I will be looking for a dirt bike this summer and really know nothing about them. I will probably be looking for an off-raod (not moto-x) 125 or similar CC bike. This will be my first bike. A couple questions:

1.) Two stroke or four stroke? What is the real difference between the two?

2.) I read some place that either the two stroke or four stroke doesn't need to be shifted as often.Truth?

3.) The bike will probably be used. Any years, models, and brands that are easy to maintain and any that had a lot of problems?

4.) Keep in mind I've never owned a bike before. What are some easy to ride bikes?


Thanks for the help

start off with a four stroke xr or xl 100-150. i have a 100 xr and its easy to maintain and easy to ride. its so quiet i hear the wind over the motor when im riding. my bike runs better than any new two stroke. how old are you and how tall are you?

one of my freinds has a 97 or a 98 kx 125 and he might be sellin it

how old are you? how much do you weigh?

if you are going to be riding off road/trails e/t/c you are going to want a 4 stroke because 2 stroke dirt bikes are not oil injected like sleds

a thing to remember about the 4 strokes is that you essentially get about 1/2 the speed with 2x the displacement hence why they allow 450's 4 strokes to compete w/ the 250 2strokes

look into the Yamaha WR's, Honda XR's, Suzuki DRZ's and whatever the kawi one is

So if I'm understanding this correctly a 4 stoke would be better? I'm 13, 5'4 and 140 pounds. I would be mostly running fields and gravel pits with loose sand and gravel. I checked out every Dirt Bike magazine at the local library and I'm getting the fever to get on a bike and tear it up! I've ridden my friends Honda 80 model ???, it was fun but that that thing is way to small for me

look into a yamaha TTR 225

2 strokes have a powerband which tends to hit hard when you get into it while 4 strokes are more linear

Are Yamaha's one of the best machines? Are there any other comparable bikes from other manufacturers?

There are alot of other bike manf's (ktm, husky e/t/c) but go with anything from the big 4 and you will be fine

Honda
Yamaha
Suzuki
Kawasaki

they all have comparable models

harder terrain in these 2 areas will accept a 4 stroke just fine (low revving or high revving 4 str)


this favors the 2 str seriously, or a HIGHER/QUICKER revving 4 stroker to keep the bikes tires afloat (digging/churning) in the loose sand

My buddy had a xr 200 r. great bike for any beginner. not enough power to throw you off the back but not so little you got bored of it. quiet and good on gas. good for a beginner to because you dont have to rev up the engine to let the clutch out in gear. I have RM 250 and it has a lot more violent and finicky power band. comes on strong and if your not used to it will throw you off the back of the bike. if your not interested in 2 stroke go with honda. they make one of the best four stroke bikes on the market right now. even the older ones are good but they will weigh a little more. i would say that you would probably be pretty good on a 200 4 stroke or a 125 2 stroke trail bike.

hey...i would get a 4stroke man probably a ttr225 or even a honda crf 150 sumtin like that cuz u arent that tall no offense or anything like that and if its your first bike you want to be able to touch the ground pretty good. I'm also 13, and 140lbs but im 5'9 and i drive my friends ttr230 just as good as he can, but weight is also a factor when starting off cuz if u drop it u should be able to pick it back up too, and a lot of ppl do drop it startin out. But i would get a 4 over a 2 for sure. more reliable imo and easier on gas and a lot less maintinence.

Ac king

Thanks for the help everyone. Now don't beat me but now I'm thinking of getting a Kawasaki Bayou 250 ATV or if I can scrounge up a little more cash an Arctic Cat 250. I took a long hard look at my life and realized I wouldn't be jumping big jumps and tearing up the grass (okay,okay, my parents said that one). My dad and I were talking and he said he'd rather get an ATV so pulling the snowmobile trailer out of a snowbank, and moving the boat around wouldn't be so tough and it would also be good for yard work. An Air Cooled Automatic clutch, five speed manual ATV for $2,500 or an Auto transmission Arctic Cat for $3,500 sounds good to me