First bike, advice needed, please

[taku]

"sorry, this is bugging me.

why does everyone say 125s so much lighter? yes they are lighter, by like 1kg, this is 1% of the bike's weight!

had to get that off my chest.
thanks"

more like 10+kgs buddy thats like 10% of the bikes weight. depending which models you compare.. had to get that off my chest

[cheese]

cr 250 96.6kg
cr 125 89.4kg

KX250 97 Kg
kx125 87kg

RM250 96KG
RM 125 87 KG

Guess you are right, they are about 10kg difference.

[Rupe]

cr 250 96.6kg
cr 125 89.4kg

KX250 97 Kg
kx125 87kg

RM250 96KG
RM 125 87 KG

Guess you are right, they are about 10kg difference.

Ok thats the weight cleared up.



thanks guys. I've read a few reviews on the kdx200 and it sounds like it would be ideal. What year would I be looking at for $2.5k?

Is this the only bike like this or are there others I could look at?

Also to answer another question, I'd rather a 2-stroke as "there is less maintenance, and easier to work on" (correct me if I'm wrong).


Thanks for all the replys

[cheese]

This would probably fit in your budget http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...235&key=772181 but its in the south island

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...915&key=774872 this one looks ok, but I'd try to get a newwer one.

If you can make the budget go a bit further you can get a near new one. THey are only $7k new so this one http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...789&key=772181 would be a good deal.

This is double your budget, but you would save teh money in repairs (I have learnt this teh hard way)
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...928&key=778102

[Reckless]

Back in on the discussion and I think you have had good advice so far.

2 stroke is the way we go because the overall maintenance is cheaper. But more often, if you believe the manufacturers specs. Don't quote me but a 2 stroke 125 typically 30 hours with our type of riding. A 125 4 stroke 60 hours.
But you bung a piston, ring, gudgeon and small end bearing in for about $250-00 and you can do it yourself once you know how. So to sum up there is less to do, and its heaps easier, but more often.
With the type of riding I'm doing I can strip down my sons 125 after 35 hours and the piston will measure nearly new so it only needs a 35 dollar ring. My 250 does over 50 hours easy. With regular checks, good oil, and the odd ring thrown at it. The shops and race mechanics will tell you to always put pistons in but I don't use them 1/2 as hard as the racers do.

I have not alot of knowledge of the KDX 200 but it is a 2 stroke and would be good for your first year. My 17 year ols son learnt on a Cr125 I bought for him and they are a shit to keep in the rev range and he has struggled a little more because of the bike.
Look on trade me try this one 1995 http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...06681.htm?p=31
and www.bikepoint.co.nz to check the dealers prices.

Good luck!!

Oh and did you guys notice they are advertising the latest Cr250 as the LAST of the Honda 2 strokes!!!

[moT]

get a rg150 there 2 stroke good on gas great to learn on they crash well you will probably do this a few times once u lern to get ur knee down then upgrade i also recomend a few track days on it and you can take it into street stock

[B0000M]

get a rg150 there 2 stroke good on gas great to learn on they crash well you will probably do this a few times once u lern to get ur knee down then upgrade i also recomend a few track days on it and you can take it into street stock

um
i think he wanted a dirtbike

[cheese]

the KDX engine isn't as raced up as a MX bike so you can get away with more like 100 hours for a rebuild.

I've had a ride on a KDX (brand new one) and you'll find that its more mellow than the likes of a 250 mx'r. That is due to the heavier flywheel etc.

The best advice I could give you is buy as new as you can get. My first bike I spent about 3k on and in the first year I spent another 3k keeping it going and fixing it. Now I've just upgraded to a 04 CR250 and I spent 6400, if I'd just done that in the beginning I'd have been better off!! Now Lion has a RM that I sold to him for 2k and I lost thousands........bugger......

[Azzman]

Just to basically go along with what everyone has said, I have a 04 KDX200 which I purchased earlier in the year, they go for about 4k for that year, for 2.5k you should find something after 95 which is basically what the new bike is, nothing much changed since then (other than cosmetics...).
I got back into offroad riding after riding four strokes (XR&DR200&250) in my teens and am really happy with the KDX, its been a great bike to start off riding again, its certainly got that 2 stroke grin factor that you will never get with an XR250!
For a learner to be on a 2stroke mx would be a sin really because your just as likely to get scared off as you are to have fun!...the KDX fits the bill on all accounts really as they are a good value for money low maintenance 2 stroke that can take you from learner to intermediate better than most.
Dont get me wrong you will have oodles of fun on an XR250, and it may in even suit you better (everybody is different) but all in all my vote goes to the KDX.

[Reckless]

Oh and did you guys notice they are advertising the latest Cr250 as the LAST of the Honda 2 strokes!!!

Did you all know this! I haven't had any comments. Looks like I'll go back to my Kawasaki Roots next time I buy!!

[FlangMasterJ]

more like 10+kgs buddy thats like 10% of the bikes weight. depending which models you compare.. had to get that off my chest

I think he was comparing the 125 2 stroke to the 250 4 stroke. Which is close to a 1kg difference.

[jimmy 2006]

Did you all know this! I haven't had any comments. Looks like I'll go back to my Kawasaki Roots next time I buy!!

Yea, this was announced quite a while ago now, the CR250 hasn't changed much in the last years anyway. for example jump on a new YZ250 or 250sx and they are sooooo much nicer to ride.

[Rupe]

Whats the differance between a kdx200, and 220? Is it just a few more cc?

Also is the kdx a big bike to ride, or would the mrs be able to ride it?

[Reckless]

KDx 200 - kdx 220 I think they are the same but one of the Kdx owners will let you know.

As for being a big bike. Probably sit a bit lower then the KX250 you originally had your eye on and a lot lot easier for her to learn on.

[cheese]

Yeah I knew about the CR thing. I came to the conclusion that the big red tractors have been such a good bike for a long time so that is why I got one. the one thing that really appealed to me are the alloy frame. Every other two stroke was steel (appart from the KTM).

Its a pity about teh CR's not being made anymore, but its about supply and demand. The America is turning into a 4 stroke loving cuntry, and being 30% of teh worlds dirtbike market, its the way that things are going. You will see the other manufacturers doing the same thing in the next few years. I'm sticking with 2 stroke for the next few years till a bit more development done on the 4 strokes so they aren't so high on the maintenance.