Whats the best Dirt Bike

[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
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?
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.