Best bike? what to get?

[cheese]

ok I'm sick of fixing a bike every time I ride it, so I'm going to get a new one. I think that the problem is that with old bikes things just start to let go. The last guy probably had a sweet run and I'm just the guy that spent heaps of money on it and the next guy will probably have a sweet run with it after all my repairs!:violin:

Anyway I've been looking round and from what everyone tells me, get a 4 stroke. but there is a few 2 stroke options......

So I was thinking I'll go for a bike that is no older that 2-3 years old...New if possible but don't really have the budget for a new one.

Honda

CRF X and R models.

From what I've heard, good bikes no flaws, saw a 05 (250 R) for $8500 Looked nice. Seperate oil for clutch and engine (must be good)

An X looks like a good option too. Nice bikes and only 10 less HP.

Kawasaki

Go Team green! I saw a 05 KX 250 F for $7500 and and 04 for $7000. Not heard alot about the Kawa's 4 strokes though. Are they any good? they are only alloy frames with the 06 though. Otherwise....

The famous KDX200. brand new for $7500, with a pipe and bars. The thing is though, I get told that they are basically an old bike that is new. Nothing flash about them, old technology, power valves are a problem. And they look like some thing from the early 90's! put that aside, I keep getting told that you can't go wrong with one! :niceone: I am quite tempted

Yamaha

YZF - don't know much about them. 5 valve head? Yamaha has always been good bikes as far as I know. But they don't seem to have a strong following here?

Suzuki

To be honest, after the RM, I don't want another one. I did see and 04 RMZ 250 for $6500, but I don't think Suzi has been doing the MX 4 strokes for long and I don't know how geed they are.


I'm not really a hard core rider, but I want to get into some more racing (as I get more practice!!) I've got plenty of practice at repairs now!! Now I want to do more rides!! A 250 is heaps for me. In all honesty I think that the RM was a bit of a handful for me.

[cheese]

Shit I left out KTM! I don't kow anything about them. Tell me more.

[scott411]

if you want no hassle, low maintenence riding, buy a brand new kdx with the pro circuit pipe, you can get them for 7 grand with fat bars on them, all the four storkes you mentioned their are higher maintence and will require more work,
ps a 04 and 05 rmz250 and are identical to the 04 and 05 kx250f, (06 kxf's' are different) if you want the performance of the 250f's the 06 rmz250 is on specail at $8500 (brand new)

[cheese]

Yeah I saw that. Looks like a good buy. I saw a 04 CRF250X for 8500 and for the same $$ I can have a new bike!

[Henk]

Cheese

What do you want to do with the bike? You say you want to do more racing but MX cross country or Enduro?
On top of that you've listed a bunch of 250 4 strokes that are all high performance machines and excluding the 250X all motocrossers, They will all be reasonably high maintenance and great at MX but not so sharp in the bush. The KDX is an old design but still a good bike and rock reliable. First tell us what sort of riding you are going to mainly do, how good you are (an honest appraisal will help) and then you might be able to get some meaningful advice. Of the bikes you listed whats perfect for you might not suit someone faster, slower, fater or fitter.

[cheese]

I like the ride I get from the RM, but Due to its age it's giving me some grief. Everyone tells me get a 4 stroke, so I thought that they were the best bet. I ride at woodhill a bit, but like the enduro events.

I don't mind reasonable maintance, but the RM is very high maintance, but that is what you get out of a 10 year old MX bike. I just want a good reliable bike.

[Cary]

Kawasaki

Go Team green! I saw a 05 KX 250 F for $7500 and and 04 for $7000. Not heard alot about the Kawa's 4 strokes though. Are they any good? they are only alloy frames with the 06 though. Otherwise....

Yamaha

YZF - don't know much about them. 5 valve head? Yamaha has always been good bikes as far as I know. But they don't seem to have a strong following here?

You sure:Oi:

Whatever you do don't buy the '04 KXF, I had one nice bike till the valves shat themselves, never the same after that, sold it soon after.

Yamaha YZF has the best reliability record by far:first:

[IronicCapers]

I use to have KDX200, bloodly good bike for the fact itt was 10years old wen i sold it. Never had a problem with it spent about a grand on it that saw me do all the bearings, piston etc. along with a standard pipe refitted. Power valves broke once but no biggie all they need is a clean every now and again. And saying that you are getting achey joints now you don't want big bursts of power. Its an enduro bike and the 2004+ have good suspension i have been told. mine was a bit soft (bottomed out a lot). Still very competitive just look at the silver bullet website for the enduro results. Only reason that there are not more is that people are gettn on2 the 4 stroke band wagon (high maintenance machines).
KDX is a keeper and given a little love it can last years. Go for the KDX i think:scooter:

[Cary]

If I was buying a bike in that range i'd much rather go for a new KDX as opposed to a 2-3 year old 250F and i love the 4 stroke 250's

[cheese]

yeah, I guess that is teh way to go. or the KLX300? but that is a heavy beast.

what about the 06 RMZ for 8500??

[NordieBoy]

Yamaha YZF has the best reliability record by far:first:
4st Yammy - WRF.

YZF has better reliability than a KDX?

KDX all the way.

[Cary]

4st Yammy - WRF.

YZF has better reliability than a KDX?

Course not but the KDX is a 15yo enduro motor, the YZ 5yo high performance MX bike, like comparing a corolla to Porsche.

$8500 for '06 RMZ250, bit dated as far as latest crop of 250's go but again better (much!) than buying 1-2yo Honda,Yam etc.

[NordieBoy]

Course not but the KDX is a 15yo enduro motor, the YZ 5yo high performance MX bike, like comparing a corolla to Porsche.
More like comparing a BDA Escort to a Mitsi EVO :headbang:

[cheese]

yeah I've also seen 03 and 04 CR 250's for the 5k mark too. two stroke is calling my name.....

[Motu]

or the KLX300? but that is a heavy beast.


10kg? But it's a taller bike,and a 4 stroke carries it's weight higher.They are high tech for a low tech - the first DOHC water cooled 4 stroke,and good suspn.For me it'd be a toss up between the KDX and WR250F....the Yamaha is the better bike,and has the plus of being able to run a road kit....down side is the high maintenance,but the Yamaha has the best rep of all the modern thumpers.

[flash]

you gota get a KDX. ive had mine (04 model) for a year and im beating most bikes out on the trail rides (even 450cc's), the only ones that are hard to keep up with are the twosmokes......and you gota ove that power band.....:love:

[clint640]

Shit I left out KTM! I don't kow anything about them. Tell me more.

Well if you like the idea of the KDX but want a bit more bling, the 200EXC KTM is the ticket. I've ridden both & I like both, The KDX is great value, a mate of mine can take his out in an enduro & be very competitive (he is a good rider tho). The KTM has all the right bits on it, still easy to ride but definitely a higher performance machine, but of course if you want the bling you pay the bucks. Both are very cheap to maintain compared with the new breed of 4 strokes.

Cheers
Clint

[cheese]

yeah the WRFs are rare as though.

[cheese]

What about a 03 KTM 250 EXC?/

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dirt-bikes/auction-46501810.htm

[clint640]

The 250's are good too, but the next frame size up from the 200. I'm no shortass but I love the small size of the 200's in snotty singletrack, It's like riding my mountainbike & not having to pedal. If you're bigger/taller the 250 may be a better fit.

Cheers
Clint

[Cary]

WR250F....the Yamaha is the better bike,and has the plus of being able to run a road kit....down side is the high maintenance,but the Yamaha has the best rep of all the modern thumpers.

Your right about the WR but think the 2 strokers like to go on and on and on about the 'high maintance' just to put 4 strokes down.

Sure you get bad bikes, i know, i had the '04 KXF (with valves) but this technology hasn't been round that long. My YZ is up to 100 hours and all i've had to do is oil/filters, thats it. High maintenance.................??

Would I buy a 2-3yo 250F as opposed to new KDX,KLX. HELL NO.

Buy the bike for the purpose you require, simple. If i didn't do MX I don't think I would buy the likes of YZF,CRF etc.

[scott411]

the earlier YZ250F are more reliable than the other four strokes. but watch 2-3 year old ones that have not had any work done to them, i have seen 2 in the last 4 months that have snapped conrods and caused major damage, (3-$3500 in parts)

Their are some issues with KTM200 Gearbox's on harder users as well

[DirtMad]

if you have a bit more to spend, you cant go past the ktm, but if you want the cheaper option, get an H model KDX 200 for a good priced all rounder...

[Sketchy_Racer]

what ever you do,

STAY AWAY FROM THE 4S TRACTORS!!!!!!!!!!

they are shite, and are not as good as people make them out to be. IMO

i have a 02 YZF 250
91 RMX 250
91 Kdx 250 (rat bike)

and although the Kdx is the shitest (by looks)

it is by far the the best bike. The older 250s are too tall (mines a moster)

but the new 200s are a good height and are fast enough.

oh and did i mention that kawasaki make the best 2s bikes?? Yes they do.

[cheese]

I'm going to try to get a KTM 200, or a newish CR250. I saw a 03 I liked the look of.

[Sketchy_Racer]

sweet as, but remember,


Kdx will last longest.

[inlinefour]

Shit I left out KTM! I don't kow anything about them. Tell me more.

You also left out the KLX and the DRZ. :wacko:

[crazyxr250rider]

Cheese..... save your sanity for later GET THE KDX!

[cheese]

But it's just so god dam FUGLY!

[crazyxr250rider]

not as fugly as broken down KTM200 in the middle of nowhere

[cheese]

Ha ha or a RM for that matter......

[crazyxr250rider]

oh yea the power valves a fine on the KDX and they look real good with a after-market headlight ($45-270,Mine was $140 and is a polisport enduro halogen)

[Sketchy_Racer]

they arent Fugly if you buy a KX250 plastic kit and put them on ;)

then you have the reliabilty of a KDX and the looks of a KX ohh ahhh

[cheese]

ok ok I'll get a KDX!

I'm going to try to get a new one. A second hand one isn't that much cehaper and half of them look fucked.

I'll probably get a new front plate and teh guys at spectrum said get a KX rear guard too.

[2much]

Hey mate, have to agree with scott, you'ld be doing the right thing to get a KDX with a procircuit pipe (I assume they still do that deal). It's not a fashion parade anyway and they're a fucken awesome bike that will show up alot of 250's with the right rider. The only thing is you will grow out of it as you find the limit sooner but you'll be a much better rider for it.....

And of course you can always let me have a thrash on it when I'm up there!!! Aw come on, I might even let ya have a blat on the GSX-R in return???

[flash]

nah you wont grow out of it if the tracks are just in close quarters with trees, mud, etc. if you go on those boring ones that are just gravel roads it will get old quick. go for the KDX, the only thing that i get annoyed with is sometimes youll lose power going up a hill if its high and long. but after practice you just learn to either go down a gear or use the clutch.

ild never change my KDX, my dad has a KTM smx300 and the kdx is a much better ride ;)

[Henk]

The KTM200 is going to be faster, has more bling stock, will handle better and is lighter than the KDX. You can go a way to bringing the KDX along by bolting in a set of KX125 USD forks and an Ohlins shock to get better suspension and more clearance in ruts and although the KTM will still be lighter etc you'll still have money left over, an incredibly reliable bike and you'll probably still get beaten by guys on older crappier bikes with more skill and fitness no matter what you get. It realy is 20% bike 80% rider out there especially when the going gets grovelly.

[scott411]

A KTM will be faster, better handling is a tough call, people either love or hate PDS suspension , your right about the mods to the forks, but you can not buy Ohlins for the KDX, MR Taylor does make them up but it is a expensive option, I have raced KDX's for years and for most guys you can revalve the forks to suit.

I raced a KDX with Standard Suspension last year to top 10 in the bel ray harescrambles, only mods were the pipe and muffler and a 49 tooth rear sprocket, Ben Tomanson won events on one with suspenions mods.

The KDX won't devalue like a KTM will and will be much easier to sell second hand. ANd their are many hop up,

if you put the pro circuit pipe on one put a 45 pilot jet in as well, this cleans up the bottom well.

[scott411]

A KTM will be faster, better handling is a tough call, people either love or hate PDS suspension , your right about the mods to the forks, but you can not buy Ohlins for the KDX, MR Taylor does make them up but it is a expensive option, I have raced KDX's for years and for most guys you can revalve the forks to suit.

I raced a KDX with Standard Suspension last year to top 10 in the bel ray harescrambles, only mods were the pipe and muffler and a 49 tooth rear sprocket, Ben Tomanson won events on one with suspenions mods.

The KDX won't devalue like a KTM will and will be much easier to sell second hand. ANd their are many hop up,

if you put the pro circuit pipe on one put a 45 pilot jet in as well, this cleans up the bottom well.

one last thing, on a gravel road a KDX has more top end than a 250F, (6 speed Gearbox helps this)

[cheese]

I've found quite a few 05 KDX's on Tardme. people claiming that they have hardly been ridden. Should I just get a new one or not? I can save about $1500 - $2000 getting a year old one.

[crazyxr250rider]

NEW!!!!!!!!!! Stop procrastinating and get the damn thing....

[cheese]

LOL I will. I got to get my old bike back together and make a visit to teh bank....

[IronicCapers]

Actually wasn't it Ben Townly that won the events last year on a slightly modded KDX200 and came second in Whakatane or something. KDX200 awesome bike when you get it you will find parts are cheaper and basically havent change in 15 years (or however long they have been round). KDX220 is also something to look at i heard very good comments from seasoned riders about the extra capacity bike. How can go past the fact that Kawasaki got it right with a production bike that offers great reliability and is fast enough to keep up with 250s with a skilled rider. And in the world of enduro it is more than adequate to handle tough long rides.:headbang:

[cheese]

yeah I can't really find he 220's here.

[scott411]

no it was Ben Tomasen, BT has ridden one in the Hawkes bay Six hour about 5 years ago

[cheese]

yeah I'll just get a 200, but I must say I was tempted by a CRF 450 I looked at today........