Advice on dirtbikes

[cheese]

I'd suggest you spend the 2k on one bike. one cheap bike will be better than two fucked 1k bikes. Just get something like a KDX or an XR that you can plod about on and learn on. MX bikes will be more fukced IMO.

[oldskool]

I was down your road last year. I ended up buying a reco'd '86 XR200 for $850 and 2x XR100's for $1200. Had a ball for about 6 months then the XR200 died. Ended up selling the xr200 for $500 as is, and the XR100's for $1300. Once jap bikes hit their rock bottom price you don't really lose on them and you can still get a heap of fun outa them.

[camchain]

I think you'd be looking in the wrong direction with old MX bikes. MXers are serious race machines tuned for high power, high revs, and need a lot of maintenance. They're not for made for cruising along exploring trails, and of all dirt bikes they'll have had the hardest life.

You'd be better off looking at a dual purpose type machine - a bike which has an engine life measured in years not hours. Granted, they're not as sexy, but a lot easier to live with for your intended use, plus easier to learn the basics of off-road riding (You'll have a blast). Would likely have spent earlier years of it's life easy commuting and maybe some muck-around trail riding on the weekends. Need to be aware that as they get older and end up as farm hacks they'll often get almost zero maintenance though. Luckily these mild mannered things can take a bit of that, but any cheap dirt bike will need a mechanically minded owner. Condition much more important than age with a thousand dollar starter trail bike. An oldie that hasn't been used every weekend can be a goodie.

Some examples below. Not suggesting any of these are good buying, just type of bike you could do well starting off with.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-227891427.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-226839981.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-226460877.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-228384211.htm
Also snuck in an XR, everyone knows these things are fairly bulletproof.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-228699777.htm

[LittleJohn]

I think you'd be looking in the wrong direction with old MX bikes. MXers are serious race machines tuned for high power, high revs, and need a lot of maintenance. They're not for made for cruising along exploring trails, and of all dirt bikes they'll have had the hardest life.

You'd be better off looking at a dual purpose type machine - a bike which has an engine life measured in years not hours. Granted, they're not as sexy, but a lot easier to live with for your intended use, plus easier to learn the basics of off-road riding (You'll have a blast). Would likely have spent earlier years of it's life easy commuting and maybe some muck-around trail riding on the weekends. Need to be aware that as they get older and end up as farm hacks they'll often get almost zero maintenance though. Luckily these mild mannered things can take a bit of that, but any cheap dirt bike will need a mechanically minded owner. Condition much more important than age with a thousand dollar starter trail bike. An oldie that hasn't been used every weekend can be a goodie.

Some examples below. Not suggesting any of these are good buying, just type of bike you could do well starting off with.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-227891427.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-226839981.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-226460877.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-228384211.htm
Also snuck in an XR, everyone knows these things are fairly bulletproof.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-228699777.htm

Definitely agree with camchain. You would be better to stay away from the mxer's. Also for your missus I wouldn't look at a KX 125 if she is still learning. I have one and they can/are lethal. You have to ride them at full rev's and very aggresively, not something a learner rider does very successfully. If I spend 30 min on a track with the missus I will foul a plug because I cannot stay in full rev's, mind you I do use racing plugs.

Also as Cheese said (yes I'm agreeing with cheese for once) maybe look at 1 bike you can both use and then make a course and do one lap each etc... Then if you both really enjoy it and get hooked (you will) you can look at 2 decent bikes. My KX125 I picked up for 1K but it needed a rebuild, both bottom and top. Now it is like new, but I didn't spare any expense rebuilding it (since getting it my road bike has suffered).

Food for thought anyway. Hope you find what you want.

P.S. Stay away from the chinese bikes, have not heard of anyone who has actually had a good run with them (adult one's anyway)

[joshy28]

I was down your road last year. I ended up buying a reco'd '86 XR200 for $850 and 2x XR100's for $1200. Had a ball for about 6 months then the XR200 died. Ended up selling the xr200 for $500 as is, and the XR100's for $1300. Once jap bikes hit their rock bottom price you don't really lose on them and you can still get a heap of fun outa them.

true!! tradme looks good

[oldskool]

true!! tradme looks good

If you haven't already seen it, theres a '98 RM80 on TM for $750 ono, that might be alright for your lady.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-228389888.htm