Dirt bike advice please

[green machine]

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

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

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, or old

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-Mo...-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.