Trailride and mx bike upgrade?

[waynzz7]

Please help me out...I currently have a 06 DRZ400...I have done a few trail rides now as well as a trailskills day to improve my riding...I now feel as if I have outgrown the big old heavy DRZ and am looking for something lighter and more fun to throw around...

I love the power of the 400 so need something to keep me excited..I am 86kg and 174cm high..I do mostly trail rides and would like to get into a bit of mx riding also...

So what do you bike guru's think are my options?? I have about $5,000 to spend..I quite like the 250 2 strokes..but open to suggestions...Are 2 strokes cheaper maintenance wise? when would you expect to be doing rebuilds hours wise?

I have seen in previous posts the rm250..or kdx200 seem to get good reviews...been looking at the KTM exc range, th kwaka KX 250's KLX and KDX, wr250f, CR's and yz250's... Pretty new to straight trail/mx bikes so any advice would be great..Cheers

[oldguy]

this is just the bike for you.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/133378-Cheap-MX-bike.-Great-deal!

[waynzz7]

this is just the bike for you.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/133378-Cheap-MX-bike.-Great-deal!

Yeah noticed that one also..just need something a bit closer to home..Sth island..Cheers for the reply..

[honda_power]

i would look at any 250 2 stroke in good condition, for 5grand you could pick up a nice one. rm's and kx's are much cheaper, but still good bikes, if you look around you can find 08's for around 4grand. 450 may also be the go if you prefer the four stroke power.

You would be dissapointed with a kdx200... nothing really exciting about them. and a klx400 is a green drz400

[CHOPPA]

Yeah noticed that one also..just need something a bit closer to home..Sth island..Cheers for the reply..

Im driving down for the Road Race nats next week... Sold! haha

[waynzz7]

i would look at any 250 2 stroke in good condition, for 5grand you could pick up a nice one. rm's and kx's are much cheaper, but still good bikes, if you look around you can find 08's for around 4grand. 450 may also be the go if you prefer the four stroke power.

You would be dissapointed with a kdx200... nothing really exciting about them. and a klx400 is a green drz400

Think I am more keen on a lighter bike than the power at this stage..although looking at the specs on bikez.com the 450's are only a few kg's heftier than the 250's?? any one ride the 450's? is the power a bit much for someone that has only ridden for 6 months? or are the 250 2 strokes just as hard to tame..

[waynzz7]

a 05 crf450r with 85hrs, no major motor work done, asking $5500...a deal or dud due to expensive motor work coming up?

[t595]

a 05 crf450r with 85hrs, no major motor work done, asking $5500...a deal or dud due to expensive motor work coming up?

stay away from 2nd hand 4strokes unless you know their history or you could be up for a big repair bill

[waynzz7]

stay away from 2nd hand 4strokes unless you know their history or you could be up for a big repair bill

are 2 strokes cheaper to do motorwork on? can someone pretty handy with tools do most of the work themselves on 2 strokes?

[t595]

are 2 strokes cheaper to do motorwork on? can someone pretty handy with tools do most of the work themselves on 2 strokes?

Yea easy,takes bout 45min to do the piston on my 200,replaced it at 100hrs and the kit cost $140. should get alot more hours from a 250 piston

[motor_mayhem]

stay away from 2nd hand 4strokes unless you know their history or you could be up for a big repair bill

I think if the person has kept a good eye on their four stroke it should be fine, especially if it has just been recently rebuilt and quite a few keep the receipts.


are 2 strokes cheaper to do motorwork on? can someone pretty handy with tools do most of the work themselves on 2 strokes?

I would think either one is fine if you get a good manual with them, or can pick up one afterwards. I did a rebuild on my 450 myself, a a fair few others around have done as well.

[honda_power]

a 05 crf450r with 85hrs, no major motor work done, asking $5500...a deal or dud due to expensive motor work coming up?

thats quite high for a 05, you could find an 08 for that much

[Azzman]

If it a decent trailbike your after then I would suggest the KTM200 exc.
The KDX is a good bike and if you had started out on it then it may have been a little while longer til u wanted something more exciting...but since you started on a four stroke that lacks that 2 stroke grin factor and already have your first bike under your belt then why not go for the best purpose made enduring bike there is the EXC...

[Pierce]

I think you really need to ride as many bikes as possible to get an idea yourself. The 4t's are mean bikes and super easy to ride but personally I like the ease of ripping down a 2t and replacing the piston and rings.

You will get a nice cheap/late model RM/KX or even YZ for your price range. Even something that is 04/05 in good nick would be a good way to go. If you want some more low end and rideable power you can get a flywheel weight for two strokes. this gives you a smoother power delivery, low end torque, less likely to stall during braking etc.

Plus you can't beat the sound and smell of a 2 banger:devil2:

[B0000M]

ill throw in some input of 250 2t vs 450 4t

sad fact of life, i am faster around a mx track on a 450, i doublt im slower on a trail on a 450 though.

however the 2 stroke is a hell of a lot more FUN to ride

the 450 may only be slightly heavier, however most of this weight is higher up, therefore a higher center of gravity, along with that, most of the extra weight is rotating, making inertia weight.

a 450 4t feels significantly heavier to ride in tight conditions to a 250 2t

you will also find a 250 2t easier to work on yourself as well a cheaper to maintain.

2 strokes also tolerate slack maintenance better than 4 strokes

[Pierce]

2 strokes also tolerate slack maintenance better than 4 strokes

Yet another reason why I wouldn't wanna own a 4T (slack as with maintenance_) :sleep:

[Mungatoke Mad]

Think I am more keen on a lighter bike than the power at this stage..although looking at the specs on bikez.com the 450's are only a few kg's heftier than the 250's?? any one ride the 450's? is the power a bit much for someone that has only ridden for 6 months? or are the 250 2 strokes just as hard to tame..

Go for the 450 KTM nice light bike plenty of power just let your skill level determine how much of it you use 4 months & youll be wanting a 530 just take it easy till you get a feel for the bike same with any new bike.

[waynzz7]

Cheers for the feedback...

So general conseneus is that 250 two strokes are great fun, light, easy to ride in the tight spots and cheaper and easyier to work on yourself for maintenance??

the 450 four strokes are a bit heavier, hard in the tighter spots, generally feels heavier and are more expenxive and harder to do major maintenance on yourself??

How about 250 four strokes? power wise, maintenance prices and ability to do it yourself, also weight wise???? the likes of a crf and RMZ..

Have been looking at a few RM250's and YZ and KX's..most are around 75-120hrs...usually with some work done..when would you expect to be doing the top and bottom end Hrs wise with these bikes?
Cheers

[alistair1]

ive got both,250 2t and 450 4t. did a piston on my rm at 50 hours and it was still mint,i could have put it back in i didnt but could of. pulling my rmz down tomorow at 50hours and will put a new piston in it,will advise how it looks compared to the 2t.

big open hill climbs are easier on the 450 but speed wise its much of a much ness else where,both would be a upgrade compared to a drz

[waynzz7]

ive got both,250 2t and 450 4t. did a piston on my rm at 50 hours and it was still mint,i could have put it back in i didnt but could of. pulling my rmz down tomorow at 50hours and will put a new piston in it,will advise how it looks compared to the 2t.

big open hill climbs are easier on the 450 but speed wise its much of a much ness else where,both would be a upgrade compared to a drz

It would be nice to have the option of a 250 or 450...If you were mainly trail riding and playing around a little bit of MX which would you pick if you could only have one?? thinking about maintenance, cost, joy of riding and fun factor??

[alistair1]

in that situation,prob the 250