Dirt Bike anyone?

[peejman]

I, as a forester, do have several places I can ride.

What do you all see as best tips for learning to ride? Anything to be aware of. I have ridden 4wheeelers extensively, but this is a new ball game.

 

It'll fall over if you stop.   :)

 

 

 

This is a bit of a drive, but probably worth it. 

http://www.offroad-training.org/DBS-Front-Page.html

 

Here's another option closer to home:

http://trialstrainingcenter.com/schedule/trials-training-days/

 

 

I've found this book to be pretty helpful. 

http://www.amazon.com/How-Ride-Off-Road-Motorcycles-Dual-Sport/dp/0760342733

[Trekbike]

Yea.  Ditto on the helmet and boots.   You'll likely freak when you price quality stuff.    One thing to be weary of if you have a short in-seam, is modern bikes have pretty high seat heights due to their long travel suspension.   Don't underestimate the importance of being able to "dabble" a foot if you're off balance on the low side of the trail.   I'm somewhat challenged in that area so about the best I could do was touch my toe tips even with the rear suspension sag set correctly for my weight.     

 

Really practice on low speed balancing and controls.    

 

New thought...Have you ever considered a trials bike? No worry about seat height on those.   :)  It might be what you need for tough access woods work.    There is even a training place called the Trails Training Center in Sequatchie, TN.   I went to their property years ago for a ride.   They sell used trials bikes as well.

 

http://trialstrainingcenter.com/

Edited January 5, 2015 by Trekbike

[Wyldk2]

Gas gas makes some quality Trials bikes. I looked into them before when I was a member of NATRA. ( North Alabama Trail Riders Association).

[Lumber_Jack]

So with a 2 stroke. How do you keep from crushing the header that runs right under the frame? Ride a 4 stroke if going over obstacles?

[Trekbike]

So with a 2 stroke. How do you keep from crushing the header that runs right under the frame? Ride a 4 stroke if going over obstacles?

For the most part it's not a problem if you use proper technique crossing logs and the like but as added insurance you can add a pipe guard. See the picture of the one I had on my bike in post # 14. That one was a heavy gauge aluminum one that attaches and is shaped to the lower part of the pipe. If you go back and watch the first part of that KTM video I posted you will see one already on the pipe when he installs it on the motor. That one was carbon fiber. Edited January 7, 2015 by Trekbike

[peejman]

So with a 2 stroke. How do you keep from crushing the header that runs right under the frame? Ride a 4 stroke if going over obstacles?

 

The header is stronger than you think, but the best practice is to make use of the 2-stroke power band and keep weight off the front tire. 

 

 

 

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/318/1524/Motorcycle-Article/Riding-Tip-with-Mason-Harrison.aspx

[10-Ring]

It sounds like you are looking for something that will offer good utility, and low maintenance, and low price and performance is secondary to this.  I've kind of sat back throughout this thread to see what direction you are headed before I made a recommendation on a bike.  I will just offer you these tidbits...

 

-Stay away from modern motorcross 4 strokes, they require more maintenance do to the power that is being squeezed out of that little engine.  Example, I had a Yamaha YZF400, it had 5 valves for one cylinder and was a complete pain in the butt to check valves on.  

 

-Depending on how big a boy you are I would get an electric start on anything over about 300cc.  Preferably with a backup kickstart.  I'm 5'8" 160 pounds, know what I am doing and still had to kick that YZF just right to get it to start, not to mention that kick starter will come back at you with a vengeance.  My DRZ400E only has an electric start, which is nice when everything is working, my battery died on the trail once and it was so muddy that I could not bump start it, even in 5th gear it would just go into a skid when I popped the clutch.  A friend had to ride out and fetch a tow strap to pull me about 2 miles to pavement before I could get it to start. 

 

-I will second the XRs as a great option for you.  They are a little heavier and not quite as powerful as their modern CRF counterparts but they are bullet proof and you should be able to pick up a nice one for around $1500 or less.  Unless you are a pretty big guy I would look for a 200 or 250, if you are bigger a 400, if you are just a strapping dude that is really big and really strong then a 600.  The old XR600s are a beast of a motorcycle, even as an experienced rider I don't enjoy riding them in tight spaces you have to muscle them around.  A friends dad raced one for years back in the 90's.  He was 6' 225 in great shape and worked out everyday.  A really experienced rider that isn't big will have a hard time muscling that bike around.  If you don't want a Honda I would really try to keep it Japanese.  KTM and other European brands make an excellent performance product.  It sounds like more performance than what you are looking for, parts cost a lot more, and they will just require more maintenance all the way around. 

 

-Bigger is not always better.  If say a CRF150 suited your needs and you are not really big I promise you that you can not ride that motorcycle and NOT smile.  I think one of the funnest bikes that I ever owned was a CRF50, built up with the 88 kit, and it would go anywhere in the woods since you can lift it over or scoot it under a blown down tree on the trail.  That package weighs 100 pounds and will still run 45MPH.  A couple of friends and myself have done 50 mile days on the trail on these bikes, the seats on the other hand are not butt friendly. 

 

If there is anything I can do to help you just shoot me a message, I've owned dirtbikes all of my adult life (momma said "not under my roof") and I currently own 5 dirtbike based motorcycles, each with a specific purpose.

[rbishop]

I didn't realize the entire National Forest was off limits to non DOT approved ATVs. That's such a waste. So much of that land goes virtually unused. Rant over

Back in my teens (70s) we rode in the Cherokee National Forest. There were trails all thru the mountains. Single-track type trails that were shared by bikers/hikers and horses. There were also a ton of jeep trails. Back in those days the mountains were full of Yamahas, Hondas, Ossas, Hodakas, Suzukis and other trail bikes. Then the tree hugging began and the National Forest slowly began to shut down. I think it began with "your motorcycle has to be street legal and have a spark arrestor". Then eventually the trails were off limits to all motorized vehicles. This is just in the National Forest areas. I guess there are other mountain areas that are open to off road vehicles.

[10-Ring]

Back in my teens (70s) we rode in the Cherokee National Forest. There were trails all thru the mountains. Single-track type trails that were shared by bikers/hikers and horses. There were also a ton of jeep trails. Back in those days the mountains were full of Yamahas, Hondas, Ossas, Hodakas, Suzukis and other trail bikes. Then the tree hugging began and the National Forest slowly began to shut down. I think it began with "your motorcycle has to be street legal and have a spark arrestor". Then eventually the trails were off limits to all motorized vehicles. This is just in the National Forest areas. I guess there are other mountain areas that are open to off road vehicles.

I do the bulk of my dual sport riding in Cherokee National Forrest.  You are good as long as it is street legal and you stay on open roads, same rules as an automobile.  I was out there on Saturday actually, they had some roads opened up from hunting season that are not ordinarily open that I got to explore!  I have a dirtbike that has been "converted" to be street legal.  This is a tricky process that I could write a book about, but it can be done.

[rbishop]

I do the bulk of my dual sport riding in Cherokee National Forrest.  You are good as long as it is street legal and you stay on open roads, same rules as an automobile.  I was out there on Saturday actually, they had some roads opened up from hunting season that are not ordinarily open that I got to explore!  I have a dirtbike that has been "converted" to be street legal.  This is a tricky process that I could write a book about, but it can be done.

Yes, but there is a BIG difference between open roads and single track trails thru the woods. Sure you can ride/drive any street legal vehicles on the roads on the Cherokee National Forest or any other National Park in the US.

[Ropin4gold]

A little off topic but I have been looking real hard at used klr650's I have a harley now and would like something to play on in the woods/trail.

[Trekbike]

A little off topic but I have been looking real hard at used klr650's I have a harley now and would like something to play on in the woods/trail.

 

I've never ridden one but have walked around them at shops.   A bike like that is best suited to dirt roads, fire roads, open terrain.   If you want to get more back into the woods I would get something different.  The KLR is showing that it weighs 430 lbs wet.   That's a bunch of weight.   I'm assuming you need something dual sport since you mentioned the KLR.  

 

One option that might be a litter better in tighter terrain is a Suzuki DRZ400.   It still won't be that great in the woods but would be a better choice than the KLR in my opinion.  

Edited January 10, 2015 by Trekbike

[10-Ring]

I've never ridden one but have walked around them at shops.   A bike like that is best suited to dirt roads, fire roads, open terrain.   If you want to get more back into the woods I would get something different.  The KLR is showing that it weighs 430 lbs wet.   That's a bunch of weight.   I'm assuming you need something dual sport since you mentioned the KLR.  

 

One option that might be a litter better in tighter terrain is a Suzuki DRZ400.   It still won't be that great in the woods but would be a better choice than the KLR in my opinion.  

Agreed.  It all boils down to the riders size and experience and what you want to do.  I have a friend that has a KLR that does 500 mile days back to back on it on the interstate and swears up and down he likes it more than his Harley.  For most a KLR would be fine for fire roads but I would have no desire to get into anything remotely tight with it.  I have two DRZ400s, a street legal "E" model and a SM, the SM is pretty limited off of gravel or hard pack and the E gets really heavy really fast in tight or really rough terrain, I initially wanted a DRZ250 when I bought it and everyone told me to get the 400, I wish I would have gone with the 250.  IMO the smaller you are comfortable on in the tight woods the better.

[Good_Steward]

A little off topic but I have been looking real hard at used klr650's I have a harley now and would like something to play on in the woods/trail.

 

The KLR is a great dual purpose, adventure bike. However, dual purpose means that it does neither one excellently. If you are looking for woods / trail, go to a more conventional off-road bike. 

Edited January 10, 2015 by Good_Steward

[peejman]

A little off topic but I have been looking real hard at used klr650's I have a harley now and would like something to play on in the woods/trail.

KLR's are great bikes right up until they fall over. Then you realize how heavy they are. They've got a few known issues that are relatively easily solved with every farkle in the world available for them.

[Trekbike]

I ran across this video and resurrected this thread since there was quite a bit of 2 stroke vs. 4 stroke discussion.   This race has a ton of 2 strokes there's a reason why.   They even had a few comments around the 10 minute mark.   Man...what a tough race.  7 finished out of 500 riders.  Gotta love the KTM 300.

 

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6exXbuzn9I[/media]

Edited January 25, 2015 by Trekbike

[Trekbike]

Yet another video on the KTM 300 EXC.   Man I want one of these...

 

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xfpU0yIpG4[/media]