About a month ago, I purchased a PeeWee 80 for my Son and he is loving riding, so much so Im thinking of joining him on the dirt. Does anyone here ride dirt bikes ? If so can you recommend a bike ? I have been out and test ridden a few such as a 2004 Yamaha YZ450f which scared the bejesus out of me, thats some serious power right there... just mucking around on a paddock and I had trouble keeping the front wheel down. I also went had a quick blat on a 2008 Honda CRF230 and was impressed, simple single cylinder 4 stroke with electric start. I also have been looking at the Yamaha TTR230 .. anything I have missed ? What are the gotcha's when buying a trail bike ? Any help would be appreciated ? Chris
i used to do a lot when i was younger pretty much the same as when buying a road bike but you know its gonna have some crash damages just look out for damage wheels /hubs / spokes also lots on the crack frames bent forks knackers shocks last one i road was a dr400 enduro needed a step ladder to get on it lots of fun but a bit like the yz always on one wheel had a few old cr250,s they wear fun but as with all 2 strokes they can blow up a lot lots of good cheap ones about tho :Thumbs_up:
Yamaha Xt250, make sure it's not an older 250 because they're actually 225s. Good simple no thrills trailbike. TTR 250 or 230, bit more serious and with longer legs. Suzuki DRZ's have very long legs, higher seat hight than my DR650 even. As you have discovered the new 450's have a ton of power, but it comes with a price, new top ends every 10 hours, rebuild the crank every 20 hours, change the oil filter every 50 hours :laugh: That's just running the things without racing :o An older air cooled 250 would be ideal I recon, listen for any knocks in the top end which could be the camshaft bore wear in the head. Check the swing arm linkages as well.
how about one of these chris good solid motor in them as long as oil changes kept up and not to scary too ride :Thumbs_up: http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/palmwoods/motorcycles/honda-xr-400/1003045120
I have ridden a few in my time mate and my favorites are still the kx125. Small, agile but powerful. Plus it's a 2 stroke and everyone loves a 2 stroke. Reasonably priced too.
thanks for your feedback, the more I research motorcross bikes, the more I fear I will have to deliver pizzas at nightto pay for regular up keep and maintenance. In all reality, I just need a good condition 4 stroke to put around on with the boy.... Im not aiming to be a middle aged Chad Reed. While my allegiance lies with Honda and Suzuki , I seem to be destined to be a Kwakka man so not to break with tradition I have made an offer on a 2003 Kawasaki KLX250 ( Subject to a test ride), I checked this one out tonight and it runs well, just had a flat tyre and he didnt have a compressor so I didnt get to ride it. Its only done 10000 kms, its really clean and has a staintune pipe with a decent growl :Thumbs_up: I popped in to see Mike from Capalaba Motorcycle Centre and asked his opinion on the KLX250, he reckons they are pretty good and have no known issues , all going well it will be in the garage tomorrow night, then its oil and filter change, clean out carbies, drop the wheel down to mike on Friday for a new tube and Im ready to take on nature. Chris
I picked up the KLX250 thursday night, we tried pumping up the tyre for a test ride but it pretty clean the valve was shagged. In the end the seller threw in his riring gear so I got his helmet, oakley goggles, fox boots, MX pants, knee guards and some armour. The Amour and MX pants dont fit but the rest is sweet. Phil was king enought to give em a hand Thurday night and we chnaged the oil and filter, new plug and he took the front wheel off so he could get me a new tube. It was all a bit rushed as we were going camping this weekend and I really wanted a bike to go riding with my son. On Saturday, I loaded up the ute with both bikes and my wife took the mighty Mazda with all our gear and we setup off for Kyogle to meet some friends who own 100 acres in the bush. It was dirt bike heaven with a few tracks there already but we strated blazing own own. The Kwakka ran like a dream and I like a kid in a candy store dirt, mud, tracks, hills, mud... it had it all . After a few hours I lent my bike to my mate Mark for a run and while he was out, the rear tyre went flat. We stuck a wooden stump under the bash plate as a make shift stand and pulled the wheel off, somehow the valve had snapped off from the tube so that was the end of my weekend riding. Its all good, I will get a tube (and a spare) this week , but Im definately going back Heres a pic of out make shift workshop.
Have fun on yoru new dirt bike. I still miss them but it is taking too long to recover when I have a off. Thats why I swaped to road bikes but if you don't go too hard they are a lot of fun and a great way to bond with the little one.
Great bike, good fun, bad weather and a flat tire, what more could Chris ask for. I'm with you Phil, memories of a broken knee don't inspire me to do it again. That was the worst six weeks of my life. Road is kinder on the body. Mind you I did have fun in the bush. Phil
Its about 15 mins north west of kyogke called rukenvale , some friends of ours own 100 acres up there so we go camping and get to play in the mud
