Cheap, reliable dirt bike for a beginner?

[Datto-Zed]

What would be a nice cheap and reliable 250 dirt bike for a beginner to start out on? I'm talking something around 1k or so. Something I can take for a bit of a play on the dirt as well as learning to ride on the road. Just want to know what would be the model/brands I'd be best to look out for.

Thanks

[Charlie]

I don't think you'll find anything at all reliable for $1k...

[ChojiN]

We brought a KDX175 for $300 ages ago, 18 months and $600 more later (rebuild / seals / and lots of little things) its super reliable, fast and easy to ride.

couldnt get much better for a first bike

-Ch

[SoarinMZ20]

We still have an old XL185, bloody things a 2 wheel tank ! :)

[Datto-Zed]

ChojiN: That's the sort of bike I mean, something you pick up for a bargain. If it need some work, that's fine, I don't mind doing that myself.
Maybe more to the point, are there any particular bikes to avoid?

[Charlie]

an old 2 stroke will be easier and cheaper to work on than an old 4 stroke. kdx175 / 200, pe175, dt 175/200, are the sort of things I'd keep an eye out for.

[ChojiN]

stay away from early 80's grimey smokey 4 strokes, .. they always seem to cost a heap to bring back to great running order.

Most bikes in the < $500 range are all based on condition, but there are mad bargains to be had!

I'd go 2 stroke, something simple and low tech (low cost to fix!).

mid 80's are usually a great time period for dirt bikes, long travel, simple tech still on most bikes and easy to work on.

Another example is Boostboy, he managed to snatch a 1983 IT 250 for $150!! .. and it runs!

Better cosmetically than my 83 IT 490!

Even if he rebuilds everything it'll still be under the 'sale-able' $1000 he'll get for it in the local papers!

grr .. bargains like that make me mad that I didnt snatch it up!

-Ch

[QABB]

For Sale:

1983 IT250K
Great running order
Rebuilt carb
Rebuilt spark plug
Rebuilt kill switch
Never ridden
$1200ono

:)

[ChojiN]

For Sale :

1 Freind
Is Great at pinching good cheap dirt bike deals
Rebuilt Carb
Never Liked
$1.25c

[ChojiN]

Models that you can look for would be :

KDX 175 / 200
DT 175 (Maybe a little underpowered but fine for trails) dt200 (nice bike)
IT 175/200/250
Some Suzuki TS's, PE's (although most are ooooold)

There are a *heap* of bikes that fit the bill from ~76->79, but they are getting real hard to get bits for now.

My preferences would be a DT200/KDX200 of around 1986-89

You might be able to find a good example for ~1k .. but you'll have to look around a bit :)

-Ch

[kalium]

You gettin a bike now are you Datto?
Join the club :) I just got a 1996 KTM 250EXC and I've never had so much fun :D

[Datto-Zed]

kalium: Yeah....Thinking about it. Will save me a sh*t load of money on fuel seeing as the zed is my daily atm! I'm sure you'd know what I mean! :)
....and of course I wanna get out and have some fun on the dirt too.

ChojiN and everyone else, thanks for all the suggestions! I'll keep them in mind. I'm in no rush to buy, so I'll just be keeping an eye out for a bargain. :)

[ChojiN]

They certainly are a lot of fun arent they?! I cant understand why I got out of them!

-Ch

[Charlie]

datto-zed, bikes aren't as cheap to run as they first appear. especially worn out ones. 2 strokes often chew through a fair bit of juice, and require oil to be mixed in. Not to mention if you want something registerable it limits your options quite signifigantly...

I justified my original dirt bike purchase with the thought of fuel savings, but I soon gave up on that idea after the engine spat bits out the side :p

I'm not trying to put you off the idea, just give you another viewpoint... I couldn't think of much better than heading out into the forests on the weekend on a dirtbike.

[Datto-Zed]

Hmm....something to keep in mind. Still, even if it does chew a bit of juice, surely it'll be a lot less than the zed? It's rather hungry.

Maybe I should just buy a scooter. ;)

[Charlie]

fuel and oil costs will certainly be less than the zed, but other maintenance will be signifigantly higher, chain and sprockets, tyres, engine, etc.
how bad on fuel is the z anyway?

[Datto-Zed]

I put $30 in it twice a week... That's to drive to uni once a day, plus a few trips here and there on the weekend. Not good when you're a poor student. I can do about 15L/100km if I baby it, but if you drive a bit harder, then it really chews it. Like if we go for a cruise....that's always bad!

[ChojiN]

Depends on the bike, my XR600 was really frugal on the juice.

A trip that would have cost $20 in the (long gone) XE wagon cost ~$5 on the bike.

Windy though.

-Ch

PS: General maintenance on bikes is cheap as! .. honestly, how often do you go through a sprocket set / chain / tyres?

not often, and if you are, theres something really wrong

[Charlie]

an xr600 is probably the ideal 'semi serious' dirt bike for doing big road k's on. a kdx200 isn't ;)
probably by the time the bike's up to scratch, it'd be cheaper to run if you're on road / not very knobbly dual sport tyres. my experience is that the amount spent getting an old bike up to scratch would pay for a whole lot of petrol, though of course if you find the rare great condition cheap thing around, you could do alright.

[Datto-Zed]

Yeah seeing as I'm in no rush to buy, I'll be looking for that very rare, great condition and cheap as bike.

[Jim]

postie bike with dirt tyres!! $700 is normal heheh

[fmx69]

FOR SALE:
QR50 PERFECT FOR BEGINNER!! NOT FAR TO FALL! he he :-)

[ALLMTR]

50's ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm saving for a CRF50 atm

[fmx69]

i got a yz100 for $750 bout 12mths ago ant had any huge problems with it depends how ya ride it an look after it! Just gotta look in the trader!!