Get a 250?

[Badgerclarke]

After going on a taster day organised by one of the lads on here at Thundercross (thanks Jay) and thoroughly enjoying it I've started to do some window shopping. Done lots of road riding but know very little about dirt bikes and your input would be great.

I'm looking for something that I can use at places like Thundercross and on trail rides but also like the look of those long trail rides where you need a road legal bike.

I rode a DRZ400 on the taster which I really enjoyed but not sure that I would use it's full potential so wondering whether a 4 stroke 250 would be better. Like the look of the WR250R but they do look a bit pricey. Is the KLX250 any good and do KTM do a road legal 250?

Be good to draw on your guys experience.

[barty5]

personally id go for the WR well proven in reliability etc. Easy to ride can be up graded with YZF parts if you want parts a easy engine hasn't really change apart from the last year so it can all be interchanged. It should also hold it value better in the long term.

[CRF119]

You pay for what you get, Id be thinking the WR250 over the KLX250, personally id never touch a Kawasaki. If you want some thing with a nice alloy frame then maybe a CRF250X above the year 2006, that should be just as reliable as a WR250.

[Jay GTI]

About time you started seriously looking at your own bike (glad you enjoyed the day out at Thundercross ).

I personally love the WR250, it's very friendly, makes enough power to boogie when you want to, handles well, is reliable and doesn't need an oil change every 5 minutes. Suspension is a bit soft for bigger blokes, but you can easily have it set up for your weight and riding style.

KLX is a little too 'trail bike' and loses a bit of off-road ability to cater for on-road manners, so once you're a bit more experienced I reckon you'd find it too frustrating off-road.

KTM's EXC range pretty much can all be made road-legal (mate's EXC-F250 is) and they are great bikes, but maybe a little too race focused for your first decent off-road bike. I wouldn't say don't get one, but just be aware they do have higher servicing requirements than a WR and feel a bit more aggressive to ride, so could be a bit tiring on the long trail rides you mention.

CRF-X is also worth a look, as has been suggested, but I've never ridden one and don't know much about them.

[unstuck]

GN250.

[Badgerclarke]

Cheers fellas, like sound of not having to worry about maintenance too much and it sounds like the WR is the way to go. Is the CRF able to be made road legal as I thought they were mx bikes?

Jay, the missis has even said that she'd like to have a go at Thundercross so this off road lark might become a family affair!! Quite keen to give one of the hire bikes at Woodhill so might have to give you a shout to show me the ropes mate.

[Jay GTI]

Sweet, I like the sound of that... got my missus out to Woodhill to have her first ever ride on a dirt bike a few weeks ago (hired the KLX140 and got her lessons) and now I keep finding her on Trademe looking at bikes and riding gear... maybe get them out together as well?

But yeah, hire their WR and see what you think. I took it down to Taupo for a 2 day ride last year and know the bike well, it's a good example for getting the feel of one. Just chuck me a PM when you're up for it

[oldskool]

personally id go for the WR well proven in reliability etc. Easy to ride can be up graded with YZF parts if you want parts a easy engine hasn't really change apart from the last year so it can all be interchanged. It should also hold it value better in the long term.

I'd second that. Go with the WR, my 13 yr old daughter rides one and loves it. She'd never go back to a 2T mx now.

[Jay GTI]

I'd second that. Go with the WR, my 13 yr old daughter rides one and loves it. She'd never go back to a 2T mx now.

How does she find the weight? Been thinking of one for my GF, but the high seat height and weight (more than my SX-F) puts me off as a bike for her.

[FlangMasterJ]

How does she find the weight? Been thinking of one for my GF, but the high seat height and weight (more than my SX-F) puts me off as a bike for her.

Why does everyone have an issue with the height of the seat?

Not being a knob but it's such a minuscule problem and really narrows down the choice of bike on offer. Surely it would only be an issue when you're at a standstill and even then it's not hard to lean to one side an put a foot down.

[green machine]

Why does everyone have an issue with the height of the seat?

Not being a knob but it's such a minuscule problem and really narrows down the choice of bike on offer. Surely it would only be an issue when you're at a standstill and even then it's not hard to lean to one side an put a foot down.

Makes it a bit hard if you struggle to touch the ground,i have no trouble touching the ground and still have the odd time i go to put my foot down and there's a dip or rut.....start to tip then momentum takes over and next thing your on the ground....not much fun so i guess if it happens nearly every time you stop you'd soon get a bit sick of riding...

[Jay GTI]

Why does everyone have an issue with the height of the seat?

Not being a knob but it's such a minuscule problem and really narrows down the choice of bike on offer. Surely it would only be an issue when you're at a standstill and even then it's not hard to lean to one side an put a foot down.

It's along the lines of what green machine is saying, on uneven ground or when riding slowly around rutted tracks, sometimes not easily being able to quickly dab a foot down means you spend a lot of time picking the bike up off the ground, which isn't going to be a lot of fun for a relative noobie to riding, who is really needs to be as confident as possible when learning the basics and getting the hang of off-roading.

I'm 178cm tall, but have short legs and I struggle with the Kato at times, as it's pretty tall in the seat area. Lost count of the times I've dropped it on it's side at low speed, just because I can't quite swing my arse off the seat quick enough.

[oldskool]

How does she find the weight? Been thinking of one for my GF, but the high seat height and weight (more than my SX-F) puts me off as a bike for her.

Her last bike she rode was a CR80 (around 65kg). But she really had her mind set on a 4T with electric start and there just isn't too many decent options for her under $4k. The WR being the best option, but it weighs around 104kg and I thought it would be a big jump for her. Being the patient sorta dad that I am I thought I'd humour her and let her realise that for herself. But she proved me wrong when she jumped on it and rode around on blue tracks at the 'pit. So I asked her to lay the bike over and pick it up. It was a bit of a struggle but she was determined to do it. I was surprised and impressed overall.
But this isn't a stock standard WRF. Barty had already sorted it for a smaller rider.
He lowered the seat height with a yamalink link, shaved the seat and put a lower profile rear tyre on. My daughter who is only like 5'3 sits on it comfortably with both feet flat on the ground. Since then I've changed the rear sprocket from a 52T to a 53T and it's a hill climbing grunter now. I must say I enjoy blatting around on it too, and it wheelies in 3rd which is pretty good for a WR250.
My daughter absolutely loves it and goes everywhere on it.

[Jay GTI]

Her last bike she rode was a CR80 (around 65kg). But she really had her mind set on a 4T with electric start and there just isn't too many decent options for her under $4k. The WR being the best option, but it weighs around 104kg and I thought it would be a big jump for her. Being the patient sorta dad that I am I thought I'd humour her and let her realise that for herself. But she proved me wrong when she jumped on it and rode around on blue tracks at the 'pit. So I asked her to lay the bike over and pick it up. It was a bit of a struggle but she was determined to do it. I was surprised and impressed overall.
But this isn't a stock standard WRF. Barty had already sorted it for a smaller rider.
He lowered the seat height with a yamalink link, shaved the seat and put a lower profile rear tyre on. My daughter who is only like 5'3 sits on it comfortably with both feet flat on the ground. Since then I've changed the rear sprocket from a 52T to a 53T and it's a hill climbing grunter now. I must say I enjoy blatting around on it too, and it wheelies in 3rd which is pretty good for a WR250.
My daughter absolutely loves it and goes everywhere on it.

Ah cool, sounds pretty good, thanks for that! Would have to lower the bike if I got her one (despite what the latest DRD says in the bikes for girls article), so it was mainly the weight issue that concerns me. My GF isn't a complete weed though, so should be fine once she's had practice picking it up a few times.

[oldskool]

Ah cool, sounds pretty good, thanks for that! Would have to lower the bike if I got her one (despite what the latest DRD says in the bikes for girls article), so it was mainly the weight issue that concerns me. My GF isn't a complete weed though, so should be fine once she's had practice picking it up a few times.

Your GF is quite welcome to try it sometime out at the 'pit or the MR MX rides.
Tawny doesn't really notice the extra weight when the bike is moving, only on slow tight corners or when she's caught in roots. The one thing she is really mindful of is avoiding getting her leg pinned under it if she comes off. My instructions are, "Don't worry about saving the bike, just jump clear"