| Author | Message | ||
     Xl1200r |
The slow breakthrough of spring around here has got the riding bug going full steam, and while I have an awesome bike in the garage, I want to buy something with the tax return. I have a buddy whose house sits on acres and acres of wide open field, and I want a dirtbike to keep there just to mess around with. Ideally, I'd like something 4-stroke and air-cooled, big enough to have a lot of fun on (remember, this place is WIDE OPEN). I want it to be easy to fix and work on, lots of parts availible for cheap, and just generally something that's a breeze to own. I feel like a Honda CRF100 would fit the bill, but i've never seen one in person and dont know how big they are, and if the 100cc engine will have enough umph for me. Also, is there any difference between a CRF100 and an XR100? There are a couple XRs for sale near me and they look identical to the slightly newer CRF models. Thanks for the help! | ||
| Firemanjim |
XR 100 is a small playbike--CRF I don't know,unless it is the new watercooled racebike?? Look for an XR 200 or bigger,Dr-200 is Suzuki similar model. Yamah is an XT 200/225. Any smaller and it will be suited for kids. Don't get me wrong and XR 100 is a hoot but suspension is unsuited for and adult antics above about 20 mph. | ||
| Xl1200r |
The CRF is still air-cooled - the two bikes look 100% identical to me aside from the tank sticker. So - would a CRF230 be a better choice? Yamaha makes a TT-R230 that looks comperable as well. As long as we're here - what's with the 230 displacement? I thought it was typically 125, 250, 450??? | ||
| Grancuda |
Not sure of your price range but to have fun on a 4 stroke dirt bike you will probably want to jump up to the 450cc range. Here are a few good listings http://rochester.craigslist.org/mcy/577611542.html http://rochester.craigslist.org/mcy/577476018.html http://rochester.craigslist.org/mcy/576187683.html http://rochester.craigslist.org/mcy/575078504.html (Message edited by grancuda on February 18, 2008) | ||
| Strokizator |
You didn't say how fast you wanted to go but my personal choice for cheap, fast fun would be a 10 year 250cc 2-stroke. They have big-boy suspensions and you can do a complete top-end rebuild for about $100. Low maintenance; only fresh gas and you're ready to roll. | ||
| Interceptor |
Yup, either a nice CR 250 2 stroke. OR the CRF 450. If your tall enough and have some riding experience, they are awesome! -I would actually take the 450 4 stroke. One of the best sounds is a big thumper with an exhaust system at WOT.  | ||
| Reepicheep |
I like my 1985 KLR 250. Kick start, but street legal. You are going to get bored of that field pretty soon, might as well get something you can ride to other places as well. They had a 20 year production run, lots of bikes and lots of parts. The KLR 250 is nothing like the KLR 650 BTW. | ||
| Dalton_gang |
I wouldn`t get anything smaller than a 250. I have a totally tricked KTM 520 with a 540 kit. It`s kind of a monster sometimes but usually it`s the king where ever I go. I think the XR is more for trail and the CRF is more for mx but I`m not sure. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Mark, there are so many bikes out there you need to give us some idea of what you intend doing with it. Then we can give our "highly intelligent" opinions on what "we" think you need. HAHA! | ||
| Xl1200r |
Ha, highly intelligent, good one! All I intend on doing with it is messing around a little in a large grassy field. I've ridden two different dirt bikes on th street and it was such a miserable experience both times that I woudln't be willing to do so in order to get it someplace different, lol. It will literally probably only get used a handful of times over the summer. No jumps, no trails, just something to play around with. It used to be all farm land so the terrain is pretty easy going. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Reep - I actually did a bit more looking and it seems that all of the jap big 'uns make a street legal 250... That may be the way to go as I want something nice and light. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The Yami 230 is ok, but max speed on it is about 50 (you never said your ht/wt standards so your performance may vary) At 235 I weigh as much as the bike, it struggles up the steeper stuff but is good through the single track and is road legal. I preferred the KLR 250 over the Yami, thought the ergos were better for getting to the trail, riding it and coming back home. Pity Buell wont be building one,  | ||
| Bcordb3 |
I would look at the XL series Honda's. I think they can be bought relatively cheap, easy to wrench, and go pretty good. They also can be used to pull trees out of the ground. I had an XL250 when they were first introduced. Road many enduros with the XL, kept up to traffic. I didn't do so well in poker runs however, I could ride really well, but couldn't play cards worth a crap! | ||
| Xl1200r |
See, now... damn it all... I'm getting the bug to buy a real dual sport, something like a Kawi KLR650... Oh well, it's only money. Of the smaller dual sports out there, I was most impressed with Kawi's new KLX250S. I guess I need to decide if I want something nice and light for the tight trails or big and powerful for the faster stuff. The last time i rode on dirt was 10 years ago on a 4-stroke 125cc Suzuki when I was learning to ride, so I have no idea what kind of "adventure" riding I might like to do. Decisions... | ||
| Firemanjim |
You need to remember,nice and light applies to NONE of the 4 stroke dual sports --except the new KTM's,maybe. All of the bikes you mentioned are heavier and have less suspension travel and lesser brakes than their dirt cousins. That said, fire trails and back roads along with an occasional romp in a field are perfect. I have a DR-650 Suzuki and it is a ton of fun,as long as I remember it is not "dirtbike". | ||
| Reepicheep |
The KLR-250 is taller then a lot of the other 250's. That was a deal maker for me, but it might be a deal breaker for others. Well, that, and it was under $600 on ebay. Maybe that was a factor ;) Even if you don't ride it on the street much, the fact that it is street legal will increase the number of potential buyers when you go to sell it by 10x. I think the KLR-650 would be too heavy to be much fun in the dirt. I'd stick with the 250's. I didn't expect to be able to stand my KLR-250 on the street, but it actually turns out to be a lot of fun as a street bike if I am in the right mood. And if I ever do have to hit the interstate in a pinch to cover an exit or two, it'll go fast enough to not get me killed. The XR's (like the XR-650) are better bikes with more features... but they are the "trendy" brand. So they are a lot more expensive. Expensive being a relative thing here... none are that bad. The KLR-250 is water cooled, which is really unusual for a 1985 dual sport. So it won't need the 15k engine rebuilds that an XR will probably need. Advrider has some nice minimalist touring and thumper threads as well that talk about good bikes to buy. I think the biggest mistake you can make is to try and get a bike that is good on the street and good on the dirt. The roles are just too different. The Uly was smart in making a good streetbike that can survive on the dirt. The KLR-250 is good in that its a good dirt bike that can survive on the street. I think the KLR-650 misses the mark trying to be good in both... it means its just tedious everywhere. IMHO, and I haven't actually ridden a KLR-650. But I have stood on a slick and muddy steep hillside, wrestling my KLR-250 back upright after it flopped over seat down hill, and just about burst an eyeball. I would hate to have to do that with a 650. There is another odd little Kaw... I think it is the KLX-600 or something? Lots of parts in common with the KLR-250, but a few strategic nice upgrades, and a 600cc engine. I think they are fairly rare and I don't know about parts. The KLR-250 was made from 1985 through like 2002 or something, easy to get parts from dealer or ebay. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I really think the KLR250 or KLX250 (new version) will what I end up with. I've been doing some reading on the KLX and it looks like that it's just a smaller version of the dirt-only KLX300, which means that a 330cc big-bore kit will bolt in nice ;) These things are only making something like 18hp stock, so something will likely have to be done about that... BTW - I'm 5'11", 175lbs | ||
| Bamaboy |
JMO but if you ride a Buell your going to want a dirtbike with a little kick. I recommend looking for a 98-99 YZ400 or even better a WR250f. You should be able to find one of these around for $2500 or less. Good luck!!  | ||
| M2nc |
The KLR-250 is taller then a lot of the other 250's. That was a deal maker for me, but it might be a deal breaker for others. Yup. I can ride the taller stuff, but when tracking in the tight or loose stuff, being able to touch ground makes attempting more severe off road adventures a little more comfortable. No Seed has a DR-Z400 and XT225. The DR-Z400 will walk all over the XT225 until you get in the tight or loose stuff. The XT has much ground clearance as the DR-Z, but the seat is several inches lower. When making your own trails through the woods the DR-Z was just clumsy and the XT was surgical. Not to mention my 12yo can ride the XT comfortably, where the DR-Z is just not a beginner type. Add the XT is air cooled and less maintenance and I believe I have found my next bike. I got up to 65mph on the XT with my 235# on it. Tucked in No Seed at 180-200# hit 75mph on it one day. It's no racer but a good and cheap trail bike. | ||
| Percyco |
Did someone say XR650 ? Here's my L model with a few mods to make it more off road worthy .  This is my daughters bike, a Yamaha TTR-125L. It is similar to a XR/CRF 100 but more suspension and a 125 cc. It's great fun to ride kid or adult, it's a very popular mini trail bike with tons of mods available. This one has the YZ85 front inverted forks, a BBr frame cradle and the usual uncorking.  | ||
| Reepicheep |
I just mounted my first set of serious knobbies to the KLR 250 (Kenda trackmaster II's, under $100 to my doorstep for the set). So I spent half an hour playing in four inches of snow tonight. Un freaking believable. I would not have believed how much traction is possible. It's gonna be a fun (and dirty) summer  | ||
| Old_man |
Ditto on getting something street legal. It's good to be able to ride on the road to get to where you want to ride the dirt. I had a CZ 250cc enduro in my younger days. I could ride the dirt all day long without covering the same ground twice. |
