Beginner Dirt Bike?

[Nipplechops]

ugh, I'm sorry people
but a TTR and XR are just such garbage that would just get old 2 days after riding it.

Hellz yeah! May as well start off on a 500 two stroke.

Seriously though, I beg to differ. Read the first post. The guy is only 5'3" and a beginner to boot. A DR/XR/TTR is a perfect machine for him.

Inexperience combined with a load of power is a bad combination.

 

[Ozwynn]

Hellz yeah! May as well start off on a 500 two stroke.

Seriously though, I beg to differ. Read the first post. The guy is only 5'3" and a beginner to boot. A DR/XR/TTR is a perfect machine for him.

Inexperience combined with a load of power is a bad combination.

yep....... we had a motocross track in our back field, 3/10s of a mile long from gate to the last corner. seen it happen plenty of times....... inexperience plus too much bike is a broken bone looking for a place to happen.

this reminds of when I first started reading hotrod magazine. it started out as a magazine for hotrods and then it became all about professional level drag racing and mods and parts nobody could afford. they left the average guy (the guy that buys the magazine) behind. thats what is happening here in this thread about motorcycles.

the average rider does not need a proffesional level bike to go out and have fun. he could buy a 1970 something 175 cc 2stroke street bike that has been stripped for dirt and it would run forever with no problems, we had 2 of them for back up bikes, a 175cc Yamaha and a 250 cc Kawasaki and we had fun on them and i think the 175 cost us $100 and the 250 cost us $150 and a junk shotgun and other than spark plugs, tires and brakes then never needed anything to ride. My mom has been riding her XR200 since she bought it new and she has had it for almost 15 years and it has never had an issue and she rides it most days down in Arizona. the only 4 stroke I ever had issues with was that XR350 I had and I solved the problem with a later model engine. I paid $750 for the bike and after 3 timing chains and 1 new head I went to an 87 engine that cost me $200 and it never had a problem after that until it got stolen. for $950 I had one hell of a bike and it would keep up with 250cc 2 strokers of the same era.

to the OP, just buy something that fits you and ride it, when you out grow it as a rider sell it and buy something bigger.


I personally plan on starting my daughter out on an older model XR 80 or 100 if I can find one.

 

[baparish]

just get yourself a yamaha banshee and you will have one hell of a good time.

 

[GreatWhite]

just get yourself a yamaha banshee and you will have one hell of a good time.

stupidest thing I have ever heard, quads are for two things: Girls,little children and/or the sand dunes. I'am not talking badly of the XR,TTR Honda and Yamaha's mild trail 4-strokes. Obviously they are strong dependable bikes. Thing is there tanks, old technology (heavy steel frames, heavy motors etc...). Now I know this because I started on a XR that they get old after a couple months riding them because they are no longer intimidating. Now if you get yourself on a 2-stroke thats intimidating your never going to lose interest riding it.

On the other hand if you arent expirenced to be riding on a track with such a powerful bike then dont do it. I spent the first 2 months on my XR just mobbin on flat land, getting used to the shifting/clutch, getting used to the braking, getting used to how the motorcycle reacted in different terrains. Eventually I started hitting jumps, after that about a year later my dad when my dad realized I was going to ride motorcycles or not whether he was afraid of them, he bought me a 2003 CR85R. Now the 85' was a whole new expierence. Had alot more balls, and had an instant 2-stroke powerband that scared the shit out of me. After learning how to maintain all the 2-stroke power I brought that bitch to the track and raced.

 

[OilPatch197]

I am 5'8" and 200 pounds.


What would be a good dirt/street bike for me?

I've rode ATV's, but never a dirt bike. Always been a fan of Suzuki's.

 

[Nipplechops]

stupidest thing I have ever heard, quads are for one thing: Girls

Fixt.

Now I know this because I started on a XR that they get old after a couple months riding them because they are no longer intimidating. Now if you get yourself on a 2-stroke thats intimidating your never going to lose interest riding it.

On the other hand if you arent expirenced to be riding on a track with such a powerful bike then dont do it. I spent the first 2 months on my XR just mobbin on flat land, getting used to the shifting/clutch, getting used to the braking, getting used to how the motorcycle reacted in different terrains. Eventually I started hitting jumps, after that about a year later my dad when my dad realized I was going to ride motorcycles or not whether he was afraid of them, he bought me a 2003 CR85R. Now the 85' was a whole new expierence. Had alot more balls, and had an instant 2-stroke powerband that scared the shit out of me. After learning how to maintain all the 2-stroke power I brought that bitch to the track and raced.

I'd be willing to bet a lot of cash that you wouldn't have adjusted so well to the CR without the saddle time on the XR. I'd also be willing to bet that if you had gone right to the CR, you would have ended up much like my friend that decided to hop on my KX500 with no previous riding experience. That was a scene for America's Funniest Home Videos. He is lucky that he isn't dead, and I was an idiot for letting him ride it to begin with.

One thing that loads of power make up for is shitty riding technique. I noticed that when I went from a 500 two stroke to a 300 four stroke. I've ridden some wicked trail with guys that ride bigger and more modern machines and I have no issues keeping up with them 99% of the time on tight single track. On the straights it is a different story! Obstacles that a lot of guys will put a foot down to go over or around, I can do with careful clutch work and good balance and no foot down.

If you want to learn good balance and technique, go riding with guys on more powerful machines and try to keep up. If you really want to learn, make sure those guys don't wait up if you get behind.

 

[MAranger]

I would stay away from 4-strokes, especially if you're on a budget. A 2 stroke is much easier and cheaper to fix, you just have to be more religious about the maintenance. Plus, they're a whole lot more fun, IMO. Check your state laws, though, to make sure they don't any of the gay california-type laws about 2 strokes. I would also recommend sticking with either a Honda or a Yamaha. Parts are cheaper and easier to find, and much more reliable in my experience.

Two stroke = top end every season! You're right about the two smoker being easier to fix, but, the 200 motor is about the simplest four stroke motor ever.

I have had 2 XR200's and love them. PERFECT learners bike. Two strokes can be scary to new riders because of the powerband hit. The 200's suspension is junk if you weigh more than a 140, the front more so than the rear. Getting an MX'er you'll get lightyears better suspension.

The "topend" work the bike needs, is prabably a cam chain, they're known for hopping chains. One of mine did it, hopped the chain, and bent a valve. $150 for a chain, valve, and gasket kit, and it was back in running shape.

 

[97ranger4x4]

Thanks again for lots of personal knowledge and opinions. The only problem is someone turned me onto ThumperTalk.com and I hate to admit i have pretty much abandoned TRS in the last 2 weeks! There is so much info on that site. I have read through most of the tech articles, found there are several places to ride within a reasonable distance and all around learned more in 2 weeks of reading about others experiences than I would of a year of riding.

Still on the lookout for a bike, but it will probably be several months to a year before I could really justify a purchase and find a place to store it.

 

[Toreadorranger]

I know you said you didnt want a 2stroke, but Id look into an RT180. I have a 1991 RT180. Its my beater bike, I havent done a single thing since buying it about 2 years ago. Its very tame, It is my first 2 stroke, but its my 4th bike. The good thing is it is also very small. Would be a perfect size for someone with your build. It starts first kick everytime and Ive never done any top end work, now that I think about it I dont think Ive ever changed the crankcase oil either. But as I said its my beater bike bought it for like 200 or 300 dollars and have been just beating on it ever since.

 

[OilPatch197]

I have heard from some pros that when you get in a "Oh Sh!t" situation on a dirt bike, they say to NEVER use the brake, instead gun it. They said if your a cautious bastard and use your brakes you will eat more dirt, further they said that your bikes suspension can handle much more than you think. (the guy has gone over ruts, and drove thru a barbed wire fence with nothing more than ripped clothing.)