Newbies Forum

I am 18 years old and wanna buy a dirt bike this summer.  I'm about 6' and weigh 155.  I wanna a bike that I can learn how to ride on but I want it to be a bike I can use for years to come. It will most likely be driven in woods and fields.  I dont really want to spend more than $1,000. Any suggestions on make/model/year are much appreciated.  

$1000 and you want it to run for years to come?

That's a tall order!

Any of the current 250F's would suit your needs, but finding one on good shape for $1000 isn't realistic.

An XR250 would be a good bet, as they are ultra reliable - that's the closest I think you will get, as any performance-based bike that is still on good shape is going to cost you way more than you budgeted for.

You're only other hope is to find a 2-stroke 125 or 250 that is 3-5 years old and has a bad motor that you can rebuild...

Good luck!  
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well, the budget is flexible. It depends on how much money I make this year and how much of it will go towards my truck and college tuition. It sounds like any bike with a 250cc is a pretty safe bet. Any big differences between the 2 and 4 stroke engine?  

Ahh - the great 2-stroke vs 4-stroke debate  there are lots of differences between them.  Do you want to knwo what the differences in design are?  or the difference in maintenance?  or the difference in how they perform out in the woods?  
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just by reading older posts it sounds to me that the 4 stroke seems to be the more popular one  

Popular? Yes - due primarily to changes in the AMA rules the past few years.

Easier to maintain?  Not by a long shot.

Easier to ride?  I find it much easier to ride a 2-stroke in the woods than a 4.  The 2-stroke is less prone to flameout and is much, much easier to restart when it's hot.

Popularity is a funny thing in a sport that defines the term "win on sunday, sell on monday" - in the top ranks of Supercross, you either ride a 4T or you lose.  In GNCC/Off Road the 2 strokes still command respect and trophies.  
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so a 2 stroke is probably a better bet for a beginer?  

In my opinion, yes - but let's get others to chime in too.

I vote for the 2 stroke because it's easier for a beginner to maintain, cheaper to own, and it teaches you throttle/clutch/powerband control so much better than a 4 stroke could ever do..  all the fundamentals you need to learn quickly.  
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skipkh is right but on the other hand I believe the 4 stroke would be a little eaiser on the beginner as far as learning to ride. When it comes to maintenance let me just tell you,
I did 3 valve clearance checks on our 3 4-stroke bikes and although its not hard I could have done 3 complete rebuilds if they were 2-strokes.

Sence you are 18 IMO I would go 2-stroke because you could handle it. I like the 4-stroke at my age.  
I love this dirt stuff.

Haha, that only happens if you ride a Yamaha 4 stroke huh pojp?  

2009 YZ250F Long Haul

Yes sir it dose.lol  
I love this dirt stuff.