Used bike ?

[calamaridog]

What would be a good choice to look at for a good used general purpose dirt bike, around 250+ Eventually, I'll get a larger dual purpose bike, but for starters I'm considering a smaller bike to build my skills on.

My riding experience is fairly limited

[etbadger]

If you are just starting out, are not physically huge, and plan to do more difficult trails and such, I might even suggest a 125 or 150 (Yamaha has a nice TTR125 set). The ability to always get a foot down is very helpful.

Personally I run a Honda XR250r on our trips because it is large enough to go on the road if necessary (plated, will do about 65 to 70), its dead simple (air-cooled 4-stroke single), and fairly light so I can get it up and down from the rack on the back of the van without too much pain. Also parts are plentiful and cheap.

I do miss having a magic button, especially if I have flipped the bike upside down and have to kick it for 15 mintues to get it firing again, and some of the newer design water-cooled bikes are lighter, but they introduce complexity and tighter maintenance schedules too.

-Erik

[jnelson4x4taco]

im with etbadger, me and my buddies all ride xr250r's. one of them ran theirs without oil (not on purpose), no problem. Ive dropped it, flipped it, barrel rolled it, and crashed it beyond belief and she never lets me down. Unfortunately i dont have alot of experience with other makes and models but i can vouch for xr strength and reliability.

[HarryT]

I suggest getting a Suzuki DRZ 400. Also, be sure to have handguards, case savers, and a skid plate installed. You should wear protective gear all the time while riding.

[calamaridog]

I just told my boss I was thinking of buying a bike. He has a 2004 Honda CRF250R that has a brand new bottom end and a rebuilt top end. His buddy is riding it this desert season and at the end of April he said he'd sell it to me at a below value price.

The people we will be riding with have a 125 we can play around with.

I'm leaning this way, after seeing local prices on this bike I think I'm looking at a great value. I think my wife will also enjoy this bike too.

My boss is short like me and had the bike set up to fit him better.

After I get some more riding experience, I'll be looking at getting a dual purpose bike.

[Boston Mangler]

I just told my boss I was thinking of buying a bike. He has a 2004 Honda CRF250R that has a brand new bottom end and a rebuilt top end. His buddy is riding it this desert season and at the end of April he said he'd sell it to me at a below value price.

I wouldnt touch that bike! They have horrendous maintence issues and need valves adjustments and such very frequently! Also, not a nice bike if you are going to be dualsporting it

I would suggest a Honda XR250L! They can be had very cheap and are bulletproof!

I suggest getting a Suzuki DRZ 400. Also, be sure to have handguards, case savers, and a skid plate installed. You should wear protective gear all the time while riding.

Not a poke at Brian, but IMHO the DRZ400 is too tall of a bike for him.

I am 6'3" and its even too tall for my liking! Seat high is one of the highest in the dual sport class!

[calamaridog]

Kevin,

The valves were replaced with stainless steel and all new hardware to eliminate the valve adjustment problem. The whole top end is rebuilt and the bottom end is brand new.

This would just be a fun bike and not for dual sporting.

And yes, I'm quite short, and will be looking at bikes with the lowest possible seat height which wouldn't be the DRZ400

[Boston Mangler]

Kevin,
The valves were replaced with stainless steel and all new hardware to eliminate the valve adjustment problem. The whole top end is rebuilt and the bottom end is brand new.

Ah, very cool!

This would just be a fun bike and not for dual sporting.

Copy then, then it would be a good choice is the valve issues are solved and you wont be on the street!

[calamaridog]

Just in case this deal doesn't happen, however, I'd like to know what other bikes are a good used value so keep the information flowing if you have anything to share

[robert]

You can find the KLR250s for decent prices. Like most dual sports, it's a bit taller but that's easy enough to cure with a set of lowering links (available for lots of duel sports these days). Check out Dual Star for dual sport parts http://www.dual-star.com/index2/

You might wat to check out Adventure Rider for some good info on motorcycles too
http://www.advrider.com/

I've ridden a couple of the Suzuki DR series before and found them pretty easy to handle. The DR200s show up prety cheap from time to time too.