Lowest maintenance 250cc+ street legal dirt bike?

[OaklandF4i]

The class has now been rescheduled to Sunday February 21st. I hope it will be dry enough to take place.

Watching lots of videos, it looks like 2 strokes are a lot of fun with a distinct advantage with power being delivered continuously and less likely to stall but given my objective (rally prep), I am probably better off sticking to 4 strokes. the wait continues....

Waiting sucks... I'm sure its killing you, nothing worse.

As to two vs four stroke, I might disagree. That said, there isn't a right and wrong answer. Skills you learn on a small bore two stroke will directly transfer over to handling a larger rally bike. You really do learn more going slow, its why some of the best offroad riders have some trials backgrounds. They translate directly. If I were attempting a rally, I would want advanced dirt skills. However you get them is your choice. Just my opinion.

Of the folks I ride with, the majority of the folks who ride a lot are all on two strokes. Very few ride a 450 fourstroke. There is a reason..... you will figure it out. :thumbup

 

[banshee01]

The class has now been rescheduled to Sunday February 21st. I hope it will be dry enough to take place.

Watching lots of videos, it looks like 2 strokes are a lot of fun with a distinct advantage with power being delivered continuously and less likely to stall but given my objective (rally prep), I am probably better off sticking to 4 strokes. the wait continues....

Bummer about the wait. Your gonna just buy a used bike right? What is your budget? It might be your first but wont be your last so do some research pick a good one but dont overthink it.

 

[evermore]

My guess is lightly used (20h or less) with a budget not really being an issue as I'll likely just sell the Brutale in that case.

This is my pre-ride thinking: The likeliest option is a EXC-F 350 if I go 4 stroke, with a 250 XC-W 250 (or even 150 XC-W) 2stroke as the light weight, luggable alternative. I understand that the smaller displacement and with the 2 stroke, riding slowly and picking your lanes will be easier and that may be the deciding factor. I'll wait for the ride to decide... (but I'm windowshopping heavily)

 

[OaklandF4i]

(but I'm windowshopping heavily)

:thumbup That in itself alone is a TON of fun.. :laughing

 

[banshee01]

My guess is lightly used (20h or less) with a budget not really being an issue as I'll likely just sell the Brutale in that case.

This is my pre-ride thinking: The likeliest option is a EXC-F 350 if I go 4 stroke, with a 250 XC-W 250 (or even 150 XC-W) 2stroke as the light weight, luggable alternative. I understand that the smaller displacement and with the 2 stroke, riding slowly and picking your lanes will be easier and that may be the deciding factor. I'll wait for the ride to decide... (but I'm windowshopping heavily)

Awesome man sounds like you are gonna get a great bike. Have you read up on the mods for that ktm 350? It is real common to get a vortex ecu, take the reeds out of the airbox, and change the endcap on the exhaust.

 

[DefyInertia]

Bummer about the delay. Seems like you’re an accomplished rider. If you want to ride that Brutale over to Danville I’m happy to let you give my plated 350 a try...could ride the 300 around the Col de sac to see the difference.

 

[OaklandF4i]

Bummer about the delay. Seems like you’re an accomplished rider. If you want to ride that Brutale over to Danville I’m happy to let you give my plated 350 a try...could ride the 300 around the Col de sac to see the difference.

Generous offer! :thumbup Until folks actually ride them, not just read specs and or input from folks online... they never really know.

I've got a plated FE350 with all the mods to return some bark to it, but it still sits in my garage for months at a time unless I need a plate. The YZ250 or TE300 two stroke is always chosen over the FE350. So much more fun to ride offroad. Been considering a YZ125 to convert to X specs or even a 150 XC-W to add to the quiver. Think they'd be a blast to ride.

Two folks in my close riding circle have quivers of bikes in their garages too. Go to bikes for them, the 200 XC-W. Two strokes, especially small bore off road specific ones are a blast to ride. Almost like a different sport.

Evermore, don't take this wrong. Just shooting the sh$t. :thumbup Enjoy the class, the process, shopping, and riding. No matter what you choose, you will enjoy yourself.

 

[evermore]

Awesome man sounds like you are gonna get a great bike. Have you read up on the mods for that ktm 350? It is real common to get a vortex ecu, take the reeds out of the airbox, and change the endcap on the exhaust.

If I get lucky, I'll get a bike that is already or partially farkled.

 

[evermore]

Bummer about the delay. Seems like you’re an accomplished rider. If you want to ride that Brutale over to Danville I’m happy to let you give my plated 350 a try...could ride the 300 around the Col de sac to see the difference.

thank you for the offer! I may take you up on that after the class

 

[evermore]

Generous offer! :thumbup Until folks actually ride them, not just read specs and or input from folks online... they never really know.

I've got a plated FE350 with all the mods to return some bark to it, but it still sits in my garage for months at a time unless I need a plate. The YZ250 or TE300 two stroke is always chosen over the FE350. So much more fun to ride offroad. Been considering a YZ125 to convert to X specs or even a 150 XC-W to add to the quiver. Think they'd be a blast to ride.

Two folks in my close riding circle have quivers of bikes in their garages too. Go to bikes for them, the 200 XC-W. Two strokes, especially small bore off road specific ones are a blast to ride. Almost like a different sport.

Evermore, don't take this wrong. Just shooting the sh$t. :thumbup Enjoy the class, the process, shopping, and riding. No matter what you choose, you will enjoy yourself.

Oh I intend to enjoy it

For actual rally preparation, the EXC-F 350 will be the best option (short of a 450cc rally replica) so I'd say the 350 will be what I'll be riding a year from now as the likeliest outcome.


However, I dont necessarily need to get one right away, nor may it be the best option if I want to focus on a skills training and technical riding first. Also, despite what I said in a comment earlier, a 2 stroke bike is intriguing just because I have never owned or even ridden one.

In that case though, I'll be looking at 150cc-300c 2strokes that I can easily sell within a year and are reliable so I can focus on the riding bit and not wrenching

 

[sk8norcal]

For actual rally preparation, the EXC-F 350 will be the best option (short of a 450cc rally replica) so I'd say the 350 will be what I'll be riding a year from now as the likeliest outcome.

cool that you are interested in doing a rally!

Is there a specific rally you are interested in?

I was trying to figure out the whole roll chart thing recently, seems confusing :laughing

btw, newish dirt rider here also (and struggling on my overweight dual sport. :laughing)

and it seems like you already have some dirt experience, ever take that DR650 to Metcalf?

 

[evermore]

cool that you are interested in doing a rally!

Is there a specific rally you are interested in?

I was trying to figure out the whole roll chart thing recently, seems confusing :laughing

btw, newish dirt rider here also (and struggling on my overweight dual sport. :laughing)

and it seems like you already have some dirt experience, ever take that DR650 to Metcalf?

Well long term, the dream would be the Dakar but I figure that will be ~5 years from now if all the intermediate steps (and rallies) go well.

Figuring out the roll chart thing will be fun and I'm definitely looking forward to that portion of this exercise. It does seem rather crazy but it seems to work!

I think i have been to Metcalf but this was like 10 years ago. Is this one of those areas where you cant take red sticker bikes to in the summer?

 

[sk8norcal]

I believe all the nearby parks have a red sticker season, metcalf, hollister, carnegie, frank raines, except San luis reservoir ohv (but its flat.)

metcalf will be ur home park if ur in SJ.

here's a couple of videos i was watching for the roadbook,


youtu.be/EuB2JHvBbEc


youtu.be/w3iXw6N-Yw8

 

[evermore]

I believe all the nearby parks have a red sticker season, metcalf, hollister, carnegie, frank raines, except San luis reservoir ohv (but its flat.)

metcalf will be ur home park if ur in SJ.

hmm, how is metcalf in the summer? is it a dusty mess or is it rideable? That is really close (I'm in Willow Glen)...

 

[sk8norcal]

hmm, how is metcalf in the summer? is it a dusty mess or is it rideable? That is really close (I'm in Willow Glen)...

well, people ride it year round.
it's slippery and loose to me, but i am on dual sport tkc80 tires.
The traction does vary quite a bit between wet and dry season.

you will have to ask the guys on real dirt bikes.
Some probably like the extra challenge.

 

[evermore]

yeah Metcalf is 14 miles from home, Hollister OHV is 52 miles, I assume these are the two closest to San Jose?

I guess what I should be asking is where is the nearest area to San Jose I could ride a red sticker bike at during the summer months...

 

[sk8norcal]

yeah Metcalf is 14 miles from home, Hollister OHV is 52 miles, I assume these are the two closest to San Jose?

yup

I guess what I should be asking is where is the nearest area to San Jose I could ride a red sticker bike at during the summer months...

someone else can answere better,
i know there's stonyford/penny pines (medocino national forest) 200 miles away.
and other places in the sierras.

that's why u see some people buy old (2002) ktm 2 strokes with green stickers.

or 2 bikes, 1 red, 1 green.

 

[sk8norcal]

btw, here's metcalf,
he does almost all the single tracks in about 20 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF3jxcSgQbM

 

[evermore]

btw, here's metcalf,
he does almost all the single tracks in about 20 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF3jxcSgQbM

yep, watched that video yesterday, uhm yeah I dont need to go that fast

Hmm, so I see there's a KDX200 for sale right now...

 

[sk8norcal]

yep, watched that video yesterday, uhm yeah I dont need to go that fast

i will be happy just to go half the speed. :laughing

Hmm, so I see there's a KDX200 for sale right now...

year?