Going into this bike purchase, I am pretty much positive that I am going to have to lower whatever I get. So I want opinions from the group at large here on what to get as the base bike. My primary criteria are:
1. light weight
2. power delivery suitable for woods or modifiable with flywheel weight to be suitable for woods
3. easy for 5' 4" relatively inexperienced female coming from CRF 100 to handle. She currently loves the low seat height of the CRF100 because when the going gets tough and she is on the seat, she can get to the ground easily. However, when things are going well and she is standing, the very small bike is tough for her to grip with her knees (which are well above the seat) and the bars are too low.
I think these criteria dictate no CRF 150s or 230s or similar bikes due to weight. She has ridden these, and she thinks they are too heavy. She wants something she can pick up herself.
Unfortunately, these criteria may also eliminate lowering my KDX 200, as she thinks it is too heavy.
She likes the KX 100 in the store, but she has never ridden a 2T. Will a flywheel weight really take a lot of the hit out? Will this bike with FWW and jetting changes allow her to putt around when she wants to without fouling plugs?
Can a CRF250X be lowered significantly?
Here's the sticky answers:
1) your physical size (both height and weight are important)
5' 4"
120 lbs female
2) How physical / aggressive are you ?
physically fit but not aggressive rider
3) what do you plan to ride- MX/SX tracks, woods, fields with friends or ?????
woods and trails, with occasional forays onto outdoor MX tracks (old school only - no outdoor SX stuff).
4) Do you have any riding experience?
competent STREET rider who has been riding off road occasionally about 6 months.
5) Do you think you will race ?
Probably not, but she will be riding at places where they hold HS and enduro races, and often following those trails for fun.
6) Are you mechanically inclined and will you be doing your own bike work?
She is not all that mechanically inclined, but I will grudgingly do the routine maintenance on a 2T. I have never worked on a dirt 4T.
7) Do YOU have a preferance to a brand/ motor choice (2 or 4 stroke)?
She prefers the sound of a 4T, and whatever it is needs a reasonably gentle power delivery. I would probably even consider putting a FWW on my KDX200 if that is what she ends up with.
8) Do you have a dealer close by your home that you might use and what brand(s) does he carry?
We have pretty much all dealers nearby.
9) How much ($) do you plan to spend on a bike?
I'll spend what I have to, as having her enjoy riding is pretty important to me.
10) Do you live in California?
No.
11) Your age?
She is 25.
12) anything else that you think would help form an opinion
We just did the Shane Watts school, and her (and my) skill level went way up.
Please remember from above that weight is a big factor.
I am considering a KX 100 plus FWW.
If there is an easy to lower 125 2T with good low end (I know, hah) power out there, I would consider that.
If Honda made a CRF150X I would buy one today.
Thanks.
1. light weight
2. power delivery suitable for woods or modifiable with flywheel weight to be suitable for woods
3. easy for 5' 4" relatively inexperienced female coming from CRF 100 to handle. She currently loves the low seat height of the CRF100 because when the going gets tough and she is on the seat, she can get to the ground easily. However, when things are going well and she is standing, the very small bike is tough for her to grip with her knees (which are well above the seat) and the bars are too low.
I think these criteria dictate no CRF 150s or 230s or similar bikes due to weight. She has ridden these, and she thinks they are too heavy. She wants something she can pick up herself.
Unfortunately, these criteria may also eliminate lowering my KDX 200, as she thinks it is too heavy.
She likes the KX 100 in the store, but she has never ridden a 2T. Will a flywheel weight really take a lot of the hit out? Will this bike with FWW and jetting changes allow her to putt around when she wants to without fouling plugs?
Can a CRF250X be lowered significantly?
Here's the sticky answers:
1) your physical size (both height and weight are important)
5' 4"
120 lbs female
2) How physical / aggressive are you ?
physically fit but not aggressive rider
3) what do you plan to ride- MX/SX tracks, woods, fields with friends or ?????
woods and trails, with occasional forays onto outdoor MX tracks (old school only - no outdoor SX stuff).
4) Do you have any riding experience?
competent STREET rider who has been riding off road occasionally about 6 months.
5) Do you think you will race ?
Probably not, but she will be riding at places where they hold HS and enduro races, and often following those trails for fun.
6) Are you mechanically inclined and will you be doing your own bike work?
She is not all that mechanically inclined, but I will grudgingly do the routine maintenance on a 2T. I have never worked on a dirt 4T.
7) Do YOU have a preferance to a brand/ motor choice (2 or 4 stroke)?
She prefers the sound of a 4T, and whatever it is needs a reasonably gentle power delivery. I would probably even consider putting a FWW on my KDX200 if that is what she ends up with.
8) Do you have a dealer close by your home that you might use and what brand(s) does he carry?
We have pretty much all dealers nearby.
9) How much ($) do you plan to spend on a bike?
I'll spend what I have to, as having her enjoy riding is pretty important to me.
10) Do you live in California?
No.
11) Your age?
She is 25.
12) anything else that you think would help form an opinion
We just did the Shane Watts school, and her (and my) skill level went way up.
Please remember from above that weight is a big factor.
I am considering a KX 100 plus FWW.
If there is an easy to lower 125 2T with good low end (I know, hah) power out there, I would consider that.
If Honda made a CRF150X I would buy one today.
Thanks.
