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mckeann
Original Poster
698 posts
99 months
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I'm thinking about getting a motocross bike. One of my mates does enduro's on his, and it looks like fun, and another of my mates is picking one up next week to play on bings and old quarries. I'm going to have a wee shot of his, and if i like it as much as i think i will, i'll buy my own one, do some messing around, then try an enduro.
What do i need to get started??
Helmet, boots, body armour and a bike. anything else?
I'm 16 stone, will a 125 2stroke pull my fat arse up a hill, or should i look at bigger engines. 2 stroke or 4?? I know very little about mechanics, so might need to take it to a bike shop for rebuilds.
Budget is approx 2k for the bike, plus kit on top. Any helps or suggestions or bikes for sale, please shout
Neil
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Maruchino
855 posts
54 months
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I am also 16 stones. I got a KTM EXC 250 2-stroke to start enduro a couple of months ago and it scares the living s  t out of me. A 200 would have been the better choice, I thought I needed the bigger chassis but I am not convinced now. Gear Tools Bike Way of getting it there (van/trailer) Enduroland is what I do, just a friendly practice club that do events down in the east midlands.
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welshjohn
722 posts
51 months
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GarryA
2,544 posts
34 months
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You'll be flat out on a 125 and having to maintain the ass off it. I had a YZ125 when I was 15yrs old, kids bike for sure.
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3doorPete
6,971 posts
104 months
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IIRC you trackday an R1. I'd go big, early, if for fun. When you are learning the torque makes it easy - when you get better rev it and the power is more than you can ever use off road.
If you want to do enduros then you really want an enduro bike as they are better optimised with gearing, number of gears and power curve than an MX bike. If you buy a road legal enduro, you can do green lanes too.
If 2 stroke, I'd recommend a KTM 300EXC. If 4 stroke, a KTM 450/525/530 EXC depending on what your budget is.
I don't know anything about Motocross bikes, but my wifes cousin swears by his YZ450 Yam.
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Timbuk2
1,030 posts
25 months
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I'd probably go for an Enduro bike over a full on Motocross bike, if only because the servicing intervals are bigger. Also like Pete says, road legal is good so you can do some green lanes etc.
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MrOrange
691 posts
123 months
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I had a (semi-works) YZ450F. It was effing terrifying and felt a downsight quicker off the mark and mental through the gears than my Ducati 1098. It span the rear wheel everywhere, in any gear. I miss it. They're very nickable. I quite fancy a road-spec KTM.
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shanes
819 posts
25 months
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KTM's are hard to beat
i have just mx bikes SX 250 and a SFX 350 , the 250 smoker is a lot of fun to ride but its a hand full :-}} you get very tired very quick as its always trying to bite you guess thats why its so fun , the 350 4 stroke is a dream to ride very easy to ride and power to weight ratio is perfect
i am 16 stone as well forget a 125 2stroke or 250 4 strokes , just don't have enough power to get you over the jumps or pull up the bigger hills
if you going for more end our so you can register it for the road the EXC 300 smoker or EXC350/450 4 stroke are very good
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VonSenger
1,065 posts
59 months
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I have a kx250, bonkers fast!! Almost to fast. Some say a 4 stroke is more manageable but im not sure. Only pain is more gear, another stand, outfit, boots etc etc. Can work out expensive.
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LiamB
4,799 posts
13 months
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MX Bikes are a lot less forgiving than other bikes.
I found out the hard way haha.
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NAS
1,769 posts
101 months
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If anything, the 125s are the hardest to ride fast. You have to be on top on it, all the time, no time to rest, at all. 4 strokes are much more forgiving.
I'm very big too. 6'7". Go 4 stroke. 250s are ideal for learning, 450s the most fun. But they're too much for a beginner.
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Holeshot46
60 posts
54 months
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Contrary to one of the posters above I'd say avoid KTM's, they are rubbish (imo). Good bikes to ride but they cost a lot to maintain.
With your weight I would suggest a nice 450 Kawasaki, Honda or Suzuki. They won't give you any grief and have a nice bit of power to get you around.
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Fleegle
10,798 posts
46 months
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Holeshot46 said: Contrary to one of the posters above I'd say avoid KTM's, they are rubbish (imo). Good bikes to ride but they cost a lot to maintain.
 You're not allowed to say that on here. Too many people will be upset by that statement
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3doorPete
6,971 posts
104 months
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Holeshot46 said: Contrary to one of the posters above I'd say avoid KTM's, they are rubbish (imo). Good bikes to ride but they cost a lot to maintain.
With your weight I would suggest a nice 450 Kawasaki, Honda or Suzuki. They won't give you any grief and have a nice bit of power to get you around. This is an MX/Enduro bike - they are all going to be high maintenance, regardless of manufacturer. To an extent, I'd agree with you for a pure green laning bike in that slower, heavier alternatives like DRZs and XRs have their place with people who want something low maintenance that can handle lanes. Too say they are rubbish though... there is a reason why enduros and lanes are seas of orange - they are the best. They are also unbelievably quick and simple to work on compared to Yamahas and Suzukis I've had experience with. The parts are all cleverly designed so you literally only need to take a few bolts out and everything comes apart. Seat, one bolt, tank, one bolt, headlight unit, no bolts (clever design), side covers, no bolts (clever design) etc.
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Fezsi
2 posts
72 months
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Whats with all this talk of 450's and 250's being too much for a noob?
I'm a noob to motox and supermoto's and i've just bought a 550 Husaberg! Bring the pain!
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Holeshot46
60 posts
54 months
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3doorPete said: This is an MX/Enduro bike - they are all going to be high maintenance, regardless of manufacturer. To an extent, I'd agree with you for a pure green laning bike in that slower, heavier alternatives like DRZs and XRs have their place with people who want something low maintenance that can handle lanes.
Too say they are rubbish though... there is a reason why enduros and lanes are seas of orange - they are the best. They are also unbelievably quick and simple to work on compared to Yamahas and Suzukis I've had experience with. The parts are all cleverly designed so you literally only need to take a few bolts out and everything comes apart. Seat, one bolt, tank, one bolt, headlight unit, no bolts (clever design), side covers, no bolts (clever design) etc. I know where you are coming from regarding design, they are built differently to the Jap bikes and can be easier to work on - I agree. As with all things we can only speak from our own experiences. From a purely motocross background I know that KTM's in that arena are/can be fragile (I had a 2011 and 2012 350f last year and have had numerous KTM's during my time racing). Compared to the KTM's my 450 KX just doesn't go wrong, neither did the Honda I had a few years ago. All motocross bikes are high maintenance I agree again. There is however a difference between having to maintain the bike and having to constantly spend money on broken parts, which is what I found myself doing with the KTM. I'm sure I won't be winning any friends by saying this but a lot of people who have had a KTM in the past will know that KTM stands for Keeps Taking Money... The stunt they pulled with their 2012 bikes wasn't exactly on either, they dropped the list price by a grand and I think more than doubled the warranty period on new bikes a few months after release. Ok for people who bought them later on but what about those who purchased them early? Fortunately for me I had sold my 2012 bike a couple of weeks before they did that so I didn't lose out.
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3doorPete
6,971 posts
104 months
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Holeshot46 said: I know where you are coming from regarding design, they are built differently to the Jap bikes and can be easier to work on - I agree.
As with all things we can only speak from our own experiences. From a purely motocross background I know that KTM's in that arena are/can be fragile (I had a 2011 and 2012 350f last year and have had numerous KTM's during my time racing). Compared to the KTM's my 450 KX just doesn't go wrong, neither did the Honda I had a few years ago.
All motocross bikes are high maintenance I agree again. There is however a difference between having to maintain the bike and having to constantly spend money on broken parts, which is what I found myself doing with the KTM. I'm sure I won't be winning any friends by saying this but a lot of people who have had a KTM in the past will know that KTM stands for Keeps Taking Money...
The stunt they pulled with their 2012 bikes wasn't exactly on either, they dropped the list price by a grand and I think more than doubled the warranty period on new bikes a few months after release. Ok for people who bought them later on but what about those who purchased them early? Fortunately for me I had sold my 2012 bike a couple of weeks before they did that so I didn't lose out. Fair enough - I guess from a racing perspective you are well versed with this aspect that I have no experience with. The only thing I've regularly seen on KTMs is minor electrical issues, but given a complete loom is only £85 and complete new switch gear under £50, it doesn't really bother me. Servicing is a piece of piss as even the bash plate is quick release in a few seconds. The only real concerns in the circles of people I ride with seems to be rebuilds, but it seems the large capacity RFS motored ones piss on their rebuild schedules if you are not racing. My 525 is on 352 hours/9100 miles and doesn't smoke at all or use much oil. According to KTM it should be coming up to needing it's 2nd full rebuild with piston etc, but it's never been apart. This seems quite common. The XC 250 4T's and all 2T's are a different matter it seems and the 08 onwards big 4Ts seem less robust than than the RFS motors.
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papercup
2,035 posts
89 months
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3doorPete said: Fair enough - I guess from a racing perspective you are well versed with this aspect that I have no experience with.
The only thing I've regularly seen on KTMs is minor electrical issues, but given a complete loom is only £85 and complete new switch gear under £50, it doesn't really bother me.
Servicing is a piece of piss as even the bash plate is quick release in a few seconds. The only real concerns in the circles of people I ride with seems to be rebuilds, but it seems the large capacity RFS motored ones piss on their rebuild schedules if you are not racing. My 525 is on 352 hours/9100 miles and doesn't smoke at all or use much oil. According to KTM it should be coming up to needing it's 2nd full rebuild with piston etc, but it's never been apart. This seems quite common.
The XC 250 4T's and all 2T's are a different matter it seems and the 08 onwards big 4Ts seem less robust than than the RFS motors. The RFS is years old, and the near engines are not as solid. My money would go on a four stroke, much easier to ride. I'd also get an enduro bike rather than a crosser, unless you are just on a motocross track.
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The Tramp
901 posts
87 months
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Don't forgot to price in a few sets of spare fairings..... 
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3doorPete
6,971 posts
104 months
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papercup said: The RFS is years old, and the near engines are not as solid.
My money would go on a four stroke, much easier to ride. I'd also get an enduro bike rather than a crosser, unless you are just on a motocross track. RFS is IIRC '03 to '07. For the OP's budget, if going KTM he'd be looking at pre-face lift/frame update 03/04 RFS bikes for £2K.
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