Dirt bike advice

[Night goat]

I got a close friend bugging me to get a bike and go riding

I have minimal bike experience- I can hop on and steer and shift and do the motions on flat land, but aside from puttering around a pasture I'm extremely green. I have a small budget but am looking for a good entry level bike for a 6' tall 220lbs dude that can handle some trails and just not be the dweeb at camp without a bike when all the homies go out for the afternoon....

If anybody's got one for sale too, that's great

[Sandberm]

Like trail riding?

What does your friend ride  and would a similar bike work for you?

[Night goat]

Like trail riding?

What does your friend ride  and would a similar bike work for you?

She rides a 240cc 4 stroke, is 4'10, and 90lbs....

I like the Yamaha 125s, but, it's been 15+ years since I've been on a bike.

I wiped out on a seadoo doing about 65mph on lake chelan WOT many moons ago and have been very hesitant about small things with motors that fit between the legs ever since, but, time for something fun

I had a bad experience on a 2 stoke ktm 500 also, and just never looked back into it- I can rattle off 100 diesel engine models but only know a handful of bikes

[CarbonHunter]

I just bought a cheap one off the internet out of Texas for the same purpose. I figured if I like it and use it I will buy a better one down the road.

They’re made in China bikes but I got a dual sport 250 delivered to my house for about $2k new on the pallet. Lots of models to choose from and if your just looking to putz around it’s a good option.

Motorbuys.com

[Karl Blanchard]

4 stroke 250 for a guy your size. Yamaha ttr250 or a yz250 for a bit better suspension.   Ttr230 would be a good option as well but being 6' it may feel a bit on the low side.  Honda crf250 would also be a solid option.

[Viking360]

2006 and up yz250F, they have great suspension and are reliable bikes. I have a 2018 husqvarna TE 300 and its a great bike for the woods but it also cost me 9k new. I started on a 06 yz 250F and I loved that bike just didn't love the kick starting on hills.

[Boss .300 winmag]

4 stroke 250 for a guy your size. Yamaha ttr250 or a yz250 for a bit better suspension.   Ttr230 would be a good option as well but being 6' it may feel a bit on the low side.  Honda crf250 would also be a solid option.

Karl is spot on, but don’t leave out the DRZ line up, or any Japanese bikes, if you were taller and had more tidy experience I’d say DRZ 400. I had one wish I still had it, that thing could go anywhere if you could stay on it.🤣

[zwickeyman]

Any of the bikes Karl mentioned are good options. The Honda CRF250 is a real good bike

[Karl Blanchard]

Any of the bikes Karl mentioned are good options. The Honda CRF250 is a real good bike

CRF went to fuel injection in 2010 too which is a nice bonus vs the yz that didn't go fuel injected until 2014 so possible to get a bit more bang for the buck on an older honda.

[GWP]

I just bought a cheap one off the internet out of Texas for the same purpose. I figured if I like it and use it I will buy a better one down the road.

They’re made in China bikes but I got a dual sport 250 delivered to my house for about $2k new on the pallet. Lots of models to choose from and if your just looking to putz around it’s a good option.

Motorbuys.com

The 'Interwebs' has a LOT of stories about these being a cheap option until something breaks then finding out parts are mostly not available with poor warrantee support.
Better off buying a used 'known' brand so it has resale later if you want to change up later.

[bustedoldman]

WR250R would be great....

[CarbonHunter]

I just bought a cheap one off the internet out of Texas for the same purpose. I figured if I like it and use it I will buy a better one down the road.

They’re made in China bikes but I got a dual sport 250 delivered to my house for about $2k new on the pallet. Lots of models to choose from and if your just looking to putz around it’s a good option.

Motorbuys.com

The 'Interwebs' has a LOT of stories about these being a cheap option until something breaks then finding out parts are mostly not available with poor warrantee support.
Better off buying a used 'known' brand so it has resale later if you want to change up later.

The op says he looking for an entry level bike on a small budget. A crf250 that is 10-15 years old is still going to cost around $5k and a new one is near $9k. If a bike you spent $1.5k-$2k breaks in a couple years you can sell it for $500 bucks and go buy something else. If you end up not riding it much I would much rather only be into something $1.5k than $5k.

Keep in mind regardless of the name on the bike if it just sits around the seals will rot and it won’t run when you need it to unless you’re servicing it annually. And most of those used bikes that are mint have been sitting for years.

[Sneaky Squirrel]

I just bought a cheap one off the internet out of Texas for the same purpose. I figured if I like it and use it I will buy a better one down the road.

They’re made in China bikes but I got a dual sport 250 delivered to my house for about $2k new on the pallet. Lots of models to choose from and if your just looking to putz around it’s a good option.

Motorbuys.com

The 'Interwebs' has a LOT of stories about these being a cheap option until something breaks then finding out parts are mostly not available with poor warrantee support.
Better off buying a used 'known' brand so it has resale later if you want to change up later.

The op says he looking for an entry level bike on a small budget. A crf250 that is 10-15 years old is still going to cost around $5k and a new one is near $9k. If a bike you spent $1.5k-$2k breaks in a couple years you can sell it for $500 bucks and go buy something else. If you end up not riding it much I would much rather only be into something $1.5k than $5k.

Keep in mind regardless of the name on the bike if it just sits around the seals will rot and it won’t run when you need it to unless you’re servicing it annually. And most of those used bikes that are mint have been sitting for years.

You can buy a brand new CRF250F for $5k at multiple places. The last 5 years or so, the CRF250F is like what the CRF230 used to be so it is more of a mild/entry level bike that sits higher and has power to get around. If you go with the R version, you will be spending more $.....

A few of our honda bikes only get rode during hunting season, and they work just fine.... One is 20 years old and seals are fine.

You must fish for salmon with being worried that much about seals.

[hunter_sean08]

Guess it would be helpful to know the exact budget.

I'm pretty green on bikes too, but have had some experience on a Yamaha WR250R - solid bike. If I budgeted it out and really got into trail riding I'd probably get a KTM XC-W 300, but that's one more hobby I just don't have enough time for right now. I have taken my father-in-law's KTM out for a few rides and it has been a super fun bike. I've not owned a bike myself, but have been extremely fortunate to marry into a family with a large inventory of bikes to play with. The day is coming where I might have to think about getting into it a little more with my boys if they start ripping around on them.

[SeaRun1]

I ride dirt bikes a lot.  The gap between a “trail” bike and a “dirt” bike is not insignificant.  Trail bikes are fun for messing around and a good for intro bikes.  They are heavier, have less tech and usually not sprung well hence the lower price tags.

It really comes down to how much you think you will stick to it.  Like in all sports you have to pay to play.  If you aren’t sure then buy a TTR or a CRF F bike.  If you are mostly sure you will like it maybe try a WR 250 F.  The WR R is a dual sport while the WR F is more enduro now.  If you are positive you will like it then go Yamaha YZ (I ride an X), Honda CRF R or Husky TE or KTM/GasGas equivalent.  Most guys at our club are on KTM’s.

I’m your size but a little lighter.  You are going to want a 250 or 300.  I do all single track so when I am feeling frisky and want to charge I ride a YZ 250x.  When I want to just have fun I ride a Husqvarna TE 300.

The bike market has slowed down a bunch.  It’s a good time to buy used.  If you have any questions send me a pm and I will try to help.  I have a 2020 WR250F that may suit your needs.

SR1