Been away from the dirt for 15 years...advice needed.
In my youth I had an RM250 that I trail rode and raced a few off-road races. When I got to college I had no time or money, so the RM was sold and I eventually moved over to streetbikes. I still follow pro MX and enjoy watching it, although I don't follow GNCC or any series like that.
Now that I am older (33), I find myself drawn back to dirt riding for several reasons. I'd like to get back into it without spending a lot of money (say $4000 total). Of course this means a used bike, although I plan on loading up with as much protective gear as I can get. Here is how I see the break down of the money:
$1000: Protective gear (helmet, goggles, gloves, pants, jersey, boots, knee braces, chest protector, ankle guard, wrist guards, kidney belt)
$400: bike hauler for SUV, gas can, bike stand, etc
$500: Used bike R&R allowance for new tires, replace some plastic, flywheel weight if needed, clutch, etc.
$2100: remainder for purchase of bike
I would plan on using the bike for trail riding and possibly trying my hand at lower-class racing next winter in a local series with some buddies. 6'1", 210 pounds. There are plenty of hills around here to be climbed as well.
The biggest difference I see from when I rode was the 4-strokes taking over MX and off-road. Back in the day it was only Honda XR's, Husqvarna, and KTM made 4-strokes, and all were heavy. It seems that the new bikes are more powerful than their two-stroke counterparts while only weighing a little more.
However, this is a new development, and for my price range I doubt I will able to buy one of the recent 4-strokes. This is fine with me, as I always enjoyed the powerband hit of the two-stroke, even though it is probably not the fastest was around the track or trail. 125cc two-strokes are out as well, I'd like more power to haul me around. Same with 250cc four-strokes.
That leaves an older 4-stroke (YZ400, XR400, XR600, 1990's euro stroker), 250cc two-stroke, 500cc two-stroke, or a 2-stroke of some displacement in between. Of these I find my self drawn to the last category, bikes like the 1990's KTM's in 300, 360, and 380 sizes. Although if I lived in Philly I'd own the TC610 currently in the classifieds, bike is awesome.
A few questions that perhaps could be answered though:
1. Are the old 4-strokes maintenance intensive? It seems a 2-stroke will be much cheaper to run when it comes time to rebuild and modify. Old Honda XR's wouldn't last if modified, still the same?
2. Would a CR500 or KX500 be unacceptable in the woods, even if properly mellowed by a big flywheel weight?
3. Any big problems with the European bikes like KTM and Husqvarna from the 1990's, are there any years/models that are much better than the others?
4. Recommendations for a good aluminum bike hauler that fits in a 2" hitch?
5. Are the changes in suspension that dramatic over the last 10 years or so? Would a 1997 bike (set up for me) be that far behind a new one not set up for me?
I am pretty new to dirt riding myself. I've done some research last fall and here are some things i've learned.
1) Older 4-strokes take way to much maintenance. If your budget is $2100, i'd say go for an older 2-smoke.
2) Suspension definitely improved some, so getting an older bike with as much suspenion goodies as possible to start with would be beneficial.
3) If you gonna do mostly woods riding, I hear 300cc 2-strokes are awesome for that. Plenty of power to get you in and OUT of trouble
All of the above summed up, get a 1998-2000 KTM 300 XC/EXC. They should be right about $1900 - $2500 range.
EXC will have the wide ratio transmission (WR/XR) style. I think EXC suspension is slightly softer too. XC is a cross between the motorcrosser and the EXC.
Hope this helps.
__________________ WERA Provisional Novice #134, NESBA I #134
2006 GSX-R750 (track only)
2003 Ducati 999 Mono (yellow, restoring from track to pristine street)
I am also 33 and just got into dirt riding. I got an 02 KTM 400EXC for $3200. It came with all the extras and hadn't been ridden for two years when I found it. I am about 6'0" @ 220 and the 400 is AWESOME for my size. If you get a 2 smoker you need at least a 250 and like mentioned above the KTM 300 gets great reviews as a woods bike.
You may be overestimating your gear costs. I like the 4 stroke bikes for woods riding because the have torque in every gear. If you get in a bad spot in the wrong gear you can just feather the clutch and power out. I bought the 400 with the idea it is a bike I can grow into. I made the right decision because the bike is very manageable, solid suspension, and more power than i need.
Here's how I got to $1000 for gear. I'm starting with nothing, but these prices are also shopping around and buying closeouts on some stuff as well. I don't bounce like I used to! If I do it, I'll be suited up head to toe, much cheaper than a trip to the emergency room .
A friend races a Suzuki 400 four-wheeler and had to rebuild the motor after a season of racing and practice (nothing broken, just worn). $1100 in parts and machining. He upgraded to a hotter cam and forged hi-comp piston. Aftermarket parts were not any more expensive than OEM, so he said. Buying the OEM cylinder was the biggest expense.
Back in the day you could rebuild a 2-stroke (no cylinder) for about $100 for piston, rings, and gaskets. As I look through the internet it seems to have went to $200-250 or so. Still much cheaper than the 4-stroke.
A friend races a Suzuki 400 four-wheeler and had to rebuild the motor after a season of racing and practice (nothing broken, just worn). $1100 in parts and machining. He upgraded to a hotter cam and forged hi-comp piston. Aftermarket parts were not any more expensive than OEM, so he said. Buying the OEM cylinder was the biggest expense.
Back in the day you could rebuild a 2-stroke (no cylinder) for about $100 for piston, rings, and gaskets. As I look through the internet it seems to have went to $200-250 or so. Still much cheaper than the 4-stroke.
You should be able to find a KDX in your range.
My take on your gear prices based on what I jsut bought
Helmet: $100 mine 175
Gloves: $40 package deal with gloves,pants,shirt for 120. Thor MX gear
Goggles: $40 Scotts for 15 on sale
Kidney Belt: $20 none
Chest Protector: $120 $70 for Thor MX front, back, shoulder
Elbow guards: $30 none
Boots: $150 $134 for a good pair of Fox boots with metal buckles
Pants: $package deal with gloves,pants,shirt for 120. Thor MX gear
Jersey: $package deal with gloves,pants,shirt for 120. Thor MX gear
Duffel bag, wrist and ankle guards: $60 none
Knee braces: $300/pair none
2 smoker extraordinaire, light, cheap,good suspension and gearing = perfect wudz weapon. Plenty powerful unless you plan on mx-ing. 2 or 3 year old one should fit your budget. my
I've got a '02 YZ 426 that I'm going to sell, the guy I bought it from just rode it in the woods and I rode some MX practice with it, but since my nephew broke his leg racing arenacross I don't have anyone to ride with and my neck is to messed up to handle riding all day and I know I won't be riding it this year. It has a low amount of hours and is in good shape, I didn't race just rode open practice days with it and not that many as it is. It has plenty of power, more than I could handle on the MX track.
The YZ 426 is as tough as an anvil, they set the reliability benchmark for 4 stroke MX bikes.
I'll sell it for $2500 if you're interested. I want to get a DRZ 400 supermoto.
I don't think you necessarily need the knee braces unless you have a pre-existing knee problem.
I don't think you necessarily need the knee braces unless you have a pre-existing knee problem.
Yep, two ligaments repaired on left knee, dislocated kneecap with big hunks of cartilege sheared off behind it when it popped back in place.
Two ligaments repaired on right knee with exact same injury a month later while still on crutches. Then had another surgery after tearing one of the repaired ligaments a year later on a dirt bike.
I can tell when it will rain better than the weatherman.
Been away from the dirt for 15 years...advice needed.
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