Whats the best Dirt Bike

[WJG1000W]

i have been looking a lot into dirt bikes lately whats the best dirt bike in your opinion

[300rman]

Depends what you want to do with it.

[gomer202]

I like hondas but i have owned honda's, yamaha and kawasaki and i liked them all

[kristofrogers]

Desert Riding? Get a 2 stroke 250 (even though I'm a 4 stroker 2's usually walk me and do better in the heat...) If your a 4 stroke guy I'd suggest maybe a 450. Track riding 2 strokes have the edge but are critizied by the hippies for the pollution but personally I like my Kawi 250F 4 stroke. It really has to do with what you like personally.

As far as brands go the general census tends to be like this (as far as quality goes).
1. KTM
2. Honda
3 Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha.

I personally love Kawasaki but this list will change with people's biases. KTM's and Honda are also the most expensive...

If you have a chance ride your friends bikes. Try to get as much experience with research and first hand riding before you buy.
If you are buying used DO NOT buy a Raced bike. They usually are ridden extremely hard. Try not to buy anything older than 2000.
They say you should have the top end (piston, head, cylinder) serviced every 4 years with regular riding so keep that in mind too. Ask about any work they have had done, etc etc.

[dksix]

Here in the mountains of east Tennessee you can't beat the KTM200 for hard riding or the KDX200 for casual riding. But in more open riding, I don't think either would have the top end to keep up.

[zzmegad]

Dream bikes: KTM300 for the woods, CR500AF for the dunes, any 450 or maybe a YZ250 for the track

[whyzee]

As 300Rman said, ya gotta tell us what you are doing with it.

[WJG1000W]

probably trail riding ,mudding and road running
not much dunes out here in Iowa
i also want a bike that will take one hell of a beating but will still get up and going on a road and has nice suspension

[whyzee]

Been thinking about getting a bike like that as well. I really know nothing about them. Was looking at Suzuki Drz 400 or Honda 650l, but that is alot of bike for trail riding on the east coast. I come from a motocross background so I am looking forward to the answers as I really have no clue on dualsports. How big/tall are you and what is your experience level?

[Tri-Z 250]

KTM530 Street Legal, Trail worthy, Electric start...The 300 or the AF500 are race bred and DREAMY....nothing wrong with a late 2009 YZ250 overbored to a 300 either. The thing to remember when shopping late model YZf 400,426,450(or CRf's) is time on the motor. They all need fresh topends sooner or later. I have experanced the joys and weight of a XR650...nice bike, billy goat to picket fence blinding speed slimply twist it or lug it, but man it's heavy and tall on the trail at times.

[300rman]

KTM300XC. Electric start 2 stroke.

the CR500AF is also a great bike, but if you havent owned a bike before, I wouldnt suggest one of those animals......Ive rode a LOT of stuff, my 500 scares me. And I can handle my 250 without a problem.

Also cant really go wrong with a 250 two stroke. 97-99 CR's are the only ones I really know to avoid (handling was horrible I hear)

[Amater45]

Maico 700! cant beat a roaring 700cc 2 stroke!

[WJG1000W]

Been thinking about getting a bike like that as well. I really know nothing about them. Was looking at Suzuki Drz 400 or Honda 650l, but that is alot of bike for trail riding on the east coast. I come from a motocross background so I am looking forward to the answers as I really have no clue on dualsports. How big/tall are you and what is your experience level?
im am about 190 pounds and about 5'7" and i only been riding for about a year but about everyday for that year
the 125 enduro is starting to get a little gutless when i get on

[captainweezy]

Chevy mopeds are good

[atctim]

Honda CRF450X. They are great bikes - no downfalls really!

[WJG1000W]

is that the motocross or trail riding one

[Chazz of Blades]

The absolute best dirt bike is the one that you are having the most fun on, that you won't regret later.

[keggs17]

Yamaha Big Wheel or a Honda Fat Cat sounds like it would fit your catagory of riding style. they are perfect for trails, more stable in mud and on rocks rough terrain etc...if your not a fan of them though i would suggest a dr350,xt350,or like a yz 125 2 stroker, those bikes have all the power for the woods and are best at going through the rough stuff, and are not as radical in the woods as a larger two stroke would be.

[WJG1000W]

well i found out my buddy wants to sell his 1999 KTM 300 MXC so price and availability might beat out which bike is perfect

[keggs17]

A 190 pound guy on a YZ125 in the mud and woods???:lol: Best take along some spare clutch plates for that ride.
ok mabey the 125 is out..lol i do like the ktm 300 tho.

[brapp]

the ktm300 is a great platform, good power, good handling and pretty reliable. i loved the smothe predictability of the xr400, but love the raw p[ower of the kx and cr500's and still liek my bwp (big white pig) the 91xr600

[WJG1000W]

this is it its a buddy of mine so he says $1200
http://iowacity.craigslist.org/mcy/2986691988.html

[WJG1000W]

no he put new rings in it when it started smoking it didnt fix it so he put new gaskets in it and that did it and it will stand up in 5th gear

[Chazz of Blades]

no he put new rings in it when it started smoking it didnt fix it so he put new gaskets in it and that did it and it will stand up in 5th gear


Your friend doesn't seem to quite get two strokes, does he? You realize they're supposed to smoke, right? Even if it's just a bit until warm.

[oldskool83]

i liked 92+ kx250s, yz125s i didnt like, cr125s i liked the best 93 + steel frames only

xr200s great if modded and your smaller. thats best advice i can give.

[bkm]

I miss my 2002 KDX200. The most fun I have ever had on a trail was on that bike. I'm about 205-210 and the only thing I would change on the bike would be a set of stiffer front springs.

[WJG1000W]

Your friend doesn't seem to quite get two strokes, does he? You realize they're supposed to smoke, right? Even if it's just a bit until warm.
but they have a tendancey to blow the transmission seal and start sucking in more oil and it started smoking more then usual

[Chazz of Blades]

So was it the seal? Doesn't say anything about it being replaced. I'm with Elca here on the pricing.

[WJG1000W]

he said gaskets through out so yes

[300rman]

no he put new rings in it when it started smoking it didnt fix it so he put new gaskets in it and that did it and it will stand up in 5th gear

LOL....new rings to stop the smoking.....THAT is funny right there!

[WJG1000W]

Quote Originally Posted by WJG1000W View Post
no he put new rings in it when it started smoking it didnt fix it so he put new gaskets in it and that did it and it will stand up in 5th gear
LOL....new rings to stop the smoking.....THAT is funny right there!

it was almost in need for rings anyway and incomplete combustion can cause smoking

[HuffieVA]

it was almost in need for rings anyway and incomplete combustion can cause smoking

Maybe you should look into "2-Stroke Theory" a bit before you defend yourself with another slightly off understanding of them....

Rule number one on a two stroke (unless its direct injection) is "If it don't smoke its broke"

Two strokes have gained a bad rap because of the visible smoke as apposed to the invisible carbon footprint of the four strokes... I guess its out of sight out of mind for most people...

If your going to mostly trail ride and mud and have little expierence get yourself something smiler to a Yamaha TTR225 or a Honda CRF200X, There's nothing wrong with a Husky WR125/144, they are nice light bikes and very capable of serious woods riding and single track, there is a guy running A class hare scrambles in the same series as my son on a TM144 and believe it or not he chews up the 450 thumpers with it (I'd say he's around 6ft 185lbs) and I'll admit my son can run circles around me on his WR125 with me on a 250 (smoker) he's 14 5ft and about 90lbs, and to be honest I'm pretty sure I could do better on a 144 in the woods than my 250 (you shave about 30'lbs) but its all in your riding style if you like to put around and use the bottom end a 250/300 is the ticket, if you like to run mid/top end a 125/144 is a good option, I don't ride thumpers unless they have license plates because engine breaking sucks in the woods... The problem these days is finding someone that actually knows how to ride a smoker to teach you...

[300rman]

it was almost in need for rings anyway and incomplete combustion can cause smoking

LOLOLOL....the oil mixed with the gas causes the 2 strokes to smoke....piston rings is irrelevant in a two stroke's smoking..... excessive smoke is a jetting or oil ratio problem.

[Knobby Addict]

The decision does hinge upon your expectations. I realize I'm vintage, and I agree the KTM's are nice but come at a price. If you want a lugger why not a XR250 or XR400? Big upgrade from any 125, usually under a Gnote for a clean one, reliable as a brick, only maintenance is oil and a filter, and when your done with it get the same Gnote back..?

Example...I shipped my a $1200 XR400 to moab to ride with an old friend (and his very cool, well funded buddies), note: I rode the P*ss out of it for 3yrs and did nothing but fluids....they all smirked aboard their KTM 525 (and the like) perches. I did not win ANY drag races and made it up most of the sand hills. However when the walls got steep and rocky all I could smell from the top of the hill was was their feathering clutches and hot coolant as they followed. By the end of the week I was the "old honda goat" from back east. The BEST part, I sold the XR still warm (and tired) with a 1/2 tank of gas and a bald tire for $1200 the day I left. The BEST dirtbike I ever owned!

[Blown 331]

Liquid cooled XR650R.

[250rRoostmaster]

I really love my 01 yz250 with a rekluse clutch, had a 93 cr250 which was a amazing handling bike but i can go way faster through the trails with my YZ. Much more stabil. No comparison at least for me. And el camexican is right about the 04 or newer KTM's. If you have the scratch i'd go with 09 or newer since that's when they changed from link-less to a linked rear suspension and is much better IMO. The motor got reworked a bit too. All bikes are fun and you can't really go wrong with any of them. I would suggest riding a few different bikes if at all possible to see what feels good to you because they all ride and handle differently. All depends on how you feel on it.

[atc300r]

My dream bike would be Honda cr 500r aluminum frame version.

[Blown 331]

Liquid cooled XR650R.

Bought one 362 days after making this post and stand by my comment. Awesome.

[rg97]

ATK 700 :D
http://www.atkusa.com/atk/(S(ddj4bj55yhfdjfi2ijoprpza))/documents/2009ATK700620cc.pdf
(http://www.atkusa.com/atk/(S(ddj4bj55yhfdjfi2ijoprpza))/documents/2009ATK700620cc.pdf)Buy it and never look back

[Overponder]

You lads need to look at the forum your in! This is late seventies to mid eighties trikes we are are all interested in yes? Then get yourselves a dirt bike according to that era---A real man with cahunas rides a YAMAHA IT 465 (hairy chest optional but nesacerry),i have an 82 465j and it scares the bejesus out of me every time get on it! To all the two stroke gurus out there,they're now gonna bring them back int MX so enduro will be next even though they never left them behind so who knows maybe quads next-i love the smell of two stroke in the morning! (Robert Duvall)!!!!

[rg97]

But it only has 78hp!
Yeah and with it being SO UNDERPOWERED, I hear a 125 4 stroke will outrun it!

[Ghostv2]

Did anyone here forget to mention the Yamaha big wheel or the Honda fat cat? :naughty:
Classics.

[rg97]

Yamaha Big Wheel or a Honda Fat Cat sounds like it would fit your catagory of riding style. they are perfect for trails, more stable in mud and on rocks rough terrain etc...if your not a fan of them though i would suggest a dr350,xt350,or like a yz 125 2 stroker, those bikes have all the power for the woods and are best at going through the rough stuff, and are not as radical in the woods as a larger two stroke would be.

This guy didn't forget

[ColtonGG33]

A yz490 would be pretty awesome to have! They are huge bikes

[Blown 331]

I don't think the original poster asked for the best vintage dirt bike, but in that case I have to go with the Yamaha TT500. I love them, and it was in a class by itself for several years while others played catch up.

[sweetip2000]

Suzuki RM 125

[sweetip2000]

Suzuki RM 125.

[Dave8338]

You lads need to look at the forum your in! This is late seventies to mid eighties trikes we are are all interested in yes? Then get yourselves a dirt bike according to that era---A real man with cahunas rides a YAMAHA IT 465 (hairy chest optional but nesacerry),i have an 82 465j and it scares the bejesus out of me every time get on it! To all the two stroke gurus out there,they're now gonna bring them back int MX so enduro will be next even though they never left them behind so who knows maybe quads next-i love the smell of two stroke in the morning! (Robert Duvall)!!!!

LOL... that is what I did. :beer Hunted around until I found a 1985 CR 250R that needs PLENTY of work but is a low hours machine. Full rebuild on the engine (still in process) and a set of Super Moto shoes. To me, there is something fun and a bit crazy, restoring a machine for more than I could buy a new(er) one for and having something that gets the "I remember those / had one of those" type comments. That and... not EVERYONE else on the block has one. ;)

[TrikeGarage]

The year was 1983.... The motor company honda.... finally mastered the open class design.... And the 1983 cr480 was born!!!!


Best dirt bike. 83cr480....

[deathman53]

the best bike is the one that fits you the best. I had and rode a bit. I have a 98 200exc, 06 450exc and 07 300xc(converted from a 250). I had a 01 xr250r and 99 husky tc610. Rode 06 200xc, 92 wr500, 02 yz426, 02 xr400, 98 yz250(woods setup), 9? rmx250, 9? yz250, 04 200exc, 02 400exc and more, just can't remember. Most will tell on a ktm site, that the 500exc is the best do-it-all bike, if you want a 2 stroke 300exc. If you want a more race type the xc is what you would want. They say the 500 is so light that you will never know its such a big motor. I would say ride a bunch, with ktm 200 frames got bigger after 08, so the light small and nimble bike feel is gone after 07. I would say for trails, some roads and even mx(to a point) a ktm 200exc or xc would be a good bet(for a 2 stroke, remember the bigger frame after 07 also), don't discount the 250/300 if you want more grunt and power. The newer 250/300 are supposed to handle much better(the e-start system is more of a emergency re-starter for the most part, it was never really perfected, just bandaided). If you want a 4 stroke, the 350's are gonna be the best for a light nimble bike. The 250's are nearly the same weight, but need to be revved much more. The 400 is generally the best of trail-road-single track and some moto involved. 500exc/xc would be the best do-it-all, but with weight penality. The RFS(01-07 ktm 4 stroke 450/525) for the most part are kinda porky, but make alot of power and can feel heavy at times. I personally would go for a 02-07 ktm 400exc, it will do everything you want, need little maintenance, very tough motor and have great handling. If you want more motor, convert the motor to a "453", it involves a different crank and top end, changes it to 450/500/525 power while keeping the 400 handling.
Ride alot and see what you like, remember, a badly(improperly tuned for you) suspension can really effect how the bike handles and sway your opinion alot. IE: a bike with suspension tuned for a 250/300lb guy will handle horrible for a 160-200 lb person. Ride a bike of a person who is a similar weight and riding skill. Better riders and pro's are much more likely to have harder hitting power and much stiffer suspension. Consider a suspension re-valve/re-sprung job in the initial cost when buying a bike(yes...even new)