MidtownTraffic
Member
- Jul 6, 2008
- 5
- 0
rmc_olderthandirt said:Any of the major manufacturers (Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, etc.) would be a decent bike. Stay away from the no-name cheap bikes as they don't survive and replacement parts are hard to come by.
You didn't mention your age so I don't know if you are a teenager and likely to grow some more.
Dirt bikes come in two basic varieties: "MX" and "off road".
The MX bikes are built for race and lack any frills, such as headlights, kickstand, etc. They will have high performance engines, which make them harder to start, a bit finicky, increases maintenance and requires the use of higher octane gas.
The "off road" models are a lot less expensive, will typically have a lower seat height, may be equipped with electric start and will have a built in kickstand. They won't have as good of a suspension as the MX bikes but if you are not hitting the jumps they can do fine.
What I would recommend for you is an off road model, 230 to 250 cc Four stroke. An example of such a bike is the Yamaha TTR-230 or a Honda CRF230F.
Rod
rmc_olderthandirt said:The "off road" models are around $3500 to $4000 new (compared to $7000 for a MX bike) so used models are fairly cheap. When shopping around be sure to check on the tire wear as you could spend another $175 to get a new set of tires mounted, or $150 if you can mount the tires yourself.
As you have already figured out there will be a fair amount of additional equipment you will need. For yourself:
Absolutely essential, don't get on the bike without:
Helmet - $130 and up
Goggles - $20 and up
Very, VERY highly recommended:
Boots - $150 and up
Gloves - $20
Recommended:
Chest protector (also called a roost guard)
knee pads
If you are like me and crash a lot:
padded shorts
elbow guards
Jersey with pads
neck brace
To go with the bike you are going to need equipment to maintain it and stuff to haul it around. Some of this you will need right away but others you will accumulate over time
You will need a truck or some sort of trailer, or a friend. Hopefully you already have that covered.
Tie down straps
Gas can
Chain lube
Bike stand
Metric tools (8mm, 10mm, 12 mm wrench and socket as a minimum, plus screw drivers, pliers, etc.)
When you are negotiating to buy a bike ask the seller if he has any gear that he can throw in. Anybody who has been into dirt bikes for a while generally has a pile of old gear that is still useable and he might throw in a helmet and boots (and they might actually fit!). That might get you by until Xmas when you can hit your parents up for a $500 set of stylish gear.
Speaking of booits: I am tempted to put the boots into the MUST HAVE catagory. Dirt bike boots provide ankle support, heat sheild for the calves and most important steel toe. If you put a foot down wearing tennis shoes you are likely to smash your toes,twist an ankle or just plain mess up a leg when the bike traps it between the frame and the ground on a fall. If your band director is going to be dis-pleased if you are limping around during band practive then you should really wear boots.....
Rod
x!TremeRider!x said:I personally love 2 strokes. If you could, ask one of your friends to ride their bikes and ask them to teach you. Then once you have some knowledge get one of these ring dingers and you'll be screaming just to stay on it. Your first thought will be to sell it [as mine was aswell] but once you get the hang of it you'll be searching for more power.
MidtownTraffic said:Not sure if it's worth spending that much, but I know collar bones are the most common break in trail riding. Oh and what about wrist guards...are those needed? I'm gonna try and get a lot of safety equipment because it really doesn't get the crowd pumped if you're playing guitar with broken bones all over :P.
Thanks for the responses so far.
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