I'm thinking of getting into dirt. What bike?

[BoristheBiter]

How mechanically minded are you? the race style 4 stroke bikes do have short service periods and if you intend to do a lot of riding be prepared for top end rebuilds etc

It all depends on how they are ridden.
Most none raced bikes are 150-200 before needing the top end done, even my princess ktm was over 100hrs and it wasn't even worn much.
Regular maintence is what it is all about, Air filter after every ride, oil every 6hrs and oil filter every 15hr and it will lasr ages.

If you do 100hrs a year you're doing some serious riding.

To Brett,
As Jay says the 250 is the best bike to start on, even some of the older XR's are just more forgiving in the dirt while you are relearning how to ride a bike. (it's all backwards)
Mind you any of the Honda's are great but if you go for the 450 change the clutch to hydraulic and get a rekluse clutch.

[BoristheBiter]

Fucking Jesus! Can fully understand the smoker doing that...but the 450's...that is pretty bloody fantastic I must say. And I'm not here to sell KTM's!

good regular maintenance is what it is about.
As I said above KTM says 105 hrs, they said mine would have lasted at least another 50 hrs but it was apart so i did it anyway.
Mates crf450 is at 137hrs.

Like i said if you race it than yes but just trail riding just doesn't stress it.

[Reckless]

good regular maintenance is what it is about.
As I said above KTM says 105 hrs, they said mine would have lasted at least another 50 hrs but it was apart so i did it anyway.
Mates crf450 is at 137hrs.

Like i said if you race it than yes but just trail riding just doesn't stress it.

Danger has posted here he got 400 hours out of his 200exc??
I couldn't leave it that long but I believe him

[Jay GTI]

Dunno. But the only two we've ever traded certainly didn't last that long.

Fucking Jesus! Can fully understand the smoker doing that...but the 450's...that is pretty bloody fantastic I must say. And I'm not here to sell KTM's!

Anything orange from the mid 2000's or earlier gave KTM their (justified) questionable reliability reputation, but the blokes who made the decisions at head office realised that it was going to kill the company if they didn't sort it, so they did. Don't know anyone who's done 400hrs on a 4T KTM, but plenty around the 200hr mark with little in the way of issues. One ('08 250SXF) was owned by a mate who was a decent club-level MXer in Hungary, he was fast as feck and regularly gave his bike a good workout, but he went back home and sold it to my current ride buddy, who pulled it apart for the first time at 180hrs. Needed rings, that was it, even the valve tolerances were in spec and they'd never been adjusted or even checked. In that particular case, the bike was regularly and religiously filter and oil changed, but in most cases the low stress of trail riding also goes along way towards longevity. If you're chasing Cody Cooper around Harrisville, sure the maintenance shedule is a bit full on, but otherwise not much to worry about.

Yammie WR250f is a good contender.

Would be my pick of the learner enduro/trail bikes. Front is a bit soft for heavier blokes, but it's a bike you can ride the wheels off even with only average skills and you'll still be grinning 3 days later.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Anything orange from the mid 2000's or earlier gave KTM their (justified) questionable reliability reputation, but the blokes who made the decisions at head office realised that it was going to kill the company if they didn't sort it, so they did. Don't know anyone who's done 400hrs on a 4T KTM, but plenty around the 200hr mark with little in the way of issues. One ('08 250SXF) was owned by a mate who was a decent club-level MXer in Hungary, he was fast as feck and regularly gave his bike a good workout, but he went back home and sold it to my current ride buddy, who pulled it apart for the first time at 180hrs. Needed rings, that was it, even the valve tolerances were in spec and they'd never been adjusted or even checked. In that particular case, the bike was regularly and religiously filter and oil changed, but in most cases the low stress of trail riding also goes along way towards longevity. If you're chasing Cody Cooper around Harrisville, sure the maintenance shedule is a bit full on, but otherwise not much to worry about.
.

Cheers mate. Good to read...and will help if I'm trying to trade another sometime. Funnily enough...think it was a 2005 525EXC? that really let go on us from memory.

[Brett]

A 250 endure bike you might outgrow it quickly, they are fun to ride, but do lack a bit of horsepower, on the faster flowing sections, you just have the thing wide open trying to make it go faster.
Given the fact that your coming off a fast road bike, I think you may be let down by a 250 4 stroke endure bike.

Personally would suggest a 450 enduro bike, still easy to ride, but have that extra torque/power when you need it, or depending on budget could look at a 350 4 stroke, never ridden one myself, but lots of people seem to find it the perfect in between bike.

Although, I'd also say before you rule out the 2 strokes, have a look at some of the options, they are pretty good, lighter, more powerful, cheaper to maintain, drowning them isn't as much of an issue......lots to choose from as well, from 150 through to 300cc which are pretty much tractors and will walk up any hill.

End of the day, best way if possible is to try get a few rides on different bikes, its the only way to really find what works for you.

Thanks for this good advice. Will look at the 2 stroke options a bit more. All advice I have had is to go Motocross rather than enduro...due to the power issue.

[Brett]

Why not consider a DRZ400 mate?

Because I want to get all down and squirrelly in the tight stuff.

[Brett]

I know mate...I've owned/raced one. But whilst they're not lightweight by any means...Brett ain't looking for a race bike, and at 6'3", he's more than big enough to pick the thing up etc. I would've thought as a first *trail bike*...they're fucking ideal for someone his size. Bullet proof too.

Bullet proof side appeals. The main thing that puts me off is that the advice I have had from mates who ride dirt, is that at the end of a days riding, when you're tired etc. they become a bit of a bitch to ride...have to wrestle them around a bit. I have ridden a KTM 250 motocross bike, and while I found the power ample for the tracks etc. it was by no means scary or unmanageable. Maybe the 400cc/450cc thing is still worth a lookie?

[Brett]

Get a 450 man. Sheesh just roll it on like the CBR and your good.

Maybe just whack some knobblies on the blade and go for gold then? Can you imagine the rooster tail that thing will spit out in mud in first or second gear...rear wheel speed = 140/150kph. Would be fun though....poor bike.

[Brett]

Is it my imagination or has no-one mentioned KDX yet?

Will have a look. seems I have underestimated a 2smoker...

[Brett]

Amen brother!! Took me two years to unlearn my road bike tendancies!!

Such as what exactly?

Edit: sorry all. Should have multi quoted. My bad.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Because I want to get all down and squirrelly in the tight stuff.

Bullet proof side appeals. The main thing that puts me off is that the advice I have had from mates who ride dirt, is that at the end of a days riding, when you're tired etc. they become a bit of a bitch to ride...have to wrestle them around a bit. I have ridden a KTM 250 motocross bike, and while I found the power ample for the tracks etc. it was by no means scary or unmanageable. Maybe the 400cc/450cc thing is still worth a lookie?

Then that's all understandable mate. Tight and squirrelly on a DRZ400 is very hard work. Ask me how I know this. Not. I was thinking open and fast trail roads...as in firebreaks...like I grew up on. Oh the days...

[Brett]

Then that's all understandable mate. Tight and squirrelly on a DRZ400 is very hard work. Ask me how I know this. Not. I was thinking open and fast trail roads...as in firebreaks...like I grew up on. Oh the days...

Oh....will also be keen to do some beach and dune riding, so bigger engine probably woudl be good there. Also like being airborn a bit...and wheelies. Basically, I think I am looking to be a bit of a hooligan again....

Either way, won't be getting one until I either sell the CBR, trade it for something or build a new garage. As it stands, I couldn't even fit a pushbike into the garage these days, let alone another bike...although I would love to keep the Blade too. Fantastic bike it is.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Oh....will also be keen to do some beach and dune riding, so bigger engine probably woudl be good there. Also like being airborn a bit...and wheelies. Basically, I think I am looking to be a bit of a hooligan again....

.

Stupid question I know...and flame on you other peanuts...but if that's what you want to do...why don't you consider an old school open class 2T? They last a few years on a piston...there's no multi links to have to lube...they sound horn...and are fun as fuck to ride.

[Reckless]

Stupid question I know...and flame on you other peanuts...but if that's what you want to do...why don't you consider an old school open class 2T? They last a few years on a piston...there's no multi links to have to lube...they sound horn...and are fun as fuck to ride.

And a constant handful I had an 01 CR250 quite frankly even with the fly wheel weight and jetted a bit rich it was just to snappy. I reckon an enduro type bike would be best even on the dunes. Used to go out the bombing range up here quite a bit (its all dunes) and found the tourge of the non MX based bike a bit better??