What Dirt Bike Should I Buy?

One of the most common questions I hear when people start getting interested in dirt bikes is, "What dirt bike should I buy?" This is a very good question, but the answer can vary greatly. The decision doesn't necessarily depend on your age, although you don't really want to stick a 6 year old on a big 450cc motocross bike. These are the main deciding factors on which bike you should buy.

Two or Four stroke?

The first question that I would ask is, "Do you want a two or four stroke?" It is important to some people because they might have grown up on one or the other and only want that specific stroke.

Age

Now like I said before, age does not matter as much, but it does matter a little bit more if you are a kid. Riders from 3-5 will probably want to start out on a 50cc. All of the name brand companies make a 50cc bike. Riders older than 15 will usually start riding full-size bikes.

Riding Purposes

The next big question would be, "What kind of riding are you going to do?" Will it be motocross, trail-riding, desert, dual-sport, or a little of everything? This is the fork in the road where you pick the type of dirt bike you want to ride.

Motocross

If you are going to be riding motocross most of the time, then you have several options. For big bikes you can choose a 125cc two-stroke, 250cc two or four-stroke, or a 450cc four-stroke. If you are a beginner in motocross then the smaller bike is always going to be better, and if you want to learn the basic techniques and good riding skills then I suggest a 125cc two-stroke motocross bike. These are the best training bikes because they teach you how to ride a bike faster, smoother, and they require more skill to ride fast. Intermediates will usually choose 250cc bikes, and expert riders will often choose the 450cc four-stroke, but that's not always the case.

Trail Riding

There are many bikes that are great for trail riding. All of the name brand companies have four-stroke trail bikes that are usually 250cc and 450cc. Kawasaki, KTM, and other European companies have two-stroke trail bikes that range from 125cc to 300cc+. If you aren't going to be doing night riding and are a beginning rider, Honda has a great line of small-bore four-stroke trail bikes. They have a CRF100F, 150F, 230F(which is rumored to be discontinued soon), and then there is the liquid-cooled CRF250F enduro with lights that is similar to a motocross bike. KTM has 125, 200, 250, and 300cc two-stroke trail bikes that are all great and have excellent power. If you want to be a better rider and have a little more fun then a two-stroke would be a great choice, but if you want a full-size four-stroke trail bike then a 250cc would be a good bike too, because they have plenty of power and are able to be street legal.

Dual-sport

Like I mentioned before the 250cc and the 450cc are capable of being street legal(You can also get a two-stroke legal for the street, but it might be a little more difficult). They are both great bikes, but a novice rider should start out on the smaller bike. Every name-brand company has a 250cc liquid-cooled four-stroke bike and are all comparable. Suzuki has a DRZ400 which is more street-oriented with a few more options than the other bikes. Honda has the XR250R, 400R, and 650R/L that can be street legal, but are also great off-road. I wouldn't suggest getting the big 400, 450, or 650cc bikes if you are new to riding because they have a lot of power and torque.

Desert

Desert riding may not be common to most riders, but out in Phoenix, California, and other desert areas, riders go out and ride there all of the time. The bigger the engine, the easier it will be to get through the sand. The Honda XR650 is a very good bike if you are a better rider and like to go on trips to the desert because of all the torque it has. The smallest bike that you would want out there is a 125cc two-stroke, otherwise the sand will just eat you up.

Choosing the right dirt bike can be tough. There are many bikes to choose from, so make sure you pick the right bike. But that doesn't mean that you can only buy one. Another way to find out what bike you want is to try out some friends bikes and see if you like it or not, and the more bikes that you try the better you will know what you want. If you find out what you like before you buy one then you are on track to getting a bike that fits your needs. Thanks for viewing, and remember to check back soon for my new post titled, "How To Buy a Dirt Bike." Thanks!

Tips For Buying a Dirt Bike

There are several factors that you should consider when buying your first dirt bike. It is sometimes difficult determining the best bike for any individual since the dirt bike manufacturers offer many choices. It is important to research the different types of dirt bikes available so you can purchase a bike that is well-suited for your skill level.

Will your dirt bike be used for recreational purposes or do you plan on racing?

Some manufacturers offer bikes that are more specific for your choice of riding. If you plan on riding your dirt bike as a leisure activity, you should decide if you would like to ride trails, tracks or both.

Honda, for example, offers trail and motocross bikes. The CRF family of bikes offers R class, F class and X class motorbikes.

• The R class is a pure motocross bike that is designed with motocross tracks and competition in mind. 
• The X class is offered up as a CRF250X and CRF450X. These bikes are used in factory racing in the Baja 1000 and Baja 500. They are like their brothers in the R class but the X class bikes come with a headlight and are geared and tuned with trail riding in mind. 
• Honda also offers F class bikes that are made more for the weekend warrior or for riders looking to spend time riding and not so much time working on their bikes. The F class bikes are a little more "cushy" with their electric start and more plush suspension. The F class bikes are perfect for the family to get out to enjoy; and give the kids a break from the video games!

Honda isn't the only manufacturer that offers this wide variety, so you should research each manufacturer before you buy

If you plan on racing, you might also attend some local races and ask riders why they prefer a particular dirt bike manufacturer over another.

Age, Size and Experience of the Rider

Age and size of the rider are other factors to consider and also the experience level of the rider should be taken into consideration. Don't be Superman and buy a bike beyond your skill level. Riding over your head can happen on the track as well as with choosing the size of your bike. It is better to ride well on a bike that fits your experience level than to look cool on a bigger bike that is too powerful for you.

New Bike vs. Used Bike

Which is better for you? If you are new to dirt bike riding you might consider buying a used dirt bike first because it is a significant investment to purchase a new dirt bike only to discover that it may not be your thing after trying it a time or two. A new dirt bike's resale value drops as soon as you leave the store with your new toy. If you decide that you don't like riding your dirt bike, it is more difficult to get a good return on your investment if you would like to sell it right away.

If you purchase a used dirt bike, you can typically sell it for around the same price that you paid for it if you decide after trying it once or twice that dirt bike riding is not for you. Also keep in mind that a used dirt bike is like a used car-- you just don't know what you are getting. It helps if you are a bit mechanically inclined so you would have the ability to troubleshoot and repair a used dirt bike if something should break soon after your purchase.

New dirt bikes are awesome as you should most likely get some kind of warranty and new bikes don't require as much maintenance early on. There's also something exciting about buying a used bike and making it new, if you like to work on your bike.

Whether you choose to buy new or used, your bike will eventually be taken apart and put back together, either by you or an experienced mechanic. When you maintain your bike yourself it is a lot easier to fix problems at the track or wherever you ride. No matter how well you maintain your bike, something will eventually break! Having some spare parts handy, such as spark plugs, and a toolbox filled with the appropriate tools is always helpful.

When purchasing a used dirt bike, your goal as a buyer is to appear knowledgeable and ask the seller several questions, such as:

• Has the dirt bike been raced?
• How many owners has the bike had?
• Can you tell me about the service history of the bike?
• What has the bike been used for and where has it been ridden?

Two Stroke vs. Four Stroke

Once again what are you planning to do? If you are just riding for fun a two-stroke is cheaper as far as maintenance. Four-strokes have valves and less time between tune-ups. Two strokes with the proper oil and gas mixture will last a long time. You may be thinking "They both have valves," and they do but two-strokes have reed valves and four-strokes have valves that work in unison with a camshaft and need to stay in time with the crank shaft and piston so they don't hit each other. If they are over-revved and they make contact, a valve will bend or break and that will be very costly.

If you've done all of the research and you are still not sure which is the best choice, you could just pick your favorite Supercross rider's manufacturer; or you could start with your favorite color and make a trip to your local motorsports store and have a salesperson share what they know on a particular bike.

The"Big Five" and Popular Supercross Racers include:

• Red: Honda, Kevin Windham
• Green: Kawasaki, Ryan Villopoto
• Orange: KTM, Justin Brayton
• Yellow:  Suzuki, Chad Reed
• Blue:  Yamaha, James Stewart

Once you decide on the perfect dirt bike according to your preferences, make sure you have all of the proper safety gear before taking your bike out for your first exhilarating ride around your favorite track or trail. Ride Safe!

Types Of Mini Bikes

Mini bikes are the latest craze throughout the world, with more and more people getting involved in the mini bike scene. So are you wondering whether or not to get a mini bike? Well there are several factors which must be taken into account beforehand.

Firstly, do you know exactly what a mini bike is? Mini bikes are miniature replicas of larger motorcycles, most have a petrol engine, and are usually 39cc or 49cc although many of these pocket bikes are now being produced with a higher engine displacement, in some cases up to 200cc. Mini bikes are capable of very high speeds, with the slowest bikes still being able to easily reach 35-40mph.

Well now you know what a Mini bike is it is time to decide whether or not they are for you. If you think you would love the feeling of riding at 40+ mph, inches from the ground then you have found your ideal sport! Mini bikes are a great way of getting into motor racing, as they are relatively cheap with all the spills and thrills of racing larger bikes.

If you are still interested in buying a mini bike then you must ask yourself what you want from it. For example are you buying a mini bike to ride around with your mates? Or are you buying it to become the next Valentino Rossi? Well whatever your needs, there are certain regulations which must be taken into account.

Mini bikes are illegal when ridden in a public place, and can be crushed if used illegally. So if you do not have any private property or a track which you can go to then maybe you should rethink buying one.

If you are still up for getting into the craze, then you are ready to decide what type of bike you want to ride. There are so many different types of mini bikes available so you may get lost. So what do you want a mini bike for?

If you want to race the bikes in a league then the mini bike you buy must comply with regulations and must therefore be a race certified mini bike, these are usually more expensive than other bikes on the market but are far greater quality with more parts and performance bolt ons available.

If racing these mini bikes is not for you then you can look at the more affordable mini motorbikes, these are just as much fun, but do not come with the large price tag. These bikes however must be used on private property, with the owners permission, or you could face prosecution. Alternatively there are open races set up where bikes like this will be allowed to enter.

There are many different types of mini bikes available for you to buy so selecting the correct style depends on what you want the bike for. The most common style of mini bike is the small road style mini bikes, also known as pocket bikes or mini motos. These have road tires and look like road racing bikes. Usually these bikes do not come with any suspension and a very low ground clearance so make sure if you want a bike like this then you have a smooth, flat surface to ride on.

The next style of mini bike is the mini dirt bike, these are smaller versions of larger dirt bikes, they are built for going off road with larger wheels and more suited tires, as well as a more robust build. So if you want a mini bike which you can ride around a field all day then a mini dirt bike is probably the best choice.

If you want a comfortable bike with a 'cool' image then I think it is fair to say that the best mini bike for you will be a mini bike chopper, these look great with the looks of the larger choppers available today. These are commonly seen at bike shows, with a lot of the bigger bikes and do not look out of place.

Finally, if you do not feel too steady on two wheels then maybe a mini bike quad is the answer, these are tiny quad bikes, about the same size as a mini bike but with four wheels. These also usually have the same engine as most smaller mini bikes. These are great if you prefer riding quads over motorbikes.