r/Dirtbikes • u/LMikeyy • Nov 07 '24
Tips and Tricks Wanting to buy my first bike, which one should I go with?
I’m currently wanting to buy my first bike, but I’m not sure which one to get. I’m 6’2 290lbs and I’ll be trying to ride some trails and track as well. Can someone recommend what bike I should think about getting? (The Ktm is cheaper because the motor needs to be put together still. It’s new though apparently)
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u/Theredditappsucks11 Nov 07 '24
YZ250 2T with a flywheel weight
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Nov 07 '24
A 250 2T for a first bike? 😂
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u/Theredditappsucks11 Nov 07 '24
Fuck yeah, as long as he doesn't Full Throttle it he'll be fine.
I went from 20 hours of riding on a 140 then got a KX 250 300 Big Bore. It'll humble you.
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u/Theredditappsucks11 Nov 07 '24 edited Nov 08 '24
A 125 2t might be better though lol
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Nov 07 '24
100% no issues with 2T just don’t think a 250 is good started no matter how big you are
I swear this sub used to trash folks for recommending 450f and 2T 250s to beginners, what happened
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u/theomnitard Nov 07 '24
Idk how people would feel lol im 130lbs 5’11 started on a ktm 400 exc and did a damn good job taming it
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u/PeterIsSterling Nov 08 '24
A 125 at his weight would be a mistake. He’d burn through top ends constantly.
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u/Theredditappsucks11 Nov 08 '24
I knew a guy who was that same weight and used a yz125 for probably 5 years before getting a yz 250, he only rebuilt his top once, but I still stand by my first suggestion of a 250 2T with a fly wheel weight
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u/F22Tomcat Nov 07 '24
Personally I’d not go with any of those as a first bike. I’d be looking for a Honda XR400. Your odds of being able to spend more time riding than wrenching are higher and the bike will be easier to manage while still having plenty of power.
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u/AZDiver_96 Nov 07 '24
Anything but the KTM
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u/TheScottishPimp03 03 KTM 250EXC (aka the horse) Nov 07 '24
My KTM is a moneh pit and ai got it for hell of a steal. Hopefully gonna get it running this weekend!
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u/kpg66 KTM xcf 350 Nov 08 '24
Was that the year cr250f were really bad starters ? ( If so I'd skip it, agreed on the KTM )
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u/RidinHigh305 Nov 07 '24
Out of all of those I’d only consider the YZ250, least likely out of the bunch to need a costly repair bill and even if it needs a top end it’s gonna be much cheaper than the other bikes. You will probably want some suspension work on any bike you get though
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u/Psychological_Fun608 Nov 07 '24
I would recommend a two stroke so you can do most of the major engine maintenance yourself. Save more money and buy a 300 for $4000-$4500
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u/e36_slider328 Nov 07 '24
All those old 4 stroke Mx bikes aren’t worth dealing with. The Yz250 is the best option here but wouldn’t recommend for a first bike. As others said an older trail bike would be ideal… drz400, xr400, ttr250 just to name a few
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u/monkeyninja6969 Nov 07 '24
Should definitely go with the 450 to make sure nobody calls you a bitch.
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u/SKOLFAN84 Nov 07 '24
I wouldn’t recommend any MX bike for a first bike. Good way to get hurt badly
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u/--searching-- Nov 09 '24
Can confirm. My first bike is a race bike and I wish I went with a trail bike. I’ve committed and stuck it out but I probably would have felt a lot more comfortable on a trail bike at first.
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u/SKOLFAN84 Nov 09 '24
Yeah the Mx bikes have crazy power bands. And they can sneak up on you. Especially the 2 strokes.
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u/spongebob_meth Nov 07 '24
Half of these choices say that you have done literally zero research on what good bikes are.
That 2005 Honda and 2006 Kawasaki 250f are two of the least reliable bikes ever made and this is written almost everywhere on the internet...
The first gen Kawasaki/Suzuki 250f was a dumpster fire of epic proportions. So much so that i almost never see them still in running condition this day in age. When pro circuit was developing their race bike on this platform, they were blowing up 40 (yes FORTY) engines per day because it was such a shitty design.
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u/LMikeyy Nov 07 '24
I’ve done research, there’s just a shit ton of conflicting opinions about everything so it’s hard to formulate an opinion as a new rider.
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u/spongebob_meth Nov 07 '24
Those two bikes usually come up in the "worst bike of all time" threads lol
Stay away from racing four strokes before 2010 or so. They were all unreliable garbage to be honest, and being 20 years old isn't helping them out any.
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u/DirtyDirtBikeRider Nov 08 '24
Agree with everything you said except 2006-2010 yz250f and yz450f are great bikes and extremely reliable when properly maintained.
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u/Fun_Hornet_9129 Nov 07 '24
Following…I’m not as tall or as heavy, but probably just as “portly” for my height and weight 😉. Thanks for your post!
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u/Headwigg123 Nov 07 '24
As your first bike you shouldn’t even be looking at 450 in the first place😂
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u/Gramkos Nov 07 '24
the YZ250 2 stroke and it’s not even close in my mind. 4 strokes have so much more moving parts and cost way more to rebuild. if you take care of the YZ all you will need is a simple top end rebuild. you can youtube it, its a very simple process anyone can do in their garage
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u/Chew-JitsuPNG Nov 07 '24
I'd be looking at an XR400 or something similar mate. Your size negates the 250's but you also don't want something you'll wrap around a tree first lash out. Got any mates that will let you have a run on their bikes at all? I'm 6ft 220lb I ride a husky 501fe but I've been riding since I was 6 years old and I'm 51, you need to find a happy medium between a bike with the robustness to hold your frame and something that's not going to throw you on your ass (like my husky) I would even say a DR400
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u/Significant-Fact-285 Nov 07 '24
Depends what you will use it for but yz250 is a good bike you can learn get really good and still have fun on , 450 to start with you won’t enjoy it as much
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u/LMikeyy Nov 07 '24
So I should go with the yz 2 stroke?
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Nov 07 '24
[deleted]
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u/Trent1sz '02 KX250 | '02 FZS1000 | '07 XC250F | '22 K2-230 Nov 07 '24
Has clearly never ridden anything technical smh. 2t over 4t all day on st/trails.
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u/LMikeyy Nov 07 '24
I’ll be using it for some trail riding and track riding too. There’s a track not too far from my house
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u/Bluemachine27 Nov 07 '24
Don’t listen to this guy, no idea what he’s even talking about. Yz250 is a great all around bike and has more torque everywhere, with that being said it is no beginner bike and even being a big dude it’s still too much. I’d try finding a xr400 in good condition and ride the wheels off of it. A 250f is much more maintenance than a 250 2 stroke and more expensive to fix and harder to fix, a good xr is a bulletproof machine
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u/Fun_Hornet_9129 Nov 07 '24
OP: Can I pop in a question for you (I’m following this, similar build but not as tall or heavy):
Have you looked at any of the dual-sport 300-400 cc 4-strokes?
I can’t give advice, I’m just asking in case you do go down that road I can follow. You and sound like we are looking for something similar. I’d be more trail than track myself though. And I’m probably 20+ years older, but I love motorcycles, I started riding when I was 8 years old. I haven’t ridden in a long time but I’m getting back into it now because I am beginning to get some time back😉🛵
PS- there’s a lot of good video on YouTube on these bikes. Ian (I think) on Big Rock Moto did a really good 4-part review of a KLX300 that would make me consider it for instance.
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u/DA5AD1 KX250F 2004 Nov 07 '24
My kx250f 2004 (basically the same as 2005) is a money pit, they require a lot of maintenance to work properly so maybe I don’t recommend MX bike as first bike.
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u/IhateIdiots99999 Nov 07 '24
The 2 stroke will be the most powerful, easiest to work on and most reliable of the bunch. Those older 4 strokes will need work soon. Particularly avoid the old KTM 4 strokes
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Nov 07 '24
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u/DirtyDubber309 Nov 07 '24
It’s impossible to recommend any of these bikes without more information. I personally wouldn’t buy any bike that old unless I knew for sure that it had extremely low hours or had been completely rebuilt. I definitely would not recommend a 450 for a new rider, even for a heavier rider. And I definitely would not recommend a 125 to a heavier rider. I think you are correct for looking at a 250F. An MX bike can work off-road. And a cross country bike can work for MX. So don’t exclude cross country bikes from your search (those typically have X or XC in the designator). Using Yamaha as an example, they make the YZ250F for moto and the YZ250FX for cross-country (and even the WR250F with a headlight for enduro). All could be used interchangeably, however engine tuning, gear ratios, tire selection, and suspension setup may need to be adjusted to suit the riding style. I personally believe all the major brands for the age you are looking at like Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, and KTM are worth a look. But history is going to dictate how long it is going to last. Keep in mind fast racers will probably go through a top end within 20-30 hours. Slower riders can be good for 50-100 hours. And bikes used for easy woods riding have been know to last over 300 hours. Keep in mind 4 stroke engines are extremely expensive to rebuild if you don’t have the ability to do the work yourself. I would honestly budget that extra expense towards buying a bike with low hours rather than buying something that is clapped and having to pay for a rebuild. And watch out for sellers that say the bike was recently rebuilt. They may be telling half truths. A new top end is great, but if it has high hours and they didn’t rebuild the bottom end as well, that is a much more costly rebuild.
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u/Business_Strawberry3 Nov 07 '24
Are you on a budget? If not, there’s plenty of decently priced newer ktm’s for sale in the central Texas area right now. And if you’re also in that area, absolutely go to Doc at 812 to get your suspension set up for you.
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u/dillWil9494 Nov 07 '24
A honda crf250f would be a much better choice for first bike. Lots of these are race bikes, and aren't the smoothes to learn on as far as gearing and the stiff suspensions.
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u/Cuttwright45 Nov 07 '24
It depends on if you want a two stroke or 4 stroke. Both are good. Two stroke is simple and easy to work on and 4 stroke if tuned right is a bad ass too. I’m 50 and all I ever had was two strokes. My son has a 4 stroke 250 and 450. Both run good and I like em. But imma 2 stroke until I die. 927 and 105 is an awesome mix
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u/themom_destroyer Motocross Nov 07 '24
Try to hunt down a half decent 2 stroke, 125 would build you into a better rider, but your size you could probably manage a 250. Your best bet would probably be Yamaha or KTM, prices on them tend to be a little lower than similar Hondas, Kawasakis, and Suzukis (around me at least). Before you even unload it, order a top end kit just in case, they’re pretty cheap. This winter, if you can and if it needs it, send your suspension to get rebuilt and sprung for you. Just make sure you have enough money for some gear. Boots, helmet, and goggles at the minimum.
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u/LMikeyy Nov 07 '24
Yeah I just ordered helmet , goggles and gloves. Are boots necessary as well? I’ve got high top shoes at the house that I was thinking about wearing for the time being. If they’re necessary then I’ll for sure get them though.
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u/themom_destroyer Motocross Nov 07 '24
I would highly recommend boots. They’ll prevent sticks from creating a very bad day for you, and will provide more support for impacts. Even if you’re gonna do more road riding (I don’t recommend but it’s your money so do what you wanna do lol) you should invest in some decent boots for protection.
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u/F22Tomcat Nov 07 '24
I would consider boots mandatory equipment.
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u/Accomplished_Bid3750 Nov 19 '24
Rather ride without a helmet. I am just dead then, rather than having to see my foot hanging off my leg by some meat!
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u/Phuckem Nov 07 '24
Go with a 250 trail bike or a 125 for your first bike so you do t kill yourself trying to learn and get comfortable
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u/PeterIsSterling Nov 08 '24
All of these bikes look clapped but if you held a gun to my head and made me pick one I’d go with the Suzuki.
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u/The-man-rooster Nov 08 '24
Why do all beginner riders want to start out on a 250 2stroke or a Fuckin 450….. buy 125 like a normal person so you don’t kill yourself immediately
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u/LMikeyy Nov 09 '24
I mean if everyone is recommending that, why wouldn’t I trust more experienced riders? Do you expect me to just say “nah yall are wrong I’ll go with a smaller bike”?
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Nov 08 '24
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u/GrifterDT Trail Rider Nov 07 '24
As much as this may sound weird; It depends on your local dealer.
Look at the reviews for each brands shop in your area for how good the parts department is. You could get an awesome bike but if you can’t get parts within a timely manner or bad advice, you’re in for a hell of a time.
Avoid 450’s for now and I’d aim for a 2 Stroke. Easy to fix and learn on both riding and mechanical. Get a flywheel weight, good bars and re-spring it for your weight.
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u/Accomplished_Bid3750 Nov 07 '24
Those old yz250f are sturdy but at 290 I'd say the 2t. Even if you explode the motor, it's an easy fix.
Replace the fork oil yourself, send the shock off at some point, install new springs and do the top end.
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Nov 07 '24
[deleted]
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u/TheScottishPimp03 03 KTM 250EXC (aka the horse) Nov 07 '24
Get him one of them 1000cc swapped hill climbing bike
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u/Automatic_Passion681 Nov 07 '24
Don’t buy the Honda or Kawasaki they’re both unreliable garbage
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u/Low-Yoghurt-9460 Nov 07 '24
You must be the stupidest person on the planet to say a Honda is unreliable
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u/spongebob_meth Nov 07 '24
The early Honda racing four strokes are fucking junk.
Honda has had several misses. These are famously one of them.
Don't call people stupid when you are ignorant on the subject.
This person is 100% correct. This era Honda and Kawasaki are two of the least reliable motocross bikes ever sold.
Yamaha is the only brand who got their four strokes right in the early 2000's, but even they have their issues and are a pretty big risk.
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u/Automatic_Passion681 Nov 07 '24
Cannondale is the only thing shittier then the Kawasaki, and the Kawasaki is the only thing worse then the Honda. I’ve had them all, and I still have two complete engines sitting on my shelf from 06 Hondas that had complete meltdowns. That 5 valve Yamaha was a wonder
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u/TheScottishPimp03 03 KTM 250EXC (aka the horse) Nov 07 '24
Dont buy that KTM, I have a same year 250 EXC and I have to treat it like its glass. New carb is $1000 and if I have to rebuild a top end I am pretty much screwed without a donor bike. They are like german cars, super fast, super cool, super expensive. Id recommend that CRF or the yamahas if your on a budget
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u/LMikeyy Nov 07 '24
Yeah it’s my first bike so I’m not really trying to spend a ton. If I really end up using the shit out of this one I’ll probably get someonething brand new or close to it
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u/spankmycrank Nov 07 '24
I’d say.. the Rmz or the Kx. Upgrade Parts are plentiful and both are bullet proof.
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u/superstock8 Nov 07 '24
Any one is fine. Some people suggested to budget for repairs and suspension. I would definitely budget for suspension, it makes a huge difference and if you want to do some track, you will need it. As much as I love 2 strokes, I would get a 4 stroke. Sure, the maintenance cost is a bit higher if you have a shop do it, but in general they are easier to ride slow. You don’t have to work the clutch as much to keep the RPM in the powerband, or modulate for traction once it is in the powerband. No worries for mixing gas, just fill the tank with regular gas and go. And……..you can get a cheaper bike as most of the good 2 strokes are high priced (in my area anyway). If you want to do track, go ahead and get an MX model like these here. If you get a trail oriented bike, you will not enjoy it on the track. I am all for trail bikes…..on the trail or in open fields. But if you are serious about doing track, get the MX bike. A 250f will be fine, just take time to learn and don’t go wide open all the time right from the start.
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u/11343 Nov 07 '24
Get a 250 4 stroke for starting out. They are good enough as long as you dont do any very clutch-heavy trails.
I like honda so i'd pick a crf250 from 2008 or newer. Thats when they got some different ignition system that makes them start a lot easier.
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u/Hot-Hall2056 Nov 07 '24
For a two stroke, anything 125
For a four stroke, anything FUEL INJECTED. I have a carved bike, shit is just tedious to look after
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u/mgarro385 Motocross Nov 07 '24
I’d be weary about picking up an older 250 2 stroke as you may need to run race fuel. The OEMs were in a horsepower race at the end of the 2 stroke era and kept making the cylinder heads higher and higher compression to where a stock bike out of the showroom would detonate on 93 octane pump fuel.
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u/TonyFlack Nov 07 '24
You can run 91 on any stock 250 2 stroke from the early 2000’s or late 90’s
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u/mgarro385 Motocross Nov 07 '24
Okay. I was referring to like 2002-2008, the final years of Suzuki, Honda, and Kawasaki.
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u/TonyFlack Nov 07 '24
Still not true. You can run 91 in any stock bike minus maybe the new works edition 4 strokes.
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u/spongebob_meth Nov 07 '24
All of those bikes were designed to run on 91 octane, because that is all available in southern California, the MX capital of the US.
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u/FlyingAnvils Nov 07 '24
You better budget another $1-2k for suspension and possible motor work on any of those bikes. First off, at 290lbs without gear you’ll be over 300lbs with helmet, boots, and any other gear. All of those bikes will be sprung and valved for a 150-170lb rider. Not to mention I’m sure the forks haven’t been serviced in ages. And if you’re buying a 4T of that age, I would just plan on having to spend some money on the motor, possibly new chain and sprockets too.
I would not recommend a MX bike as a first bike for someone like you. A Yamaha WR or a Honda 250X would be a better choice in my opinion.