Newbies Forum

wow skip, nice skipping ktm they have a lot of good bikes that would be perfect  
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Ride 2 strokes, buy 2 strokes, save the 2 stroke.

1998 cr125
2002 cr80

yzwoods:
No way to old! With the right bike and guidence you will be fine. A great way to get out there and get exersize and enjoy the great out doors!
I'm 42.

Woods, ur just a youngin!! I turn 43 the 10th.  

Bongo Boy:
Crap. I had my heart set on the KX250f and it's on the not recommended list! Well, thanks for saving me a lot of grief. Anyway, the 990 Adventure was my screen saver just a few months ago, so I guess I'm making some progress down the path toward Reality.

A KX250F would be good for you I think?
I am not a pro like some on here but any 250 4 stroke would be just fine. I think KX is a good bike.  

Guys, let's not confuse the man.

First, shame on you for saying you're too old. If Super Editor Karel Kramer heard you saying that he'd smack you with his 50-year-old riding hand.

I've ridden with more impressive 50+ individuals than teens, guaranteed.

You said you're riding trails. A KX250F is not a trail bike. Yes, you can use it in the woods but for a beginner, there are far better options to use on the trail.

The used market is full of nearly new two-stroke and older four-stroke trail-oriented bikes. (KDX's and XR's to name a couple) If you're planning on going slow, don't get a bike built for motocross speed (like the KX250F).

Kawasaki just recently released an updated KLX250 (if you're stuck on green). It's trail oriented and that's the direction you should step first.

You get electric start, larger capacity fuel tanks, lower-maintenance engine parts (like steel valves) and responsible/legal muffler/spark arrestors.

Honda's X line is solid as is Yamaha's WR series. KTM literally makes a bike for every category and their range of two-stroke lineup is the best in the industry right now (for new bike selection).

Think first where you plan on riding, then find a bike  built for that. It will save you some time and get you started in the right direction.

Then go on a dealership tour and get loaded up with knowledge. And please, come back and ask here anytime.

Jesse Ziegler  
JZ

Invite your friends to the dirtrider.com forums and win free advice from Jesse (worth every penny).

As many have said, you are never too old.  At 49 I still try and get to the MX track each weekend (so I can watch my son as he laps me these days...).  I just set myself limits of what I am willing to do (as I need to be at work on Mondays   )

I still have a blast after all these years (started riding in 1974) and it is a great form of excercise.

Also remember to budget for some good safety gear for your head/body (ref the "I don't bounce like I did 20 years ago").

Post often!  
Dave H 2006 YZ250
(2008 YZ 125 son)

Thanks to everyone and thanks for your patience, especially.

The forest service roads nearest me are often very deeply rutted, can be slippery with loose, crushed granite and can be fairly steep in places. Most all of them that I frequent are wooded, and can have short visibility, with rock outcropping and tight turns. On top of that, they're all multi-use--during the week you may not find anyone else, but on weekends you're faced with 4WDs of all kinds, cyclists and hikers.

So...speed isn't going to happen--in the jeep, 20-25 mph is really haulin' and I don't even do that anymore unless maybe it's around midnight during the week. I don't want a Vespa, but I'm definitely listening to the advice here that's pointing me to something more at the forgiving end.

I have a 2-year backlog of jeep projects, so I'd also like the idea of less maintenance; less is best.

Now, if I show up with an electric start on a little bike, isn't somebody gonna want to kick my a$$?  

Cheap maintenance-bullet proof-plenty of power-lighting coil-quiet-------KDX 200/220    

I dont think there is any stigma attached to e-start. KTM offers e-start on some real potent bikes as well as Hondas X models.  
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Nobody's gonna hurt anybody. We're gonna be like little Fonzies here. And what's Fonzie like? Come on what's Fonzie like?

You are never too old for anything, get out there and ride.  
www.careernetwork.us.com

KDX220 or and XR400 are going to be your best bets on used bikes for what you are riding.  For new look into KTMs of XCWs you just can't beat a good electric start 2 stroke.  

Bill H. 2000 CR250R

Okay, research continues.

I did want to mention that my concern about age had more to do with the physical punishment you experience, not on mental attitude or anything. I certainly don't care what anyone thinks, I only care about whether it's simply impractical to expect the knees to hold out, for example. Thanks again for the encouragement.

I know each rider has his/her own opinion and we've seen some differences in that regard here already. To help narrow things down for myself, here's fact-or-fantasy that I've gathered online. Maybe folks here will 'temper' these generalizations with additional info or opinion. I'll also share my own perceptions--

First, I really wanted 4-stroke, but that's not based on anything except an early childhood dislike (and intense dislike) for the look and sound of 2-stroke bikes. Just always had a low regard for them. That's a prejudicial bias. Here's what I've ended up with so far, whether overgeneralized or not:

I gather that 2-strokes are generally 'snappier' in the power curve (implying to me the rider needs better control and finesse of that throttle), with 4-strokes generally smoother or flatter across the rpm range (indicating a more forgiving throttle response--again, generally). Fair?

I think also I've gathered that 2-strokes are generally simpler and lower maintenance, but that this may not be a significant factor in the trail bike class, whereas it may be a bigger deal with race bikes. Eh?

I'd prefer not to get a d/s bike, because I assume I can take an offroad bike and ride it most places I want to, I don't want to go through the driver's license & registration stuff and I assume I don't have to with a non-street legal machine.

I don't see anything in KTM at all that would be considered a 'trail' bike in small 4-stroke, so I may be right or just missing something, and

I don't see anything currently available in green that's NOT a dual-sport or is not a track bike. Again, I may be missing it.  

The KLX 450R is not a dual sport. Or at least you don't have to get a license for them. You only need a license If yo ride it on the street. This is the only big trail bike Kawasaki makes. If you want a little smaller one try the CRF250X. Its not in green but looks really awesome!  

Thanks for the feedback.

I got lucky and a friend's brother has a 2003 WR 250 F for sale used, I am looking at it tomorrow. I know the bikes history, and I like the model for my needs. A crf 250 X would be my first choice, but they are harder to get used in good condition. Either bike will give me "room to grow on". A 450 may happen in the future.

I have run across a huge amount of used KDX's and even a few new 2006's for a great price ($3500 and willing to take an offer at a dealership new).

Thanks for all the quality advice this forum has to offer. Hopefully tomorrow I will have a quality WR in the garage!  

Good luck drum. Now you know the price for all that advice is you have to put up a pic of the new steed!  
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Ruff!

my dad got back in to riding when he was 53ish (currently double nickels) he bought a dual sport and i got an 80 for my 12th birthday. It was pretty nice he bought a bike so we could ride together. now i have an rm125 his bike is a q-link (an unpopular korean brand) but we still have fun riding together and his knees are bad too considering he only has one knee cap to tlak about  
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woods is a beast(had to make him
happy)
having a throttle that keeps sticking open well u simply just cut it off...(not to be taken seriously) eh 2ride?

03 rm125

2stroke eff tee dubba u

the key to having a buttery smooth clutch pull is well..butter of course