Dirt bike recommendations?

**bosslady** · 16th May 2013, 07:21

Yea I am sure it's been done before, I did have a look through the past 5 pages of threads. Anyway, I was thinking of getting a motard to replace my GN but have considered perhaps it isn't the best decision considering I do a fair bit of travelling/touring. Now, I have yet to try dirt biking, trying to find a (not super expensive) way that I can get a "taste" for it. That said, I am fairly confident I will definitely want to do it after I try it, do like to challenge myself... So, I would like dirt bike recommendations please. I know sweet f all about dirt bikes FYI. As a first dirt bike, I don't really care if it's not super flash as long as it is reliable and, fun! There's not much self maintenance I can do on a bike at the moment apart from stuff like changing oil so I don't want anything that will be too much work. I would be looking to basically spend the least amount of $ possible, say, up to $2.5-3k? Thoughts?

**Edbear** · 16th May 2013, 07:48

Originally Posted by bosslady

Yea I am sure it's been done before, I did have a look through the past 5 pages of threads. Anyway, I was thinking of getting a motard to replace my GN but have considered perhaps it isn't the best decision considering I do a fair bit of travelling/touring. Now, I have yet to try dirt biking, trying to find a (not super expensive) way that I can get a "taste" for it. That said, I am fairly confident I will definitely want to do it after I try it, do like to challenge myself... So, I would like dirt bike recommendations please. I know sweet f all about dirt bikes FYI. As a first dirt bike, I don't really care if it's not super flash as long as it is reliable and, fun! There's not much self maintenance I can do on a bike at the moment apart from stuff like changing oil so I don't want anything that will be too much work. I would be looking to basically spend the least amount of $ possible, say, up to $2.5-3k? Thoughts?

The world's your oyster here. Any Jap 250 four stroke will be pretty much bulletproof, although Forza may be a viable alternative if you contact Cave Weta and want a newer bike.

**bosslady** · 16th May 2013, 07:59

Originally Posted by Edbear

The world's your oyster here. Any Jap 250 four stroke will be pretty much bulletproof, although Forza may be a viable alternative if you contact Cave Weta and want a newer bike.

I wouldn't want to spend much, especially for a dirt bike, would rather spend more on a road bike. Can you recommend any model names? What's Cave Weta?

**Edbear** · 16th May 2013, 08:07

Originally Posted by bosslady

I wouldn't want to spend much, especially for a dirt bike, would rather spend more on a road bike. Can you recommend any model names? What's Cave Weta?

He's a KB Member who runs a trail-ride business from Waihi and sells the Forza range of bikes. The most popular seems to be the 230.

Otherwise I'd recommend TradeMe for the four main Jappas.

**nzspokes** · 16th May 2013, 08:18

Go to the Sandpit at Woodhill and do a hire. then you can try a few bikes out and see if you like it.

**BM-GS** · 16th May 2013, 08:23

Edbear says right, but it's all down to things like if you need to ride the bike from home to the bit of dirt you want to tear up (so it has to be road-legal), if seat-height may be a problem, stuff like that.

Honda CRF230F comes in can-be-made-road-legal form and will offer you 15 friendly bhp in a full-size bike which with decent TLC will last decades. It won't excite you for very long as you'll get good enough to want more power and less weight after a while, but it will start first time forever, needing only post-ride air-filter cleaning, regular oil changes and a new plug every birthday. There's a 150F as well which offers the same in 3/4 size, but possibly not road-legal-able.

The DRZ family are Suzuki's equivalent model, the TTRs are Yamaha's. Air-cooled, budget suspension & brakes, comfy (relatively) seats. Kawasaki don't do anything similar any more, but up til about 2007 did KDX200 2-stroke (highly rated as fun, simple and good enough) and KLX300 4T which was heavier.

The Forzas are a Chinese-built, Western-designed & spec'd family which aren;t half bad if you can live with a few odd design characteristics like keys under the tank and the uncertainty of an unproven (for another 10 years, probably) bike. I had a ride on one a year or so ago and it was better than me! Which isn't saying much, but it didn't break and went well enough. Not heard of any problems at all with the bikes, but Cave Weta seems to have vanished from these forums. Any news anyone?

For your budget, you could get an old ('05-ish) example of any of the above or a new Forza.

Other models from the Japs and nearly anything from KTM are higher-strung, higher-tech and essentially racebikes. If you could afford to buy it you probably couldn't afford to fix it.

If you look around the trailrides (like the one at South Head on Sunday) they sometimes have a dealer turn up with a load of bikes to try, for a small fee. Might be worth a go?

**ktm84mxc** · 16th May 2013, 09:13

Your choice comes down to what you want it for and does it require a rego/wof.
Are adventure rides in the great plan if so a rego'd bike will be needed, electric start so look ar DRZ250,TTR250,XR250,KLX250 etc. Bikes like Yamahas XT250 great trail bikes but limited off road with short suspension , ground clearance, tires etc.
If no road duties required the selection is huge from 125/150/230/250 four strokes, 125/200 two strokes.

**bosslady** · 16th May 2013, 10:05

How much is that do you know?

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Go to the Sandpit at Woodhill and do a hire. then you can try a few bikes out and see if you like it.

I don't think I would want to pay rego and warrant for another bike so I would probably just want a dedicated dirt bike.

**bosslady** · 16th May 2013, 10:08

Blarghhhh so many choices!

**Edbear** · 16th May 2013, 11:04

Originally Posted by bosslady

Blarghhhh so many choices!

Yup!!! Enjoy!

**clmintie** · 16th May 2013, 11:12

Botany Honda will have their range of bikes available to test at the Top End Trail ride this Sunday, give them a call for more info...

http://www.botanyhonda.co.nz/

**nzspokes** · 16th May 2013, 11:21

http://www.thesandpit.co.nz/

**Gremlin** · 16th May 2013, 12:04

Originally Posted by clmintie

Botany Honda will have their range of bikes available to test at the Top End Trail ride this Sunday, give them a call for more info...

http://www.botanyhonda.co.nz/

Was going to say, Botany Honda organises Ardmore rides and things I think, and for minimal dollars you can have a quick test of the bike? Failing that, ask a mate if you could have a try, just to see if it's your cup of tea, without committing the dollars to buying a bike etc.