What Bike to get? Need help Big time

[SADude]

Hi I currently ride a TRX400EX and want to change to two wheelers. I have been riding my quad for about a year now and have never owned a two wheeler.

I have been talking to quite a few guys about bikes lately and they are starting to make me less certain about the bike I was thinking of getting. I have a couple of questions I would like you to ask the friend of yours. Firstly 2 – stroke or 4 – stroke, this was the complaint from some of my friends, Warren said that I would get bored with the power of the WR250F very quickly as it is compatible with a 125 2 – stroke, he then said go with a 250cc 2-stoke (this is compatible with the 450 4 – strokes in power but it is a light bike). Johan has been in the UK for a while and just sold a WR426F 4 – stroke, he said that the bike was a bit too much for him, too heavy and too powerful. He also said that he would go with a two stroke because there are less moving parts in the engine and if anything does go wrong that it is easier to fix a 2 – stroke, costs less money to. The down side of the two stroke is that there have been rumors of two strokes being phased out by 2006 due to exhaust emissions and the other down side is that you have to premix oil and fuel.

Important facts I weight about 190LBS so will the 250 4 – stroke be too small for me and would it be better to go with the 250 two stroke, I don’t want a heavy bike, I want something light and nimble?

I will be owning my first two wheeler and don’t really want to wipe myself out because the bike has to much power for me to handle, but then I don’t want to be bored with the bike in a years time?

If I went the two stroke route would a 200cc be power enough for me to enjoy riding for say 5 years before I think of upgrading and if so what should I get, KDX200, KTM200exc?


I will be doing mainly social trail riding with the odd enduro race if my friends twist my arm, I want a versatile and very reliable bike with good back up. I don’t ask for to much do I !!!!

Please can you help ASAP I am really get frustrated about all the options out there and all the different opinions. :bang:

Thanks in advance, SADude

 

[Shig]

For your size and weight, a 250 2-stroke or a 450 motocrosser would fit the bill. Since you've already learned alot of the the basics on a 4-wheeler, you weigh 190 lbs (probably over 200 lbs in full gear), and you are comfortable with power of 400cc, I'd avoid a 250F. I agree with your friend about the 426. My 01 YZ 426 was a heavy brute of a bike with too much engine braking. The newer 450s are much better bikes. The CRFs carry their weight low, so they feel lighter than they are. If you really want something light, a 250 2-stroke would fit the bill. Just don't expect your endurance to be better on a 250 simply because its lighter. Most people have better endurance on the 450 because the power is so smooth and predictable. I'm 6' 200lbs, and a CRF 450 is pure magic everywhere from MX to hare scrambles to tight single track.

 

[SADude]

Thanks for the prompt response Shig.

I have a couple of other questions I would like to ask, would it be best to buy a 250 2-stroke straight away if I went to 2-storke route or would it be better if I used a KDX200 as a stepping stone?

I am also concerned about whether I should buy a new bike or a secondhand one as my first two wheeler? if I bought a CR250 or a YZ250 I am looking at spending R58000 ($10,000) for a new one and R38000 ($6300) for a new KDX200. The other thing I could do is buy a secondhand 250, but then there are the reliability issues. I want a bike that can perform and is really reliable, there is nothing worse than buying a bike and having to spend money fixing it up all the time. If I go for a new 250 it is a lot of money to drop the bike while learning to ride the two wheeler as there are differences from riding a quad, but then there are advantages in that mechanically the bike is sound and it will allow my skill levels to continue to develop for many years to come, where as the KDX I will out grow in 2 - 3 years and have to buy another bike.

What to do what to do.

More feedback would be great thanks.

Paul

 

[pyrofreak]

Sometimes you will find a 250 that is only a couple years old, that some one was scared of. You can usaully tell if a bike has been beat, and get one that is only a couple years old, you shouldnt really have any problems.

 

[Shig]

Without seeing you ride, it's hard to recommend the KDX over a 250. I can tell you that I have a friend who is a true beginner who is also in your situation. He had a Raptor quad for his first bike, then went to an 02 YZ 426 for his first two-wheeler. He's only 170lbs, but he's addapting fine and doesn't regret his decision to get the bigger bike. It depends on where you will be learning and riding in the initial phases. If you go to a wide open area and take your time learning, a 250 will be fine.

I would buy the newest bike you can afford. Often times, the cost of recycling parts on a well-worn bike is far more expensive than the cost of the monthly payment and general maintenance on a brand new bike.

 

[SADude]

Hi Shig

I will be starting out with a lot of tight riding right from the get go. Most the the trail riding where I live is bush riding or riding in the plantations and mountains, there is to much wide open stuff.

I have spoken to a couple of the guys here in South African and who stay in the same area as I do and they seem to thing that the KDX would be a good bike to get for what I will be doing and for my level of experience. I can get a new KDX quite cheaply so I think this is the way I will go for now. KDX's have good re-sale here, so once I have had the bike for two or three years, I can consider getting something bigger and more expensive. I must admit I like the idea of having a new bike, as it mean that no one else has ridden the hell out of the thing. :yeehaw:

Thanks to everyone for there input. :cool:

Regards

Paul

 

[Shig]

Hey Paul,
That sounds like a very good decision. The KDX is a solid bike that will appeal to a wide range of riders when you decide to sell it. It's smart to think about your exit strategy now, before buying your first bike. It's likely that the perfect bike for you today won't satisfy you in a couple years. Welcome to the two-wheeled world!

Sean

 

[SADude]

Thanks Sean

It is really cool to finally be a part of the two wheeler world of off road riding. When I was a lot younger my father was against me getting a bike as he felt it was dangerous, even though he had riding a motorcycle for sometime. so now at the tender age of 26 I start what I wanted to start some 10 years ago.

Thanks again for all your advise, it's been great to communicate with other bike enthusiastics.

Cheers

Paul