New Rider help

michael8g
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Edited Date/Time 5/22/2016 9:26am
I am 15 160 lbs and around 6 ft and am looking for a used dirt bike that is not more than $2000. Thinking of a yz125 or a crf150r. Possibly a klx 140. Are these good beginner bikes? and are there any others I should look into? Is getting a 2 stroke A bad idea for a first bike?
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Paw Paw 271
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4/29/2016 4:33pm
The CRF150 and the KLX 140 are both too small for you.
The 125 would be the best, but at the price you want expect it to need some work.

Paw Paw
CarlinoJoeVideo
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4/29/2016 5:05pm
Your tall enough for a 250f also. Do you want to ride tracks? An old Honda CRF250R is a nice starting point. Maybe 2005 or so should be in that price range.

If you want to ride trails try a Honda CRF250x. It's geared a little more towards trail riding.
michael8g
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4/30/2016 6:56am
I don't think i will be riding tracks yet. probably just trails until i get more experienced. Thanks for replying
colintrax
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4/30/2016 3:27pm
At 6' tall any bike is gonna be a little small for you. As the other guys said, stay away from the small bikes. If you're not trying to hit huge jumps any time soon (and you shouldn't be)
Look for the Honda CRF250X, Kawasaki KLX250, Yamaha WR250F, KTM250XCFW, Suzuki DR250. The KTM is without question the fastest and hardest hitting. I'm not a Honda fan, but as a beginner bike the CRF is a good choice. The Kawasaki and Yamaha are also good choices.

A YZ125 is a great motocross bike, if you're not scared of the 2 stroke "hit" it's not a bad choice. Just takes a little more talent to ride a small bore 2 stroke.

The Shop

colintrax
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5/1/2016 2:58pm
michael8g wrote:
How much do those usually go for?
Year and condition make a hug difference in price. For 2K I'd be looking at early to mid 2000 bikes. ~2002-2007

Feel free to post ads up here to get our opinion before you call the owner. Wouldn't hurt to find a shop that'll look at any bikes you're trying to buy. A leak down test doesn't take long, and will tell you alot about the engines health.
colintrax
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5/1/2016 3:54pm
Thought I'd look at craigslist for ya (I'm bored)
Boston prices are stupid expenisve. You might need to drive pretty far to find a good deal. Keep in mind, bike prices are high right now. They'll drop as summer goes on and really drop when fall gets here.
Here's 2 bikes I found https://hartford.craigslist.org/mcy/5500375425.html

https://boston.craigslist.org/nos/mcy/5545114473.html
michael8g
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5/2/2016 8:36am
Thanks a lot for looking. I'm not sure if i could really handle a 200 2 stroke. Wouldn't they be a lot more powerful than a 200 four stroke
colintrax
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5/2/2016 8:54am
michael8g wrote:
Thanks a lot for looking. I'm not sure if i could really handle a 200 2 stroke. Wouldn't they be a lot more powerful than a...
Thanks a lot for looking. I'm not sure if i could really handle a 200 2 stroke. Wouldn't they be a lot more powerful than a 200 four stroke
The KDX 200 is very mellow, it's a woods bike.
So yes, it'll have more power than a 200 4 stroke. But that's not really a problem. Don't get so nervous, my first bike was a KX100 and I was all of 70lbs when I got it. Lots of people learn to ride on race bikes.
michael8g
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5/2/2016 12:17pm
Okay thanks. Im going to start looking for one of the 250s you mentioned
colintrax
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5/2/2016 11:42pm
Just as an fyi, that's a race bike. With Kawasaki KX is the motocross line, KLX KDX is the beginner/trail line. Although nothing wrong with starting on a KX.

The KX250F is a great bike, I had a 2006. Loved the motor but I never could get comfortable on the bike. And it was ridiculously loud. I sold mine years ago for $2,000 with all of 3 hours on a rebuilt engine and suspension.
I'd definitely have a leak down test performed before buying, no telling what kind of condition that motor is in.
KMC440
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5/3/2016 1:56pm
The KDX 200 all day would be my choice. Light with enough power to race off road and a beginners mx class, if it's in your future, but the power won't overwhelm you. Relatively inexpensive to tepair to boot.
49
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5/8/2016 6:18am
im 22, looking to start and around the same weight and height as you, you had any luck or at on any bikes to see how they feel?
colintrax
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5/8/2016 11:28am
49 wrote:
im 22, looking to start and around the same weight and height as you, you had any luck or at on any bikes to see how...
im 22, looking to start and around the same weight and height as you, you had any luck or at on any bikes to see how they feel?
If you read my posts you'll notice I said all the bikes are built for similar sized people (5'10") there are differences. Hondas tend to be smaller, where as Kawasakis tend to be larger. But really that doesn't mean much, everybody is different. I have a friend who's 6'2" and over 200lbs, he loves Hondas. I'm 5'10" 130lbs, but I love Kawasakis and KTMs.

Go back through the bikes I suggested to the OP and look in your area for those.
bronwynrayne
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5/22/2016 9:26am
michael8g wrote:
How much do those usually go for?
I got my 2006 YZ125 for 2300$ USD. It was a barn find but it's in incredible shape. Just keep your eyes peeled for a good deal. Remember to pull the pipe, check bearings, all that good shit.

Only thing with the small bore 2 strokes is that they like to run at high RPM, so when you're riding trails that are a little more technical you will have to clean it out a little more (pull the clutch in and hit the throttle). There is little to no engine braking on the 2 strokes.

If you would like to get a cheap, fun bike, the 125's are great little whippits, but in order to be good for trails you might find that you need a flywheel weight and to change the gearing (rear and final sprocket) to get more bottom end pull.

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