Dirt Bike Guys

81z28

81z28

Forum Member
Its been about 15 years since I have been into bikes or quads. I just bought my kids a TRX 90 quad and they're having a blast with it. I want to buy something with 2 wheels to ride around with them and have a little fun on my own as well. Back when I was into it, 2 strokes always needed Pistons and rings and the four strokes ran forever. With the little research I have done it almost sounds like the oil burners are easier and cheaper to maintian than the newer four strokes.

I don't want anything fast, I tend to have more balls than brains and with kids I just dont need that. So whats a good trail bike that I can chase the kids around with and still have enough power for an adult. Im not very tall and have alway had a hard time touching the ground on a 250/450 sized bike. Was looking at CRF 150'S but now reading about four strokes needing valves all the time I'm looking at 2 stoke 125's.

would like to spend under $2k better yet under $1500.

Thanks
 
Any race bike is going to need a lot of maintenance wether its a 2 stroke or a 4 stroke.



I would look into a Honda XR series bike.

They are cheap and super reliable.

An XR200 sounds like a great bike for what your said your looking to do.
 
If 2k is for sure your top point, then lookin into a new 250 2 stroke, as these can be had on the cheap.

If it was me, I would spend the extra few bucks and get a 250 4 stroke, easy to ride, instant power, and very nice powerbands.

I personally ride a 06 Honda CRF450R, and can't use half the power, but it does have a few things done to it.
 
Baldie said:
If 2k is for sure your top point, then lookin into a new 250 2 stroke, as these can be had on the cheap.

If it was me, I would spend the extra few bucks and get a 250 4 stroke, easy to ride, instant power, and very nice powerbands.

I personally ride a 06 Honda CRF450R, and can't use half the power, but it does have a few things done to it.
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I hear what you are saying, a 450 is a hell of a bike.

AutoRoc said:
You can get a clean Late 90's 2 stroke bike for $1000, just shop around. lower it?

Those weak 4 stroke trail bikes hold their value a lt better, unfortunately!

$2000 can easily get what you want. Im a fan of street legal two strokes.. Good deals below and that took al of a minute to find.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/mcy/3112892313.html

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/rvs/3086159063.html
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Thanks, my biggest thing is I dont know where to start. I didnt even know they made a 2 stroke like these, only thing I ever played with with RM,CR,KX or YZ.

c0ncEpT said:
Any race bike is going to need a lot of maintenance wether its a 2 stroke or a 4 stroke.



I would look into a Honda XR series bike.

They are cheap and super reliable.

An XR200 sounds like a great bike for what your said your looking to do.
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I did a quick search for a XR, not to many for sale but they sound like a good bike for sure. The newer CRF 250 are still way up on price.
 
450's are too hard to ride at a slower pace. YZ125, or such, will provide hours of cheap entertainment. just my $.02.
 
http://flint.craigslist.org/mcy/3073968711.html

Oh yeah I regret not getting mine plated for the street. These have enough power to get you through the sand dunes if need be but were designed for the trails. Youtube some videos of different bikes and you can see how they perform. The helmet videos of guys ripping through trails freak me out! :eek:

Do a search for enduro, dual sport, kdx, rmz, exc, xr, wr. Those are the designations for kawasaki, suzuki, KTM, honda, and yamaha trail bikes, most can,be street legal.
 
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Keep in mind it's not going to be super easy to find parts for an old bike. Other than that the suggestions are pretty good in here. I would personally go with a 250f of some sort but I'm kind of biased ;)
 
FWIW, I have riddin newer KTM250SX, a 08 YZF250, 11 KX250F EFI, and 12 YZF250F, 06 CRF450R and my most fun was on the 08 YZF250F, that bike was light and really fast, along with very easy to ride.
 
I would normally recommend KTM, but given your intended usage & budget, I think any smaller 4 cycle bike would fine. I'd probably look for a Yamaha 125 or something like that. With kids, esp younger kids, you're likely going to be stopping & starting a lot... low speed riding... riding anchor. For those reasons, I would skip a 2 cycle bike.
 
So what is it with the new 4 strokes that they require so much maintenance? My dad still has the 1987 230 Q-Sport myself and brothers beat the ever loving crap out of. Oil changes and adjust the valves, she was good to go. Hell it still runs like new.

I can understand the new race bikes being more work, but all the manufacturers have a trail version. Does the race bike and trail bike share an engine? Im not brand loyal at all, over the years I have had on of everything.

Thanks for all the feedback.
 
81z28 said:
So what is it with the new 4 strokes that they require so much maintenance? My dad still has the 1987 230 Q-Sport myself and brothers beat the ever loving crap out of. Oil changes and adjust the valves, she was good to go. Hell it still runs like new.

I can understand the new race bikes being more work, but all the manufacturers have a trail version. Does the race bike and trail bike share an engine? Im not brand loyal at all, over the years I have had on of everything.

Thanks for all the feedback.
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I have 74 hours on my 450 and have done nothing but shim the valves and change the oil.

Most trail bikes and track bikes share almost identical motors.
 
Baldie said:
I have 74 hours on my 450 and have done nothing but shim the valves and change the oil.

Most trail bikes and track bikes share almost identical motors.
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Depending on one's skill level, the margin of error with a 4-stroke is much smaller than with a smoker. I 've done several 2-stroke re-builds, but shim the valves wrong on the thumper, tag the head, or worse, and your bike is bacially worthless.

Seems Justin and I rarely agree on anything..........:lol:
 
Religious oil changes, Valve adjustments, They seem to beat up on the crank a lot more than the 2 strokes, They can be very sensitive to dirt going down the intake tract. much more so than a 2 stroke, Fuel filter changes(EFI), ect.

With a 2 stroke you can beat the living crap out of them and worst case you need to put a $100 piston in them. I rode my 1985 CR80 around unknowingly with no air filter for a long time because my cousin washed it with gas and it disintegrated. Thing still has the original '85 piston and it just starting to get tired.
 
hangemhigh said:
Depending on one's skill level, the margin of error with a 4-stroke is much smaller than with a smoker. I 've done several 2-stroke re-builds, but shim the valves wrong on the thumper, tag the head, or worse, and your bike is bacially worthless.

Seems Justin and I rarely agree on anything..........:lol:
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As much as the low end of a 4 stroke would be nice, it sounds like Im going to go after an oil burner. I had a Banshee and it was great to putz around in the woods or let it rip at Silver lake. Looks like Yamaha is still making the YZ 125 and 250.
 
Anyone ridden and 125 and a 250 2 stroke? I've been on a couple of 250's a long time ago, never on a 125. I don't need the power of a 250 but maybe one would be happier to go slow than a 125?
 
81z28 said:
Anyone ridden and 125 and a 250 2 stroke? I've been on a couple of 250's a long time ago, never on a 125. I don't need the power of a 250 but maybe one would be happier to go slow than a 125?
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I've had 'em all. 125's thru 450f's. There's nothing like ripping around wot on a 125. You feel faster...but the testosterone in us always pushes us towards the more manly 250. On a 250, the power is always on tap to ramp up the "grin" factor. If you're open field riding, the 125 will feel tapped out, but in a wooded trail setting, it'll be easier to maneuver.
 
For chasing the kids around, cant beat a KDX IMO.... Reliable as an anvil, relatively light, whisper quiet, super comfy seat and cheap! You could spend a few extra bucks and get a KTM 200 too, but the seats are brutal. Trail riding a modern 4stroke with the kids (slower pace), you may run into overheating issues....
 
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