i'm 23 yo and want to get into dirtbike riding again. me and a friend wanted to each keep our price under 2k including helmet. but we wanted to get good reliable bikes for trail riding and maybe some track riding. 80% trail though. basically we were gonna put these bikes in a garage and twice a month take them out and thrash them in the woods,etc. i'm 5'8 185 and my friend is about 5'7 175. i used to ride an xr100 and an xr200 when i was younger, but that was ten years ago and same with my friend. we were thinking fairly new 125cc 2 strokes. what are yalls opinions on bikes to check out?

 

The trend today is 4 strokes. I grew up on 2 strokes and I love them thats why I still ride a 2 stroke. I have never ridden a 125. I am 6'2 210 and I stepped off my 80 and onto a 250 because I knew I was just going to outgrow my 125.

 

Check out your state's emissions standards. Its pretty useless to get a 2-stroke in cali, so many restrictions if you want to ride often. I'd go for a 250 4 stroke. I really like Honda's CRF250 but the Yamaha YZ250F is a great bike too. Search around for a slightly used one. It might be hard to find a good condition 250 for that price though. Less maintainence on the 4 strokes is a big plus.

 

I just bought my first dirt bike, a CR125 (2 smoke).

I can't offer any advice because I'm coming off a supersport, but my logic is the same as yours (I'm 23, 5'10" 155lbs).

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Etylorcen &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Check out your state's emissions standards. Its pretty useless to get a 2-stroke in cali, so many restrictions if you want to ride often. I'd go for a 250 4 stroke. I really like Honda's CRF250 but the Yamaha YZ250F is a great bike too. Search around for a slightly used one. It might be hard to find a good condition 250 for that price though. Less maintainence on the 4 strokes is a big plus. </TD></TR></TABLE>

He lives in Texas. Why in the heck would your state emissions restrictions matter on private use vehicles that won't get registered, tagged, or ridden on the street?

*edit*

Before I bought mine I solicited advice from some local trail riders. They said the 4 strokes are great bikes but they still prefer their 2 stroke equivelants. The primary reason given was that the smokies are lighter, more nimble, and just generally easier to move around a trail... not to mention - I don't want to die without having ridden a two stroke.

 

same here. i'm in the don't want to die without having owned a 2 stroke. i'm not gonna touch 200lbs in the foreseable future, but i wont be 170. with my size i think maybe a 250cc 2 stroke is the answer. and i've also been told to check out kawasaki kdx200's they are 2 stroke trail bikes.

 

you should be able to find a relatively cheap 250 2 stroke around. many people are dumping them for 4 strokes. check at any local motocross track and talk to some people. i bet you can find a guy getting ready to get rid of his bike or someone who recently bought a 4 stroke and has the 2 stroke just sitting since all the 07's are just getting released, and many people, especially the racers are getting new bikes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Etylorcen &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Less maintainence on the 4 strokes is a big plus. </TD></TR></TABLE>

It's the other way around. The only maintenance on a two-stroke will probably be replacing the top end ($125) once a year, depending on how much you ride. The four strokes with their valve problems are only for those with deep pockets and a lot of patience.

 

Thats generalizing, it really depends. The smaller two strokes that make higher power per cc are going to need more love compared with a 250 or open class machine. Same with the four strokes, it all depends, an xr200 will last a lot longer between rebuilds than one of the new CRF150R motors for sure.

In your price range you probably wont be looking at any red sticker bikes, but make sure any way. If you want to ride year round you need a green sticker bike. Or better yet, get a dual sport that is street legal.

 

No, actually, it's pretty cut and dry. If you compare a true 4 stroke mx(not a little 150f or xr anything) to a 2 stroke mx bike, the 2 strokes don't need any maintenance, except a top end every once in a while. The 4 strokes HAVE to have the valves adjusted and you also need to keep an eye on the timing chain and tensioner.

You ever tried to hot start a 4 stroke that's been dropped? If you don't think they're hard, just watch how hard the pro's struggle with hot starting them.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bmw325is &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">we wanted to get good reliable bikes for trail riding and maybe some track riding. 80% trail though. basically we were gonna put these bikes in a garage and twice a month take them out and thrash them in the woods,etc. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, well this guys asking about some woods trail bikes and you're talking competition MX bikes. Two different animals.

Its all personal preference anyway. What would you rather be doing- adjusting valves and tensioners or replacing rings and pistons.

325is, look at what the woods trail guys like and you'll see torquey 4strokes are preferred over the two strokes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mos &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
325is, look at what the woods trail guys like and you'll see torquey 4strokes are preferred over the two strokes.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you only look at what you want to see that might be the case. If you think of the majority of riders fall into a certain bracket, that might make it true, too. However, the majority of trail dirt riders I know prefer 2 stroke.

What that means, though, is that there's a mix between the two and there's nothing wrong with what he's considering.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mos &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


Its all personal preference anyway. What would you rather be doing- adjusting valves and tensioners or replacing rings and pistons.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Top ends are cake on a 2 stroke. And in case you don't know, the top end on a 4 stroke consist of a ring and piston which doesn't last forever either

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mos &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

325is, look at what the woods trail guys like and you'll see torquey 4strokes are preferred over the two strokes.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Actually, all the fast Hare Scramble and GNCC guys run 2 strokes. But whatever.

 

Go with a 2 stroke man, I was 5'6" 145 riding a CR250 and loving it, this was 2 years ago when I was 14 too. 2 strokes &gt; 4 stroke

 

I ride around on a 125ttr and its a 4 stroke and it moves my 5'11 165lb *** around fine. Mud pits, creeks, the trails around the power lines You name it and the little bike has done it.

 

My second dirt bike which i still have, is a 1979 Yz250, that ****** is huge, loud, and fast as hell. However, i bought it because it was $250. I dont see the point of buying a newer bike for 2 grand that ill use twice a month when i could buy an early 90s honda or kawi, and only spend $1000, but thats me.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by diesel1245 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My second dirt bike which i still have, is a 1979 Yz250, that ****** is huge, loud, and fast as hell. However, i bought it because it was $250. I dont see the point of buying a newer bike for 2 grand that ill use twice a month when i could buy an early 90s honda or kawi, and only spend $1000, but thats me.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep.

$800 for my '93 CR125

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by lube &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Top ends are cake on a 2 stroke. And in case you don't know, the top end on a 4 stroke consist of a ring and piston which doesn't last forever either </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, they are cake... I've got both kinds of bikes. I wasn't trying to suggest one was easier than the other, its just a case of pick your poison. And pistons and rings on a two valve Honda do last damn near forever.

I second what steele and diesel say. If you want something thats just for fun, get something older and cheaper. Thats what I did also.

 

yep I just unloaded my 91 cr125 for $650 because I needed the cash. Just get a beater bike and do so small modification to make it do what you want trail, track whatever. (sprockets, jets, reeds, pipes, fork and spring rates)

 

i have a 2001 yz-250f w/ tons of extras i might be able to let go, alone with a 2003 CRF-450. my dad just died and we used to ride them all the time. so i dont think ill be using them anymore. email me i u r interested. kyle.cavanaugh@asu.edu