Best old man friendly enduro bike?

I have a Sherco 300 SEF Factory edition four-stroke enduro. Lighter than a WR250 and a fair bit faster (I had a 2021 WR before I switched to the Sherco). Beautifully made bike with top KYB suspenders, full titanium Akro exhaust, full brembo brakes and clutch, mellow/aggressive map switch, and a really high quality steel chassis (great precise welding). Don't discount it because it's a 300cc 4 stroke. The thing chugs along like a hard enduro 300 or 250 2 stroke if you need it to, and much better than a 250 4-stroke. I dropped a tooth on the countershaft sprocket for the really tight stuff where we do our hare scrambles in the north east. The suspension if so nicely balanced for off-road use and doesn't need to be modified in any way. And the geometry is designed for off-road stuff, tight or open. 

I knew very little about Sherco until I started researching. The brand really does produce quality stuff. Plus they are a sweet looking bike. I couldn't be happier with mine. 

Good choices. If you were in the east I'd say a KTM 200. I'll never sell mine. 

1981

Much more recent

👍👍 2 thumbs up!

People don't realize how good that FF rear end is unless they've ridden it.

I've got an '83 RM250 with the '82 head, etc., and the twin-cam front brakes that I need to pull out again one day (it's been mothballed for over 20 years now). Would love to have one of those 125's to ride with it.

I’m surprised nobody has thrown out a 150 XC-W or TE150. They’re supposedly the new KDX200. I’d consider one against a 300 strongly before making a decision. Light, nimble, decent roll-on power and a surprising amount of luggability.

Great bikes but old men don't usually like to shift that much.

Next month is 3 years since I bought my Beta 300 X-Trainer. It replaced the KDX220R I bought new in 2005 that was fine for the time but crude by comparison. ZERO complaints with the Beta, and you get a lot for your $ I'll be 67 in April and multiple surgeries in my lifetime. I only get to ride 1/2 year here in CO, but the Beta is so confidence inspiring and forgiving it takes 5 minutes to be back to my normal (old guy) speed even after long layoffs. I have short inseam so the low seat height was a must. I grew up riding groundbreaking early Yamaha enduros with autolube, reed valves, etc.- the Beta adds to that electric start, selectable ignition map, 3 way adjustable clutch pull and more. It will cost you a couple grand less than any Austrian bike or overpriced Honda. Impeccable workmanship too.

I'm 67yo and I'm enjoying my Varg.  I ride tight technical s/t. Last bike before the Varg?  A 2006 300 KTM.

That said, if I were to go back to a ICE bike a 300 would be my choice, however it would not be a late model KTM.  After riding a 2024 XCW300 I can say I hate the sitting position of that bike compared to my VARG.. 

After almost 20 years of not riding motos, I picked up a '21 FE350, and have consistently been amazed at how easy it is to ride, and how reliable it has been. At about 180 hours of ride time I finally got around to checking the valve clearances, and they were still in spec. Replaced the sparkplug at the same time; other than that all I've done is change oil and air filter, and tires. Still on the original battery. Most of my riding is Western Colorado high desert singletrack. I'm happy enough with the bike that I haven't been seriously tempted by any of the shiny newness. 

Rieju MR Ranger…. Over 60 now and that would be my woods choice.

A life well lived sir!!!

Define old,  41 or 71? Its all about perspective.  Everything mentioned will be easier to handle than your 500.  I think of desert = sand (but I'm east), so more motor than a 150 or 200s. Some 300.  The closer to 71, more likely the X-trainer.  

Otherwise, you should be able to tame the Stark. I would just worry about it's range in the desert.

This one works pretty well. 

62 here and my regular riding partners are 66, 74, and 82 here in Colorado. As I let the entire riding group ride my 300 Rieju with a Rekluse clutch (really the original 2018 GG300), over the last few years, they are all switching from 4Ts to 300 2Ts like the rest of our riding group. They are just "stupidly easy" to ride and require little to no maintenance.  My 82YO friend switched from a Honda 250x and says it added at least 5 years to his riding life.  He rides better now than when I met him 20 years ago!  I would look into any 2T 300 and make changes if you need to tone it down.  Rieju, Beta, Sherco, and TM are good choices.  I hold onto my bikes for many years and, as I have gotten older, I care far less about re-sale.

That's the bike I would like to find and restore. A buddy had one back when it was new. I had just bought a 82CR250. I was to heavy for the 125 but he let me ride it. That was the best bike I have ever ridden. Went my faster ever on it.

Me neither, mines an 05 EXC. Always on the hunt for a 2013-2015 125/150 chassis to swap it into. The 200 is the most fun motor I’ve ever rode. Lug it like a 300 or let it wind up like a 125 it’ll go just as fast either way. Bought it a few years ago for $1000 after sitting on someone’s pool deck for 5 years prior to that. Was riding it the next weekend and was taking it a hare scramble two weekends later. 

2019  150 xc-w is a great year. VHM head, better reeds and slap on a Keihin carb and go have fun. 

This was just built for Cameron Steele for The King of The Motos…it’s soooo torquey and smooth…underneath it all is a TE300 Rockstar Edition

I know some people that have an absolute blast on these things....they're slow as shit....but they go anywhere.   About as old man friendly as it gets.

   I actually considered getting one.

I think that is what my wife needs to replace her crf250x. I know they are heavy but she can't pick up Honda by herself. And it could be my "load it with tools for trail maintenance bike".

Back on subject though..... I just rode with a friend (we haven't ridden together for a while) who is A level, about 5'7", and rides a 2023 X Trainer. Absolutely loves it! For everything but whoops!!! 

65 and have a KTM 500, GG 250 EX and 2024 KTM 300 XCW. XCW hands down my favorite bike. The 25 300 will be in my stable soon.

Sorry bud, but this is horrible advice for actual enduro riding. 

If you want to cruise roads, great bike. If you want to ride trails, horrible. 

And for the record, I own a TW200, as well as several other bikes mentioned in this thread, so I’m pretty qualified to have an opinion on this. 

Yz250x is really popular around here.  I would have to look hard at a beta next. 200-300 cc two stroke. 

 I own a TW200 as well. It is a street bike, maybe gravel roads, not a dirt bike.