Getting dirty

[riffer]

A big ol' two stroke (Yamaha IT / YZ 400, 465, 490, Honda CR500, Kawasaki KX500 etc) can make you believe in god in a very short time.
Japanese engines have always been so much better than japanese frames, suspensions and brakes

Brakes? My IT400 didn't have brakes! I thought that was the optional clutch lever!

[laRIKin]

In a drag my IT200 is just as quick as a stocker KDX!.

Sorry am I missing something here mate?
I thought we were talking about pre and post KDX's

One thing that will make a big difference is getting that power to the ground,good tyres are a must I run a Bridgestone M59-M402 F/R but will be changing to Metzler MC5-MC6 next time around,which pretty much everyone I know uses and they seem to work very well.

I agree, you can only ride as good as your tires let you.
We have found that Michelin S12's are a good tire aswell, but I found on my bigger heavier bike the side walls are to soft. So I use the Metzler MC5 up front now.

I also are trying out and found Pirell DOT tire, MT21 is agood all round tire.
The front has washed out once or twice, but that could have rider error.
As my KTM does that unless I'm on the gas, right though the corner.

[Motu]

In a drag my IT200 is just as quick as a stocker KDX!

One thing that will make a big difference is getting that power to the ground,good tyres are a must I run a Bridgestone M59-M402 F/R but will be changing to Metzler MC5-MC6 next time around,which pretty much everyone I know uses and they seem to work very well.

I'll back you up - my 81 pro link XR 200 would beat a water cooled KDX 200 in a straight line drag too,in a hill climb as well...getting the power to the ground and using it, getting the bike set up is more important than what bike.

[SNOman]

Depends, if you have been used to, say a KDX, then an XR400 will feel like you are landing a block of flats.

At least that’s what it felt like to me jumping from my KDX to a borrowed 400. + I couldn’t start the damn thing. At 6’ you will have some more leverage & this may not be such an issue. I’d never buy a fourstroke without an electric leg. Specially when hot & you've dropped it.

On the side of a hill. . .

I used to have a major problem with my old XR350 when I had a get off and had to try and restart it hot. I used to curse and swear something chronic. I've now fixed the problem so that it's a one, maybe two kick deal. The answer, for me anyway, was to spend more money on a spark plug. I put a platinum plug in my bike. Best $25 I ever spent

[pete376403]

Sorry am I missing something here mate?
I thought we were talking about pre and post KDX's.

Nooo, the thread was more a query about dirt bikes in general, and various people have offered various opinions. The O/P can distill all these opinions and hopefully find something that suits his needs. A 6 ft, 80kg rider might be happier on a bike bigger than a KDX200. But thats just my opinion.

[F5 Dave]

At 6’ & only 80kg he’s hardly a big guy. If he was any taller he’d be tending to skinnyarse. Bikes all get heavy to pick up when they are dropped in a bog.


If you are starting out or are well rusty smaller & lighter the better. Having said that some people like the 4 stroke easy to manage power & some love that 2 stroke ‘Zing’.