Newbies Forum

I know yall get this question all the time.. Which bike is for me.. But lemme give yall some quick facts.. I'm 5'11 250lbs I'm debating which type of bike I should get.. Ive rode a guys 2000 XR200 a few months ago and I rode it fine for my first time ever on and riding a dirt bike.. Last week I went and tried to test ride a guys 94 CR125 and it came from under me and I landed on my ass... Now with that being said I heard 4 strokes are easier to learn to ride than 4 strokes.. But 2 strokes for what I have been told to be more fun.. I want somethin with good power and will last me til I need a upgrade to a 450.. But I see a lot of 250 2 stroke dirt bikes sell for nice prices under $1500.. And thats like my price range... Also my riding is basically my subdivision and the pipelines around the corner and riding around with other friends in the neighborhood riding bikes and quads.. I really like the YZ250 but seen good prices on YZ250F's... Also when I was trying to ride the CR125 it had a lot of vibration in the handlebars is that due to bad bars or just the vibration from the engine..?? Cause when I rode the XR200 it didnt have no vibration.. SO should I get a 125 or stick with my original suggestion a 250, but should I get 2 or 4 stroke.. Please explain in great detail if possible..  

ok, well first off, in my opinion, you shouldn't start with a two stroke 250...that's SO much bike to handle for someone new to riding...

4 strokes are easy to learn on because they are fairly mild on the throttle...depending on the riding you will do they are great.  i'm in the desert and they are the perfect desert machine.  

a 125 would be a good bike for you to learn on, especially if you are dead set on the two stroke...it's tall enough and had more than enough power for you...you will probably not use the entire powerband for a while.

as far as vibration...it's either the terrain you were on, or the way the fork sit in the triple clamps or any number of other things....sometimes, it's just the way it is on long open hauls....you can get a damper to help with that, but unless you do open spaces a lot, it's probably not worth it.  
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--Court

I gonna agree with sully, a 250 2 stoke is to much bike for a begginer, especially if a 125 put you on your ass. Id go with a 250f or 125 depending weather you want two or 4 stroke. The fours a lil easier to ride fast and learn on, but the 2 stroke will be more agile and flickable  
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The Idle of a 500 2 stroke is Akin to the Devils Heartbeat


I'm not afraid of the dark, I own the NITEMARE that lurks within.

Agree with sully and DC. Just have the suspension set up for your weight and you will enjoy your riding and learning exp. alot more.  
I love this dirt stuff.

I suggest looking for an XR model Honda.  
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I love the Turtle Posse!

Hello fellow 250lb.er.   I will tell you right now that you do not want an MX bike of any size.  And your weight makes riding a 125 impractical.  The XR250 would be a great bike to learn on but I would suggest getting an XR400 over it.  Suzuki made a DRZ400 that would be a great used bike as well.  If you can find the more modern Yamaha WR250 or Hondas CRF250X those would be good choices too.  All of these bikes have mellow powerbands making them easier to ride, and still have enough torque to move your weight around without having to be in the higher RPMs.  

Bill H. 2000 CR250R

The throttle response from a 2 stroke and a 4 stroke are entirely different. The 4 stroke accelerates smoother where a 2 stroke just takes off like a monster when you hit the powerband. 4 stroke is a little more forgiving on the throttle as you found out. Because of your weight I would agree with bhorrigan. The suspension of the XR 125 and XR 250 4 strokes might be too mushy for your weight.  

--- 1994 CR80R ---

This is hard to sya. But i am agreeing with bill(bhorrigan), as your weight puts you above the 125, and the xr models have cushy suspensions. But.. the type of riding you will be doing for awhile does not need a really aggressive rider. i'm pointing towards perhaps an older xr400 which you could finf in your price range. they are mellow, comfortable, easy to ride and need very little maintanence. jmo  
~Pat
life's a garden dig it!

Ok I appreciate everyone for their feedback.. But now I hear people suggesting bigger bikes than 250's.. Ive sat on a KX450 at the dealership and it huge over the KX250.. The 125's Ive seen are the same height as 250's but I guess I will look too big on the 125.. Because a guy is selling his RM250 for $900 I was gonna get that but now with people saying the 2 stroke is too much I will leave it.. But I had a feeling that I should stay with the 4 stroke.. Another thing I forgot to mention is turning.. I seem to have a hard time tryin to turn like when I rode the XR200 in the guy's subdivision I had a hard time trying to turn maybe I was doing it wrong.. Also what is the proper way to slow down and go into a turn maybe that can solve all my problems.. Forgot to mention the vibration in the bars.. We were on level ground and when I rev up the bike it started vibrating like 1 second after I reved the throttle (When I sat on it it was silent when I hit the throttle it had an after effect a second after I revved it it would shake the whole bike.. He said that was the power and to myself I took that into perspective...  

what do you mean you had a hard time turning? the xr's are not the agile turning beasts the mx bikes will be. ussually you've got to have a nice constand speed to make a turn. if you are decelerating to hard on a turn you can tip over. and if you are accelerationg to hard you will spin out. so you ussually wanna do your slowing before you make the turn, and then jsut turn in a nice even speed. i remember having a hrd time at first oo. now 2 years later, i can rip through turns like nothing else. it is all practice  
~Pat
life's a garden dig it!

I had a hard time learning clutch control in the turn as they say you should downshift when you slow down and turn.. I wanted to stay a constant speed and turn.. But with the recommendation of trail bikes like the XR and DRZ there are a lot of straight aways and nice roads in my subdivision where you can atleast hit 60mph (cause Ive done it in my car) will the trail bikes give me my need for speed like the MX bike will or they are just prone to low end power.. Ive heard that Kawi's KDX220 is a good trail bike..  

All those things come with time.  


Long live 2 strokes!!

125 two stroke=250 four stroke, 250 two stroke = 450 four stroke. this is for the mx bikes, a xr400 would have similar power to a 125 two stroke, it would just be delivered differently.

the vibration in your friends bars is not normal.  

Your problem with turns is that you are thinking about it too much.  Don't think and look at the exit of the turn.  Always look to where you want to go and not at the ground in front of you.  Let your body and the bike do the work.  

Right now you are thinking about clutch, throttle, turn, lean, who's staring at you, whats that hole going to do, am I in the right gear, will the front tire hold, etc....  All that crap is going on in your head.  You need to block it all out and just have fun.  It will become easier and more natural as you get more seat time in.  

Bill H. 2000 CR250R

The KDX line up are 2 stroke bikes also.  

--- 1994 CR80R ---