Dirt Bike For the GF

[khag4]

So my girlfriend wants to get into dirt biking with me in the summer. She has ridden before but I'm guessing she's pretty uch a beginer. What do you think would be a good starter bike for her? Thanks for the info...

[van7559]

mid 90's Honda XR 200
mid 90's kdx 200 or 220
best all around beginners bike in my opion. And both are known for their bulletproof reliability.

[khag4]

i was thinking about a yamaha 250ttr or something along those lines.... what do you think about that...

[teamextreme]

mid 90's Honda XR 200
mid 90's kdx 200 or 220
best all around beginners bike in my opion. And both are known for their bulletproof reliability.

X2 on the XR200. I wouldn't agree on the KDX's though, a little too much power for a beginner. You might also consider a Yamaha TTR225. They would be a good beginner bike (but the XR would be a far superior bike). Also depends on big she is. If she's a shorty, an XR200 might be too tall. If so, you can look at an XR100.

[khag4]

also I know 2 strokes are a bitch but I think that I'll be doing more of the work on it and 2 strokes are so much simpler to work on....

[khag4]

thanks for the info.

[mtntj]

Get an xr200 and you don't have to work on it. They are bullet proof. Depend ing on how new your going crf230 is a good choice,new version of the 200. I would stay away from 2strokes for a newb, you could be changeing plugs all day.

[van7559]

the ttr line up is very nice beginner bike but that is about it. They are very sluggish and have no umph per say. I have ridden a 250 and a 125, I thought that there was a lot left to be desiered. In my opion she will get tired of not being able to keep up, and have the power at her disposal when she is comfortable using it. Like I said it is a beginners bike and thats about it. Gutless with no torque, but perfect for the first timer and allows them to learn the mechanics of a clutch and shifting without scarring the shit out of them

[khag4]

alright it sounds like a XR 200 is the way to go... thanks again...

[FirecrackerKTM]

KDX is a better bike IMO ... room to grow. Even if she's a beginner, if she has ridden in the past she'll get the hang of it fast. She will outgrow an XR pretty fast. Lots of mods to mellow it out or hop it up as needed.

[Jeffro600]

Ill toss in another vote for an XR200. Super easy to ride, bullet proof and forgiving. Even if she does outgrow it and you bought a used one, you will probably be able to sell it for pretty much what you bought it for. The KDX is ALOT more bike in not only power but physical size. If she feels like she could handle it, then go for it, but personally, i wouldnt stick a new rider on one right out of the gate.

[mtntj]

Unless she going to be racing I doubt she will out grow the xr200. I rode xr200's for several yrs, what an awesome bike for trail riding. Smooth pwr delerivery, and smooth ride. Also better mileage.

[khag4]

thanks again for the info..

Hey Firecracker what you ride??

[Chris Halvorson]

It is in her signature khag4.

I would fit her on several bikes to see what she likes. A comfortable, confident inspiring bike will get her up to speed quicker. When I tried to get my wife riding the first time...I really F'ed up. I first stuck her on my 02' Honda CR250R. I ended up buying several pipe's and rotating them in and out of repair. Then I thought...I will get her something with a smoother power band...something slower. I came home to surprise her with a 03' YZ 250F. I should have done a little more research on this bike. Not only was it a bear to start...it was way more bike than she needed(it would outrun my Honda 250CC on the track). I would have been better off buying her a 80cc something to get used to...then upgrade slowly. She really resented what I did. I really didn't know how fast the 4 strokes where...but that is all I will own now.

Now I have her on a YFZ-450. She likes the 4 wheels better, and I can screw in the throttle stop to keep her out of the power-band...so she is doing O.K. on that for now. She wants to go to Moab with it...but she needs a little more experience before I take her out to Moab.

I have ridden Kawi's, Honda's, and Yamaha's...and I have always felt more comfortable on the Yamaha. Has Yamaha always produced the best bike...no. So suiting her up with a bike that she likes is a good thing. Just my opinion.

[khag4]

I guess i didn't read her sig.....

Thanks for the info..

[Budman]

i was thinking about a yamaha 250ttr or something along those lines.... what do you think about that...

I bought my wife an older Yam 225TTR. I have ridden it some, and it gets along just fine. It will be for sale when I come home on mid tour BTW. The wife has 2 ruptured disks, and I have a cronically dislocating shoulder, so we are getting out of the dirtbike business.

[RJsfun]

Might want to look at the options of some of the electric start 4 stroke trail bikes.
I've been riding with rookies that always seem to stall out on some kind of hill or obstacle, and the biggest problem is balancing and getting the bike started agian, and again, and....

[Chris Halvorson]

Well put RJ, stalling and starting can be an issue.

[khag4]

yeah that might be nice for her...

[mtntj]

If you are going to look for electric start the crf230 will very nice for her. It's the version of the xr200, and it has good pwr. I'm 6'3/220lbs it hauls me just fine the few times I've been one.

[Jeffro600]

If you are going to look for electric start the crf230 will very nice for her. It's the version of the xr200, and it has good pwr. I'm 6'3/220lbs it hauls me just fine the few times I've been one.

Another excellent option...didnt even think about that. Basically, a modern day, updated XR 200.

[Johnboy]

I have 2 bikes I'm selling that might fit the bill well.
98 KDX220 very well set up for CO trail riding. It has good smooth power but a lot for someone who rides meekly. Requires a taller inseam
83 XR250 pretty basic little beater bike for the beginner. It starts easy, smokes a little but has smooth power and its lowered to fit my 5'3" wife. It's an XR so it has lots of life left. Both bikes are titled. PM me if interested.

I've also seen a e-start TTR125 for sale that looked like a nice ride. The CRF150's can be had with elec start. I rode a CRF250X with a shaved seat that was a ripping little bike but very high strung for a meek rider. Otherwise XR200 or XR100 - whichever fits best.

John

[Kirby N.]

My wife rides a KX100 that I made street Legal and put a bunch of desert. enduro stuff on it. She loves it. the TTR 225 she had was too big and heavy. But she is 5'4" 110. If your wife is taller, I would still stay away from the TTR and CRF playbike line. You know the CRF230, 150F etc. They will get old soon. Hardly any suspension travel, lame old technology brakes, heavy, slugish motors etc.

[mtntj]

The crf150f is more a motocross bike anyway, but for trail riding I doubt the "play line" of bikes will get old that's what they are made for.

[Kirby N.]

I am speaking from experience, my wife had a TTR225 and the 4" of suspension, drum brakes and dog of a motor got really old. We trail ride, desert ride, motorcross, and we are going to Moab this weekend. The weight was too much and the bike was slow. Now she has a KX100. It is half the weight, way faster, has real suspension, disk brakes, Is easy to kick start, etc. If my wife was taller and weighed more I would have went for a CRF250X or a KDX200 or something of that nature. I would go for something she could grow into bike wise so I don't have to trade up in 2 months. That way I enjoy working on it and maintaining it because it is not 1970s technology.

[mtntj]

I agree with you about the ttr225, it's a dog. Now that you put motorcroos into it that's a different story all together.

[pclements]

Another vote for the CFR230 smaller frame and electric start.

[FirecrackerKTM]

Old thread got unearthed I see. Khag, did you ever get her a bike?

The crf150f is more a motocross bike anyway, but for trail riding I doubt the "play line" of bikes will get old that's what they are made for.
Incorrect. The CRF150R is a motocross bike. The CRF150F is a play bike.

And depending on who is riding them, they can get very old. Not every girl is afraid to get out of 2nd gear and those types will be bored to tears (And cramped if they're over 5'6") on a playbike.

Even many timid girls want more power and better brakes/suspension once they get over the first beginner stage.

[khag4]

NA... She decided to let me do a one ton build on the TJ.. MAybe if i find the right deal this summer.. The snow hasn't even melted off the ground here yet.

[FirecrackerKTM]

I haven't seen any info posted yet about her. How tall is she? Is she timid or aggressive? Is she athletic or a couch potato? Those are the questions that really make a difference in bike selection. Just like not all men start out on the same bike, not all women want a heavy slow machine with no suspension.

If she is tall enough she is welcome to take mine for a test spin. I am 5'7" and the bike is comfortable to me, but I've had it for a long time now.

[mtntj]

Yep! My bad, on the crf150r/f

[khag4]

she's about 5'5" 5'6"?? Athletic.. pretty aggresive once she's comfaortable...She's been on a few yammers... I'm not sure what though...

[FirecrackerKTM]

Hmmm, based on that the 150R might be a good pick, or a KX100, or the KDX200. The KX100 might be on the small side but OK to start; the KDX is kind of heavy, but one of the best trail machines ever made. I wouldn't bother with the 150F or any of the 125 4ts--and I wouldn't recommend the 230s just based on the fact that for what they weigh, you might as well get a 250. If you really want to mess with 4t maintenance a 250F of whatever color you like could work, but I'm not a fan of them for that reason. A top end takes what like an hour or two on a 2t? And unless she's going to start racing right off the bat, you'll get a season out of the top end (at least). You could even, if you REALLY wanted, get a 125 and detune it. They can be zippy but the pros are that they are light and easy to start and cheap to buy. A low seat would make it easier to ride for her. That's kind of a big if, though.

How many people do you know have the kinds of bikes she might be interested in? A test sit to see how it fits will help her decide. Once the trails clear out we'll have to go riding somewhere. Mine's been lowered a tiny bit but not much. My friend Amber has a 200 also that's been lowered a little more.

I'll speak against the XR200s because I had one. They are bitchy to start, weigh a lot for their size, have NO power and poopy drum brakes.

I know all you gentlemen want to protect your women and keep them from getting scared, but most of the gals I ride with agree that those of us who started on "beginner" bikes like the XR, CRFs, etc. learned more bad habits than we did good ones. WHen you get used to grabbing a fistful of throttle all the time, or 4 fingers worth of brake lever, or zero clutch technique, it's a BIG shock when you move up to a "real" bike. For the easily intimidated types, beginner bikes do make sense; but they're not a one-size-fits-all.

[Kirby N.]

I couldn't agree more. If you were closer and my wife didn't sieze up her bike in Moab a few weeks ago (wide open going down the road!) I would let your wife come take a look at it and take it for a spin. Here is the build thread on my wifes bike if you want to see it:

http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=496560

Pics are on Page 5.

[khag4]

thanks for the help guys. She is in mexico for the next two weeks. We'll talk more about it when she returns...