Help me find the right bike for technical single-track

[OaklandF4i]

:laughing I like your financial planning. :thumbup

Beta X Trainer really is a cool bike. Like Elemetal, I'd certainly consider having one in my garage. But I already have two fantastic two strokes and a plated 350. Tough to justify more.

For what you are talking about it, and even its plated use, it would be perfect.

I'm lucky up in Lake County being only a mile to Bartlett springs road that brings you into the backside of Stonyford and Indian Valley BLM lands. 14 Miles to either Middle Creek/Penny Pines or the east side of Cow Mtn. Very few places with so much legal riding available so close, feel lucky.

Would love to be able to plate either of my two strokes like you can in Idaho. But when I'm too lazy to load the trailer, I just ride my plated FE350 over to the trails.

Can't complain, the FE350 is a killer bike. But being a two stroke guy, would much rather be on the YZ250 or TE300 just about all the time.

That new Bronco looks sweet too. :thumbup

 

[dtrides]

I lucked out and picked up a Husqvarna TE 310 R right here on the Barf!.
Derestricted and only a about 500 (looked to be mainly road) miles on it.
It was also the last year of Itali-Husky (part owned by BMW at the time) so fairly reliable with KYB suspension.
Other than being tall geared (and closely spaced!) I only put on a bigger rear sprocket and a set of hand guards to make it single track ready. Had a set of new full knob DOT tires (90/10)on it.
Price? Less than 1/2 (almost 1/3) of any new bike that would compete with it.
I have noticed the 2-smokes seem to be the go-to bike for the woods these days and seem to run really clean . I would love to try one but satisfied with my 310 for now.
Great bike at a great price to get back in to the dirt!
DT

 

[Frame Maker]

+1 for old crappy 250cc 2-stroke. My cheap POS bike gets the job done and runs when my friend's fancy modern bikes don't

20190101_114537 by andbike, on Flickr

 

[KooLaid]

I've never heard a single negative about the latest generations of Beta Xtrainers from real world users. If anything, too soft suspension (that can be fixed in an afternoon for about $200 in parts) or you're really tall so the bike feels too small (because it is smaller than standard).

I would still LOVE a Xtrainer but love my fuel and oil injection. It was my #3 or so on my prioritized 2020 new bike shopping list, #1 Husqvarna TE300i, #2 KTM 300XC-W TPI, #3 Beta Xtrainer, #4 KTM Freeride (not the eletctric) #5 Beta 300RR. I ended up with the KTM 300 because I got $1500 off at the dealer.

The KTM 300 is A LOT of F'king power. Too much at times. Now what REALLY caught my attention is the KTM 150 XC-W TPI...... I might end up with one of those before the Xtrainer because once again....fuel injection and oil injection.

 

[ScottRNelson]

The more I study the XTrainer, the more it sounds like just what I'm looking for. It seems to be just the right tool for technical single-track riding and that's what I want it for. Not interested in big power and don't intend to go all that fast on the trails. I'm after a bike that can do the things that my XR650L can't because it's heavy and carries the weight up high.

I may have to look into heavier springs and maybe bar risers, but I'll wait until I've ridden one for a bit to decide what I need. My XR is sprung more softly than stock and I like it that way.

In any case, unless I find a deal on a used one for sale, it will likely be near the end of the summer before I get anything.