Dirt bike advice please

[rustic101]

Hi team,

I'm looking at buying a dirt bike for two reasons; firstly to improve my road handling skills, balance and reactions when road riding; as well as having fun without completing an Indian Air, Rock Solid or Lazy Boy lol...

I'm 6"3' and 105kgs and aged a little over forty (but not dead lol) if that matters

I've previously, about 20 years ago, owned 2 x XRs, 1 x PE and 1x KLR. However looking around there are so many to choose from and I was even told I would suit a 125????

Your expert knowledge and advice with any tips would be much appreciated.

Kind regards

[bogan]

What sort of riding would you be into? trails, MX, if its the later you may want a 250 as they are lower powered and better for beginners, though you're a bit on the heavy side so a 450 could be the go, def 450 if you want to do trail stuff. CRFs and RMZs are pretty good value I hear.

[rustic101]

Bloody good thing I've dropped 14kgs lol

Yes looking at fun trail rides rather than the balls to the wall MX.

Cheers

[K6K]

When you are learning you want managable power, a enduro 250 4T is the way to go. Even with your size a 450 is not great to learn on. I have talked to a few big guys who 'upgraded' from a 250 to a 450 and found the extra power and weight a big disadvantage. In road riders terms, a 250 vs 450 is very similar to a 600 versus thou. If you make a mistake with the throttle a 600 will not necessarily put you on your ass, whereas a thou most likely will. A 250 could keep up with a 450 in most situations, and in the tight stuff it can be quicker.
Because of your weight, I would suggest you budget at least $600 for new front and rear springs on any bike you buy (250 or 450) and possibly more to revalve. If you get the base right it will be a lot easier to learn.
Depending on your budget I would suggest a Yamaha WR250F or a Honda CRF250X

[Crisis management]

Depending on your budget I would suggest a Yamaha WR250F or a Honda CRF250X

Exactly what he said...big is not better! You want the lightest, most agile bike around that has sufficient power to drag you up hills, then you will enjoy the experience.

[Reckless]

Exactly what he said...big is not better! You want the lightest, most agile bike around that has sufficient power to drag you up hills, then you will enjoy the experience.

That sounds exactly like a 200exc LOL!!!!

[Azzman]

For a more no frills, low maintenance, trail bike the DRZ400 is a good bet, a little heavier than some but with your size and coming from a road bike I really dont think you would notice.

[rustic101]

When you are learning you want managable power, a enduro 250 4T is the way to go. Even with your size a 450 is not great to learn on. I have talked to a few big guys who 'upgraded' from a 250 to a 450 and found the extra power and weight a big disadvantage. In road riders terms, a 250 vs 450 is very similar to a 600 versus thou. If you make a mistake with the throttle a 600 will not necessarily put you on your ass, whereas a thou most likely will. A 250 could keep up with a 450 in most situations, and in the tight stuff it can be quicker.
Because of your weight, I would suggest you budget at least $600 for new front and rear springs on any bike you buy (250 or 450) and possibly more to revalve. If you get the base right it will be a lot easier to learn.
Depending on your budget I would suggest a Yamaha WR250F or a Honda CRF250X

Thank you very much. This actually makes sense and is to date the most valuable advice I have received.

Not looking at a Brand New Bike More an 08-09 and around 6-7k.

For dirt bikes are hours completed are more important than kilometres travelled? Is just that a couple of bikes I looked at had been 'rebuilt' at 60 hours. Is this fairly normal?

[K6K]

Thank you very much. This actually makes sense and is to date the most valuable advice I have received.

Not looking at a Brand New Bike More an 08-09 and around 6-7k.

For dirt bikes are hours completed are more important than kilometres travelled? Is just that a couple of bikes I looked at had been 'rebuilt' at 60 hours. Is this fairly normal?

Hours are more important, Kms don't mean much. A MX bike may need a rebuild at 60 hours that is when it has been raced or rode particularly hard. Most enduro's that have been trail ridden will not likely need one for at least a 100 hours. I changed the piston in my first bike (05 WR250F) at 120 hours and it was still fine. If you get a bike that is advertised as trail ridden only and has as low hours as possible you can't go far wrong. The more hours a bike does the more it wears out parts like shock/linkage bearings etc. The difference between bikes 4 or 5 years old is minimal so it is not a bad thing to get an older bike with lower hours than a new one with high hours.

[Crisis management]

That sounds exactly like a 200exc LOL!!!!

You better have a word to mine then, it's currently trying to kill me.....bastid thing wheelied me into a gorse bush at Riverhead, I'm still picking thorns out of my arse!


To the OP, look at lots of second hand bikes before you buy to get used to what is normal wear and what is thrashed, dirt bikes are maintenance intensive and it's easy to buy a dog. You're in Wobblington? Track down Pete ("Crasher from way back" on here) he is a bike salesman for one of the city bike sshops and is known for his good advice and dirt experience.

[CRF119]

I ride both Road and dirt they do kind of help each other but they can also have bad effects on each other. A 650 bandit is big and heavy so similar power to weight as a 250 four stroke. I think that is all you will need to start with. My mate is learning on a YZF250 and he is over 100kg and he is happy and will be for along time.

Whats your budget?

[Reckless]

You better have a word to mine then, it's currently trying to kill me.....bastid thing wheelied me into a gorse bush at Riverhead, I'm still picking thorns out of my arse!

Mine too, into the gorse and the bloody stuff got into my Armour mesh, just hurt enough to be annoying but not enough to stop and strip down so I put put with it for a loop LOL!! Must be a 200exc thing! LOL!!

I'm 100kg plus and its perfect for me but I'm to frekin scared to recommend it, or highlight what I think the advantages would be for Rustic, as I'll have the KB posse down on my neck??

If you want a 2stroke option look at the 200exc?? NUFF said???? Do a search??

[green machine]

I started on a KDX 200 as a complete novice and i just could'nt come to grips with the 2 stroke(don't laugh i'd never ridden before that),so i got a 250 four stroke and it was perfect for me,just doin trailrides,Sandpit etc,(i'm 100kgs)take some advice from me tho.........don't get caught in your mates hype and step up to a 450 too early like i did,they are a whole different ball game,all that achieved was broken bones and set my riding back....in saying that i am starting to enjoy it now.As it's been said before,if poss ride a few different bikes

[oldguy]

F**K seems like everyone on here is over weight,:doh: or old:doh:

[bogan]

F**K seems like everyone on here is over weight,:doh: or old:doh:

well I'm 24 and just tipped 70kg the other week, and my 2T 125 is awesome :D:D

[green machine]

F**K seems like everyone on here is over weight,:doh: or old:doh:

I'm both i reckon.........if not i'm getting there lol

[oldguy]

well I'm 24 and just tipped 70kg the other week, and my 2T 125 is awesome :D:D

Sooooo jealous.

[Crisis management]

The problem with age is that it can define you, rather than be a part of you, I just look at it as 54 years of "experience".





It just takes longer to recover from those experiences now.......

[Jinxycat]

F**K seems like everyone on here is over weight,:doh: or old:doh:

shit i better diet, im 50kg and my 07 wr250f doesnt even know im on it lol, old yes.....39

[FlangMasterJ]

I'm just down the road from ya: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dirt-bikes/auction-283367130.htm

[camchain]

Hey Rustic, I was in a similar position in '07.

My specs: Then aged 44, 6', 80kg & no dirt riding for 20+ yrs (but several yrs dirt riding when younger). I'd bought a TL1000 in '02 - Got my money's worth of frights out of it but really itched to get dirty again.

Before recession hit (ouch WTF happened?), money was pretty much non-issue, so my choice came down to high-spec type competition style machine - or trail-bike type. I had a quick ride on a 350 kitted KTM250 and just loved it. But in the end I decided no point in my wearing out a higher maintenance job while re-learning the ropes.

Was looking at KDX's, (but couldn't be bothered mixing gas) & KLX300, DRZ400. Went with KLX and it really suited me perfectly. 'Sensible' choice proved to be best choice. Was riding pretty slow and clumsy for 6 months & took me best part of a year to get properly confident again.

I think a DRZ400 might suit you well. (I think the road legal ones are softer suspended/etc though?) Being 20kg heavier and taller than self, KLX300 might be a bit underpowered/cramped for you. DRZ has a truly great engine, plenty of grunt but easy to use. They're a bit on heavy side but no big deal for most trailriding. Another benefit with this type of bike is they tend to hold their value better & easy to sell again too. If you want to upgrade later, you'll really enjoy the difference of more high-tech machine when you can ride well enough to take advantage of it.
Plenty of quick guys out there on this style of bike anyway. Ben Tomasen (and his mate) won the 6hr not long ago on a KDX - true story.


Something else to keep firmly in mind, be patient and don't push too hard - especially when confidence starts to build. I had some needless stupid falls/pain first few months, when a year later I was much quicker and a lot safer. Just my own view, but I reckon progress is quicker on an easier to ride machine. Mellower power & softer suspension much better to start with. Plenty of cheap 2 Stroke Mxers out there, but not great learner bikes.

As far as riding dirt helping with road riding? Overall, yes I reckon. But it can get you into trouble too. When getting back into bikes (via road bikes) I won't forget steaming into a corner too hot on a big hefty ST1100. Got a fright & my old dirt instincts completely took over. Instead of hanging off it - I wrenched bike over hard, sat bolt upright, arse to outside of seat, jammed weight on outide peg, leg out front in full dirt style. Had to Lol at myself, felt ridiculous. Didn't learn my lesson to slow down though, and dropped it on slippery corner the next day. DOh.