DirtBike's anybody?

[sledskiing]

All this warm weather has made me start looking at DirtBikes. Looking at an 04 KX250F (Street Legal) for $2,200. Anybody ride here? I'm gonna be a newbie

Also, seems the Kawasaki bikes are the cheapest on craigslist. Why?

 

[PJ-Hunter]

You don't want a 250f. It is the equivalent of a 125cc 2 stroke. I would get a 450f if I were you. Don't know why Kawis are cheaper. My brother has a Kawi and its a pile.

My personal fav is the Honda CR250r, but that is just my 2 cents. When you wanna ride, get in touch, maybe we could head to GJ.

 

[Ex-Member]

hah, i considered an 09 WR250F today.

Didn't happen.

Really want a KTM 690.

Or maybe i should just stick with rodeo.

Hoping to ride both this year.

But yeah, this warm weather doesn't have me thinkin sleds.

 

[mikeltm]

All of the newer 4 strokes are good reliable bikes, but I would not ride a 250 4 stroke they badly lack power. I ride a CRF450X it is geared a bit lower than an R and has electric start, cause kicking my bike on the side of a hill sucks. And we are heading to Glamis in a few weeks to get in some sand riding.

 

[Mrs Snowrider]

We ride! Mr. S. rides a KTM 300, I ride a 230CRF. Heading to Moab for a week of riding in April!

Go with electric start if you are new to riding. Yea, getting stuck in the middle of a mud puddle sucks with kickstart!

We like riding Grand Lake, Moab,Snowy Range is my favorite! Just got into single track last year and had a blast!

 

[sledskiing]

I understand where you are coming from on the power thing. The first time i road a stock apex i was blown away .... haha.. who would have thought the same year i would be wanting more power and adding boost to my sleds :_)

I had an 06 YZ250F and sold it because i never road it. I'd like to stick with the 250's until i get my skill level up. for $2200 and street legal it's seems like a cheap way to get into the sport.

 

[Butta]

All of the newer 4 strokes are good reliable bikes, but I would not ride a 250 4 stroke they badly lack power. I ride a CRF450X it is geared a bit lower than an R and has electric start, cause kicking my bike on the side of a hill sucks. And we are heading to Glamis in a few weeks to get in some sand riding.

I disagree. The Suzuki/Kawasaki joint effort in the 250f model was troubled, to say the least. Quality assurance seemed to be an issue with them. Some were pretty good, others were notorious for dropping a valve. THE most reliable one has been the '03- YZ250f (for the lites class size) and of course the YZ450 for the big bike class. However, it seems the 450's from Kawasuzki weren't plagued with the same problems as their little brothers. There have been a fair share of the '02-04 Honda CRF450's with valve problems, as well, and their CRF250 was a pretty short life motor wrt the head.

All in all, a "cheap" 4 stroke mx'er is a tough find. If it's abused, or ridden hard, you will most likely pay more in the end after a topend rebuild (valves, cams, chain, piston, rings, etc etc add up to thousands $)....

I'm with PJ, the CR (or even YZ) 250 2 stroke would be my choice for a "cheap" used dirt bike. Complete motor rebuild less than a grand!! I'll take that, with light weight and power to boot. Sure, it's not a flashy 450 4 stroke, but the fun factor is through the roof.

My $0.02 (or 3)

 

[rkymtnman]

Just picked up a WR450f from Vickery - they have some serious deals down there - talk to Brent - he hooked me up.

IMHO - the 450's are actually easier to ride than the 250's - I rode a crf250x and crf450r and found the 450 easier to ride. I wanted the gearing and e-start so went the wr route. Going to be a fun summer - wife and son both got bikes last fall

 

[mikeltm]

I disagree. The Suzuki/Kawasaki joint effort in the 250f model was troubled, to say the least. Quality assurance seemed to be an issue with them. Some were pretty good, others were notorious for dropping a valve. THE most reliable one has been the '03- YZ250f (for the lites class size) and of course the YZ450 for the big bike class. However, it seems the 450's from Kawasuzki weren't plagued with the same problems as their little brothers. There have been a fair share of the '02-04 Honda CRF450's with valve problems, as well, and their CRF250 was a pretty short life motor wrt the head.

All in all, a "cheap" 4 stroke mx'er is a tough find. If it's abused, or ridden hard, you will most likely pay more in the end after a topend rebuild (valves, cams, chain, piston, rings, etc etc add up to thousands $)....

I'm with PJ, the CR (or even YZ) 250 2 stroke would be my choice for a "cheap" used dirt bike. Complete motor rebuild less than a grand!! I'll take that, with light weight and power to boot. Sure, it's not a flashy 450 4 stroke, but the fun factor is through the roof.

My $0.02 (or 3)

When I say newer 4 stroke I definately mean 05 and newer as you are right the eariler 4's had plenty of issues and the suzuki/kawasaki JV was a mess. It seems however that he wants a streetable dirtbike and as much as I love 2 strokes they lack a bit in streetability, but your are way correct that they are more fun, cheaper and faster too. I can't count the number of times a 250 2 stroke has passed me in the tight sections at Watkins, wait that would be anywhere at that track, but I have several friends that have gotten real good deals on 05-06 CRF450R's ($3000.00)and yes you do have to look around and find one that is not beat, but they are out there. I paid $3800.00 for my 07 CRF450X from a guy who bought it thinking to get back into riding after a bunch of years off (15 or so) rode it twice and it scared the snot out of him so he sold it.

 

[sledskiing]

i want street legal just to be safe. I have a friend who lives outside of Nederland with riding area just a few miles from his house. We've seen cops pull over riders on Magnolia as they are jumping from trail to trail and it would be nice to be able to cruise into town for lunch. Also he has a street legal 2 stroke. It is rare but happens. That's the only reason why i want it.

Just saw on craigslist a 2004 YZ250 2 stroke for sale that is street legal. Same price range.

As I learn more in the dirtbike world a used 4 stroke could be expensive.

Thanks

 

[PJ-Hunter]

You will really regret buying the 250f. I know what a junkie you are for power and it won't take you long to develop decent ability. Then you have outgrown the 250f and you are stuck with a used bike that will be harder to unload. Go with the 450f and you will develop and not outgrow the bike. A street legal version will be a little less aggressive than a straight 450f designed for the track.

Don't know anything about e-start but I do know that the kid across the street with a RM450f is kicking that thing for 15 minutes almost every summer morning.

I have a CR250r and it kicks very well. As for kicking on a hill, I generally never do that. I usually just coast down the hill and kick it there.

 

[yammerhammer]

Ralph, I know a great trail that goes up to this sweet lake, you have been there once on your ATV. I have heard it's a blast on a bike. My buddy did it on his CRF250X once... he now has a CRF450X. lol


I would like to add a bike to my collection but I would rather get an old beater sled first. My Grizz gets me where I need to go in the summer.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

I don't think my cr250r would do that trail. The power band is not as smooth as a 4 stroke. I'd like to get a thumper but I found my 2 Stroke for the right deal.

 

[Joe Mama]

x2 on the fourstroke. I ride a 426 yammi and once you know how to start it (never touch the throttle) it will fire up on 1 or 2 kicks every time. They are reliable bikes for cheap.

 

[Moqui]

KTM 200exc plated. Best woods bike I've ever owned!

 

[colorado logger]

200 exc

KTM 200exc plated. Best woods bike I've ever owned!

Yes x2, the 200 is very light, real quick, nice bike

 

[OLD GOAT]

I have owned a 2003 wr250f yamaha since new. It has been an Extremely reliable bike. The '03 & newer WR's have electric start. The E start is what got me from a KTM200exc to the wr. Yes, it is definitely down on power compared to Billy Goats cr450f, but it gets me anywhere I want, even following him. FYI.. I have plates on it & got pulled over on west magnolia for not having D.O.T tires.. the guy was a real prick.,

 

[sledskiing]

i am leaning toward a 250 2 stroke. that will be a good platform to learn on . For under $2,500 it is low risk. Once i'm hooked i'm sure i'll step right up to a 450 4 stroke

 

[AndrettiDog]

I'd like to stick with the 250's until i get my skill level up.

I'm going to disagree with a few others on here. I have a 2006 CRF250R that has been great. I have 2 seasons on it so far and ride lots of logging roads, single track and everything else from time to time. I'm 185 lbs and this thing always gets me to where I'm going. For the price range you are looking at, getting a smaller bike won't kill you. I think a lot of people just have HP hard on when it comes to bikes. A 450 will be a hand full when you are climbing and rolling that throttle more than you expect to.

I've thought about making the jump to a 450, but my 250 is doing great getting the job done. Also, I went with a friends advice to stay with the motocross bike because it has more "pop" and the woods bike is a little more linear. The woods bike is usually electric start which is really nice for a newbie.

I got my bike on Craigslist as well. You will be surprised how many 20 year olds are selling bikes so that they can buy a car to drive to work.

 

[ItDoAble]

I didn't hear what type of ridin you'll be doing, unless I missed it.

A bike that is both Mountain Goat single track capable and street legal seems to the way to go these days. Trails are getting closed all the time, and it seems the only way to get in good loops anymore is to do a little road riding. A trail bike is real easy to plate in Colorado if it has a headlight already. Add mirror, break light, horn, DOT tires (cough, cough) and you're basically set.

Get a geared trail bike with E-start (F is less hassle with altitude) and plate it ... if you can afford it.

My 16yr son has a 04 YZ250F that we geared and flywheeled for trail. Works great for his young reflexes and was cheap. But not street legal.

My CFR250X does find, but then I'm a slow old man ...

450's can be a handfull in the tight stuff IMO, unless you're a real good rider.

P.S. Check out Thumpertalk.com

P.S.S. You'll hate springtime ... Snowmobile? .. Dirtbike? .. Snowmobile? .. Dirtbike? Too many decisions ...