What kind of bike

iWannaRideBikes
So I have been wanting to get a dirt bike but I don't know what kind, I am a beginner and am 5"8 and weight 125. I am also 15 if that helps, I was thinking of getting a 125 but which would be the best and my budget is not the highest, its looking at 1200$. Thanks in advance!
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zehn
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zehn 10/1/2019 12:31am
10/1/2019 12:31am
125 dude, not even a question
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ledger
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ledger 10/1/2019 12:31am
10/1/2019 12:31am
Your stats are perfect for a 125...take your time and get the best bang for your buck. Preferably 06 due to better suspension, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with five or 6 year's prior to the 06. You'll have a blast on a 125 two stroke !! Don't cheap out on a helmet and boots.
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don'tknowwhy
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don'tknowwhy 10/1/2019 12:41am
10/1/2019 12:41am
ledger wrote:
Your stats are perfect for a 125...take your time and get the best bang for your buck. Preferably 06 due to better suspension, but there is...
Your stats are perfect for a 125...take your time and get the best bang for your buck. Preferably 06 due to better suspension, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with five or 6 year's prior to the 06. You'll have a blast on a 125 two stroke !! Don't cheap out on a helmet and boots.
Listen to this man..... everything he said is on point.

I second the boots & helmet advice as well.
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kb228
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kb228 10/1/2019 3:16am
10/1/2019 3:16am
You definitely need a 450
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motoXracer971
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motoXracer971 10/1/2019 3:45am
10/1/2019 3:45am
Definitely a CR500. Any year is good.

Seriously, the 125 is your best bet! I second the ‘06+ Yamaha.

Try looking on bikefinds.com and search your area.
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iWannaRideBikes 10/1/2019 11:17am
10/1/2019 11:17am
ledger wrote:
Your stats are perfect for a 125...take your time and get the best bang for your buck. Preferably 06 due to better suspension, but there is...
Your stats are perfect for a 125...take your time and get the best bang for your buck. Preferably 06 due to better suspension, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with five or 6 year's prior to the 06. You'll have a blast on a 125 two stroke !! Don't cheap out on a helmet and boots.
What 125's are 2 stroke? Are most of them 2 strokes, and is a 4 stroke even worth it?
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HazemG
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HazemG 10/1/2019 5:51pm
10/1/2019 5:51pm
ledger wrote:
Your stats are perfect for a 125...take your time and get the best bang for your buck. Preferably 06 due to better suspension, but there is...
Your stats are perfect for a 125...take your time and get the best bang for your buck. Preferably 06 due to better suspension, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with five or 6 year's prior to the 06. You'll have a blast on a 125 two stroke !! Don't cheap out on a helmet and boots.
iWannaRideBikes wrote:
What 125's are 2 stroke? Are most of them 2 strokes, and is a 4 stroke even worth it?
YZ, KX, CR & SX. YZ is the best bang for buck, and no matter what age it should be modern and competitive.
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sumdood
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sumdood 10/1/2019 6:24pm
10/1/2019 6:24pm Edited Date/Time 10/1/2019 6:27pm
iWannaRideBikes wrote:
So I have been wanting to get a dirt bike but I don't know what kind, I am a beginner and am 5"8 and weight 125...
So I have been wanting to get a dirt bike but I don't know what kind, I am a beginner and am 5"8 and weight 125. I am also 15 if that helps, I was thinking of getting a 125 but which would be the best and my budget is not the highest, its looking at 1200$. Thanks in advance!
You've saved 1200 bucks and want a dirt bike ? Fuck yeah way to go dude ! Congrats ! I agree with everyone else, 125. If it was me I'd look for a YZ or CR. Get a manual to go with whatever you get. Bikes are just a bunch of parts, the more you figure out about how they work the less $ you'll have to spend, Good luck & have fun
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mikec265
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mikec265 10/1/2019 7:14pm
10/1/2019 7:14pm
If you have a friend who knows bikes, take him with you. I got screwed on my first bike when I was 12 because I didn't know what I was looking at. Took me another year to afford to get a decent one.
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iWannaRideBikes 10/1/2019 7:17pm
10/1/2019 7:17pm
iWannaRideBikes wrote:
So I have been wanting to get a dirt bike but I don't know what kind, I am a beginner and am 5"8 and weight 125...
So I have been wanting to get a dirt bike but I don't know what kind, I am a beginner and am 5"8 and weight 125. I am also 15 if that helps, I was thinking of getting a 125 but which would be the best and my budget is not the highest, its looking at 1200$. Thanks in advance!
sumdood wrote:
You've saved 1200 bucks and want a dirt bike ? Fuck yeah way to go dude ! Congrats ! I agree with everyone else, 125. If...
You've saved 1200 bucks and want a dirt bike ? Fuck yeah way to go dude ! Congrats ! I agree with everyone else, 125. If it was me I'd look for a YZ or CR. Get a manual to go with whatever you get. Bikes are just a bunch of parts, the more you figure out about how they work the less $ you'll have to spend, Good luck & have fun
Haha yea dude! I have been saving for a while but didn't know what to get with that money, my brother got a nice KTM and I just became in love with dirtbiking just by looking at his bike! Thanks for the help!
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iWannaRideBikes 10/1/2019 7:20pm
10/1/2019 7:20pm
mikec265 wrote:
If you have a friend who knows bikes, take him with you. I got screwed on my first bike when I was 12 because I didn't...
If you have a friend who knows bikes, take him with you. I got screwed on my first bike when I was 12 because I didn't know what I was looking at. Took me another year to afford to get a decent one.
Ok yea I will do that! Is there anything in particular I should look out for myself or any questions I should ask before even looking at the bike? Thanks in advance!
Tarz483
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Tarz483 10/1/2019 8:12pm
10/1/2019 8:12pm
125 for sure
ledger
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ledger 10/1/2019 8:41pm
10/1/2019 8:41pm
ledger wrote:
Your stats are perfect for a 125...take your time and get the best bang for your buck. Preferably 06 due to better suspension, but there is...
Your stats are perfect for a 125...take your time and get the best bang for your buck. Preferably 06 due to better suspension, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with five or 6 year's prior to the 06. You'll have a blast on a 125 two stroke !! Don't cheap out on a helmet and boots.
iWannaRideBikes wrote:
What 125's are 2 stroke? Are most of them 2 strokes, and is a 4 stroke even worth it?
I forgot to add (YZ) to the 125, lol. YZ is Yamaha's two stroke line-up and the (F) is their four strokes...KTM's two strokes are (SX), while (SXF) is there four stroke. Props to you for saving coin at your age to purchase your own bike... your'e in for a helluva ride, and good one. HazemG makes a valid point, check out all the bike's you can. Let the Addiction begin...
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lostboy819 10/1/2019 8:42pm
10/1/2019 8:42pm
125 is the way to go and you will actually learn how to ride on a 2 stroke and be several steps ahead of the guys who have only been on 250F 4 strokes. When you can ride a 125 fast you will be able to fly when you get a 250F four stroke. Cool
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Just south of Paradise... 10/1/2019 10:53pm
10/1/2019 10:53pm
Craigslist or Facebook marketplace is a good place to go for gear like boots, pants, chest protectors, etc. Buying good quality used gear can save you a ton of $s over new. There should be a lot of options in a town the size of Portland. Don't skimp on the gear, you might tip over a time or two as you are learning. Wink Heck, I would even get elbow guards! As someone else mentioned, its a good idea to take someone experienced with you when you go look at bikes. Scammers will put on new plastics and graphics on old beaters. Check bearings (are wheels tight, swing arm, etc.), any evidence that fork seals are leaking, look for any cracks or leaks in the cases, excessive vibration, etc. At your budget you may not be able to get a cherry bike, but at least that way you have a better idea of what you are actually getting. A early 2000s YZ 125 would be sweet if its in decent shape, but not sure what those are going for in your area. Good luck!
Harry Backmon 10/2/2019 3:41am
10/2/2019 3:41am
Does anybody know.......? Does anybody have.......? Thanks in advance!

Much yw
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slipdog
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slipdog 10/2/2019 6:16am
10/2/2019 6:16am
Harry Backmon wrote:
Does anybody know.......? Does anybody have.......? Thanks in advance!

Much yw
1
HighPlainsSquid 10/2/2019 6:30am
10/2/2019 6:30am Edited Date/Time 10/2/2019 6:34am
mikec265 wrote:
If you have a friend who knows bikes, take him with you. I got screwed on my first bike when I was 12 because I didn't...
If you have a friend who knows bikes, take him with you. I got screwed on my first bike when I was 12 because I didn't know what I was looking at. Took me another year to afford to get a decent one.
iWannaRideBikes wrote:
Ok yea I will do that! Is there anything in particular I should look out for myself or any questions I should ask before even looking...
Ok yea I will do that! Is there anything in particular I should look out for myself or any questions I should ask before even looking at the bike? Thanks in advance!
IMHO.... $1200 isn't enough to get a good bike that doesn't need a lot of work. If you get it for $1200 will that leave anything for a new top end, air filter, chain/sprocket, etc? I just sold 2 KDX's ready to ride (literally) and an '02 RM 125 with a new piston, two air filters, fresh fork oil, literally ready to ride and literally needing nothing for $1800 each.

I paid $1600 for the RM "needing nothing" and immediately found (most before I bought it) a torn air filter, new chain but old sprockets, dry as a bone linkage bearings, no skid plate, tweaked bars, loose spark plug, poor jetting, crappy recovered seat, etc. I put $400 in it to get it where I felt confident hitting the finish line tabletop on it and none of that was new plastic or any other bling (it actually LOOKED pretty good!).

IMHO... your BEST BET, by far, is to really, really, really try to get an experienced person to go with you because there are SO MANY little things to look for. And your friend is disassociated. YOU want to buy the bike, dammit!!!, and you'll tend to think "Oh, that's fine!! It'll be okay..." He's there to protect you from yourself. Smile

However... the first thing I do is look at the air filter. If it's dirty, old, torn or not oiled... I pretty much stop right there. The next thing are tweaked bars. If they're tweaked, then it was crashed- what else might be bent? I'm looking for any oil leaks around the engine. Bounce on it and listen/feel for squeaks. Look at the sprockets for cupping. Check the spokes for tightness. Yank the wheels around and feel for bad bearings. Look at the bolts for signs of marring which means someone didn't use the right wrench and if they didn't do that, then what else did they not do right? None of these are necessarily deal breakers, but they make the cash register in my head go "ding....ding... ding..." and then I factor that into what the bike is REALLY gonna cost. Because sooner or later, it IS going to cost.

As far as things before you go... I go a lot by the tone of the seller. Do they know what the hell they're talking about? Can they tell me precisely what's been done to the bike or is it "Yeah... I think it had a piston about 50 or 80 hours ago..." Can they take pictures? Are those pictures deliberately trying to hide stuff (dark lighting, poor angle, etc). Basically, I run with my gut. If I don't like the way the seller smells or sounds, I'm out. There's a lot of bikes out there.

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