General Discussion Forum

I started riding off-road a couple of years ago.  I am disappointed with my riding.  I started wrong on a KLR650 because it was legal for forest service roads.  I moved to a DRZ400S because it was more suitable for ORV and still legal for forest service roads.  I have riden the DRZ in a Jimmy Lewis School and other schools in my area; the southeast.  I sold it this week and intend to purchase a bike that is lighter, narrower and manageable in the orv trails.  

After starting off-road riding at 69 years old and with only a couple of years experience I am concerned about making a buying decision.

Am I likely to ride better and faster on a 250cc four stroke that is very light?  Will I improve faster on a 250?  Will the extra power and weight of a 450cc four stroke impede my learning?  When I am ridng with accomplished trail riders which of the bikes will help me stay comfortable and a little quicker?  The specific bikes I am considering are the 2008 TE250 and TE450 Husqvarna and KTM 450EXC.  
Also do you believe Husqvarna dealer support is better with BMW dealers picking up the Italian bike?

Thanks to any of you who read and respond to this lengthly post.

Bruce  

I personally think a 250 will be more than enough bike for the trails.  If your not racing then you don't need the fastest bike out there.  As long as your not pointing the thing staight up mountains it shouldn't run out of power on you.  I do recommend sticking with the 5 major manufacturers.  Not just because of better dealer support, but the aftermarket parts will be more readily available as well.  Jimmy Lewis likes those odd european bikes, simply because they're not the same as all of the other brands.  I know this because he wrote it in his mag sometime ago in a review for a Husaberg or something.  

Bill H. 2000 CR250R

Thanks for the reply bhorrigan.  I may have made the ultimate mistake today and purchased a 2007 450exc.  It will need some modification to fit my small frame.  It is new and I purchased it from a Florida dealer and will pick it up next week.  I keep seeing the face of my friend who sales Husqvarna.  I choose the KTM over a TE450 for various reasons that I think are technically right but I hope I have not lost a friend.  I have already given the Fla dealer a credit card number to hold the KTM and everytime I think about the purchase I see my friends face.  Sorry about crying here but my wife took the position that she doesn't care about my bikes or my bike decisions.  I wonder why there are not recall programs for defective wifes?  

Lol They are all defective thats why.  

Your friend does not pay your bills.  If you bought that Husky and it broke you would be the one sitting waiting for parts to come in.  If he is a true friend he would not let his buisness interfere with your friendship.  He would just razz on you anytime your bike did something funny.  I do hope Huskys get a foothold in the US because it's always better to have more choices.  But I would really like for an american company like Buell or Polaris to step up and make some competitive dirt bikes.  

Bill H. 2000 CR250R

Polaris surely has the resources.  Were they the company that manufactured the CanAM?  I have forgotten, guess the wife is right, I am not the brightest crayon in the box.  

How quickly I forget, where is Jack Penton?  

CanAms were built by Bombardier.  The now make skidoo/seadoo, and have just brought back the CanAm name with their quads.  After seeing the innovation they brought to the Quads I am crossing my fingers hoping they will build bikes again.  

Jack Penton Imported KTM bikes and put his name on them.  

Bill H. 2000 CR250R

I heard Harley was working on something.  
I love this dirt stuff.

That was Buell.  They even hired Dave Osterman to be part of the development.  Then a couple of months ago the whole project got shelved in favor of some sport bike research.  Whether or not the project will be started again is anyones guess.  

Bill H. 2000 CR250R

bhorrigan:
CanAms were built by Bombardier.  The now make skidoo/seadoo, and have just brought back the CanAm name with their quads.  After seeing the innovation they brought to the Quads I am crossing my fingers hoping they will build bikes again.  

Jack Penton Imported KTM bikes and put his name on them.

I never knew Penton did not manufacture bikes.  I though the guy was the real thing like Malcolm Smith.  You just brought him down a few notches on my list of great innovators of motorcycling.  Please don't tell me if Malcolm Smith sent an impostor to ride the ISDE.  I couldn't handle having my bubble busted.