track the previous owners. | ||
| Rek |
I'm pretty tickled w/ my Yammy 1967 YL2C (110cc) It's a Honda 90 clone. Mint condition, dual rear sprockets (trail/street) and so light I can lift it into the back of my pickup or load it into a skiff (for island hunting)all by myself. Rob | ||
| Chewy  |
I bought my XR400 new and haven't had a lick of trouble out of it, except for the things I did to it. It's been an exceptional trail bike. They are easy to rebuild too(once again, MY FAULT).  | ||
| Dsergison  |
GASGAS PamperGa 280 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/dsergison/gasgas.jpg I ride an xr400 dualsported (plated anyway) my brother rides a dr350, bit cheaper and still a good trail dualsport. My wife, well she just got the GASGAS PamperGa 280. That thing is the most awsome dualsport ever. Well ok, not so good on the long distance but it's a hoot on the gnarliest of trails. (Message edited by dsergison on November 26, 2004) (Message edited by dsergison on November 26, 2004) (Message edited by dsergison on November 26, 2004) why the heck cant I get an image in here!!!!! (Message edited by dsergison on November 26, 2004) | ||
| Tombo |
I credit my dirt bike experience with my ability to react to surprises on the street and carry multigear wheelies. For under a $1,000 I would look for something on the vintage side. There are quite a few vintage dirtbikes out there that have good support networks. Depending on what you are looking for, vintage dirtbikes will have less suspension, but also sit lower to the ground. I like evolution era bikes (early long-travel) because you get half decent suspension and they still sit fairly low. I currently have a few dirt bikes, but my runner is a 1980 XL500. The X Rat is street legal and makes for a great winter bike in New England. I have fire-roaded one of my Buells a few times (handles it pretty well), but I won't run them in the salt. | ||
| Mr_grumpy  |
If you want something you can go anywhere anytime in comfort & reliability, a BMW R80 GS, A friend of mine has one that has been all over europe at least twice. | ||
| Crusty |
I can lift it into the back of my pickup or load it into a skiff (for island hunting)all by myself How do you hunt islands? I thought they pretty much stayed still. Can't be much fun in that; like shooting sitting ducks! | ||
| Rek |
LOL Crusty, Some of those islands are pretty sneaky. You just think they're sitting still. I actually picked up the little Yamaha when I lived in Alaska for the express reason of hunting ON the islands (Alexander Archipelago=1,000's of islands). A great place to live and a great little bike. Rob | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Crusty, Islands can be pretty crafty especially when they hide out in the FOG!!!! | ||
| Tramp |
i say pick up a cheap blast, prefereably one that's been dropped and has a twisted frontend (love wintertime for bike deals), lose the buell frontend and slap a kx or cr frontend on (easy enough to procure from bike salvage yards), toss some knobbies on 'er and dick around with your rear shock, toss mx bars on and have kickaas all-american thumper, sort of a modern-day, us-made 441 victor...now, THAT would be classy | ||
| Dsergison |
wifes GASGAS Pampera 280 the very lightest, torquiest, street legal machine made.  http://www.gasgas.com/Pages/2003's/Pampera/pro-280-main-specs.html | ||
| Jssport  |
I really like my 90 KDX-200, I got it for about $1000 then sunk another $1000 in it giving it a complete rebuild all over (shocks, forks, chassis/frame bearings, new topend, reeds, filter, pipe and rejet, seat pegs handlebars). In Ohio it is not street legal, in some states it is, (yes mine does have a plate on it,... remind me to tell you that story sometime) What bike is best for you depends on your abilty,... (I'm assuming we're talking general dirt biking and not moto-x) the absolute best riders i know ride KTM 200exc, fast and light, the next level down runs 250-300 2 strokes and big 4 strokes. Then it filters down to us non-racers / trial riders on XR's, KDX's and finally DRZ's for more street orientation. Best advice ?,.. get a used KDX or XR and try it out for a while, you'll know want you want. Oh ya, I'm about 140 lbs wet,... and after I get tired I can not kick start any hp 4 stroke 250 or above, i look at my kdx real hard and it starts itself,... true story ! (Message edited by jssport on November 26, 2004) |
