Off Road

[smelf1]

Hi all,

Myself and my younger brother are looking to get a couple of off road bikes. What bike would be a good start?

[smelf1]

Hi Pat,

Thanks for the reply, Im 26 no previous bike experience and budget is not an issue. I was looking at new KTM 250, i did not want to go 2nd hand route as they are off road bikes and thus take alot of abuse

[Mike70]

hi smelf, go 2 the buy and sell section, someone is selling a Dt 125 for 500 yo yo:thumbsup2:

[thunderbirds2]

Hey there smelf1, definately go for a 4 stroke bike. They are much more reliable and not half the energy spent on kick starting it. Something like a suzuki 450 4 stroke. Great fun and loads of power. I myself have a rmz 250 2 stroke and its a pain in the hole starting it

[Pat Dunne]

Firstly what do you want to do with the bike?

If it trail riding and a bit of messing about you want an off road bike for.
To start of with, I would advise against going brand new! You might find that you have lashed out a whole heap of money and find you don't like the off road scene. Trust me pulling a bike out of a bog hole for the umpteenth time on your first few off road forays usually put off most people at the start.
Buy something cheap and cheerful to start out on and if you really like it you can always trade up. Try and pick up a Honda XR250R really nice bike, to start out on and ultra reliable. Had one for years, sorry I ever sold it.

If you want to learn how to race motocross
Get your self a good second hand 125 or 250cc two stroke motocrosser. Don't labour under a false impression that just because it secondhand it going to be in bits. The '04/'05 Yamaha Yz125 and the Honda CR250 a great bikes and and excellent to start out on. Don't let the 125cc bit put you off they have more power than you'll ever know what to do with. Unless you 6'6" and 18 stone. Guys who race motocross, generally have their bikes in tip top condition and service them regularly, you'd see this if you attend a few race meetings.

Personally I wouldn't go a KTM, their not a beginners bike and difficult to maintain and service for a complete newbie to the off road scene.

Just a quick note to "thunderbirds 2"
There has to be something wrong with your RM, there normally quite easy to start ,first or second kick always.