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Author Topic: Any one know dirt bikes?  (Read 6268 times)

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Offline Brij

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Any one know dirt bikes?
« on: September 10, 2013, 09:44:50 PM »
The young bloke (a tall skinny 16 year old) wants a dirt bike. Whilst I am diesel mechanic and fairly well versed in all things automotive I know bugga all about bikes (could never afford one when I was a kid :'(, and then discovered cars when I started work). He is very new to powered two wheelers (even though most of his mates have them) and so is very much a beginner.

Currently watching these on Gumtree -
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/coldstream/motorcycles/xr200rf-vmx-urgent-/1027273444
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/berwick/motorcycles/99-honda-xr200-for-sale/1026830491

Also watching this one -
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/KTM-250-exc-/111165621156?pt=AU_Motorcycles&hash=item19e1fcc3a4
but he is stretching his budget to get to $1500 let alone the price this one is bound to go for, plus he (and I) didn't really want him to get a 2 stroke to learn on. The main benefit is it is only 20 minutes drive away.

Any suggestions, guidance would be appreciated.

(anyone in Gippsland got an old 4 stroke Shitta in the back shed going cheap  :cheers:?)

Peter
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Offline hammy

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Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2013, 10:02:13 PM »
That KTM's for someone who's a confident rider, and the only 2 stroke that I'd consider would be a 125 motocrosser, but I'd still be careful as it may not be a wise choice depending on his skill level, temperament and where he rides . The XR200's are a good choice for a learner and although he may outgrow it in a year, its invaluable to learn the basics on a moderately powered bike. Also look at XR250's. the newer CRF230's (I think). Yamaha TTR's are also good but s bit more expensive. Any air cooled 4stroke of 250cc or less will be fine.  Have a search in www.dirtbikeworld.net and you'll find a lot of good, quality advice.
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Offline Pog

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Re: Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2013, 10:15:44 PM »
I agree, an XR200 is a good starters bike, but he may well out grow it soon. Having said that, it is always good to learn to ride a slightly underpowered bike, rather than start on an overpowered bike. This would teach him the fundamentals of actually riding the bike to its full potential.
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Offline GeoffA

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Re: Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2013, 10:17:49 PM »
Quote from: hammy on September 10, 2013, 10:02:13 PM
........The XR200's are a good choice for a learner and although he may outgrow it in a year, its invaluable to learn the basics on a moderately powered bike. Also look at XR250's. ......... Any air cooled 4stroke of 250cc or less will be fine.......

Yep.
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Offline tourin n fishin

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Re: Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2013, 10:19:46 PM »
Having spent a fair bit of time around bikes and owned a few I can say with 100% certainty don't buy a 2 banger as a first bike. The power delivery is like a light switch and I can tell you from experience that my yz125 coming onto powerband took a while to get used to, even after years of on and offroad experience beforehand, still one of the most violent things ive ridden ;D
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Offline GeoffA

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Re: Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2013, 10:24:07 PM »
Quote from: tourin n fishin on September 10, 2013, 10:19:46 PM
......The power delivery is like a light switch.....

Only on the little MX-er's. The bigger enduro bikes are much more progressive in their power delivery, but an air-cooled 200-250 4 stroke is the pick.
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Offline Chesapeake

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Re: Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #6 on: September 10, 2013, 10:25:01 PM »
Good luck with your choice.I reckon the 250's,xr,ttr etc. are good bits of gear.I have a ttr250 in the shed and it can take a pounding without getting all the service and love it's supposed to.TTr is electric/kick,but xr or ttr will both serve a young bloke that wants to flog the guts out of it one week,leave it a month and get back on.Plenty around if you look,and where you are situated should have no problem finding something.Make sure the helmet, a good set of boots and whatever else you can throw at him are in the budget
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Variflex

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Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #7 on: September 11, 2013, 10:39:39 AM »
I just bought myself a YZ125 to learn on which is a great bike, a little lighter compared to the 4 strokes however when the powerband kicks in you certainly know about it
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Offline CBRK

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Re: Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #8 on: September 11, 2013, 12:29:21 PM »
Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using Tapatalk 2
« Last Edit: September 11, 2013, 06:21:19 PM by CBRK »
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Offline Bird

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Re: Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #9 on: September 11, 2013, 12:32:28 PM »
Quote from: GeoffA
Only on the little MX-er's. The bigger enduro bikes are much more progressive in their power delivery, but an air-cooled 200-250 4 stroke is the pick.
Agree... Although I still have a soft spot for about 20 of my old 2 strokes ... but seeing the price that IT490's go for these days I wont be gettin another..
First thing to do is get Rec Rego on it.. the fines are poison expensive these days.
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Offline GeoffA

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Re: Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #10 on: September 11, 2013, 12:37:39 PM »
Quote from: Lost on September 11, 2013, 12:32:28 PM
Agree... Although I still have a soft spot for about 20 of my old 2 strokes ... but seeing the price that IT490's go for these days I wont be gettin another..
First thing to do is get Rec Rego on it.. the fines are poison expensive these days.

I had an IT490K for about 10 years. It would not die.

Sold it for 30% more than I paid for it, but that was 1993....
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Offline Swannie

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Re: Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #11 on: September 11, 2013, 12:39:16 PM »
My first bike was a Ktm 250 SX, i still smile watching everyone I let ride it come off it, we named it the bucking bull!!

I think an XR 250 is a great start, just makes sure he spends some decent coin on good, helmet,boots, and body armour

Swannie
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Offline Bird

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Re: Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #12 on: September 11, 2013, 12:40:31 PM »
Quote from: GeoffA
I had an IT490K for about 10 years. It would not die.

Sold it for 30% more than I paid for it, but that was 1993....
Yup, sold the YZ when I went Enduroing for mine... at least you could jet the IT... :( But the 400WR Husky was much more docile but had the same overall power. just the parts prices :(
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Offline GeoffA

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Re: Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #13 on: September 11, 2013, 12:44:03 PM »
Quote from: Lost on September 11, 2013, 12:40:31 PM
Yup, sold the YZ when I went Enduroing for mine... at least you could jet the IT... :( But the 400WR Husky was much more docile but had the same overall power. just the parts prices :(

A mate had a YZ490J. I'm pretty sure he's still got it.
Now that was serious FUN  :o :o, and surprisingly capable in the bush. Could be a bugger to start, though....
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Offline Bird

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Re: Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #14 on: September 11, 2013, 12:44:32 PM »
Quote from: GeoffA on September 11, 2013, 12:44:03 PM
A mate had a YZ490J. I'm pretty sure he's still got it.
Now that was serious FUN  :o :o, and surprisingly capable in the bush. Could be a bugger to start, though....
4 sp box sucked.. and jetting impossible.. :(
I'll give him $500 for it.. :)
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Offline GeoffA

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Re: Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #15 on: September 11, 2013, 12:47:07 PM »
Quote from: Lost on September 11, 2013, 12:44:32 PM
4 sp box sucked.. and jetting impossible.. :(
I'll give him $500 for it.. :)

It's in pretty good nick for a 30yo bike. I doubt he'll sell it, as it's part of his toy family.

It's got FULL road rego... ;D ;D ;D
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Offline Bird

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Re: Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #16 on: September 11, 2013, 12:52:13 PM »
Quote from: GeoffA
It's got FULL road rego... ;D ;D ;D
make it 600 then :D
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Offline Brij

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Re: Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #17 on: September 11, 2013, 04:56:17 PM »
Thanks for all the replies.

Yep. I thought the KTM 250 would be a bit much for a beginner, (but it looks cheap and isn't far away :laugh:)

I've been pressuring him to make sure he allows for some good protective gear. Heard to many horror stories from a work mate about 10 years ago who used to ride virtually every weekend about some of his companions that used cheap gear.

Rec Reg not really nessasary just yet. He won't be licensed so will ONLY be riding on private property (we are on about 6 or 7 acres and most of his friends are on farmlets or bush blocks).

So it looks like a 200 or 250 4 stroke, and start to build up a collection of his own safety gear (he has all ready started getting some hand-me-downs from his mates because their's is not a fashionable colour anymore ???).

Peter
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Offline kylarama

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Re: Any one know dirt bikes?
« Reply #18 on: September 11, 2013, 05:46:36 PM »
First bike I ever rode was a mates 86 YZ250.  Rode it once discovered what this powerband thing was and kinda shied away from bikes for a few years.  All I know is powerband hurts ;D

Finally got my licence when I was 28 and got an 00 TTR250.  Still got it 9 years later and other that oil, filters, battery, tyres and a few levers its never had a cent spent on repairs.
Ripper first bike and the button start becomes a beginners best friend!  These days it only gets dragged out 2-3 times a years for a boys weekend away, so I'm still very much a beginner.  The low k's and scratched plastics comfirm that 8)

An XR's probably a better/cheaper option, as they're dime a dozen and parts are dirt cheap.

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