I want to buy a dirt bike.. advice plz!

[Puff_Datto]

Hey all,

Im still on my P's and i want to buy a dirt bike so im looking at a 250cc of some sort. I dont know much about bikes but ive got a few questions :)

Whats a good bike for me if im into riding trails, few jumps, and yeah on road a bit.

Im pretty new at riding bikes but im pretty sure 250cc is big enought for me anyways.

Yeh is there anything else i shoud know about?


cheers

[nitrane]

go the 2-stroke... i just sold my Yamaha YZ250F (four stroke) to opt for a 2 stroke....

if you want to do jumps then i'd definetly go for the 2 stroke. My personal choice would be (in order)

KTM 125SX (goes hard for a 125) or a 250SX if you think you can
hang on haha
Yamaha YZ250
Honda CR250

Don't opt for a older bike as they're more trouble than they're worth... go for something 03/04 (05's will be out soon so if you can wait a coupla months you'll save some $)

Best of luck... prepare for fun and pain! hehe

[Puff_Datto]

Cheers nitrane!

Yeh im not sure if i want a 2 or 4 stroke... is there any price difference?


Do u mind listing a few websites for new bikes?

thanks

[dirtyrex]

Those bikes are great ^^ but you wouldn't ever ride them on the road..

[Puff_Datto]

really? i plan to go on some road trips up to the tip of aus. Whats wrong with riding these bikes on the road?

cheers

[nitrane]

there are road going versions (eg. Yamaha WR250's), ill see what i can find for ya (i just happen to be bike shopping atm for a KTM 250SX as we speak hehe).

Look at the $6500-8k mark for a recent model in good nick

[dazza]

You know there's a forum for motorbikes now?

[Charlie]

how much do you want to spend?
have you ridden before?
a bike that's good on the road is pretty much the exact opposite of a bike that's good in the air, so you need to accept a level of compromise.

2 strokes are signifigantly cheaper and cost signifigantly less to fix. compared to a high tech, new 4 stroke, the maintenance required is less. compared to an old style 4 stroke, the maintenance required is more.
bikes that are a few years old can be fine, though I'd be wary of a new 4s of that age because of the cost if something goes wrong. I'm of the opinion that a wr200 or kdx200 (2 stroke enduro bikes) are the best out there in terms of all-rounders that are reliable and can be had cheaply, if that's the sort of thing you want.

[tur80]

my mates got an xr 250 with a 280 kit and shit for sale atm for $3000 nice bike he just upgraded to a wr and needs to sell it
let us know if ur interested

[Oz_Craig]

i have a xr400 and pretty happy with it
bit heavy tho

[Vicko]

How many road ks are you planning to do on your new dirt bike puff? And where do you want to do them?

If the answer is "quite a few" and in the outback, then you can forget two strokes (getting fuel will be an issue to start with, but realistically they are not high mileage bikes).

You can also probably rule out the newer four stroke hipo bikes (WR250s/400s CRF250s etc). These are not high mileage bikes either.

XR400s are common, but fairly agricultural. Better bet would probably be a DRZ400. If you want something to go nuts on over jumps etc they won't be the best thing (but nothing will that will handle big k's), but they'll do the trail thing without any drama and can handle some decent miles.

[Charlie]

what makes you say that drz's are so reliable Vicko? You been reading sidetrack? :p
I know of quite a few people that have had plenty of valve issues with drz's as well, it doesn't seem that any of the 'new breed' of 4 strokes is escaping that one.

[Vicko]

I'm not saying they are the ultimate thing for his particular req's - there probably isn't such a bike. I'm saying that they're considerably less labour hungry than the WRs/CRFs and a better thing to ride than the XR range. You can do reasonable road miles on them, not to mention the fact that they have a key which is a big thing for me (security wise - if you're putting it on the road). Hell they even motard up reasonably well, albeit with substantial mods. For the dollars and intended usage he's looking at - it'd be the direction I'd personally head.

And no - I don't think I've ever even opened an issue of Sidetrack :)