New Rider Looking For New Bike....

[ADlBOO]

1) your physical size (both height and weight are important). Im 5'10" and weigh about 175

2) How physical / aggressive are you ? Not too aggressive, I like to go fast, but not into getting huge air...
3) what do you plan to ride- MX/SX tracks, woods, fields with friends or ????? Plan on riding mostly desert, glamis, pismo, dumont with some trail riding.
4) Do you have any riding experience? Been out a couple times on friends quads and bikes.
5) Do you think you will race ? no
6) Are you mechanically inclined and will you be doing your own bike work? yes
7) Do YOU have a preferance to a brand/ motor choice (2 or 4 stroke)? 4-stroke
8) Do you have a dealer close by your home that you might use and what brand(s) does he carry? honda, yamaha
9) How much ($) do you plan to spend on a bike? 6-7g
10) Do you live in California? yes, :(
11) Your age? 22
12) anything else that you think would help form an opinion. looking for a bike that is quick, fast and can keep up with my friends who are riding raptor 600 quads, might eventually wanna have it be street legal.

Thanks for your help!

 

[justalonewolf007]

Honda CRF 450 X (or F if you buy used) looks like the way to go for you.

It will come street legal (almost).

 

[rmc_olderthandirt]

Since you live in California, make sure that you understand the "Green Sticker" issue:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/ohvredgreen.htm

Many of the desert areas you can get away with riding without the required sticker, but you are taking a risk. If you ever intend on riding any of the forest areas the proper sticker becomes mandatory because you usually have to pass through a ranger kiosk and they will check. You will also need a US Forest Service approved spark arrestor.

For the sand dunes: I am not sure of Glamis or Dumont but I believe that Pismo is fairly well enforced so I would highly recommend having the proper sticker there.

Have you actually riden a bike in the sand? I hate the sand on a bike. It is a blast on a quad but it is a lot of work on a bike. If I intended to go mainly to the sand dunes, I would buy a quad.

That said, the sand is the one place where bigger is better. In the desert and trails just about any size engine on a dirt bike will have you outrunning a quad. When you get to the sand dunes, those 600 Raptors will definately have the advantage.

I would recommend a 450 four stroke. At the sand dunes, half the fun starts when the sun goes down, so you will want a bike with a headlight and tail light.

So, I recommend a Yamaha WR-450F.

Your price range will almost get you a new bike. If you buy used, I recommend that you buy one with a green sticker and proper title. I believe 2005 and newer will be green sticker, but the older WR-450Fs were red sticker bikes.

Rod