New to Dirt biking

A 250/400 four stroke trail bike would suit your height better. Both are heavier than an mx bike and have smoother but less peak power. You can also find some KTM and kawasaki 2 stroke trail bikes. They're lighter and quicker revving. Look around and see whats out there. It's more a game of finding something worth buying than it is figuring out exactly what to look for, lol.....

Welcome to the sport TopGear !! I have been involved with the sport for many years. I would recommend 250cc 4 stroke (yz240f, crf250r, kx250f, rmz250f, etc.) Another good bike would be an older air cooled Honda XR200. These bike are virtually bullet proof and are more suited for the trails. I am not far from you, down Windsor way actually. I did read that you don't plan on racing mx, but check out the Thames Valley Riders (www.tvrmx.com) They are a London based racing club. On their site you will find a list of venues (places to ride). One good place that I can think of off the top of my head is Gopher Dunes. They have a great trail system, and they are located in Courtland, down in the Tillsonburg area. If I remember correctly, The Pit in Thamesford also has a trail system. If you change your mind about racing, the Thames Valley Riders is a great family based club that is all about the "fun" of racing. I raced with them for over 10 years, and although "semi-retired" from competition, I enter the odd race still. Look me up on facebook if you want (sharkyyamaha@hotmail.com).

If you are thinking 2 stroke like a 125cc yz, cr, kx, rm, etc, If you stay within the early 2000's model years, you should be able to find something in your price range. Look closely at these bikes, because by this stage in life they will have some definite wear depending on how they were maintained and ridden. If you don't know what to look for, bring someone along that knows bikes really well. Make sure you do a compression test. Normal compression for a healthy engine should be around 150psi. Look at the chain and sprockets, put the bike up on a pit stand and check for play in the wheel bearings, suspension linkage, and swing arm bearings. Turn the bars side to side slowly and feel the head bearings. They should be smooth and have no play. Take the oil fill cap off and give the bottom of the plug a sniff, look for a burnt smell or a milky residue. A burnt smell maybe a sign of clutch problems, the milky residue maybe a sign of coolant in the trans oil. Check the fork seals for leakage, you may need to compress the forks a few times. Next fire it up and listen for any abnormal knocks or noises, as these may be a sign of major mechanical issues. Take it for a test ride and go through all the gears, make sure there is no skipping or grinding. Hope this helps, and good luck !!!

The 125 2 stroke mx bikes are all pretty comparable. In my opinion, I would say Yamaha to be the better overall choice because of its great handling and abundance of power. KTM makes a great 2 stroke bike as well. Honda has great reliability and they've had aluminum frames since 1997. Kawasaki and Suzuki were basically the same bike with different colour plastics. These bikes are also fairly reliable. You mentioned the Kawasaki KDX 125. This is a an enduro, or trail version of the KX 125. The engine is tuned differently, there are some differences in the suspension set up, and they used the 18" rear wheel instead of the popular 19" rear wheel found on the MX bikes. The KDX also has a lighting coil for a head light and tail light. That is a must if you want to ride at night. Don't be afraid of buying an older bike as long as you know what to look for in terms of condition. I wouldn't concern myself too much on the condition of the plastics, but focus more on the mechanical, and structural things. Minor issues can be repaired easily. Older bikes will have some definite wear and tear but don't be afraid of buying one.