Good Starter bike???

If I were you I'd shoot for a used Honda XR200. You wouldn't be spending more than $2500 and it would be a good sized bike to learn on. That's the bike I learned on and trust me, it's perfect for a starter bike. Don't go for the CRF230 because it doesn't have a kick starter, so if you find that you broke your wire or the battery died you won't be stranded. You could still push start the bike, but sometimes that just doesn't work. The CRF150 wouldn't be a bad choice but you could save yourself some money and get a very similar bike (trust me, I've ridden both) with the XR200.

You'll find that after a few months of riding the XR200 you'll probably be ready to move up to a bigger bike, which won't be a problem because you'll probably be able to sell the XR200 for only a few hundred dollars less than you bought it for. The XR is easy to work on and will help you get used to bike maintenance without putting a hole in your pocket or discouraging you.

I have to agree on the XR200-R. Be sure to get one with a Pro Link or whatever they call the good suspension. They made some a long time ago that didnt have the good suspension and they bit hard! I face planted in the dirt cause of that squirrley thing. I was used to riding the one with the Pro Link and trust me please they are MUCH better.

Edit: They may be called something other than Pro Link now. Been a long time ago but they are sweet bikes and last forever if well maintained.

2-Stroke

Two strokes are fine. It's not as maintenance free as a XR200 but what is? If you keep the air filter clean and change the tranny oil when needed it will be fine. Once a year or so (depending how hard you ride) you'll need to replace piston and ring but that's on most bikes anyway if you want to keep them running in top shape.

The 80 and 85's are very fast and may be perfect for you, maybe even a 125... you can get any of these in your price range a couple of years old. I would suggest you test ride some friends bikes and see what tickles your fancy.

Like the other fellas have said also the XR is an excellent starter bike... personally I love the bang :flame: of a two stroke. Try to ride a few different bikes (2 & 4-stroke) and check 'em out.

Let us know what you decide on!

I personally think you will have more fun on a 2-stroke 85cc or what I would suggest, a 100cc. I would suggest a KX-100. Its a 100cc 2-stroke. Vrs an offroad 4-stroke like an XR, a 2-stroke 100 is great, will have a lot of power, are cheaper, easier to maintain, have better suspension, are MUCH MUCH lighter than the XR, and have a wicked powerband that will get you out of any sticky situation :)

While 2-strokes might require slightly more maintinace, they are easier to maintian. Besides having to premix the oil, your not going to have to worry about anything that major besides cleaning the air filter and chaning the transmission oil every couple of hours. Kids around here dont redo their top ends until 125+ hours, never even look at their air filters, dont clean the bikes at all, and put any old oil and premix ratio they feel like in some of their 2-strokes down here, and they are still running. They are tough bikes. And if a 2-stroke ever does break, or when its time for a top end job, a 2-stroke is easy to work on, while with a larger bore 4-stroke, you need to have a mechanics knowledge to begin the work, or atleast be pretty darn knowledgable about automechanics.

I am 15 yrs old, 5'5/5'6, 115 lbs, and I ride a KX-125. A 125 will deffinetly be a bit much for a first bike, and will seem a little intimidating, so a 100 will probably be an excellent choice. Good luck and let us know what happens :)

And have fun riding in all that land!

A 125 MXer would be the wrong starter bike. And it would totally suck for trail riding. I agree with the XR200 idea. Great starter bike. Will not scare you, easy to ride, easy to maintain.