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looking at dirtbikes who knows there stuff


I have 5 bikes that covers most of the categories that are being discussed and spent a lot of time on the trails.A lot of things being said arn't true while some are.
1.Modern two strokes with an exhaust power valve have very little power band feel the exception is a 125 you can trail ride these but it takes a higher skill level.

2.You have to work on a two stroke more but not much more than a modern 250 four stroke the two stroke is cheaper to run but the cheapest to run is an old school four stroke TTR Yamaha small CRF line.

3.The small four strokes are easy to ride and cheap to get but your riding skills will quickly outgrow there abilities.When you meet some riding buddies [very fun] they'll spend all day waiting for you and not call you next time.

4.If you planning on riding in some rec areas that have tree huggers and nature lovers in its nice when they cant see your exhaust four strokes are nice there.

What makes a bike fun to ride on trails is light weight and torque.My favorites are KTM off road bikes not motorcross mostly two stroke.A good YZ or CR 250 works good must be new enough for a power valve.Don't have one but really enjoy riding like a WR or YZ 250 four stroke get new enough for electric start if you can.The 450s have awesome power but unless you have a lot of say desert riding or huge hills or a lot of talent they just wear you out early.Look on bike web sites and in magazines about trail riding you'll have to pick through a lot of racing material because there's not near the money in trail riding.I went a little long but for a basic bike and some safety gear there is a huge amount of fun to be had.
 
I have 5 bikes that covers most of the categories that are being discussed and spent a lot of time on the trails.A lot of things being said arn't true while some are.
1.Modern two strokes with an exhaust power valve have very little power band feel the exception is a 125 you can trail ride these but it takes a higher skill level.

2.You have to work on a two stroke more but not much more than a modern 250 four stroke the two stroke is cheaper to run but the cheapest to run is an old school four stroke TTR Yamaha small CRF line.

3.The small four strokes are easy to ride and cheap to get but your riding skills will quickly outgrow there abilities.When you meet some riding buddies [very fun] they'll spend all day waiting for you and not call you next time.

4.If you planning on riding in some rec areas that have tree huggers and nature lovers in its nice when they cant see your exhaust four strokes are nice there.

What makes a bike fun to ride on trails is light weight and torque.My favorites are KTM off road bikes not motorcross mostly two stroke.A good YZ or CR 250 works good must be new enough for a power valve.Don't have one but really enjoy riding like a WR or YZ 250 four stroke get new enough for electric start if you can.The 450s have awesome power but unless you have a lot of say desert riding or huge hills or a lot of talent they just wear you out early.Look on bike web sites and in magazines about trail riding you'll have to pick through a lot of racing material because there's not near the money in trail riding.I went a little long but for a basic bike and some safety gear there is a huge amount of fun to be had.

Yep, more or less accurate advice, I figured he'd be looking for more power, but indeed, the smaller bikes in the CRF and TTR lineup (Honda and Yamaha's trailbikes) are going to be your most reliable troublefree choice. Pick one of these and you can almost guarantee you'll never need to do anything to em but change the oil from time to time, and lube and adjust the chain. They're real real real forgiving bikes. I've owned a bunch of XR/CRF's, and ridden my share of TTR's and they're good bikes. Not the fastest or necessarily the best suspension, but they're good bikes!

Again, for a trail bike, especially a first bike, i'd recommend going with a 4 stroke. Especially if you've been riding 4wheelers, thats what you'll be used too. Torque is your friend, especially when you're encountering mud and other obstacles that you wouldn't normally see on a moto-x track!

The last thing is, I'd recommend you stay away from the big 450 moto-xers unless your a big guy! They're powerful, but at your skill level, unless your realistically (I'm serious, be real with yourself or you'll regret it!) big and strong enough to handle it, its not gonna be a lot of fun. Like I said, I've been riding most of my life, and I've ridden a few 450 crossers' and even as fast as they are, would never want to own one. I'm 5'9", and about 140, so I'm relatively small, and they're just too big and heavy for me. Not to make me sound like a p*ssy or anything, I'm just being realistic! I'm much happier on a 2-300cc bike.

Again, take all the advice given on here with a grain of salt, it really comes down to what you're looking for, and at the end of the day its up to you to really judge what your wants/needs are cuz everybodies different!

Oh and by the way... If all else fails and none of the bikes mentioned above strike you as particularly interesting, you could always go for one of these...

136cc 2 stroke, 3 speed... and two-wheel drive: :D :D

9729_140344134191_507294191_2337125_6417354_n.jpg

Thats my 1970 Rokon trailbreaker! :)
 
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^ thats kool i like that. im thinkin either a crf-f 150 of crf-r 150 i want to get the r more because i wont outgrow the speed as quickly but im not sure if i can handle it rite now. ive looked at suzukis and theyre kinda small havent really checked yamaha thanks for all the input guys ill post pics when i decide what im getn and when i do
 
^ thats kool i like that. im thinkin either a crf-f 150 of crf-r 150 i want to get the r more because i wont outgrow the speed as quickly but im not sure if i can handle it rite now. ive looked at suzukis and theyre kinda small havent really checked yamaha thanks for all the input guys ill post pics when i decide what im getn and when i do

Alright, sounds good man! It might be worth checking out something kinda old and beat up for a while... Yano, like in the $5-600 range! If you can get a good price on it, you can use it to learn and experiment... Then you'll know more of what you need to look out for, and what you want, and you can then dish out for a newer, more expensive bike later on, without really losing any money when you go to resell the beater bike!

It beats buying an 09' CRF250x and then realizing 6 months from now you hate it and then losing $5-600 when you try and sell it!

But defo put a picture up when ya pick something!
 
Alright, sounds good man! It might be worth checking out something kinda old and beat up for a while... Yano, like in the $5-600 range! If you can get a good price on it, you can use it to learn and experiment... Then you'll know more of what you need to look out for, and what you want, and you can then dish out for a newer, more expensive bike later on, without really losing any money when you go to resell the beater bike!

It beats buying an 09' CRF250x and then realizing 6 months from now you hate it and then losing $5-600 when you try and sell it!

But defo put a picture up when ya pick something!

Thats a good plan to see if you like riding at all and kind of look around.Also get entry level helmet riding gloves[I use mechanics gloves]and like $ 80 dollar riding boots.The boots are important because the front tire flips things up and hit your ankles and miner kick starting injuries.
 
Thats a good plan to see if you like riding at all and kind of look around.Also get entry level helmet riding gloves[I use mechanics gloves]and like $ 80 dollar riding boots.The boots are important because the front tire flips things up and hit your ankles and miner kick starting injuries.

agree'd! gear is important, so don't skimp on it! Although hopefully you've got gear left over from riding 4wheelers so you know what I mean!

You don't nessisarily have to spend money on riding boots, just make sure you have a sturdy pair of leather boots that come up past your ankles, and protect your shins a bit. Steel toe is good too, I've had a couple kick starting incidents where I really wish I'd been wearing my steel toe'd boots! Just stay away from tennis shoes!

Here's the thing a dirtbike. Its not like a quad where as long as you're reasonably careful you probably won't fall. On a motorcycle, you WILL fall, it just probably won't hurt as bad as coming off a quad. Play it safe, and as you gain experience you won't fall so much!
 
i got a helmet and i use loggin boots for work and play and steel toes all i wear i dont own any tennis shoes the only steel toe i got are my dress wellingtons. and i use mechanics gloves to
 
what size shoe u wear? i got a pair of damn near new Fox boots that i would let go pretty cheap. and u do want actual ridin boots trust me. u can kinda skimp on the gloves but proper helmet goggles and boots are absolutley a must. my dad took a simple little topple off of his 97 'zuki 350 that i ride now and the foot peg went threw his calf. ridin boots are stif hard and have metal spines down the sides to keep u from breakin ur ankles.
 
Thats a good plan to see if you like riding at all and kind of look around.Also get entry level helmet riding gloves[I use mechanics gloves]and like $ 80 dollar riding boots.The boots are important because the front tire flips things up and hit your ankles and miner kick starting injuries.


He speaks the truth. Having the right gear makes it a lot more fun. And don't wear regular steel toed boots. They won't help you when you really need it. You need riding boots.

Check out www.rockymountainatv.com I paid $80 for a pair of Thor Quadrant's, and they work great, plus they're cheap. You'll be glad you have real boots the first time you lay it over at full throttle.
 
He speaks the truth. Having the right gear makes it a lot more fun. And don't wear regular steel toed boots. They won't help you when you really need it. You need riding boots.

Check out www.rockymountainatv.com I paid $80 for a pair of Thor Quadrant's, and they work great, plus they're cheap. You'll be glad you have real boots the first time you lay it over at full throttle.

AMEN! I highsided on a logging road once in sixth... hit the ground running. Riding boots saved a broken ankle for sure.


But as far as bikes go, I've been riding since I was a wee tyke, used to race as well. If you're looking for something to start out on, I'd recommend something like the CRF 230. It's not going to be a real powerhouse, but definitely a LOT better than a 150, and you'll get more time out of it than a 150. With the 150, you'll outgrow it a lot faster and be looking for more power almost instantly and it won't be near as fun to ride. I myself ride an all done up RM 125, and on trails and hillclimbs I can keep up with and outdo 450's. That being said, it's a lot more difficult to ride in situations where I need that low-end grunt which is where I think you'll be for the first little while. Go with a 4-stroke IMO, I kind of wish I would have.:dunno:
 

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