Have you ever ridden a bike once, then sold it?

SEEMEFIRST
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Arlington, TX US
9/10/2025 4:43pm Edited Date/Time 9/10/2025 4:49pm
bodean123 wrote:

Bought a non running 1984 CR500, got it running. 

Sold it very shortly after that. 

SEEMEFIRST wrote:
Kinda how I got my 84.Some newbie wanted the badest dirt bike he could get, and they sold him one. He rode it once and broke...

Kinda how I got my 84.

Some newbie wanted the badest dirt bike he could get, and they sold him one. He rode it once and broke his leg.

I got it dirt cheap. It's funny. he put a set of bars for an 80 or something on it, had the cables all routed wrong, and some kind of weird "Preston Petty" type fender on it.

His signifigant other was there when I went to buy it, she seemed like she was still pissed. Dude had no business buying that bike

vet323 wrote:
I sometimes loved my '84, and sometimes hated it. I could never get it to run the same way twice. I've never had a more inconsistent...

I sometimes loved my '84, and sometimes hated it. I could never get it to run the same way twice. I've never had a more inconsistent running bike. Sometimes it would start easily, sometimes I'd be kicking forever. Sometimes it would rev out with a nice, linear spread of power, sometimes it would act like a light switch. 

I've read since then that changing the ignition made all the difference on them, but I sold it to some dude in the UK after having no luck solving its problems. 

Once I found the "combination" to start mine, it was never an issue again. 

I never had the schizo running on mine either. 

I had a big flywheel weight because I rode it cross country, maybe that was the difference?

 

Edit: The combo for cold starting was.

Turn on fuel, choke on,  put it in 3rd and rock it back and forth to get the cylinder pumping to charge the combustion chamber. 

Then kick it like it stole your sammich.

Usually fired first time, even with snow on the ground. 

1
9/10/2025 4:50pm
This makes me feel validated, but simultaneously bums me out. I picked up a leftover 2024 FX 350 this past April. I have 19 hours on...

This makes me feel validated, but simultaneously bums me out. I picked up a leftover 2024 FX 350 this past April. I have 19 hours on it, and I can't seem to get it right. Revalved, resprung, chasing clicker settings and fork heights, etc. I just have zero confidence in turning it, and friends that I could keep up with are now dropping me. It's my 4th 350 (I had an '18, '21, '22). As a Vet B offroad rider, I didn't think I'd be good enough to notice the rigid chassis that people were talking about, but it's such a different bike than the last gens. I just want it to feel like my old bikes. 

I've ridden a 2025 YZ 250F and a 450F, and unfortunately I didn't like those either. And I have to say, damn those YZ 250fs are loud! 

Thinking about getting a Honda, but I have too much money into it right now to justify letting it go. 

I threw everything but the kitchen sink at my 350 because I loved the motor and how nimble it was. Eventually got the forks pretty good...

I threw everything but the kitchen sink at my 350 because I loved the motor and how nimble it was. Eventually got the forks pretty good (ran 6500, kyb, cone valve, revalved aer) but it was difficult getting any compliance out of the rear end. I finally gave up in hopes of getting a bike that would feel good everywhere. So far so good with just a revalve and mapped ecu. Couldn’t be happier 

IMG 9695IMG 9811 0

Damnit… I want it lol. Who mapped it? XPR? And how’s the power compare to a 350?

Xpr. I think it’s one of my favorite engines. So smooth everywhere and if I’m having an issue with a certain section/corner, the answer is almost always to shift up a gear

1
30minmotos
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Rising Sun , MD US
9/10/2025 5:26pm
spacecat wrote:

Im there with my 2025 crf450r. It's just not it for me. 

How much?

PNWMXer
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9/10/2025 5:46pm
TriRacer27 wrote:
Ducati Panigale. Took it as a trade because I thought it would be fun, maybe even do a track day or two. Rode it once and...

Ducati Panigale. Took it as a trade because I thought it would be fun, maybe even do a track day or two. Rode it once and in 5 minutes I thought F this thing, I'm going to die. Not because it was violent or difficult to ride, but because it was SO easy to go triple digits. 

Modern open-class sportbikes scare the piss out of me…my last inline was a 954, and it was plenty fast-it’s a dog by today’s standards, with 200+hp being routine. Plus all the software now will move up your “run out of talent” epiphany to a very dangerous place. Crazy.

3

The Shop

PNWMXer
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9/10/2025 5:52pm
PNWMXer wrote:

97 CR250. 5 rides and gone. 

First alu frame? I remember the excitement of them showing up at tracks then suddenly seeing loads up for sale within a few weeks. Those bikes...

First alu frame? I remember the excitement of them showing up at tracks then suddenly seeing loads up for sale within a few weeks. Those bikes went from "must-have" to "must-sell" in record time.

Yes sir. I had a really well-dialed 96, but bought into the alloy frame baloney. If my 96 hadn’t sold from where I traded it in on the 97, I’d have traded the 97 back in on my old bike. I was a diehard Honda guy until then. Switched to Kawi. 

Meister
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Canton, OH US
9/10/2025 6:37pm

2023 kx450sr. Made it 7 hours. Cool bike, fun to play on, but pushing at race pace it felt like an 02crf450.. Reae brakes in stock form sucked, suspension in stock form was like an xr400, front brake lever was a toothpick. Ergos were fine and the SR motor was good. Everything else, i just didnt get along with. 

1
FreshTopEnd
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Sacramento, CA US
9/10/2025 8:35pm

Once, but with regret.  Most of you know I'm post heart transplant, and when it got to be too much to wrestle my 525 maybe ten years ago I decided to build a fun KTM 200 mx bike based on an 08 200 XC, something a bit lighter.  I had a lot of fun building the bike, head work, SX pipe, jetted well, put an Ohlins on it, went through the engine, small tank, etc.  It was a lot of fun to build, and frankly to ride - that 200 was just about the perfect engine - but I had it out for an hour and had to be honest with myself that I no longer had the strength/stamina to get much out of it and was going to hurt myself fatigued trying to go longer than I was really able.  Hard call, but probably the last real ride I've done.  Got it to a good home with an hour on the top end.

Builds are fun though, and keep your head and heart into it. Love the sport.

A15F9068 17562 1A15F9072 858149 1
19
FreshTopEnd
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9/10/2025 8:42pm Edited Date/Time 9/10/2025 8:43pm
Not the first ride, but after 40hrs, which I put on in about 1.5 months. 2008 KTM 200xc, the suspension was atrocious and I realized a...

Not the first ride, but after 40hrs, which I put on in about 1.5 months. 2008 KTM 200xc, the suspension was atrocious and I realized a 200 was not for me...

The 08 did not have great legs . . . hard to find anyone who liked the 08XC forks stock.  Believe they changed the carb up that year and jetting was a challenge, swapped that carb out on mine.

1
racerxx276
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Boise, ID US
9/10/2025 8:53pm

2023 KTM 350 sxf . Rode it back to back with my 22 350sxf.  HATED the frame and set up. sold it with an hour on it...

1
Boggins
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Hermosa Beach, CA US
9/10/2025 9:57pm

Yes 2009 Honda CRF450 ...... death trap!

1
Smith246
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Jerramungup , WA AU
9/10/2025 11:10pm
racerxx276 wrote:
2023 KTM 350 sxf . Rode it back to back with my 22 350sxf.  HATED the frame and set up. sold it with an hour on...

2023 KTM 350 sxf . Rode it back to back with my 22 350sxf.  HATED the frame and set up. sold it with an hour on it...

I see alot of people say this and I just can't understand it. I had a 19 and 22 350 and loved them, was worried about everything I'd heard about the 23's but got one anyway and loved it even more than my previous ones. Felt like the 23 was better than the 22 in every way, only thing better than my 23 is my 25. 

2
yamathumb
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Redding, CA US
9/11/2025 12:24am

Husaberg fe390. Rode it about 200 yards, 2 corners and a couple straights. Turned around loaded into truck. Talk about no overrev, front tire steered like it was flat. Just ick. Trade for a 2016 ktm 350sxf I really liked alot after getting it in order, but itraded it off for a 91 kx500 im currently going to town on building it out for myself (sss,phathead,wheels,etc) can't wait to ride it. Can't believe I swapped from a husaberg to a 500 in two relatively easy steps. Do plan on getting another 350sxf, thing was light and revved forever. 

Vet57
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BRO Town, MA US
9/11/2025 1:49am

2022 YZ250 2 stroke. First ride back on 2 stroke in 14 years. Absolute thrill ride, loved it. Personal issues forced me to sell. Now I want another!

2
Phil109
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Montgomery, TX US
9/11/2025 3:19am

My son bought a stark last year. We took it to the track one time. Amazing bike. However we Killed it in less than 40 mins total ride time. He traded it in on a Yamaha 450 the next week. Once they get the battery life on those things better that will be the way to go. 

3
Bearuno
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AU
9/11/2025 3:54am Edited Date/Time 9/11/2025 3:55am
The 08 did not have great legs . . . hard to find anyone who liked the 08XC forks stock.  Believe they changed the carb up...

The 08 did not have great legs . . . hard to find anyone who liked the 08XC forks stock.  Believe they changed the carb up that year and jetting was a challenge, swapped that carb out on mine.

Riding mates KTMs with that TTX shock I see in your Pics, FTE, convinced me to PDS my CRE500 - a fantastic shock, and, no linkage was / is  far better for my Rock Climbing and Log Hopping. 

Plus, putting on WP CCs - that I got to have less / adjustable offset ( 18/20mm , and,  that I made into Real CCs among other mods to them)  than the std 24mm of the Kayabas -  made such a fantastic change to the old Beast. 

2
9/11/2025 4:04am

2003 YZ450F. 

After a great & sucesful previous year on the 02 YZ426, I was excited about the lighter and more powerful YZ450! 

Couldn’t ride the thing for shit. 

Sold it. Bought a new RM125 & spent the rest of the year smiling! 

9/11/2025 4:29am

I wish I had with my 2004 RMZ 250. What a heap of junk. Money pit all the way. After spending a lot of time and money on that thing, I sold it a year later. 

PNWMXer
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9/11/2025 5:03am
I wish I had with my 2004 RMZ 250. What a heap of junk. Money pit all the way. After spending a lot of time and...

I wish I had with my 2004 RMZ 250. What a heap of junk. Money pit all the way. After spending a lot of time and money on that thing, I sold it a year later. 

My favorite (!) part of those bikes was the genius who designed the oil filter/water pump situation…who in their right mind thinks that having to drain the coolant/remove the water pump to change an oil filter is a great idea? 

1
OldTech
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Decatur , AL US
9/11/2025 6:01am
I wish I had with my 2004 RMZ 250. What a heap of junk. Money pit all the way. After spending a lot of time and...

I wish I had with my 2004 RMZ 250. What a heap of junk. Money pit all the way. After spending a lot of time and money on that thing, I sold it a year later. 

PNWMXer wrote:
My favorite (!) part of those bikes was the genius who designed the oil filter/water pump situation…who in their right mind thinks that having to drain...

My favorite (!) part of those bikes was the genius who designed the oil filter/water pump situation…who in their right mind thinks that having to drain the coolant/remove the water pump to change an oil filter is a great idea? 

Suzuki made the engine and Kawasaki made the frame

2
sandman768
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Saratoga Springs, NY US
9/11/2025 6:08am

I have had some bikes that were flawed but always tried to make them work for me…never sold one after 1 or 2 rides…Even kept my 97 Cr250 for 2 seasons, but when I rode my new 99 YZ250, that was a revelation…rode Yamahas for the next 8 years…I can’t really get a good feel for a bike until I have about 4-8hrs of actual ride time and playing with setup….Just picked up a 25 300SX, have about 2hrs of ride time on it…frame & suspension feels stiff as hell and motor hits hard & signs off quick compared to my 23 300 that has a remap and Factory Connection suspension…I enjoy the setup process…I know that 25 is just a remap and suspension tuning away from greatness…….sometimes we read what others say about a bike and it sticks in our heads…

yeahkkyle
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Fleetwood, PA US
9/11/2025 6:09am
I wish I had with my 2004 RMZ 250. What a heap of junk. Money pit all the way. After spending a lot of time and...

I wish I had with my 2004 RMZ 250. What a heap of junk. Money pit all the way. After spending a lot of time and money on that thing, I sold it a year later. 

PNWMXer wrote:
My favorite (!) part of those bikes was the genius who designed the oil filter/water pump situation…who in their right mind thinks that having to drain...

My favorite (!) part of those bikes was the genius who designed the oil filter/water pump situation…who in their right mind thinks that having to drain the coolant/remove the water pump to change an oil filter is a great idea? 

I don't recall having to drain the coolant to replace the oil filter. I had almost zero issues with my 04 rmz250 other than a head pipe that cracked at the shield bracket. I wasn't one to rev the bike a ton though and raced/practiced on it for 2 years. 

After the military I got a bug to ride/race again so I picked up a 2019 350sxf and did not gel at all with that bike. After 5 hours I sent the suspension out and got mxtech lucky cartridges installed and setup. The front end just never felt planted. Sold the bike with 16hrs on it.

kxking
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Oakville, Ontario CA
Fantasy
9/11/2025 6:48am

After riding 125's for years I finally decided to buy a 250, found an ad for a guy selling a "Less than 1 hour" brand new KX250 and rushed out to buy it, I asked him why he's selling it after such a short time and he says its too fast for me (insert picture of The Rock raising his eybrow). I bought it, got it home, did a bunch of upgrades and started riding it 2 weeks later. I felt slow, like really slow, but there was a race at my favorite track that I always do well at coming up and thought I'd do well, so off I went... Got smoked, like 20-25th I think the only people I passed was off the gate. Got home took all my goodies off the bike cleaned it up and posted an ad the next day. Ended up trading it for a same year KX125+cash and never looked back (except to laugh). 

I'm a 125 guy and always will be. 

2
9/11/2025 8:19am
jameslowry wrote:
Not a dirt bike but i did buy a Harley XR1200 only rode it once Big Disappointment was going to do track days hell my 2-stroke...

Not a dirt bike but i did buy a Harley XR1200 only rode it once Big Disappointment was going to do track days hell my 2-stroke KX250 would smoke it & The KX450 would do better on a road course

I've owned my XR1200 for about 10 years now and have enjoyed the ride. Granted I didn't buy it for track days, I just do street riding with occasional off-road excursions (knobbies and moto bars)

9/11/2025 9:07am
jameslowry wrote:
Not a dirt bike but i did buy a Harley XR1200 only rode it once Big Disappointment was going to do track days hell my 2-stroke...

Not a dirt bike but i did buy a Harley XR1200 only rode it once Big Disappointment was going to do track days hell my 2-stroke KX250 would smoke it & The KX450 would do better on a road course

Buddy of mine said same thing. As a big flat track fan he wanted to like it but couldn’t.  

9/11/2025 10:03am
TriRacer27 wrote:
Ducati Panigale. Took it as a trade because I thought it would be fun, maybe even do a track day or two. Rode it once and...

Ducati Panigale. Took it as a trade because I thought it would be fun, maybe even do a track day or two. Rode it once and in 5 minutes I thought F this thing, I'm going to die. Not because it was violent or difficult to ride, but because it was SO easy to go triple digits. 

PNWMXer wrote:
Modern open-class sportbikes scare the piss out of me…my last inline was a 954, and it was plenty fast-it’s a dog by today’s standards, with 200+hp...

Modern open-class sportbikes scare the piss out of me…my last inline was a 954, and it was plenty fast-it’s a dog by today’s standards, with 200+hp being routine. Plus all the software now will move up your “run out of talent” epiphany to a very dangerous place. Crazy.

Exactly. It made going normal speeds feel so slow and high speed so inviting I know I would've eventually, and rather abruptly, run out of talent. 

1
9/11/2025 10:19am
ML512 wrote:
This might be a bit of an exaggeration by saying ridden once. However, have you ever ridden a bike either once or a few times, then...

This might be a bit of an exaggeration by saying ridden once. However, have you ever ridden a bike either once or a few times, then sold it? Didn’t gell with the bike? Buyer’s remorse? Etc…

2021 KTM 150sx. Bought it in August of 2024, sold by the new year. I came off of Yamaha mini's so the air suspension was new to me and I really disliked it. Went out and bought a yz125 and loved it so much more. The big thing with the 150 was that it felt like it took too long to hit the powerband, no matter how much adjusting I did.

Mossy940
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La Quinta, CA US
9/11/2025 10:33am
Mossy940 wrote:
Luckily I had a chance to ride the bike before I bought it -  2014 KTM 250 Two Stroke.... I had been saving up for the bike...

Luckily I had a chance to ride the bike before I bought it - 

 

2014 KTM 250 Two Stroke.... I had been saving up for the bike and of course my buddy who had the cash bought one first. 

Bone stock, rode it at Glen Helen on a Thursday morning under perfect conditions. First lap, felt like I had never ridden a bike. Second lap, felt exactly the same. Third lap, almost killed myself, pulled into the pits.

 

My buddy didnt believe me so we adjusted the bars, the sag , turned clickers....everything set up for me.

 

Two more laps of feeling like an absolute idiot, put the bike on the stand and never rode it again.

 

In 25 years of riding dirt bikes, that was the single most uncomfortable I have ever been on a bike, and gives creedence to my theory that sometimes, there is a rider/bike combination that just does not work.

That’s another bike I held onto for 5 years that I shouldn’t have. You know it’s bad when you ride an undersprung, non maintained yz 250...

That’s another bike I held onto for 5 years that I shouldn’t have. You know it’s bad when you ride an undersprung, non maintained yz 250 and feel like a million bucks on it in comparison 

100% - I have ridden plenty of bikes I didnt agree with or couldnt get set up for me, but they were all still rideable. That fricken KTM had me questioning everything I've ever known about riding a bike.

I had an 04' KX 250 that my Dad gave me sitting in the garage, ended up just dusting that bike off and I couldnt have been happier for the next 5 years.

 

2
Dudley
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481
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9/10/2012
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Denver, CO US
9/11/2025 10:41am

The closest I’ve been was a 2013 kx450. I did not get along with the first gen air forks. 

Ryno23
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739
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Manhattan, MT US
9/11/2025 10:46am

2009 Honda CRF450R.  Worst new bike ever coming off 07 KX450F.  Suspension was horribly unbalanced, stock clutch faded faster in a 20 minute moto than I do, foot pegs from 1980 on it stock, decomp pin fell out of cam so top end scattered once (was a recall for it but took forever to get parts), and shifting issues falling between 2nd and 3rd false neutral.  Got it all fixed and immediately sold at maybe 20 hours.  Bought 09 KX450F and was happy again. 

9/11/2025 10:56am
I wish I had with my 2004 RMZ 250. What a heap of junk. Money pit all the way. After spending a lot of time and...

I wish I had with my 2004 RMZ 250. What a heap of junk. Money pit all the way. After spending a lot of time and money on that thing, I sold it a year later. 

PNWMXer wrote:
My favorite (!) part of those bikes was the genius who designed the oil filter/water pump situation…who in their right mind thinks that having to drain...

My favorite (!) part of those bikes was the genius who designed the oil filter/water pump situation…who in their right mind thinks that having to drain the coolant/remove the water pump to change an oil filter is a great idea? 

OldTech wrote:

Suzuki made the engine and Kawasaki made the frame

Incorrect. Kawasaki made it all. 

After three model years, Suzuki realised it was a piece of junk and produced their own engine for 2007. 
Whilst Kawasaki continued to run that engine for another couple of years before redesigning. 

1

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