Dirt bike for a beginner

Hey folks,

I don't know anything about dirt bikes, but with the local road course under fourteen feet of water, I figured I should take advantage of all this Iowa dirt and get into off-road riding.

I'd be looking at mainly trail riding and perhaps some motocross, but I don't see myself hitting jumps anytime soon. This is really more of cross-training for the road stuff.

I've read that a 250cc 4-stroke or a 125 2-stroke is the way to go for a new dirt rider. Anybody partial to any specific bikes in the $2,000-$2,500 range? What should I know before getting into yet another expensive hobby?

 

XR400

 

Need more info. What are you looking to do, where will you ride? Can get few yr old honda crf230. Great bike. Full size wheels. Electric start

 

Husqvarna TX300

 

Local dirt trails and OHVs, primarily. Maybe the local MX track but that’s pretty unlikely.

I’m 6’, 185, if that helps.

 

250cc 4 stroke. cheap and available on craigslist all day. wont be the equivalent of jumping onto a liter bike with no experience.

 

Any particular model I should be on the lookout for, or is it like 600s where they are all similar enough to not matter to a casual user?

 

oh almost forgot- do not skimp on helmet or boots. good boots that are comfortable will protect your feet and ankles, allowing you to use this to actually cross train for road racing. helmet... same principles apply to dirt as pavement. if youve got a $70 brain, by all means go grab that Bilt at cycle gear.

 

exactly.
pretty much any of the big 4 (or KTM but the buy in will be slightly higher) and they will all be so close to each other that you as a beginner wont notice any differences.

you will most likely find more honda's for sale- because they sell more in total volume.

 

Older KTM 200EXC or 250MX they are like the SV650 of the dirt.

 

I have a 2006 crf450 with rekluse, new tires and tubliss for sale.

Don’t listen to the girls recommending smaller bikes .

Hayabusa in novice all the way!

$2345 obo

 

TTR 250

For learning, a tractor is better than a racer

 

CR 500.

 

WR250, it can be tagged

 

YZ490

 

Im going thru all the helpful answers thinking...what has the beeb come too....back in the day the answers to this question would ahve been...man the eff up sally and get a CR500....or least a YZKXCR something 250 2t....sheesh.

Now ya'll so kind and gentle and giving actual helpful answers....

 

Since almost all of these replies have been awful, OP why don't read this thread instead:

http://forums.13x.com/index.php?threads/dirt-bikes.326870/page-141#post-5487365

 

There it is! I was thinking someone would say KX500 but, CR500 will do.

What about a DR-Z400. It's a tractor, a bit heavy but you can't kill it. Might be too fat for a motocross track.

 

Damn. I was reading down hoping I’d be the first one to say it

 

Older 200exc. They are light, relatively bummer proof and enough power to have a bit of fun with. I ride one once and a while (well last year, haven’t had much time in a while to be out) and they have plenty of power to have fun with. Ya I know some fast woods guys will disagree but I’m not a fast woods guy.