Looking for 1st dirt bike.

[w-nut]

im going to vote for a wr250 as well . great little bike with plenty off performance when you wont it or can quite happly just cruse and enjoy yourself.
and with the aftermarket parts you can get really wakes them up and more than handle them self against most other bikes

 

[Mark44]

o

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.

Is this a 4 stroke?

 

[Mark44]

Sounds like 4 stroke is probably the way to go but eveyone does have their idea of the best bike from what I am reading there is no SJ of the dirt bike world.

Elec. start sounds like a nice thing to have, I really wouldn't want to kick start all the time if I don't have to.

Is this bike elec. start see I really know 0% about dirt bikes.

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/904386488.html

another any good?

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/876262536.html

Mark44

 

[Mark44]

o

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

Please explain I see a few of these on craigs list and they are a nice price.

Mark44

 

[steveyz250fpilot]

Sounds like 4 stroke is probably the way to go but eveyone does have their idea of the best bike from what I am reading there is no SJ of the dirt bike world.

Elec. start sounds like a nice thing to have, I really wouldn't want to kick start all the time if I don't have to.

Is this bike elec. start see I really know 0% about dirt bikes.

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/904386488.html

another any good?

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/876262536.html

Mark44

Both of those bikes are good bikes. Don't get hung up on having an electric start. A 250 4 stroke is very, very, very easy to kick over. On the Yamahas, a good way to tell if the bike has been worn out off road is by looking at the swingarm stickers. Usually the more the bike has been hammered on, the more the OEM YAMAHA sticker will be trashed. Also, look at the frame under the footpegs. If the paint is gone, someone knew how to ride the bike hard.

 

[Mark44]

Both of those bikes are good bikes. Don't get hung up on having an electric start. A 250 4 stroke is very, very, very easy to kick over. On the Yamahas, a good way to tell if the bike has been worn out off road is by looking at the swingarm stickers. Usually the more the bike has been hammered on, the more the OEM YAMAHA sticker will be trashed. Also, look at the frame under the footpegs. If the paint is gone, someone knew how to ride the bike hard.

Good tips keep them coming. :beerchug:

Mark44

 

[Big Kahuna]

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

That is a trick to make say a CR250 2 stroke work good in the woods. The power is in the wrong place for woods riding. I do not know about the CRF's/YZF's, but I would think the same thing, the power band is wrong for woods riding. With the first YZ400F you could change the timing, it actually had the marks to show you where to change them too, to make it have the same timing as the WR400F. I do not know if the current bikes offer the same options. But cost is gonna make the current 4 stroke MX's higher than say the XR

 

[Idok]

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

if you want to be able to trail hop then KTM is going to be your best bet...You can plate virtually all of them

we like to ride whats called an urban assault on occasion....Start out of someones driveway and hit every dirt road, construction site and wooded area we can find...but to do that you MUST be plated


you want a 2t or a 4t???



the KTM 300 is commonly referred to as a "3 stroke"...2 stroke power, but has 4t type torque and can be lugged down low all day long..


the 250 is going to be the equivalent of other other 250's...Slutty has one and its awesome..


the 200 is a 125 size frame with a 200 2t in it...WOODS WEAPON! probably perfect and I mean PERFECT for Katie..plenty of power, but super light and very flickable..I'd love one myself



Butti's 300 has a 5 speed and weighs 242 with about 1 gallon of gas in the tank

My 450 4t has a 6 speed, e start, auto clutch and weighs 280 with a FULL tank of gas




I could go on and on...

 

[Mark44]

if you want to be able to trail hop then KTM is going to be your best bet...You can plate virtually all of them

we like to ride whats called an urban assault on occasion....Start out of someones driveway and hit every dirt road, construction site and wooded area we can find...but to do that you MUST be plated


you want a 2t or a 4t???

Sounds fun!

What is a 2 and 4T?

 

[steveyz250fpilot]

That is a trick to make say a CR250 2 stroke work good in the woods. The power is in the wrong place for woods riding. I do not know about the CRF's/YZF's, but I would think the same thing, the power band is wrong for woods riding. With the first YZ400F you could change the timing, it actually had the marks to show you where to change them too, to make it have the same timing as the WR400F. I do not know if the current bikes offer the same options. But cost is gonna make the current 4 stroke MX's higher than say the XR

the crf and the yzf bikes are great in the woods the way they sit. Don't worry about timing or flywheel weights.

 

[Idok]

Sounds fun!

What is a 2 and 4T?

2 stroke vs. 4 stroke


if you hold out til daytona, there will likely be a few KTM's there.....


You will notice that all us FLA guys will just shout KTM KTM KTM.....

not that there's not tons of other awesome bikes out there...but for trail riding, the license plate really opens up so many more avenues of riding


if you search under ebay for "street legal" and then click on the motorcycle tab you will find some cool stuff thats been converted...but KTM's come with street titles from the factory...all you have to do is add a headlight and brake switch..

check out ktmtalk.com

 

[Mark44]

One of the Honda’s on Craig’s list CRF 250 said it was wired for turn signals can any bike be plated and do you need a headlight and turn signals? Sorry for all the newbie questions but I know nothing about this.

Mark44

 

[Idok]

One of the Honda’s on Craig’s list CRF 250 said it was wired for turn signals can any bike be plated and do you need a headlight and turn signals? Sorry for all the newbie questions but I know nothing about this.

Mark44

no, not every bike can be plated.


you must look at the title....a dirtbike or atv will have an "off-road" or "OHV" title (off highway vehcle).....


The ones you see on ebay either come from states with lax laws regarding off road vehcle street conversion...This typically entails adding signals, lights etc etc...then the bike goes to DMV for inspection blah blah blah...again, this is a state to state thing.....


you will see ads for "title companies" on some of the dirt sites.....these companies will "wash" the title from off-road to MC for a fee...500 bucks or so



KTM's all come with MC (motorcycle) titles right from the factory...however, some people know they will never street ride them and when purchassed they will just title them as off road...


here's a pic of my 05 450..I bought it used and plated in FLA

6 speed, Rekluse auto clutch (impossible to stall out with this clutch...literally, IMPOSSIBLE), steering stabilizer, e start and kicker, bark busters...motor is bone stock and is NUTTY!

Ive had it to 104 with a few hundred revs to go....rides as well as my DRZ 400 on the street..Had it at the MX track a couple of weeks ago and had a blast

granted, its no 200lb mx bike........but for as much time as we spend on the track it rips out!!! :scared:

 

[yamaslut]

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

I purchased a 2005 250EXC as my first bike and I love the thing... I would not by a dirt bike older than about 2005... They change so much (unlike jet skis) that you will be end up getting the 550 of the day... My 250 has tons of power, hydraulic clutch (you will wish you had one in tight trails), Excel rims, Brembo brakes, and Renthal bars all stock from the factory... THe best part is they are all street legal meaning you can ride to your local spot w/o trailering... That really comes in handy!!! The suspension is plush too... KTM rear suspention is not the best for jumping, but is perfect for trail riding. All in all, you will not find a better trail bike than the:

200EXC
250EXC
300EXC

It just depends on what kind of power you want. Also the EXC model has a wider band transmission so you can ride it on the street pretty easily..

KTM all the way!!!

 

[yamaslut]

pics:

 

[Idok]

nick we need to get a wet weight on your bike...IM curiious

 

[Mark44]

How about something like this?
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/878126533.html


http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/901192472.html

 

[Idok]

looks ok...maybe a little overpriced, but it does come with alot of stuff......that stand is priceless and you will use it often

the rekluse is 5-700
the stabilizer is 3-400
skid is 100
harndgaurds are 100

so, considering all thats there probalby not a bad deal..especially if you could scoop it up for 2200 or so..

i have seen a bunch of 200's around my area between 2-2500, mostly 04-05's....keep in mind like Nick said..these types of bikes can lose their value very quickly so shop around and find a nice one..

I know KTM changed their frames in 05, and there may have been a change in the 01/02 area as well...(they have as well changed them for 08)

you'd want to talk with that guy though and be assured that the title did state "mc" and not off road..

My biggest concern with this bike woulud be the suspension and making sure its not too stiff/loose for you..otherwise you are going to have to dump a few hundred into it to havce it revalved/oiled...

 

[Mark44]

Any thoughts on this close ratio six speed tranny?

Thanks!
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/889380707.html

 

[tightithrash]

This KTM will run with ANY 250cc (2 stroke) or ANY 450cc (4 stroke) and it is TOO FAST for me (too old!!)...The MXC is the rare Close Ratio Tranny like a MX bike...Super light-weight (like a 125)...Will carve through the woods like a hot knife through butter or run with best on any MX track...I guarantee you that this bike is PERFECT and ready to race or ride...NEEDS Absolutely Nothing!!...$2,995...Jim



ok well he is fibbing a little bit but id say its a nice bike.... im sure it will run WITH the 250, in the woods or if a guy on a 250 on the track if you were haulin..... def not out run them...... but a 450F will blow the dors off that thing..... any where any time....so hes fibbin a little........