What can you get for 1500-1800 bucks?

[lukaspriest]

Hey all,

I live in Idaho, and with the opening of the season I am looking into getting a bike. I'd really like to get a 500 (CR or KX, 2 stroke) ...something big, mean and snarly...and Im on a budget...what do you think I can get for the price I quoted above? 1500-1800 bucks. Anything worth while? Or should I just keep saving my money? I'm not looking for some super high performance racing machine....I'm looking more for something to learn on with lots of balls and power; speed. What do you think?:

 

[dell30rb]

Even if your really fat, a 500 would not be a good choice for a first bike.
You could get a decent one for that price, it would have to be an ond one though (early 90's late 80's)

 

[dave186]

Yet another Idahoan, what town are you in? I got my 97 KX250 for $1700. I guess the guy I got it from had had some bad wrecks on it and just wanted rid of it, also it was the end of the season and no one was buying. Youve kind of picked the wrong time to buy, cause prices are going to start going up. I agree that a 500 might be a bit much for a beginer. I rode one when I was shopping for bikes, because thats what I thought I wanted. The power is really more than anybody needs. I would go with a 250 2 stroke or maybe some kind of four stroke. I had an XR600 before I got the KX and it was a real easy to ride bike, but it was heavy, underpowered (compared to a 2stroke), and old.

 

[lukaspriest]

I'm in Boise, and I am really interested in your bike...if you're anywhere halfway nearby, I'd LOVE to come over and take a look. For sure.

email me at

[email protected]

 

[dave186]

Im in Wilder, about 30 miles away. I'm sure we could hook up sometime. Do you have any sort of bike right now? We are planning on going out to Murphy Sunday. I have pics of my bike on my website.

 

[lukaspriest]

Ahahaa....for some reason the combination of "I got my bike for..." and "Where are you in Idaho" made me think that you were looking for a buyer...hahaha.

As you can guess, I dont have a bike right now, but am earnestly looking for one. I'm just waiting for the season to start and for lots of people to begin filling the classifieds with their bikes...cuz you know people are gonna be selling their old rides in anticipation of newer things.

I have heard marvelous things about riding locales over in Murphy...when I get a bike, I'll let you know!

 

[dave186]

I found my bike in the Idaho Statesman Classifieds http://www.idahoclassified.com so keep an eye out there.

 

[bsmith]

I'd search now while you get a good price!
www.cycletrader.com is a good start to get an idea of what you should espect to pay.
I would also agree that a CR or KX 500 would not be a good choice to learn on.

 

[lukaspriest]

Its not like I'm just NOW learning how to ride a dirtbike, I've really done it for quite some time...I just want to get a little more squirrelly with my next purchase, if you know what I mean...thats all.

 

[cr125_king]

I have to say that's a nice lookin bike you got even though i aint a kawi fan. It looked like it was in really good cond. when u first bought it. My bike looked like that too when i first got it. Now it's all decked out like yours except i had to buy everything for mine including the bike.:cool:

Originally posted by dave186
I found my bike in the Idaho Statesman Classifieds http://www.idahoclassified.com so keep an eye out there.

 

[Hogwylde]

I got my 93 KX 500 for 1,495 off of cycletrader.com. I haven't seen another in that range for a while, but some of the mid 90's are goin for high teens, lower 20's.
This KX is my first dirtbike in 20 years......since my old 79 KDX 400. I'm 6'1 and 195 lbs....always felt like that KDX was underpowered. I LOVE my 500......just takes a little disipline on the throttle. 125's and 250 only weigh 10-15 lbs different, so I figured why not go hell bent for leather!! Oh, I have been riding street bikes for the last 20 years though....so it's not like I'm learning for the first time how to ride on a 500. It's actually a step down from 1340cc's that i'm used to. but the power to weight ratio is outta this world!!!

 

[Jeff Gilbert]

Don't get the 500,

you'll shoot your eye out!:confused:

 

[kfoster]

My advice would be to find someone who has a big bore and see if they will let you ride it around a bit before you spend the money. My bud with the CR500 let me ride his for about an hour. The thing is insane! Not to say that it's all bad, because I sure enjoyed drag racing him while he was on my RM250, but by the end of the hour that thing had me beat to death. I thought I was going to have to ask him to help me unwrap my fingers from around the grips. I felt like a wind sock all day. I still think I was faster on my 250, just because it wasn't such a beast. My buddy was perfectly comfortable on the 500 from day 1, but I never could get used to it. I'm not all that small either.

No denying the accelleration is a rush, but there is a lot of racing left after you get the hole shot. You need a bike that you can ride with confidence in any situation. Try one, and if it feels good, do it.

-K