Dirt bike recommendations?

[leathel]

You are not that heavy, the DRZ400-450 is a hell of a lot of bike per weight, Dirt you will be running a lower gear set so the 230/50 is like a 400 on the road, But you do ride pretty conservatively on the road so a later DRZ with electric start might go OK...but they are dearer than the 250's

I still have a hell of a lot of fun if I jump back on an old XR200, The modern version is the CRF230... a tame down less maintenance version of the CRF250, The CRF250s which if ridden hard can go hard, Keep in the power range flicking through the gears and they are quick! (All the race 4 stroke 250's are pretty much the same) The CRF230 isn't in the same league but its going to last a lot longer engine wise

I have an older XR250 as a play bike ATM and its great fun, wouldn't want to race it on a MX track but a lot of fun can be had on trail rides

The 400/450 water cooled bikes go hard and have enough grunt to go good pace with less gear changes and I love them...... you can pick up speed deceptively fast and get yourself in trouble...especially with your size (I am over 100KG so power to weight will be way different to you)

Water cooled MX bikes are designed to be max power and are higher maintenance, Enduro versions of the same bikes often run different components to give the bike a bit more life

The air cooled engines were designed to last a lot longer

CRF230 will last, not to heavy, you will get a late one for not much coin.... And low maintenance compared to the water cooled versions and one of the few air cooled with electric start as well as kick and should last years.

I had an XR200 for 5 years and did lots of riding and didn't touch the engine except for oil, My brother had one and did all sorts to up the power, cams, piston kits etc and it still handles it well.

The 250's all went fine and just did the clutch on the latest one (easy enough and not to many $$)


2 strokes require more work as well...

I like to stay named brands as they have been doing it for years and are less likley to fail you

[Edbear]

Agreed. Good people.

For your first bike dont go for power, 150 may well be enough to start with. Trail bikes are very different to road bikes. There is a lot of skills to learn.

I had a 1981 XT125 Yamaha back in the 80's. It was a fabulous trail bike for pottering around on and for around town. It would only do about 80km/h on the open road though.

If I was looking for a small trail bike for exploring, it would be perfect.

[Ocean1]

Bike weights have remained constant for over 30 yrs 125's 92-95kgs, 250's 97-102kgs, 450-500's 100-104kgs.
The pre long travel bikes up to 77/78 were up to 5kgs less , alloy frames, water cooling ect has made bugger all in weight reduction.
A 20kg weight penalty is a lot to lift when your under it.

It's important, here to distinguish between competition machines and trail bikes. The DRZ400 is perhaps a little more than your standard trail bike, but not by much. The weights you're talking about are for MX/Enduro machines, though, and while I may be wrong I don't think the OP wants a race bike. Even if she did I'd be suggesting a fair bit of time on a small/medium trail bike first. To learn how to ride a dirt bike she'd probably do better on one of the 125 to 230 sized bikes already mentioned.

And now that I think about it someone in the 'Rapa is considering selling her TS185. Slightly agricultural in the suspension dept but the price is right and she could do worse.

[sugilite:Me]

And now that I think about it someone in the 'Rapa is considering selling her TS185. Slightly agricultural in the suspension dept but the price is right and she could do worse.

Funny, that was my 1st bike, and after 5 weeks I was giving the poor thing a absolute hiding, was bored with it and went to a xr200. The OP has a veracious appetite for all things motorcycling, I give it 3 months or less before she would be wanting to give the TS the flick and wanting an upgrade.

If it's light dirt/trail with a bit of road riding thrown in, I still think she could handle a DRZ, extra weight n all.
If it's pure dirt bike work, something like a KDX200, as has been mentioned.

[buffstar]

start out on a 230 any brand will do, they hold their value really well & most of us girls who ride off road started out on one. Stupid to get an overpowered heavy bike - that will ruin it for you before you even start, you will drop the bike & need to pick it up many many times, that is just the nature of the beast when it comes to riding off road & a 230 is heavy enough. If you are used to 2strokes I would recommend a 125 or possibly a 200 - although some of the 200's are pretty vicious with the powerband.
I would suggest going to a trail ride and having a play on a demo or hire bike before committing - but what would I know?

good luck with your decision

[ktm84mxc]

The weights of 230's is up there also around 100kgs when fueled up, a TS185 great as a learner/commuter/trail bike but will need tires,shocks,fork mods for more off road fun.
What we need is PE/IT/KDX 175/200's again simple reliable bikes you can ride/race every weekend and wont cost a fortune.
Had a 1979 PE175N my transport to work and weekend fun machine put 14,000k's on it in 15mths ultra reliable wish I still had it.

[Ocean1]

The weights of 230's is up there also around 100kgs when fueled up.

Which is why a 125/175 would be better. I'll repeat what I said before, an ideal dirt bike weighs no more than it's rider.

a TS185 great as a learner/commuter/trail bike but will need tires,shocks,fork mods for more off road fun.

Wish I'd known that 35 years ago, I was under the mistaken impression that I was having an absolute blast!

What we need is PE/IT/KDX 175/200's again simple reliable bikes you can ride/race every weekend and wont cost a fortune.
Had a 1979 PE175N my transport to work and weekend fun machine put 14,000k's on it in 15mths ultra reliable wish I still had it.

Yeah, and what's more those +20 year old machines could be ridden at the same speeds that today's crop can. I'm pretty sure the bikes on offer now are not what most people need, they're just what the manufacturers can make the godamn yanks believe is "cutting edge". In fact apart from FI there's been no real improvement for decades.

I've got an RMX250 here going for a very small commercial consideration if you really want a proper bike again.

[ktm84mxc]

I'll pass on the RMX thx ocean , just ordered parts for my 1984mxc KTM a bike I've had since new to go VMX racing this year on.
Over the years I've owned TS125/185x2, PE175 N&Z,PE250T, DRZ250, KLX & KDX250's all road reged and used for transport and wknd fun. At one stage had so many then married life and kids so just down to 2 KTMs.

[bosslady]

I really just don't know what to do. Sick of my GN. Love the look of motards, freaking awesome. But want something with enough power to keep me happy for a couple of years. Would love to do dirt bikes too cause it's something to do in the weekend that's not a $150 track day all the way in Taupo! if I buy a dirt bike I won't be able to buy a new road bike for AGES. If I buy a motard I'm scared it will be too high maintenance and costly for me and that if I keep dropping it on trail rides etc. I'll then have no road bike until I could get it fixed!

[nzspokes]

Well with a dirt bike you have to have a trailer and a car to tow it with. But they are generally cheap to run. As long as you dont hit things.

[sugilite:Me]

I really just don't know what to do. Sick of my GN. Love the look of motards, freaking awesome. But want something with enough power to keep me happy for a couple of years. Would love to do dirt bikes too cause it's something to do in the weekend that's not a $150 track day all the way in Taupo! if I buy a dirt bike I won't be able to buy a new road bike for AGES. If I buy a motard I'm scared it will be too high maintenance and costly for me and that if I keep dropping it on trail rides etc. I'll then have no road bike until I could get it fixed!

I hear you, hence my suggestion for something like a DRZ400, it can do everything you want. You just need a set of trail tyres and you are good to go for commuting, road rides and trail rides. I'm not talking heavy dirt work here. Bikes like the DRZ are pretty tough and can take a beating. Others say it would be too heavy for you to pick up, but I feel you could, there is a technique to picking up a bike and your tall enough to get the job done. I also feel if you do the right trails, you won't be picking it up much anyways.

[Ocean1]

I really just don't know what to do. Sick of my GN. Love the look of motards, freaking awesome. But want something with enough power to keep me happy for a couple of years. Would love to do dirt bikes too cause it's something to do in the weekend that's not a $150 track day all the way in Taupo! if I buy a dirt bike I won't be able to buy a new road bike for AGES. If I buy a motard I'm scared it will be too high maintenance and costly for me and that if I keep dropping it on trail rides etc. I'll then have no road bike until I could get it fixed!

Good to see you're focusing on the world's big-picture problems.

There's a few solutions, first, (and arguably the most important) is to learn not to drop a bike you can't afford to fix.

Second, make more money, so you can afford to fix your dirt bike.

Third, make more money, so you can afford to buy a road bike.

Fourth, make more money, so you can afford to fettle your bikes as befits one who's serious about motorbikes.

Fifth, make more money, 'cause y'know, you can never have enough motorbikes.

Or enough sex.

[Ocean1]

I hear you, hence my suggestion for something like a DRZ400, it can do everything you want. You just need a set of trail tyres and you are good to go for commuting, road rides and trail rides. I'm not talking heavy dirt work here. Bikes like the DRZ are pretty tough and can take a beating. Others say it would be too heavy for you to pick up, but I feel you could, there is a technique to picking up a bike and your tall enough to get the job done. I also feel if you do the right trails, you won't be picking it up much anyways.

Is a good option. Is a good bike. I just think it's too much for a novice in the dirt.

What about keeping the GN and finding a smaller cheaper trail bike, bit of insurance if you break it and a better horse for the course.

[sugilite:Me]

Is a good option. Is a good bike. I just think it's too much for a novice in the dirt.

What about keeping the GN and finding a smaller cheaper trail bike, bit of insurance if you break it and a better horse for the course.

We are talking about a rider who mere weeks after getting their 1st bike, then started doing track days, multiple track days and is now bored with their bike, understandably. I've see her ride at one of these track days, hence my confidence in her ability to have the discipline on the right dirt trails to handle a DRZ. Getting a bike like a 230 will just condemn a rider like this to boredom within 6 months. It's not often I recommenced throwing someone in the deep end, but in this case, I feel it is the best option. With their finances in view, this rider needs one bike to rule them all. 1/2 measures will not cut it.

[Ocean1]

1/2 measures will not cut it.

Fair enough. And if you're stuck with a compromise then at least the 400's a very good one.

This'd have to be the best deal I've seen for a while:http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-593244467.htm

...and a charming snot green, no less.