Dirt bike recommendations?

[Ocean1]

But if I get a bike for both, I'd have to be constantly changing the rims wouldn't I?? and what a pain?!

No, trail bikes are road legal and work just fine on 18" rear and 21" front tyres. The tyres themselves are always the biggest compromise, but as long as you're not riding in seriously wet off road conditions or pushing lean angles too far on the road you'd be fine. I've always used tyres from the off-road end of the spectrum, because I don't use trail bikes to tour, (knobblies wear MUCH faster), I do use them mostly in the dirt and because I grew up riding on knobblies and I know how to make the most of them. I reckon you'd be better with less agressive tyres given the time you spend on the road.

Generations of kiwis have grown up with trail bikes, there's plenty of them out there. The DRZ400s are probably the most bulletproof of the mid/large bikes, and you get to choose from several models depending on your particular end-use. Worth noting that not only is the DRZ400S, (trail bike version) good on the road but the DRZ400SM, (with 17" wheels and road-optomised suspension and brakes) isn't too shabby off road either. Up to a point.

[leathel]

I have a ford laser lxi sedan year 2000, not just the tow bar but gotta do the electrics too of course!

electrics are just a 15 min job, I should have plugs etc here as we often have rear cuts come in with them on...... don't have a laser bar ATM but they are easy enough to fit, you wont want a big heavy trailer..... but once you have one if you ever have an issue with the road bike they are handy to have

I store my brothers trailer as he has a ute so I never got around to finishing my trailer build as I just use his... handy things to have

[ktm84mxc]

Trailers are no biggie 400-500 dollars I use a 7x4 galv great workhorse , a specific bike trailer limits you to just bikes or boats/ribs etc.
Add in tie downs and a ramp 150 dollars good to go. Trailer rego and wof 70 dollars a year, you'll spend that total cost on reg/wof for a bike in 2 years.

[bosslady]

Hmm I need to have a good think eh. First thing to do is get a lesson and maybe try a half day at woodhill.. then go from there. Quite expensive to hire a bike so I will have to wait a few weeks till i have the money and don't have the kids!

[leathel]

Hmm I need to have a good think eh. First thing to do is get a lesson and maybe try a half day at woodhill.. then go from there. Quite expensive to hire a bike so I will have to wait a few weeks till i have the money and don't have the kids!

I might have my bike back on the dirt in the next couple of weeks, and I plan to use a mates XR100 as well to teach rose more and take the quad...we could do a cruise through farms with my Nieces as well and is free for you apart from the gas to get down

There will be other newer bikes to, probably a couple of race 450's to scare you as well

Will let you know when and where if it happens

There is a maize run this coming weekend in Mercer as well if you want to pop down for a look.

[bosslady]

I might have my bike back on the dirt in the next couple of weeks, and I plan to use a mates XR100 as well to teach rose more and take the quad...we could do a cruise through farms with my Nieces as well and is free for you apart from the gas to get down

There will be other newer bikes to, probably a couple of race 450's to scare you as well

Will let you know when and where if it happens

There is a maize run this coming weekend in Mercer as well if you want to pop down for a look.

will you be going to it? that sounds interesting. My flatmate said getting a motard, dirktbike, whatever basically getting any other lams approved bike is a stupid idea and I should keep my gn until I get my full he didn't scoff at the idea of me getting a dirt bike but he said I can't put it in the garage cause there isn't enough room, lol.

[leathel]

will you be going to it? that sounds interesting. My flatmate said getting a motard, dirktbike, whatever basically getting any other lams approved bike is a stupid idea and I should keep my gn until I get my full he didn't scoff at the idea of me getting a dirt bike but he said I can't put it in the garage cause there isn't enough room, lol.

Yup I will be going to the maize run, Sunday .... Might take one of the kids for a road ride and stop in for a couple of hours or go down with the whole crew in the Ute....not concrete yet.

Brother in law, Brother and Niece should all be riding .... My bike wont be ready so I wont be.

[nzspokes]

Yup I will be going to the maize run, Sunday .... Might take one of the kids for a road ride and stop in for a couple of hours or go down with the whole crew in the Ute....not concrete yet.

Brother in law, Brother and Niece should all be riding .... My bike wont be ready so I wont be.

I had thought about that one but my bike probably wont be back together in time. Probably hit the Sandpit the following Friday.

[Grashopper]

My flatmate said getting a motard, dirktbike, whatever basically getting any other lams approved bike is a stupid idea and I should keep my gn until I get my full he didn't scoff at the idea of me getting a dirt bike but he said I can't put it in the garage cause there isn't enough room, lol.

Hehe, shouldn't there be space in the lounge soon? Take a picture of his face if you say something like that to him please

No but seriously, they had bike covers for 20 bucks on oneday the other day. You ca always have the GN parked outside with just the cover on. Should be safe enough up your drive way.

[bosslady]

Hehe, shouldn't there be space in the lounge soon? Take a picture of his face if you say something like that to him please

No but seriously, they had bike covers for 20 bucks on oneday the other day. You ca always have the GN parked outside with just the cover on. Should be safe enough up your drive way.

No for insurance purposes I can't.

[Ender EnZed]

From personal experience in the matter; the best way to have to fun is to have a bike for the dirt. And consider it quite separately from the day to day life of getting to work and things.

Also, have a a bike to commute on, and ideally it'll be good for a decent amount of fun on the weekends. Or on sealed roads or track days when you're trying to have fun.

This might look like an overall expensive way of doing things but it means you can spend the money in each area when you want to or hold it off when you need to wait.

[bosslady]

So what's this Forza I hear of and why are their dirt bikes so cheap? My flatmate said no not to get a Forza.

[Ocean1]

So what's this Forza I hear of and why are their dirt bikes so cheap? My flatmate said no not to get a Forza.

Chinese, sort of copies of Honda's last gen air cooled trail bikes. Supposedly a better build quality and more reliable than the usual Chinese crap. PM caveweta, he imports them and runs a trail riding outfit up that way somewhere. If he's still doing that then I'd say he'd take you for a wee test ride.

[leathel]

So what's this Forza I hear of and why are their dirt bikes so cheap? My flatmate said no not to get a Forza.

Chinese copy other frames and a copy of Honda engines... Personally I would have a 5-10 year old original than the copy... the Chinese ones generally generally don't have good bearings etc so when they get in the dirt and water blasted they start to clap out....OK for a toy for a short while..... but not so great when they start to clap out

Search for old threads and I bet you a the same few people talking on them...the sellers and there mates.... They could be better now but I wouldn't risk it.

[bosslady]

Chinese copy other frames and a copy of Honda engines... Personally I would have a 5-10 year old original than the copy... the Chinese ones generally generally don't have good bearings etc so when they get in the dirt and water blasted they start to clap out....OK for a toy for a short while..... but not so great when they start to clap out

Search for old threads and I bet you a the same few people talking on them...the sellers and there mates.... They could be better now but I wouldn't risk it.

That's ok, sounds like the flatty will "disown" me if I get some cheap Chinese machine.