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I'm looking for a 250 to 450 dirt bike. I want something that I can abuse at off-road riding areas. My goals are multiple including the desire to take a buddy along for day of dirt biking despite the fact he does not have a bike. Another idea is that I'd be able to practice stuff like riding wheelies and jumping without extra abuse to my more expensive KTM EXC 450.

I'm thinking more along the lines of a real motocross bike. Budget for this is LOW. Under $2,500 for sure. I know dualsport and adventure bikes, but I really don't know the motocross models and why a guy would pick one over another. For my budget and purpose, it probably does not matter. I don't want a project bike.

I've found a couple of Honda CRF250s on Craigslist. Seems like the kind of bike I'm looking for.

Yes, get a 250F. I had one and it was a fun bike! Plenty of power for my 200lbs, but not scary. I wished I had a CRF250X, instead of the R for trailriding, BUT I've never rode one to compare.
I would look for one with a recent rebuild. The valves will give you longer life.
I think you're just splitting hairs when dealing with the big 4. I'd just buy a solid one.
Honda's Unicam are noisy compared to the others Twin cam.
One day while trail riding I purposely went slower then I needed to, to see if it would stall out. It never did.
If you listen in this vid you can kind of hear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODL50LHzfdg

Looking closer its a CRF250R. So I guess no e start and tighter gears. Fine for closed trail systems like Chadwick.

I forgot all the differences between the R and the X. The main thing I wanted was the heavier flywheel. But I installed a larger stock size steel rear sprocket (it had a smaller alloy one) and it made a big difference. That and Type F ATF. It made the clutch silky smooth.
An added bonus is you can smoke your kids e-bike on one.
I know you've seen this but it was a blast for us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRjWOba74Xo


No e-start but I never had a problem starting mine. The gears are close and the light little pistons spool up super quick. I'd compare it to a 200cc 2 stroke.

Don't get a Honda 230 you would hate it because the price is below your price point.

I'm looking for another bike for the same reason. Another 230 would be great.

CRF230 is a great bike of course, and the right choice for many. For what I want to do with it, the 250 or 450 will suit me better.

I went to look at that 2004 CRF250R last night. Really nice guy who takes great care of his bikes--or just doesn't ride or abuse them much--hard to tell. I like the bike a lot, but really prefer a CRF250X to get electric start.

Turns out he also has a 2004 X, and it already has the titanium valves and seats replaced with steel--a great mod for long-lasting durability. Titanium is great for competitors who rebuild their top-end every year anyway.

He also has a 2006 YZ250 for sale, but I like the Honda better. So I'm still mulling things over.

Thanks for the help, Savage.

ajayhawkfan wrote:I'm looking for another bike for the same reason. Another 230 would be great.

You and Nick can fight over this DR-Z250.
http://www.rideforum.net/viewtopic.php? ... 590#p11463

Did you ride them both to compare? The X's are harder to come by for a good price.
If you want e-start you might look for a WR250F. I rode a mostly stock one and wasn't impressed though. It had nothing on my old KLX.
FYI - My bud went from a KTM 450 with a rekluse to a Kawi 250F and liked it much better for trail riding. Syspension is better, turns tighter, and you can wring on it harder and have more fun instead of worrying about whisky throttling all the time.

Threads a betta with pichers. Here's mine that I fixed up and sold. I could handle getting another.

Savage wrote:Did you ride them both to compare? The X's are harder to come by for a good price.
If you want e-start you might look for a WR250F.

I did not get to ride the X...and he lives in a "nice" hood, so really test riding a dirt bike there is heavily frowned upon. I just rode the R 1 block up the street hit all the gears in low speed just to feel it shift and revved it a couple times. Not a great test really, but I had to judge a lot based on what I saw and he told me.

The X was at a mechanic ready to be picked up. It was not running perfect, so he had the carb rebuilt. It was not officially for sale because the guy had planned to keep the X for himself. BUT...he thought he was willing to sell the X instead. When I asked for a price, he said, "maybe $2400"....but then told me to call him today after he had time to think about it. My gut tells me $2400 for X (e-start, steel valve mod, etc.) is better deal than $2100 for R. The R was really clean and he said the X was in same shape. Both ready to hit trails.

It'd be nice to test ride them back to back. I remember guys with X's putting R parts on them to give them some balls. So you might ride it and not like the added weight and stuffed up exhaust? I don't know.
I know I had a blast on mine!

How about a 2006 YZ125?

jsherm01 wrote:How about a 2006 YZ125?

Thanks, Jim. I don't think I want a 125, but...it would surely get the job done. My timeline goal is to have something in time to take to Disney for my brother-in-law to ride. Then it will be a spare bike in my garage that will allow me to take friends dirt-biking at closed riding areas. Depending on how much I end up liking it, it might become the bike I take to places like School Creek.

Feel free to let me know how much you want for the 06 YZ125 so I can keep it as an option.

I'm interested in g1shadow's 99 KTM 300 EXC, but he has a friend that wants it.

I went to look at a 2000 KTM 300 EXC last night, but it was in pretty bad shape. Could probably pick it up really cheap, but I don't have time to tear something apart and put it back together in the next 2 weeks...not really looking for a project. Of course all motorcycles are just one breakdown away from being a project!

Troy,

this is my old beast http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=829610 it is pretty capable off road and you could even do some dual sport ride with it....

I bought Greg's 99 KTM 300 EXC!

Here it is with my 2007 450 EXC in the background. They got a nice bath today.

Damn KTM snobs! j/k That's a clean ole dirt bike! I've never ridden one, but I bet it will do everything you need.

IMHO the 300 KTM is the perfect trail machine!!! Looking forward to follow it around the trails!

Savage wrote:Damn KTM snobs! j/k That's a clean ole dirt bike! I've never ridden one, but I bet it will do everything you need.

It should get the job done!

gagnaou wrote:IMHO the 300 KTM is the perfect trail machine!!! Looking forward to follow it around the trails!

Good, because follow it is what you'll be doing since you'll never be able to catch it!

Troy thats a nice set of twins you have. I once a a set that looked alot like that .haha
Well the wife is already bugging me for the small dual sport for her and my daughter.

That's about the perfect one/two punch when it comes to woods bikes. It will have a completely differrent character than the 450.

450 = your high school sweetheart that you married.....
300 = hot pole dancer at Baby Dolls you horsed around with for awile......

PV springs and pipes can tailor the power and delivery to whatever you want. There may also be some parts that interchange between the two, wheels, sprockets, brake pads, air filters, maybe levers. I know all this stuff is the same on my '06 300 and '07 450. This comes in pretty handy some times. Let us know your impressions of it after some seat time.

Good luck.

-Harv