Lowest maintenance 250cc+ street legal dirt bike?

[DefyInertia]

I almost mentioned a trials bike but figured this guy would think I was not listening to his wants.

OaklandF4i gives excellent advice on this topic.

Goodluck!

[usedtobefast]

Wait a minute ... he rode a DR650 to Patagonia ... I had envisioned a lot of offroad travel in a trip like that. Maybe some muddy rocky roads?

Not why you'd reset to some "starting out in dirt" bike. Or maybe the roads were all paved? And if dirt, very easy?

[HadesOmega]

For dirt I ride a heavy weight dual sport the USS DR650 and a KLX140. The type of bike your ride will dictate the terrain you can ride, you will wish you had a lighter bike on the rougher stuff.

It's all a compromise I don't ride black diamonds with my DR I'm pretty fearless with the KLX140 on the other hand I wouldn't want to ride anything like the TAT on my KLX140

I also found out I don't want to ride the DR650 on dunes haha I tried, I'd rather have 4 wheels than on the dunes. I'd love to ride a smoker on the dunes sometime put that power to use.

I've never entered a rally race before but I would imagine it would be like a dualsport event with different stages. Try doing some dual sport events they'll challenge you physically and mentally. It's not competitive but so you won't actually be racing but your goal should be to finish the route before the sweeps catch you. It'll teach you navigation also which is usually rollchart or gps. I'd suggest to learn both. But by doing dualsport events I became a profficient adventure rider. Look at Lyndon Poskitt he races rallies and adventure rides at the same time.

[scootergmc]

I know an older guy who lived through the glory years of dirt bikes, and he now owns a two stroke MXer (can't remember the make/model) and a YZ250FX. He says the YZ250FX is amazing. It does so much so easily that he still rides his two stroke to "feel" like he's working the bike.

So you might want to look at that bike as well.

[evermore]

Originally Posted by usedtobefast

Wait a minute ... he rode a DR650 to Patagonia ... I had envisioned a lot of offroad travel in a trip like that. Maybe some muddy rocky roads?

Not why you'd reset to some "starting out in dirt" bike. Or maybe the roads were all paved? And if dirt, very easy?

Yep, lots of bad roads and trails but I figure that's not the same as what I'd need to get ready for a rally. The training course will have 250s so I think I'll get a good idea if my starting point should be there or not

[HadesOmega]

Here you go if you want to learn rally racing Lyndon Poskitt Racing


youtu.be/bcTquJiJAB4

[crashing]

MotoJack Rack is pretty good for one bike no trailer needed.

I would say an old xr400 plated would be a good choice or a drz400. Or something smaller. You can resell easily and branch off from there. I learned on a dt175 1978 and it was short and light enough to learn some skills. Rode it to college and a lot of new development sites in Fremont, Union city Hayward just trying to get better on the way home. Fun stuff don’t overhink it!

[evermore]

Originally Posted by HadesOmega

Here you go if you want to learn rally racing Lyndon Poskitt Racing


youtu.be/bcTquJiJAB4

ooh, that is tempting but I figure that might be a year or two from now at the earliest for me =)

[evermore]

Originally Posted by OaklandF4i

If you really want the skills to ride a rally, you are going to need to learn to ride a small cc dirtbike very very well. Those skills will transfer up to larger dualsports and rally bikes, but not the other way. A trailer or hitchhauler will be in your future if thats really your desire.

When you say learn on a small cc dirt bike do you mean that it really is easier to learn on a less powerful bike OR because of the lighter weight?

All the 4-strokes 250cc bikes seem to weigh the same as the EXC-F 350 so if it's really the weight, I would likely be better off with the 350.

[OaklandF4i]

Originally Posted by evermore

When you say learn on a small cc dirt bike do you mean that it really is easier to learn on a less powerful bike OR because of the lighter weight?

All the 4-strokes 250cc bikes seem to weigh the same as the EXC-F 350 so if it's really the weight, I would likely be better off with the 350.

Less powerful.

Heck if you were really aggressive and serious about becoming a master of dirt skills, I'd suggest a 150 two stroke like the KTM 150 XC-W or trials bike, even at your size and weight.

Takes more skill to ride than even a 250 4 stroke and forces you to learn a lot of the important dirt skills many folks never do as the bike (more power) lets them be lazy or makes up for less skill.

Frankly, I'm over 220lbs and would enjoy riding a KTM 150 XC-W. It would make me work and not forgive mistakes. But I could do everything I can do on my 300 smokers. Would I be as competitive racing on one, maybe, maybe not. But we are talking about gaining and mastering skills.

That said, the 250F's (f = 4 stroke) seem to be the consensus bikes to learn on for adults. I've seen more than a couple of adult learners who are accomplished street, track, even road racers struggle learning dirt skills.

Talk to Brian Garrahan about it when you take the class. I'd trust his opinion over mine or anyone posting randomly on the internet.

If the goal really is to race, and race big bikes like a Rally bike, you will want to master dirt skills. You will learn and master those skills on smaller cc less powerful bikes....

I'm not claiming to be an "A" level rider, but have been riding for decades. This is just my experience and opinion, others will vary.

Edit: Remember, we aren't talking about forever bikes. But bikes to gain advanced skills fast.

[banshee01]

All bikes I would look at:

Crf250x
Wr250f
Ktm 150 2 stroke
Ktm 200 2 stroke

When is your class? Let us know how the class goes

[crashing]

Yeah if you want to really learn I would agree
With the 150 ktm xcw or Husky te150

[WoodsChick]

I agree with everything OaklandF4I is telling you. I'm not an A rider or a know it all, either, but I have been riding 30+ years and a lot of those years were spent on small-bore 2-strokes. My current dirt bike is a Husky WR125 which eventually got turned into a 165. If you want to build real skills, a small-bore 2-stroke is the ticket. There's no faking it on one, that's for sure. A KDX200 would be a great bike to hone skills, too. If you build a solid foundation of dirt skills then the sky is the limit for you...you can rally to your heart's content, or get yourself a big ADV bike and ride it with authority wherever you want.

Good luck in your quest, and please do keep us apprised of your choice and your journey!

[evermore]

I did look up the KTM 150 XC-W before seeing it mentioned here but that's a red sticker bike. Is the limitation not something people are concerned with?

[evermore]

Class is Sunday and I'm counting the days but tomorrow, going to ride the Brutale over Mt. Hamilton so that'll be a good day too