dirtbike advice

[PedroHM]

So, I'm looking at getting a dirt bike to get into a bit of that and do some safer sliding.

been looking at 450 4strokers as I'd like to be able to take it on the road and get some life out of it. but i could go either way 400 - 510 etc. Been looking at KTM's at huskys etc. any advise?

[johnchypermotard]

Originally Posted by PedroHM

So, I'm looking at getting a dirt bike to get into a bit of that and do some safer sliding.

been looking at 450 4strokers as I'd like to be able to take it on the road and get some life out of it. but i could go either way 400 - 510 etc. Been looking at KTM's at huskys etc. any advise?

according to cassos ... "uesky" is the only way to go. but more sensible folks lean towards ktm dual sport bikes (the ktm 530 seems pretty frikin cool, imho)

[GMP]

I've had time on the Husky 450 and would go that route over the KTM. For your intended use(dual sport) that should be fine. For more serious tight woods riding/racing, should you lean that way, consider a 250 2-stroke.

As far as the KTMs, the older RFS motors were bulletproof. The newer motors had internal oil seal problems, fixed in '09. I never liked the PDS suspension but thats just personal opinion and it has gotten better lately, although its still more sensitive to setup and sprong selection. Good luck, you learn a hell of a lot getting good on a dirt bike.

[cassos]

Question #1 is do you want a license plate to dual sport it?
If yes then forget about the jap 450cc from Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Susuki .
Let's face it Husky started it the concept of making a race bike street legal, now KTM does it too, but Honda will never take that liability, as we say barely legal...

Remember that they will run like crap unmodified because they had to pass the emission tests, so you have to put them back in their original design which brings question #2 injected or carburated?
Most new bikes are injected so you are back to ECU wars to modify them. It is way less expensive to mess up with jetting.

Question #3 is a race 450 engine which requires higher maintenance
or a more reliable (less pushed) engine like the Husky 610 or now 630 (different engine, more oil) requiring less maintenance (valve adjustment, piston life) than the the 450.

Final question #4 is do you want to just do dirt riding or do you want to also try supermoto. In such case, KTM sells (or at least use to sell) some of their bikes with conversion kit. You can buy a conversion kit easily (pair of 17" wheels with Excel rim, Talon hub, and oversize front brake with caliper relocator)

On our NorCal group, both Bill and Jim are KTM (carbed) and street legal,
Peter and myself are Husky (carbed) and street legal.

Note that a 250 can be a lot of fun and less work, even a Honda 150 can do it!

[DJP123]

I have an 06 KTM 525 EXC and it's a wonderful all around bike. I dual-sport,
ride tight woods, supermoto and even ride it to work every now and then.
Bulletproof RFS engine with threaded adjusters for easy valve adjustments.
Parts are fairly reasonable to purchase and a good dealer network here in the US.

[PedroHM]

over here unless you own land you need a road registered bike to ride anywhere in the parks so I'd have to go that way. <300cc is cheaper to register by 50% i believe and rego is a rip so i was toying with a 250 but unless i buy a new 250 it will be a bit gutless and i could not really moto it anywhere. I guess i could get a 250 to get into it then get a bigger one later..

thanks for the advice on the jap bikes, yamaha do a good model 450 over here but I don't know much about them

[minusone]

Road riding is tough on the gearboxes of dirt bikes unless they have the benefit of a cush drive in the drivetrain. This is usually implemented as rubber blocks behind the rear chain cog. You find these drives on the larger singles but not usually on the smaller bretheren (correct me if I'm wrong).

I have a Husky 450 enduro which suits me fine and has the benefit of a cooling fan which would be desirable in traffic.

[Crank1000]

Originally Posted by PedroHM

over here unless you own land you need a road registered bike to ride anywhere in the parks so I'd have to go that way. <300cc is cheaper to register by 50% i believe and rego is a rip so i was toying with a 250 but unless i buy a new 250 it will be a bit gutless and i could not really moto it anywhere. I guess i could get a 250 to get into it then get a bigger one later..

thanks for the advice on the jap bikes, yamaha do a good model 450 over here but I don't know much about them

I would imagine it's also much easier to legalize a dirtbike in Oz than it is here in the states. So you probably would have your pick of any of the large displacement bikes with a battery (ie. Honda 450x, Yamaha WR450, etc.) since you'll need to run lights, blinkers etc. My recommendation would be a late model Aprilia RXV (anything post 2008 since the 06 and 07s tended to be hand grenades). Btw, I own a CRF450x, and used to own an SXV (street version of the RXV), and if I could get more for my Honda, I'd trade for an RXV in a minute. JMO.

Btw, isn't this the Hypermotard forum?

[GMP]

In AU you should be able to get and register a GasGas EC250. This is an awesome 2-stroke, I have been racing them for years now. They make an SM version, but you can also buy the SM parts from GasGas, cheaper than aftermarket in the USA anyway. The clutch has a rubber damper between the gaer and the basket, very bulletproof motor.

[Hyper-Gerry23]

I like KTMs. I converted my dirt bike to Supermoto. It's a 05 525 MXC..Bulletproof RFS engine that pulls like a Monster truck. I got her all blinged up w/ 17" Black Excels w/ orange Talon hubs cush drive, 320mm Supermoto big brake kit. ect...Needless to say it will never see the dirt again. What a total BLAST to ride my old dirt bike on the Mean Streets of Seattle!! It was super easy to get plated too!