Another, what bike do I get thread.

[integ3]

A friend of mine just started riding and bought a 1997 YZ250 and is wanting me to get a bike so he has someone to ride with...so I decided to come here to hopefully get some good advice.

1) your physical size (both height and weight are important)
6'0" 185 LBS

2) How physical / aggressive are you ?
A little but not much. I go to the gym every day but wouldn't say i'm hardcore

3) what do you plan to ride- MX/SX tracks, woods, fields with friends or ?????
Woods, fields, moutain climbing, trail riding, just haveing fun.

4) Do you have any riding experience?
A couple of years ago I rode for about 2 years. A friend of mine had a pair of KX250's a 1992 wich I was riding, and a 2000 wich he was riding.

5) Do you think you will race ?
No

6) Are you mechanically inclined and will you be doing your own bike work?
Inclined enough to do the maintence and basic repairs...but I wouldn't rebuid the engine myself.

7) Do YOU have a preferance to a brand/ motor choice (2 or 4 stroke)?
2 Stroke. Prefer CR, but any KX, YZ, or RM would be fine.

8) Do you have a dealer close by your home that you might use and what brand(s) does he carry?
I have a couple, the CR, KX, or YZ is what they carry.

9) How much do you plan to spend on a bike?
I'd like to stay at or below $1500, and a 1990 or newer bike

10) Do you live in California?
No

11) anything else that you think would help form an opinion
I don't want too much or too little of a bike. There was a while where I was riding a 1992 or so KTM 125...and after I got used to it there were times when I though I was maxing out the bike.

Thanks for any suggestions

 

[2 strokes for life]

I think a Kawasaki KDX200 or 220 would fit the bill well for what you want to do. Check out the Canadian Daves section for info on the bike.

 

[integ3]

I've been looking around my local ads and it looks like I can find a 1996-2000 yz125 for around my price range. Would that be a good bike for me? Would $1500-$1700 for a 96-2000 yz125 be about the right price? I think I would rather have a newer 125 rather than an older 250....right?

 

[aakrusen]

I think you'll be fine with the YZ125. You sound like you'd want a little more power that a 4-stroke would give you but a 2-stroke 250 might just be out of your comfort box(money wise). I think you should ride you friend's YZ250 and see what you think. Also, now's a good time to buy a bike since lots of people are selling their old one to get new ones now.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[integ3]

I'm currently decideing betwqeen a 2001 YZ125 and a 1997 KX250. Assumeing they are both in the same condition...wich one do I get?