Honda Dirt Bikes Forum

I need some advice. First I am an older adult 42 y.o and never owned a bike. I have driven a bike only on a couple occasions so i'll be classified as a newbie or beginner. I have always thought about owning a dirt bike but always had a certain car craving i needed to fulfill first. Now that thats satisfied I am going to be looking for a trail bike. Always wanted a honda so that narrows down my choices. The type of riding will obviously be for just pleasure on trails. As for my size I am 6'-1"  225lbs,  I am really leaning towards a crf250x. I like the idea of it being a 4-stroke and love the idea of a headlight. My question is do you think this bike will be adequate for an adult beginner? Also was considering a crf250r any advice on which one or any other for that matter is welcomed. Thats what I like about forums, you get info from those in the know, I used a forum to ask questions before choosing my car and couldnt be happier, I'm sure i'll get some great advice from you guys. Help me out fellas    

lol. If you want pretty much a preu trail bike thats not gonna give you problems. honda makes crf230's for exactly that purpose. I'm pretty sure you can get lighting kits for them too. they come ready for the trails. You cant ride on a track with them and compete with teh mx bikes. but they ar eprobably the most reliable bikes out there. hope it helps ~pat  
PEACE GUYS ITS BEEN A BLAST!!!!! ~patrick

get a crf450x. it can perform on an mx track if you wanted it too. very reliable. the 250 is way too small for you. the 450 suspension will fit you way better then a 250. the 250 suspension is set up for like a 150-160 pound person.  
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Ride 2 strokes, buy 2 strokes, save the 2 stroke.

1998 cr125
2002 cr80

ahh but hes just beggininng. a 250 or 230 will be fine to start out on. but then he can get a 450 when he feels comfortable enough to handle it. we just went over this elko! your ankles are proof as to what happens. ~pat  
PEACE GUYS ITS BEEN A BLAST!!!!! ~patrick

yeah i know but there are some situations where a person of a certain size can handle a bigger bike. and this would be it. a 250 suspension will be way too soft. and a 230 suspension will be even worse. if he got a 250 or 230 there is no possible way that he can do any jumping or mx. with his height and weight he will be able to have his knees touch the ground when he sits on the bike. that is more dangerous then having a bigger bike. if you are careful and take your time to learn the bike, then you will be fine on a 450x  
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Ride 2 strokes, buy 2 strokes, save the 2 stroke.

1998 cr125
2002 cr80

yeah i know but there are some situations where a person of a certain size can handle a bigger bike. and this would be it. a 250 suspension will be way too soft. and a 230 suspension will be even worse. if he got a 250 or 230 there is no possible way that he can do any jumping or mx. with his height and weight he will be able to have his knees touch the ground when he sits on the bike. that is more dangerous then having a bigger bike. if you are careful and take your time to learn the bike, then you will be fine on a 450x.

yeah you could get a 250 but the bike will struggle to pull you around and those bikes are expensive so you will probably loose a nice bit of money doing it that way. i say just jump onto a 450.  
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Ride 2 strokes, buy 2 strokes, save the 2 stroke.

1998 cr125
2002 cr80

elko, he specifically says he will be looking for a trail bike. I dont think he will have trouble riding the 250 or the 230. The best i can reccomend for him, i forgot your username sorry would be to go down to a dealer and sit on some bikes. you can get an idea from sitting on the bikes as to what will work and what wont. And they will be able to answer and immediate questions you have about the bikes. as they are pretty well learned up on the items they sell. ~Pat  
PEACE GUYS ITS BEEN A BLAST!!!!! ~patrick

I say go with the crf250x because....You can adjust the suspeshion, and if that wont work you should be able to buy aftermarket suspeshion. Enyways that wont be to much bike for you, seeing as your a beginner.  
Eating dirt is for everyone behind me

I havnt read the whole thread, most of it though.

but I agree with elko. I would get a crf450x.

I have a 05 crf 450r and my brother has a 2007 crf250r and when I hop on his 250, its just not fun, it seems like it has no power compared to the 450.

you have enough height for the 450 (not that theres much of a difference between the two) and you got about 50lbs on me, and I can handle the 450 just fine.

If I were you, an older guy just wanting to go for calm, fun rides on the trails, I would get the X version for sure, the R is a race version and you may not like the way that one feels.  
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4 stroke FTW!

05 crf450
DNA rims/hubs
T4 pipe

9.5 hours on the hour meter, more to come!

no dont geta crf230 get a 250 or 450  

trust me, I have a friend whos 250lbs and I have a crf250. when he gets on the 250, the suspension is almost bottomed out, thats on stock settings though.

I honestly think youre a bit too big for a 250. the 450 isint a learners bike, but if you get the 250 you will regret it once you hop on a friends 450.

you WONT be happy if you get the 250, you will need to tighten the suspension AND its kind of a junk bike compared to the 450.

like I said, I hopped on my bros 250 because my 450 is in the shop, and I feel sorry that he paid 7500$ for that POS. it has no power and no top speed compared to my 450, and the 450 only has an after market pipe (t4). the 250 has an aftermarket dual carbon fiber exhaust and its still has like 1/4 of the power of a 450.

let us know what you choose.  
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4 stroke FTW!

05 crf450
DNA rims/hubs
T4 pipe

9.5 hours on the hour meter, more to come!