Looking for advice on a bike purchase

Glad to see you getting back into riding. I am as well after a ten year break. I am about 230 lbs. and will be going with a 25/26 KTM 300 SX. Good luck.

Welcome back!  I recently bought a 250F after having ridden nothing but 250 two-strokes for a long, long time.  I bought the bike after I rode a friend's late last year.  That bike was the first 250F that did not feel slow to me.  (I hadn't ridden one in quite a while).

I now have about 3-4 hours on the bike, and I love it.  I'm pretty sure my lap times are at or even better than those on my trusty 2 stroke.  The newer 250Fs are so easy to ride, and they have plenty of pop to them.

You’ll be fine on a newer 250F at your weight, especially being on the West Coast vs East Coast. 

200lbs isn’t that bad at our level on a 250f once your 220-240 or more it really starts to show.

Rmz 250 or 450 is a great way to get back into it. They make good low to mid power and the engines roll on in a way similar to your 06 250f.

Some of the newer 250fs are so high strung they don’t even make sense for c or vet riders they have zero roll on.

Rmz is a great way to get back.

Wait around for the cleanest under 10 hour bike you can find in the 4k range, they’re out there trust me.

I think an Rmz450 is the ticket.

Never ridden one but lots will say go 350 soon

Do you plan on racing open age classes? Get a 450. 

Are you going to open practices for fun? Get a 250. 

If you're in shape physically then get a 450. If you work an office job and don't hit the gym then get a 125 bc you're more out of shape than you think. 

All coming from a guy who came back after 15 years off and realized that shiny new 450 was too much bike. I also found out that even immaculate used 450s are a lot harder to sell than a 250. 

I'm now happily involved with a KTM150. 

I have both a KTM Sxf 250 and RMZ 450 and I would say go w the RMZ.   The make very usable power that is tame enough to not get you into trouble when you are tired, or make a mistake.  Plus they are bullet proof in my experience.  If you can find a shock from the RMZ 250 for a good deal, buy it and the bike will be a lot more settled in corners and chop.  

There’s a reason people pipe up and sing the praises about their 350s. I find it amusing when people are searching for bikes asking others should I get a 250 or a 450? Like there’s no other option. I always equate it to Goldilocks, 250 too cold - 450 too hot - 350 just right. Unless someone is adamantly against a ktm group bike there’s another option, and it’s a damned good one. 

Like others have said, consider a 350

I think sometimes we go looking for the “perfect” bike. Dudes been off for 15 years and just needs to make a solid good choice to find his form, his timing, and get his moto legs back under him.

That’s why I’m suggesting a clean low hour rmz, hold out for an under 5-10 hour bike for under 4500. Get the suspension set for you, Ride it for 1-2 years, sell it for 3500 and lose minimal money. After that dabble back into the sport you’ll have an idea where you want to go next. No need to drop 5-10k on a 350 worthy of doing the same thing.

Once you have a bike and you’re at the track I’m sure you’ll spin some laps on some buddies bikes and maybe find the perfect one.

None of it matters as much as just being at the track and doing your best Tomac impression to the outside lines, and your best Barcia impression over the jumps.

We all get spun out chasing perfect lol.

Get the cleanest one of those ‘20-‘23 RMZ 450s in your area for a smokin’ deal…spring it for your weight.

And smile. 

See you out there! 💪🏼

200 pounds here. I've gone back and forth on 250s and 450s. I have no problem on 250F being 200 pounds. New 250f's have plenty of power these days. 

Just a follow up thought on this subject.  A 250 is going to be MORE dangerous for you since you are gonna have to hit all of your marks vs. the 450 where you can screw up a corner and still clear an obstacle.  Plus the maintenance costs of the 250 vs 450.  I think this decision is easy for you get the Zook 450.

Similar story; I was off for 16 years. I ended up with a clean '22 GG MC250f for $4300. I changed out the shock spring for a 51 N/mm, added map switch and having fun! Has plenty of power, I actually like Map 1 over Map 2. 215 lbs, Vet 40+C. I was a faster 25+ C (getting podiums) when I took the break.

I found it's not exactly "Like Riding a Bike" lol. I'd be a fish out of water on a 450 🤪 It'll take while to get the skills back, take your time.

I know you mentioned rmz450, but have you looked at the prices of 24+ kx450's? They are about the same price as a rmz and you don't have to kick start them or buy a new shock. Looks like your in Oregon, here's a 24 kx450 for $4,500. Not my bike, just saw it cruising marketplace.

KX450

I hold the opinion that no 450 is friendly regardless of what is done to it. 

250f or two stroke is my vote. 

250F and do the MXA mod - one extra tooth on the rear. Or, grab a 350. Like some others have said, don't chase perfect. You're going to be slower and more scared than you'd like to admit for the first few rides, but don't get discouraged. It will come back to you after a while. 

I had a similar experience when I went to college and stopped riding for a few years. When I came back, it was like I had forgotten how to make the bike move. And that was only 4 years! 

I’m a 200 pound +30 washed up A rider.  I’ve owned a Ktm 300sx for 3 seasons and recently rode a 450.  Found it much easier to be smooth on it.  When I watch vet guys on 250s they’re beating on the clutch bouncing off the limiter and for sure creating more maintenance.  

I run a gear high everywhere on the track and lug the bike through corners and it’s not “too much” 

I like riding a 450 because for me I'm lazy old and out of shape, I lug it and it does all the work for me. For me a 250 is more work to do the same thing. I think it just depends on how you want to ride. There's no bad bikes anymore they're all good. 

+1 for expanding the consideration set to include the current generation KX450f.  You should be able to find plenty in your price range,  the motors are bulletproof, plus you gain the benefit of e-start. 

If you don’t mind traveling to Missouri this place has some good deals on all brands. My son just got a 25 FE350 out the door 6400. No I don’t work there just passing on.

Shit, those are cheap prices!

Also, love my 350

TM

I can’t make up my mind about what bike to ride either….so I have a 125,250& 300 2t”s…3504t….the only bike I don’t have is a 450….most of my local tracks are smaller/ tighter and the 450”s just feel like tanks on the smaller tracks…..if you want to clear all the jumps with ease and will be racing Vet classes then a 450 will make life easier….I don’t care about that so much anymore, I just want to feel alive….riding a smaller bike achieves this….

On other thought, if you can't corner good or hit your marks. Should you really be jumping it anyway? 450 masks a lot of defencencies of a rider and in my opinion puts guys into a bad situation. I've seen a lot of fat dudes on 450s at the track, can't imagine how bad it'd be for them to hit the ground. "Why would I lose weight when I can just get more power?!"

He said he was  mid pack B rider, so not like he can't ride at all.

250F is plenty. They're are a world of difference to 06. 

200lbs is fine for a 250f. Don't sweat it.