I decided I want to get a trail bike for next summer. I had a lot of fun ripping the DRZ around Rampart even though I was on sumo race slicks. Not to mention the work out is great too.
I am leaning towards a 2 stroke 250 Japanese MX for reliability and initial cost.
Should I be looking at a 4 stroke? Plated?
What else makes a good trail bike?
Look this thread over,
http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/forum...ad.php?t=42689
I am not going to type out all the pros and cons of the different bikes, I'll let the others insert their opinions and then we can discuss it further next time we see each other. Don't be in a hurry to pick one up, you have a lot of winter to look. Christmas time is the best for deals.
Good deal. And for reference, I am not looking for a "beginner" bike.
CBR1K with knobbies and risersOriginally Posted by vort3xr6
KX65
Dizzer
929 - Yard Sale'd
87 Goldwing with trailer at Rampart.
Harley with knobbies.
When life throws you curves, aim for the apex
Current stable: 09 Thruxton \ 09 FZ6S2 Sold List: 97 Ninja500R, 03 SV650K3, 01 Ducati 750Sport, 73 CB350/4, 03 F650GSA, 08 Gixxer600, 03 Gixxer600, 91 VFR750F, 09 KLX250, 06 Thruxton 900, 02 VFR800, 08 Spyder RS, 12 Street TripleR, 09 KLX250S, 16 KTMRC390, 10 F650GS
my Facebook, SpeedShots
Here's a good deal on one. Should be able to get around Rampart pretty well. Link
Harley's are the original bikes that started Rampart trail system.Harley with knobbies.
A lot of new riders buy 2 stroke mx bikes because they are cheap. Most experianced riders end up on trail oriented 4 strokes. Rampart is a fairly easy system and can be ridden for the most part on mx bikes 2 & 4 strokes. Some of the other trails in Colorado aren't quite so easy.
There is a group of us that seems to do really good on the XR650R's *shrug* Lots of torque, has a great top speed for the interstate for when you HAVE to get on it.
If you like dropping your bike, it is a pig to pickup especially when its upside down (had to pick mine up yesterday like that). But who cares its still a blast, and the looks I get when I have a full 6.3 Gallon tank and hit Captain Jacks is great.
Not to change the point of the thread, but why not just get an extra set of tires with knobbies for your DRZ and swap them out when you want to hit the trails? The DRZ is a little heavy, but more than capable on a lot of trails. If you feel the need to drop some cash, take it up to Sisneros Speedworks and get some more hp.
I don't really have much to offer in the way of 2 stroke knowledge, but I have ridden a KTM 450/250 EXC a bit and love it. The 450 is light and has balls to boot. Downside is the maint associated with KTM's. Worth it, in my opinion.
I thought about doing that, but I would much rather have a dedicated machine for trails. 1. the DRZ is a pig, and 2. The DRZ suspension is really not meant for trails.
I do want something light so I am not dead by hour 1. I also want something more reliable than your modern 4 stroke MX. Oil change every 5 hours, valve check every 20 hours, etc etc. Rebuilding a 4 stroke MX is about 1500 with parts and labor, only 500 for the 2 stroke equivalent.
Plus with a flywheel weight, you can make the 2 stroke a very capable slow climber for trails.
Any mx bike does not have good trail suspension.
Dean has been riding his WR for years without anything but oil changes.
sounds like he already knows all there is to know on trail bikes
1998 VFR800 Interceptor - resurrected and custom tail http://vfrworld.com/forums/5th-gener...98-vfr800.html
1999 DR650SE
Yes, DRZ is a piggy pig pig.
I've ridden the shit out of my WR, and have had zero issues. I don't think it's ever been rebuilt. I sure haven't done oil changes every 5 hours either. Yamaha recommends an oil change every 3k miles, and 26k for valve checks on the newer WR's. A Trail bike is not like an MX bike, where for those 5 hours, it's having the living fuck beat out of it around a track.
The biggest thing is gearing. If it's not geared for the trail, it'll suck ass. Especially in a 2 stroker. I'd also much rather have a 4 stroke on the trails for going down the steep stuff and using the compression.
2008 Honda CBR600RR - Graffiti
2002 Yamaha WR250F
I didn't want a "beginner" trail bike either... so I took my F650GS Beemer pig off the dirt roads and into trails. Try wrestling a 423lb (wet not incl gear) big dual sport on a trail full of baby heads or larger rocks, with roots and trees. After the third drop I said enough. The 250KLX isn't as fast as the WR250 but works great on steep singletracks and sidehills and is SOOO much lighter to pick up.
When life throws you curves, aim for the apex
Current stable: 09 Thruxton \ 09 FZ6S2 Sold List: 97 Ninja500R, 03 SV650K3, 01 Ducati 750Sport, 73 CB350/4, 03 F650GSA, 08 Gixxer600, 03 Gixxer600, 91 VFR750F, 09 KLX250, 06 Thruxton 900, 02 VFR800, 08 Spyder RS, 12 Street TripleR, 09 KLX250S, 16 KTMRC390, 10 F650GS
my Facebook, SpeedShots
Are the WR's better for trail riding than a YZ?
They are TRAIL BIKES with the heart of a YZ. They will go up everything a DRZ won't
I love my WR so much, I'm going to wait for the 2012 WR450 with FI, and trade up to that. the 450 is only 11 pounds heavier than the 250, and almost exactly the same dimensions. Everything is within 1/10 of an inch, or exactly the same, in comparison.
2008 Honda CBR600RR - Graffiti
2002 Yamaha WR250F
Suspension, transmission, cams (power delivery) and final gearing are all different and tailor made for trail riding. Not to mention the lighting coil and wiring harness for lighting. And yes you will regret it if you don't get a titled bike.
I thought 'one size fits all' with suspension. Shouldn't matter whether you're jumping water bars as a 6' 200lb American dude or riding county roads as dude's 5' skinny wife.
1998 VFR800 Interceptor - resurrected and custom tail http://vfrworld.com/forums/5th-gener...98-vfr800.html
1999 DR650SE
^This guy drunk?
Brad, either get a KDX or Matty's bike, WR250R.
I've been on my WR450 for over a year now after spending the last 10 years on YZ's and I would never going back to a motocross bike for trail riding.
I wish.
I guess sarcasm isn't working today
1998 VFR800 Interceptor - resurrected and custom tail http://vfrworld.com/forums/5th-gener...98-vfr800.html
1999 DR650SE
I don't want another sumo, I want a dedicated trail bike.
http://denver.craigslist.org/mcy/2660218920.html
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