what dirtbike to get

I picked up an older KTM 300 2 stroke and fell in love with the powerband. It has enough torque down low to get you around without stalling. Once you hit the powerband, the thing turns into a rocket. I haven't ridden very many other bikes so I'm not the guy to give you comparisons, but I'm happy as hell with my KTM.

 

I started with an rm125, bought it blown up and rebuilt the entire engine before ever riding a bike. Rode that for a couple years, then sold it for like $1200 more than I got it for. The I picked up another rm125 for $200 that was blown up and did the same thing, made like $1000 on that one. Now I have a cr250r I also bought blown up that's 97% finished and ready to rip for a while and then most likely sell for a nice paycheck too.

Working on 2-smokers is crazy easy

From this:


To this: all in a couple weeks working after the day job.

 

I'm not sure if honda or yamaha has any decent enduro/trail 2 strokes tho. I know ktm mostly does enduro and are set for the trails right out of the factory while yamaha and honda are more mx based and have really hard suspension and aggressive gearing and it will cost me extra to get the proper suspension or even just sofened and gearing is as simple as changing the rear gear so that's not a big problem but yeah i def wana try to get a enduro probably 2 stroke now i heard what lots of people has said

 

Wrong my friend. WP (KTM) suspension is constantly ranked the worst suspension for any application, just talk to any suspension company in the industry. The SSS suspension (Yamaha) is the most plush and best feeling of any of the new application air forks, etc. There is no disputing that. And if your serious about it you should have you suspension sent off anyway and set up for your weight, application and style of riding regardless of the brand. Yamaha has a huge array of new off road bikes for this year, the WR and FX, the 250X are all new models for this year. Don't say I didn't warn you when your paying more for parts on your KTM when it does come time to maintenance, rebuild, for what? A hydrualic clutch and some brakes? You can upgrade those yourself for way less than the KTM premium. But its your money and you ultimately have to be happy with your purchase.

 

Yeah i do want to get a yamaha and i guess i will send everything out and stuff

 

05+ yz250f


Don't stress too much and just get a bike, mostly anything with two wheels and a twist throttle is heaps of fun.

 

My buddy has a new FX and I had a 14,15 and 16 YZ250F which is the same frame, engine. Trust me you will love it, handles like a dream and my 14 had 75 hours on it and valves were still in spec before I sold it and that's MX. In a woods type of riding you should be able to get 100 hours before a top end maybe more. And Yamaha has a $750 rebate right now and $300 blucru credit if you sign up. So right there $1000 off. Straight up sex, ummm. I'd lean new too so you know whats been done to it, etc.

 

I went from a 2005 YZ450F to a 2015 YZ250FX and don't regret it one bit.

If you're looking at WR's for trails you should definitely look at the FX first.

 

Nah i think I'll go with 2 stroke. I don't necessarily wana deal with later issues with valves and stuff. I just need to get used to mixing and make sure i use the right ratios and stuff I'll probably go with a 250 of some sort but.. yeah and how long should i let the bike warm up for? If i do? Not sure if i start it and ride or what lol

 

What others have been saying is good input! I've been racing motorcycles for 12 years (lots of trail riding in the mountains as well) and have ridden every cc size out there, but mostly only Yamahas. I would suggest a YZ250FX/YZ250F for you if you want to buy a new bike, they are bullet proof, great powerband, and great suspension from factory. A YZ250 2stroke would also be a good bike, but the hit of the powerband is definitely VERY hard on those bikes. I have a 9oz fly wheel on mine, and it still makes me piss a little. If you are going to be riding tighter mountain trails, a useable 4stroke powerband is going to be more helpful and easier to ride for you. But if you mostly go to tracks or wide open desert and dunes, the narrower powerband of a 2stroke will be fine. It just all depends what you are wanting to do. Power isn't everything (I regularly whoop 250/250F/450F's on my 125 ), but it doesn't hurt if you are in the open.

 

crf450x

 

Also if you are looking at used bikes, i would tend to lean towards a 2 stroke, as they are easy and cheap to work on. But if you are looking at new bikes, either is good. 4strokes will be less maintenance if you know the bike hasn't been ridden hard, my dad has 120 hours on his 2014 YZ450F and have done one top end and had to check the valves once. With 2strokes you should do a top end every 25 hours of runtime. Hope I have helped!

 

I'm a bit biased towards KTM smokers, but it really boils down to what you are comfortable on. IMO you really can't go wrong with many modern bikes as they are all most likely capable of handling what an inexperienced rider can throw at them out of the box, no insult intended. My vote would be to go sit on/ demo a couple bikes and see what suits you, be it 2T or 4T.

 

Take a look at the YZ250X, lots of great reviews and 2 stroke woods bike.

 

Yeah I'm not sure lol I've ridden a 250 4 stroke (it was Chinese) but still didn't feel like quite enough power when i found a dirt path or a wide open trail. And i wouldn't be going to any tracks or dunes lol i live in B.C. in the mountains so usually it's tight forest trials, wide open sand pits and long as loggig trails

 

all depends what type of riding your going to be riding and how much. trail riding could consist of 95 mph across lake beds through the desert or 5 mph in the trees. also there is a difference between a TTR 250 (four stroke) and a YZ 250F (four stroke). Additionally, all bikes (like trucks) are money pits. a blown up 2 stroke could be rebuilt for $300 whereas a blown four stroke could cost more than $1000 to fix, just depends if the $90 to keep a two stroke fresh more often than $300 to keep a four stroke fresh is worth it to you.

If it's your first bike, then I would suggest going with a used bike (unless you just have money that needs getting rid of)
-brand new shiny stock 450 = $8000-9000
-couple year old decently maintained bike with a few $100 in parts on it = $3000 +

also I know people that could destroy most people in your town on a 1990 xr200. Its not about the bike, its about the rider,

Honestly man one of the best bang for your buck for a beginner would be an XR350 or an XR400
-super friendly powerband
-decent amount of power
-a light (night riding, don't nock it till you try it)
- twice the oil volume plus a bullet proof durability record (=less maintenance) I raced an XR400 for 10 years in the desert series with minimal maintenance, tore it down a few years ago and found out: the bike is in great condition (besides the cracked frame from Desert G-outs, and rocks)
had a buddy accidentaly ride an XR350 with out any oil in it one day, didn't even phase the bike.

But hey man if youre that much of a speed demon then go for a new 450. I cant nock a wr450 because that's now the bike that I race, it works great for me but ive been riding for almost 20 years.

Lastly. if XRs are to dorky and you think you wan't to swing a new 450 I'd say give a couple year old WR or YZF 250 a chance (yz for mostly moto, wr for mostly trail). With the grey wire cut, an exhaust, and geared to your liking, the 250 will be enough bike to really learn on, and have money saved for once you are ready to move up. Trust me when I say that it seems like the only important thing is "more power" until you have your first real gnarly get off, then you realize if you either want to quit(because F-that), or that it is something you actualy enjoy and want to keep riding regardless of how slow or nerdy your bike is.

Also check out thumpertalk.com

 

Likex2. Because one like wasn't enough.

 

pick up a 2016 yz250x. two stroke 250 built for trails. came out this year.

 

Just picked up a ktm 250 xcf. Pulls like a tracktor. Had green ,red, and blue bikes in the past and have to say orange is pretty impressive out of the box. First fuel injected, electric start bike I've owed- nice! But the brakes and clutch are in a class by themselves compared to the rest-very nice!
suspension is a little harsh at lower speeds but not too bad. Any newer bike is gonna perform well and be alot of fun.

 

I've been riding/racing for 15+ years. I'd definitely suggest a non-race bike if you're doing 50%+ trails. 4 strokes are more costly, but have a very manageable power curve. Then again, a large flywheel will make any bike easier to manage. Color doesn't matter, but I'd suggest a ktm 200xc for 2 stroke or a wr450 for 4. Plan on replacing rings and or piston, regardless of "strokes" once every other year if you use good filter oil, or every 2 weeks with the spray sh!t.