I've started attempting to learn about dirt bikes, and I would like some opinions
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When we went out to Indian Arm last weekend, we were passed by a number of dirt bikes, dual sports, and adventure bikes. My significant other mentioned that they looked like a fun time.
As we were passed by more bikes, and a first gen diesel dodge with a couple bikes in the bed, she commented again that they looked like a fun way to do more backroad exploring, and also that it would be an excuse for me to get a pickup.
Now she had my attention. After asking her about it all this week, she's still serious about wanting to learn how to ride a bike, but specifically a dirt bike, just for wandering down fsr purposes.
So I've spent this week trying to figure out what I should get as a cheap starter dirt bike. I was eyeing the Yamaha XT250 and TW200, but even used they're more than I'd ideally like to spend in case this isn't something she and/or I want to stick with.
So, two-wheelers of Oppo, what dirt bike would you get to learn on, for let's say, less than $1500?
1998 Toyota 4Runner, 1986 BMW 535i, 1969 Volvo 144S
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@gmctavish unfortunately the market is stupid right now for cheap stuff. I think the TW is pretty perfect for starting out and having a blast on some dirt and still being able to ride pavement between. At that price you're very much such with what you can find, which don't be much. But TW's you'll be able to sell again for what you paid if it's not your jam.
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@gmctavish The TW200 is one of the bikes I learned to ride on. Simple, easy, reliable, you're not gonna get a speeding ticket with it unless you really try.
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@gmctavish not a TW, they are nice trail rigs but no actual dirt bikes.
Depending on your size/weight, and if you want to keep it offroad, Craig sells 4 stroke 250s for a reasonable price, CR250F and equivalent. If you’re more of a chunker, 450s is the way.
If you want to take it on the road, you need a dual sport bike with the blinkers/headlights and license plate and so on … DR400s are plentiful and a good bang for the buck, WR250s are unintimidating and pretty good too.And as usual, if you’re not sure and/or somewhat new to the sport, don’t spend too much on a fancy or brand spanking new bike. An “older” 1990s bike will do just fine.
EDIT : sorry I missed the $1,500 limit. Uh … that’s gonna be tough to find something nice and that doesn’t need work for that price. Certainly not a dual sport/road legal bike.
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@gmctavish I'd find a place that does lessons or guided trail rides/rentals. That way you could get a feel for it before committing to a bike.
The person reading this is a doo-doo head
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@EssExTee It hadn’t even occurred to me that might be a thing...I’ll look into that
1998 Toyota 4Runner, 1986 BMW 535i, 1969 Volvo 144S
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@Darkbrador I guess I should’ve specified, something more of a trail rig is more what we’d be looking for. Neither of us are wanting to do anything resembling motocross, just some dirt road exploring.
I’ll check out those Hondas thanks!1998 Toyota 4Runner, 1986 BMW 535i, 1969 Volvo 144S
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@gmctavish lots of places do it with ATVs and side-by-sides, I'm sure there are dirtbike rentals too.
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@gmctavish said in I've started attempting to learn about dirt bikes, and I would like some opinions:
So, two-wheelers of Oppo, what dirt bike would you get to learn on, for let's say, less than $1500?
I'm bombing through Van Craigslist and your best bet is anything that runs. It's looking like small old bikes
https://vancouver.craigslist.org/van/mcy/d/north-vancouver-dirt-bike-yamaha-rt100/7480320335.html
https://vancouver.craigslist.org/van/mcy/d/north-vancouver-honda-xr-200-dirt-bike/7473188375.html
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@gmctavish $1,500 though …
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@Darkbrador Yeah I’m seeing very little in that range...I’m probably gonna have to abandon that budget. A friend of mine was saying I should just grab something from the 80s or 90s for $500 but I think he’s thinking of whatever the bike market was a couple years ago
1998 Toyota 4Runner, 1986 BMW 535i, 1969 Volvo 144S
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There's also the riding school as mentioned before, our local one is out of Popkum [past Chilliwack]
You know I'm kind of the antithesis of a dirt guy so I really don't know much about this course or the people that run it, particularly now with the 'rona. I would phone them to see what's up later this year.
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Old honda xr's are hard to beat for reliability and durability. Even an xr100 is enought to pull an adult around while learning. Then upgrade to more stout hardware. I'm 6' 240lbs and I can ride my son's xr100. However, you'll outgrow it quick
The xr200/230 (depending on year) it's a full size trail bike with approachable power and a low seat height. Newer ones even have electric start.I ride an old xr400r it's got all the power you could ever need for the trails, but its tall. It's heavy and slow compared to the modern KTM off road bikes, but its more than enough for most trail duties.
The 100 and 400 side by side
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I’m going to third this recommendation—not saying this will be the case but back in the day I’d very very rarely get a student who went out and bought a bike before learning to ride, only to find out that they actually didn't enjoy riding (or were truly never meant to be on two wheels and a danger to themselves). It really sucked seeing that.
Not saying that will happen here, but do yourself a favor and drop some cash on a weekend worth of lessons with someone else’s bike and some proper instruction. Off road lessons are ideal—MSF has a Dirt Bike School in some locations—but a street bike course will work as well for getting across the fundamentals. You can tweak things like off road braking technique later.
It also sounds like you’d be learning together or you’d be teaching her. Not for nothing but I also have found that it’s almost always smoother to have a neutral third party teach your significant other. I taught for eight years and generally was regarded as a pretty nice guy on the range, but my girlfriend (now wife) was ready to kill me after a few hours in my class.
As to your actual question, I’d see what you and her fit on and get something that’s reliable and 250cc or less. Dirt bikes tend to be tall, but some are a bit closer to standard seat height. For example, a Honda CRF250 is about three inches taller at the seat than a TW200—that can make a world of difference for the comfort level of a beginning rider. For what it’s worth, I do very much like the TW200s, and find them to be approachable and solid beginner bikes (we actually used them for trainers now and then).
‘14 Cayenne GTS
‘14 Wrangler Polar Edition
‘12 Tiger 800 XC -
I don't ride two wheeled vehicles anymore but I loved TWs.
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@Darkbrador said in I've started attempting to learn about dirt bikes, and I would like some opinions:
sorry I missed the $1,500 limit. Uh … that’s gonna be tough to find
We're talking about someone whose significant other is urging the purchase of dirt bikes AND a pickup truck. The blessed-by-the-gods clause may well extend to the actual purchases.
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@OhCrikeyTheRozzers Agreed with the "other" teacher. I'd recommend the lesson route as well. Your other half may like the idea of a bike more than an actual bike. There's reasons ATVs and side-by-sides are som popular.
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@gmctavish said in I've started attempting to learn about dirt bikes, and I would like some opinions:
for let's say, less than $1500?
Step 1, get a time machine ...
The market is high right now. A TW is a good purchase though. If you end up not liking it, it'll be easy to sell for more or less even money.
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@gmctavish I'm shopping the exact same way right now. Cbr300, tw200, something like this is where I'm thinking
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@gmctavish I'd say you're right on the mark with the TW (Tdub) or the XT despite the cost. Finding a good, trail worthy enduro for under $1500 is a near impossible task. Despite being more expensive the Tdub and similar bikes are great learning platforms that you don't really outgrow and they'll hold their value well should you decide this isn't for you.
As much as I love them I would stay away from the 70's-80's two stroke enduros, they're usually not any cheaper, far less capable (though still doable for meandering around forest roads), usually pretty finicky to keep running, and parts are hard to find.
Licensing/legality also play a big factor, if you have to have something that was street legal from the get go you're going to have a harder time. If you don't need a plate, or can plate an "offroad" bike, or are willing to plate an "offroad" bike out of state (look up the South Dakota dirt bike plate loophole) you're options open up a lot more. For simplicity and reliability I'd stick with obviously smaller cc air cooled bikes, the Yamaha TTR/XT line is pretty good, Honda's XR/XL line is excellent as well, same for Suzuki's DRZ line and Kawasaki's KLX line though I don't know as much about those.
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@gmctavish I am in almost exactly the same boat. I sold my CB-1 and find myself without a bike for the first time in 17 years. While I don't really want another sport bike, I have some friends that ride trails which seems fun, and having a little something that I could putt around town on, i.e. something that gets 70 MPG, would be great - hence a little 250 dual sport seems to punch the ticket.
Similarly, I don't want to spend a ton of money and was also thinking $1500-2000, and like you I realized the market is crazy and its virtually impossible to find anything under ~$3k.
There are some janky chinese bikes that come in at budget but I really hate the idea of A) knowingly sending money to China and B) having something that may not be supported tomorrow. There is a used Hawk 250 near me thats in budget (1700) and its apparently a clone of a Honda CRF250L, so it alleviates my concerns somewhat.
As it stands I'm in no hurry, so I may just sit on the proceeds of the CB-1 sale for a bit and see how the market goes.
