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1st dirt bike
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Posted by: cambull---------------------

Hi, I am 27, 5' 10" and 165lbs, I have done extensive street riding for 7 yrs and would like to start dirt riding now. I will probably be riding 90 % trails and 10% small/short MX track. I live in the rural northeast and have plenty of trails to choose from. The trails I guess would be called tight/technical and woods. In a 2 hour radius there are several small tracks I know of and probably more I don't know about yet.

The bikes I have tried so far are: crf230, drz250, wr250f, xr400
I haven't had the chance to ride a xr250 but would guess it would be close to the drz250. Also, I am not interested in a 2 stroke so this rules out the kawi kdx. I prefer to buy new since most used bikes I have looked at have been trashed and not well maintained.

I don't think the crf230 is enough bike and I didn't really care for the drz250 which leave me with the wr250f and xr400 both of which I have some concerns about. I can get both as 02 leftovers for the same money($5000) so cost is the same. Or a 2003 wr for ~$5700.

wr250f: The powerband(similiar to a 2 stroke) concerns me although when I rode the bike I thought the low end power was okay. This bike had the baffle removed and the throttle stop modified. My other concerns are the bog/miss that the wrs seem to have, the radiator being damaged in crashes, and higher maintaince issues. I don't mind wrenching but I would rather be riding.

xr400: Everyone says these are great trail bikes but suck at jumping and riding on the track. Why are they so bad at jumping? Is it just the extra ~30lbs or is it the suspension?? I don't really plan on having the bike more than say 8 feet in the air, would it handle this okay? Or should I go with the wr and live with its problems and somewhat high strungness for the trails?

Also and suggestions for boot, helmet, chest protector, gloves, and what ever else I need to ride would be appreciated.

Thanks, mitch

Posted by: truespode---------------------

Quote:

Originally posted by cambull
Hi,

Hi. Thanks for taking the time to go into such detail. I hope you get a lot of good responses.

Quote:

wr250f: The powerband(similiar to a 2 stroke) concerns me although when I rode the bike I thought the low end power was okay. This bike had the baffle removed and the throttle stop modified. My other concerns are the bog/miss that the wrs seem to have, the radiator being damaged in crashes, and higher maintaince issues. I don't mind wrenching but I would rather be riding.

The WR250 is a great bike. If you have the baffle out and the throttle stop removed the only other thing to try is the YZ timing (you may or may not like it - I prefer the YZ250F over the WR so I would prefer the YZ timing).

The bog on the WR250 is cured with proper jetting. The BK mod can help too. I think there is some info on http://motoman393.thumpertalk.com/ that could be of help if you decide on a YZ or WR 250F.

Quote:

xr400: Everyone says these are great trail bikes but suck at jumping and riding on the track. Why are they so bad at jumping? Is it just the extra ~30lbs or is it the suspension?? I don't really plan on having the bike more than say 8 feet in the air, would it handle this okay? Or should I go with the wr and live with its problems and somewhat high strungness for the trails?

The XR was not meant for jumping and the frame will break if you jump too much, especially if you are close or over 200lbs. It is a great trail bike and can be converted to a motocrosser for occassional use.

Quote:

Also and suggestions for boot, helmet, chest protector, gloves, and what ever else I need to ride would be appreciated.

M2R makes a great cost effective helmet. HJC is a good option as well.

At first don't worry too much about the brand of chest protector, gloves and boots just make sure you get a set. Thor is pretty good on all fronts as is Answer, Fox and MSR. A lot of it will come down to price and availability.

Good luck.

Ivan

Posted by: 490Dave---------------------

So, what is it that you're looking for in a bike?

Posted by: dead---------------------

I would recant on the 2 stroke comment. The KDX is a great bike. :thumb:

Posted by: beer_stud_76---------------------

cambull -

the XR and the WR are pretty different bikes. don't let the fact that they both are 4 strokes fool you.

the WR has a state of the art high revving, high compression, high performance, high maintenence engine. the XR is low tech, low compression and as close to maintenence free as any motorcycle can be. the WR would be a better ride for you if you're aggressive and don't mind the extra wrenching, and vice versa for the XR, though the fastest guy i know (i know lots of guys) rides a not-that-modified XR400, and he isn't the fastest by a nose. he is fastest by a lunch break, as in he can take lunch breaks a still be ahead of us. so don't think you can't cover the ground in a hurry on an XR.

of those two bikes i prefer the XR. its stone reliable and easy on the wrench hand.

i think you bear some correction, however:

1) do yourself a favor and do not over generalize about used bikes. some used bikes have been abused, some cared for imacculately, most are somewhere inbetween.

2) 2 strokes are wonderful. they are (as a rule) cheaper and easier to maintain than the new high performance 4 strokes (like the WR). and in woods riding conditions, bigger 2 strokes (250+) do not need frequent top end rebuilds. some cite the mixing of gas as their prime gripe about 2 strokes. i personally think mixing gas is fun - experimenting with different pre-mix oils, ratios, ect.

while its true that 2 strokes are more susceptibile to plug fouling, a clean airfilter and proper jetting virtually eliminate fouling problems

while its an old chesnut that 2 strokes are light and 4 strokes are heavy, it is nonetheless true. even the new (and fairly light) 4 strokes are heavier than comparable 2 strokes. also, they are just flat out fun to ride. . .so much power, so little weight.

so don't dismiss the KDX. ride one. then try to convince yourself that you "don't want a 2 stroke"

and i know you didn't ask about it, but a KDX 200-220 is the XR of 2 strokes: low tech, low maint, etc.

jeremiah

Posted by: Green Horn---------------------

I'd definately checkout the KDX before making your final decision. Also, you can add KBC to the list of good yet inexpensive helmets.

Posted by: Zerotact---------------------

The XR is like a trusty old hammer, low tech and reliable.

the WR is part of the New breed of High rpm thumpers.

If you want a cheaper bike, that does not require a lot to maintain it... the XR.

If you want to spend more money, and have to work on your bike, the WR would be for you....

Posted by: dead---------------------

Be sure to READ the manual if you get a new WR. One of the guys I rode with this past Saturday had a quart too much of oil in his bike. Apparently you are supposed to run the bike a few seconds to check the oil.

Also, the KDX hasn't changed since 95. That means about every question you could imagine has been asked and answered, parts are everywhere, great aftermarket, lots of opinions of the bike, etc...

Posted by: dead---------------------

Some great reading material on the KDX

http://justkdx.dirtrider.net

Posted by: johnmark101---------------------

I bought an XR400 a few months back as my first dirtbike, and here is what I can tell you about owning one as your first ride. As mentioned above, the XR is very reliable and the engine is nearly bullet proof, and requires very little maintenance. It will last a long time with proper care. The bike has plenty of power, mostly in the low and mid range. The power comes on smooth and is very easy to manage. It is a heavy bike, which was tough at first, but as my riding improves, this is becoming less of an issue. When cold, the bike can be a bit stubborn to start. I picked up a 2003 model for $4800. I am quite happy with the bike. I am 6 foot one and weigh 183 pounds and the bike seems to fit me well. Good luck.

Posted by: 78kl250a---------------------

the wr is a very nice bike. i picked up an 02 a few months back for 4500 otd. i ride all woods with some slow technical stough, a few wide open areas and try to clime any hill i can find. the bike has plenty of low end torque. i think it is a very managable bike to ride. ive never had a problem yet with not enough power. as for the radiators, just put a set of guards on them. they are farley cheep ant they do work. (i know since i seem to have this problem with dumping the bike). the only prob ive had with it so far was my fault. i got stuck on the bottom of a hill i couldn't get up because it was to muddy to get traction. so i spent some time down there reving it to much and overheated it. but all it did was piss out the colluant. i took it back to the dealer and they checked it out and said it was fine. i would highly recomend the wr. hondas suck ( im very opinionated about how much hondas suck and that nobody should have to ride them) so get the wr, you wont regret it

Posted by: johnmark101---------------------

Hey, go easy on the Honda's. They are a very good bike. Granted the XR series is not a bike for an aggressive rider, but not everyone who rides dirt wants to jump or race.

Posted by: cambull---------------------

Thanks, for the replies, keep them coming. I am looking into the KDX now. I need to get to the dealers and compare maintance schedules for the bikes. It sounds like the XR won't cut it if I am going to spend time on a MX track. How does the KDX handle jumping in stock form? Will it need the fork springs or fork oil changed out for someone my size(165lbs & 5'7")?

I don't think Honda's suck btw, 8 out of my 9 motorcycles are Hondas. I am not partial that is just how it is right now.... mitch

Posted by: rv6junkie---------------------

<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">There is a FAQ on C-Daves KDX forum that will have information about modifying the KDX to your needs. One of the nice things about the KDX is the low entry price. You can get NEW –200 for $3,500. That leaves a lot of money for the items that Kawasaki skimped on such as fork springs and exhaust system. For a very small amount of money the KDX can be a great trail bike and a fun (not competitive) MX bike. How do they jump? Click the attached file for a picture.</SPAN></SPAN>

Posted by: dead---------------------

Quote:

Originally posted by cambull
Thanks, for the replies, keep them coming. I am looking into the KDX now. I need to get to the dealers and compare maintance schedules for the bikes. It sounds like the XR won't cut it if I am going to spend time on a MX track. How does the KDX handle jumping in stock form? Will it need the fork springs or fork oil changed out for someone my size(165lbs & 5'7")?

I don't think Honda's suck btw, 8 out of my 9 motorcycles are Hondas. I am not partial that is just how it is right now.... mitch

I'm 6' and am 152lbs in my birthday suit

. The suspension is adequate for now but I do plan on stiffening it up a bit. You'll be fine jumping the bike as long as you aren't going for big air. I've been around 5ft in the air on mine and came out ok. I've yet to visit a MX track so I can't advise on how it'll handle on those jumps.

Posted by: jlpier01---------------------

Are you ruling out the DRZ 400 or it's sibling the KLX 400? The electric start is really nice.

Posted by: Hondaman_06---------------------

another bike u should check out would be the KLX 300.. I do not own one but from what i read it seems to be a good bike.. I'm not sure about the suspension but the carb supposedly really has the motor tamed out. I've read if u get a new carb though it really wakes it up and it pretty comparable to the XR400..Just a thought and best of luck with you bike search.

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