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MX, SX & Off-Road Discussions
General Moto | Off-Topic Posts
First Bike, Major Beginner
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[QUOTE="rmc_olderthandirt, post: 1381577, member: 68872"] Keep in mind that dirt bikes come in several different flavors. The "off road" or "trail" bikes are built for economy, low performance, gentle riding. They will have lower seat heights (32 to 34 inches), intended for shorter riders. Electric start is a common option, as is a kick stand. These bikes will be fairly heavy and have limited suspension travel. Change the oil often and these bikes will run a long time. Off road models are all four stroke engines. MSRP on an off road model will be $3k to $5k. A "MX" bike is built for racing. The engines are high compression (needs premium gas), high performance designs. Even when maintained properly they need frequent top end rebuilds and similar maintenance. They are much lighter than the off road models, usually don't come with a kick stand (although you can add one). Seat height will be around 38 to 39 inches. MX bikes come in two stroke or four stroke models. MSRP on an MX bike will be $6K to $10K "Enduro" bikes are high performance bikes closely related to the MX versions but have a few added feartures, such as headlights, electric start, etc. They will cost a bit more than the MX bikes and will weigh a bit more since they usually carry a battery. These are mainly four stroke bikes but there are a few two strokes. A two stroke engine can produce about twice as much power for a given displacement as a four stroke. The problem is that the power is not smooth and tends to be very "peaky", which can be difficult to control, especially for a beginner. Four strokes have a lot more moving parts, are heavier, but have a much more consistent power delivery. In a MX bike, both two and four stokes require significant engine maintenance, but the two stroke is MUCH easier to work on. The CRF150F is an off road model, sold brand new a year ago for around $3400. 34 inch seat height, weighs in at 236 pounds. Smaller wheels to get the seat height down (19' front, 16" rear) It is a bike I would get for my 5'3" wife. $1500 for a 2006 is a reasonable price, and it would be a good bike to ride for your first time but you will not want that bike for long. a 125 two stroke, such as a Yamaha YZ-125 is a MX bike. It would easily produce twice the horsepower as the CRF150F and since it only weighs 208 pounds it will run circles around the CRF. Seat heigth is 39.3 inches. The KTM is a great bike, but KTMs are generally priced a fair amount over what a Japanese bike would be. This is a two stroke bike, and what I would consider an "enduro" model. The bike in the ad appears to be in great condition. The KDX 200: Can't tell much from the picture. This is a MX bike, but being a 200 instead of a 250 would be a bit of an underdog in a race. The price seems reasonable but it is hard to judge the condition from the picture. How long it has been since the top end was rebuilt could be a deciding factor. A Honda CRF230F is a trail bike, but one of the larger ones. Seat height of 34 inches but at least has full size wheels (21" front, 18" rear). Weighs in at 249 pounds. A good bike to learn on but you will be looking to replace it in a year or so. A 200/250 two stroke bike would suit your needs for a long time, as long as you didn't kill yourself learning to ride it. Two strokes do not do well "putting" or riding slowly. You can be asking for more power and then suddenly enter the "power band" and end up with a lot more than you wanted. Until shifting under adverse conditions becomes second nature you will stall it going up hills, which can be very frustrating not to mention potentially painful. The used two strokes tend to be cheaper; cheaper to buy and cheaper to maintain. When shopping for a bike I wouldn't go for "as cheap as possible". Buying a cheap neglected bike can cost you a lot more in the long run. A bike that has been ridden hard but maintained well can be much better deal. Replacing tires will cost you $150 to $200. Unless the seller can document a top end rebuild in the last 20 hours of use assume that you will need to do one soon ($200 on a two stroke if you do it yourself, AND you do it BEFORE it seizes). Ask the seller how you check the oil level, and if he has to think about it, be very concerned! (it often involves removing a bolt and seeing if oil seeps out) How are you set for gear? As a minimum you will need a helmet, goggles and boots. Do NOT ride without them. I highly recommend a chest protector, gloves, and knee pads. Riding pants are much more durable in a fall than denim. Sometimes you can find some decent used gear along wtih a bike. A new helmet, googles and boots would easily cost you $350 and up buying new so if you can get the seller to throw some gear in it could really help you out. You also need a way to transport your bike..... Rod [/QUOTE]
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Forums
MX, SX & Off-Road Discussions
General Moto | Off-Topic Posts
First Bike, Major Beginner
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