Looking for 1st dirt bike.

[Mark44]

What is a good first bike for trail riding and just plain messing around, looking at Honda 125 and 250 2 stroke also thinking Yamaha four strokes? 2003 to 2008 is the years I have been looking at.

Have advice for a first time dirt bike owner? Katie will need a bike also so would like them to be the same model. That is if I can talk her into it.

Mark44

 

[dbrutherford]

For her I would say a 125 two stroke or 250 four stroke. Lots of people will say get a XR200/230/250 but I say if she can ride an SJ, she can ride a real bike!

For you, well I wouldn't get anything smaller than a 250 two stroke. I would either get a 250, 300, 380 two stroke, or a 400, 426, 450, 525 ect four stroke.

Personally I used to have a YZ250 two stroke and loved that bike. Plenty of power, typical MX bike maintenance, decent parts prices, ect... I want another one but I think I will get a Yamaha (WR) or Honda (CRF/X) off road 450 four stroke and make it a dual sport. I plan to off road it more than on road it. Also electric start is a huge plus. It is so much easier to push the button then kick a new modern day fourstroke. As far as brands I think any Japanese (Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, or Suzuki) or KTM bikes are all good bikes. As long as you get a newer bike that hasn't been dogged, maintenance issues won't be all that expensive. They are like skis though and you can sink all kinds of money into them without getting it back. I see more expenses with all the tools and riding gear. You will absolutely need a helmets, boots, goggles, and gloves. I recomend knee pads, a kidnet belt, and a chest protector too.

Good luck. I am going down this road myself but just haven't fully paid off all my debt so I will have to wait a little longer.

 

[steveyz250fpilot]

YZ250F.

very user friendly.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Honestly, look for a 98 or newer Honda XR250r. It is a heavier bike but you cannot kill them. They run forever and are good for trail riding.

 

[vitaly]

Xr400r

 

[dbrutherford]

I would go for an XR400 over a 250 for sure. But a newer 250F or 450F will have a lot more power.

New WR250 is electric start

How much do you weigh and what's your height? I weighed 175/180 and was 5'10" when I had my YZ250. Only real concern is kick starting for Katie on a taller bike. That is why I am fond of electric starts for her. As for me, I am just lazy anymore and the extra weight of electric starting systems (mostly the battery) people complain about you will add with mud and water anyways!

 

[tightithrash]

125 are great, easy maint. really light and nimble but for trails you gotta stay on the pipe and keep you Rs up so you dont foul a plug......which sucks in the middle of no where so bring an extra.

the problem with 125 is you have to be a better rider to ride them good up hills and trails upossed to some body on a 250...... 250s have more braaap so its less work to get them places.........but for a first bike you gotta used to the power of a 250 compared to a 125. but your a grown @ss man so you'll be cool!

4 strokes are great on trails. you can lug them around in higher gears compared to a 2 stroke where you need to clear them out. they climb hills like tractors meaning just put it in third and go! not like a 2 stroke were your climbing>>>>your loosing Rs so clutch it!>>>bogging....downshift cluuuuuuth it!!!(haha real world example) the 4 stoke just pulls.
but some older 4 strokes are heavy....really heavy. but up to date ones have lightened up quite a bit! the problem with 4 strokes is the parts are more expensive cuz there are more things goin on, you HAVE to learn how to check yor valves, older ones are hard to start.

ive been ridding bikes since i was 4, im just giving you my .02
i started on a 50 and moved up, there is no comparison between a 125 and 250f as there is no comparison between a 250 and a 450f..............

you can almost go 125 move up to a 250f than a 250 than end on a 450f in my eyes.

i would say 250fs would be great for both of you but thats my .02

 

[skinnyman]

Honestly, look for a 98 or newer Honda XR250r. It is a heavier bike but you cannot kill them. They run forever and are good for trail riding.

My wife learned to ride trails on a xr100 (cheap 700.00)
lasted a while moved to the xr250r added a pipe and some some little stuff
You can beat the crap out of it and it still runs
got it in great cond 02 1300.00

 

[2lick]

go for a mini!!!!

 

[Mark44]

o

I would go for an XR400 over a 250 for sure. But a newer 250F or 450F will have a lot more power.

New WR250 is electric start

How much do you weigh and what's your height? I weighed 175/180 and was 5'10" when I had my YZ250. Only real concern is kick starting for Katie on a taller bike. That is why I am fond of electric starts for her. As for me, I am just lazy anymore and the extra weight of electric starting systems (mostly the battery) people complain about you will add with mud and water anyways!

We are just about the same size.

Mark44

 

[Big Kahuna]

I never got the point where I thought I needed a 400. The 250 took me up any hill I ever attempted. I did like the light weight feel of the KDX220's. Great bikes, light weight, smooth power....... But you had to work it more at hill climbs with no runway. With the XR, just drop to 2nd and nail it. Plus you could put it in 2nd or 3rd and just motor through the woods....... Not so with a 2 stroke....

If I was in the market again I would be looking at the KDX 220 but could easily pick up another XR.

 

[Kennay]

2 used KTM 200 EXC's

 

[butti]

I never got the point where I thought I needed a 400. The 250 took me up any hill I ever attempted. I did like the light weight feel of the KDX220's. Great bikes, light weight, smooth power....... But you had to work it more at hill climbs with no runway. With the XR, just drop to 2nd and nail it. Plus you could put it in 2nd or 3rd and just motor through the woods....... Not so with a 2 stroke....

If I was in the market again I would be looking at the KDX 220 but could easily pick up another XR.

you have GOT to try a ktm 300,best of both worlds

 

[steveyz250fpilot]

If you want matching bikes, get her a CRF150, and you gan get the 250 four stroke mxer. Either way, I'd go with the Honda or Yamaha 4 stroke 250 (not the XR) for you. Built solid as a tank, no mixing gas, and reliable as can be. Oh wait, the 250 ROCKS too!!!!

 

[Speedfreak]

I have rode bikes/quads my whole life and if you plan tooling around then I would not even consider a 2 stroke. (It doesn't seem like you or Katie) It is like riding Lous ski. All you want to do it hammer it so you feel the power. Then you start riding like an idiot and then wrap yourself around a tree. If you have a 4 stroke then you can use the power when needed and you can just do some slow exploring style trail riding without having to clean it out very often.

I would look at a WR250 you can both have the same bike and they will do anything you want.

I am going to look at a KTM 525 tomorrow but it is a supermoto for the street.

 

[Captain PegLeg]

I didn't even read the thread. Buy a race 4 stroke bike... Honda 250f and a 450f. They are incredible bikes with smooth power. BUT: What i would do until you get used to riding and the power and such, put you a heavy flywheel weight on in to tame it down. Then, when your ready remove the weight and BRAAAAP!!

 

[dbrutherford]

My 1998 YZ250 had way more bottom end then all the other bikes my friends had. At one time everyone I rode with had each brand of bike. One friend had a CR250 (best brakes), one had a KX250, me on a YZ250, and one on a RM250. Out of all of them I liked my YZ the best but wish I had more top end. My friend's KX and CR's had weak bottom ends and then the powerband came on like a light.

You will get used to anything you own for any amount of time. If you want to get an older cheaper bike to start out on, I recommend the older XR's or even a KDX as BK suggested. Me though, I would get new style fourstrokes their power and weight are hard to beat. Still though don't shy away from a two stroke. It is of course where Brapp originally came from! But a 125 felt like riding a weed eater after riding my 250. Heck I want a 500! But a KTM 300 or 380 would be a good bike IMO. That KTM 200 would be good for Katie too.

Buy the safety gear though! You can't skimp there, ever.

 

[Kennay]

My 1998 YZ250 had way more bottom end then all the other bikes my friends had. At one time everyone I rode with had each brand of bike. One friend had a CR250 (best brakes), one had a KX250, me on a YZ250, and one on a RM250. Out of all of them I liked my YZ the best but wish I had more top end. My friend's KX and CR's had weak bottom ends and then the powerband came on like a light.

You will get used to anything you own for any amount of time. If you want to get an older cheaper bike to start out on, I recommend the older XR's or even a KDX as BK suggested. Me though, I would get new style fourstrokes their power and weight are hard to beat. Still though don't shy away from a two stroke. It is of course where Brapp originally came from! But a 125 felt like riding a weed eater after riding my 250. Heck I want a 500! But a KTM 300 or 380 would be a good bike IMO. That KTM 200 would be good for Katie too.

Buy the safety gear though! You can't skimp there, ever.

The 200 KTM is good for anybody, it is a ing awesome bike. If I was buying new, it would be really hard to decide on a 200 or 250sx.

 

[infamy]

crf 250 is a great bike. i have owned many bikes 2 stroke and four strokes and really like the newer 4 strokes. the crf250x is electric start if thats what you are looking for. someone also mentioned the kdx220. my dad had one and for a trail bike, i was impressed with it.

 

[steveyz250fpilot]

I didn't even read the thread. Buy a race 4 stroke bike... Honda 250f and a 450f. They are incredible bikes with smooth power. BUT: What i would do until you get used to riding and the power and such, put you a heavy flywheel weight on in to tame it down. Then, when your ready remove the weight and BRAAAAP!!

Don't put a heavy flywheel on a 4 stroke.