Topic: Dirt bikes?

[climbingaz]

Anyone here ride dirt bikes and/or dualsports?  Last time a rode a dirtbike was 25 years ago, but I'm starting to get the itch again.  Can't decide whether to get a street-legal dual sport like a DRZ400 or an older two-smoker like a KX250, etc.

What are you guys riding?  Any input/suggestions for someone looking to get back into off-road?

Thanks 

[tango911]

I ride an 06 CRF250R   crazy powerful    I would suggest an Honda XR250  or a CRF230 (electric start)   both are good woods trails bikes to get started dirt'in again.   TTR 230 yamaha is good too also electric start.   But if you like to go fast,  get the crf250r  its double the power.  Im not a fan of the smokers.


heres my crf250r


My old XR250's

[climbingaz]

Not a lot of woods riding or single-track type stuff very close to where I live (Arizona).  Mostly open desert type stuff, fire roads, etc. and I doubt I'll be riding on any motocross tracks.

Besides the crazy powerband on the 2-smokers, what don't you like?

[kirkn]

I'm 45.  I started riding when I was 6.  In all those years, I can count a cumulative total of a handful of MONTHS that I have not owned a dual-sport.

For a returning dirt rider, I'd pick up a used "kinder gentler" dual sport like a Yamaha XT225 or XT250 or a Honda XR-L of virtually any year, or a Kawasaki KL250 Sherpa or a Suzuki DR air-cooled.  Get yer feet dirty, see if you (and yer knees, etc) still like it after all these years. 

Then go for something more serious if that's how you ride.  Or, stay with the first one and be happy!

Kirk

[scunny]

I have been riding dirt bikes for 35 years  get yourself an old twin shocker XL with 23 inch front wheel, very lazy way to travel.

[pat english]

crazy..im watching dumb and dumber right now....


yeah get an old 2 stroke enduro!!

[scottly]

I like two-strokes, due to the lighter weight. My '82 CR480 has an advertized dry weight of 227 pounds. The early 480's like mine had extremely light flywheels, and stalled at every opportunity. I learned to pull in the clutch before touching the rear brake pedal. The later 480/500 models had successively heavier flywheels. The power band on the old big-block two-stroke Honda's is not at all like a 125; my bike can lug like a tractor up a hill-climb. Just don't let off the throttle, or it will stall, smashing the boys into the gas tank.    

[tango911]

for one the crazy power band,  and 2nd  you ever follow smokers through the woods.  You feel like you smoked 2 packs of cigs after your done.  Now when i ride with smokers i lead

[CycleRanger]

I have been riding dirt bikes for 35 years  get yourself an old twin shocker XL with 23 inch front wheel, very lazy way to travel.

I miss my '82 XLS every day. Never should have sold it. 

[climbingaz]

Went and looked at a '96 Honda XR400 yesterday and really liked it.  It wasn't in that great of shape (maybe 7 out of 10), but the motor seemed solid and it fired right up on the second kick.  The dude was pretty cool and let me take it for a spin around the neighborhood.  Having not ridden a dirt bike in 25 years, it took a little getting used to, but sure seemed like fun!  I think the XR400 would have plenty of oomph for the type of riding I want to do. 

I'm going to to look at a '95 XR600 today, but I'm pretty sure it's going to be too big for me.  I'm only 5'8" 165lbs and on the 400 I was tippy tippy toe.

Dude wants $1,400 for the 400....seems like a decent price....not great, but decent....and he didn't seem like he wanted to budge.

[tango911]

in this area that price would be high.   But i agree that the xr600 would be too big.  If you like to jump a little bit the crf250 is a great bike for trail and track.   

[climbingaz]

crf250 looks awesome, but I'm sort of looking for a fun play bike that I might be able to do a little dual-sporting on.  Nothing major like freeway for hours, but getting on the bike from my house and riding to the dirt areas, etc.

An ad just popped up for a '96 dr350 with electric start for $1,100....any thought on that bike?

[tango911]

that dr would be a perfect bike for both. 

[climbingaz]

Well, after a crazy weekend of looking at half a dozen bikes I pulled the trigger on a 1998 Honda XR 400. 

Seems to be in pretty good shape given the age, and it has a few nice goodies like a White Brothers exhaust, some nice black Excel rims and Acerbis handguards.  My plan is to get it street legal and do a little dual-sporting with it.  Any thoughts on the Tusk dual-sport kit?

[tango911]

very nice , clean looking.   i have no experience with dual sport kits.  all i know is they run around 300-400 bucks last i looked into it.

have fun!!

[paulages]

I have a '96 KLX650, and I love it. It's not as agile as a smaller bike would be in dirt, but i do 90% of my riding on the street anyway. Before you think it's just like a KLR650, look again... upside down forks (in '93!) with adjustable compression damping, fully adjustable rear damping, just under 300 pounds... My only complaint is that it's hard not to ride like a hooligan.  Wheelies are as easy as a tiny blip of the throttle, through the first 3 gears.



Anyway, you obviously already made your decision. Get that thing street legal, and you'll love it. Buy a second set of wheels with DS tires and keep the knobbies for real mud.

[climbingaz]

Cool KLX Paulages!  Yeah, the KLR hardly qualifies as a dirt bike  , but the KLX is bada$$.  I saw one on Craigslist a few months ago, but someone snatched it up pretty quickly.  Don't see them pop up much.

[paulages]

Cool KLX Paulages!  Yeah, the KLR hardly qualifies as a dirt bike  , but the KLX is bada$$.  I saw one on Craigslist a few months ago, but someone snatched it up pretty quickly.  Don't see them pop up much.

The other day someone asked me, "so is it kinda like a more street-oriented KLR?" 

They only made them for 3 years in the U.S., but they sold in Europe and Australia until fairly recently. Still, they tend to be cheaper than XR650s, and seem to be better in just about every way except for top end power, which the current decade's XR650s win hands down.