Dirt Bikes

[BBR]

I have ridden motorcycles since I was a kid. I kind of took a break from it the past few years while my kid's interests were elsewhere.

Judd saved his money and found a 2015 KTM 125. So naturally, I had to get one too so we could go ride together. A buddy of mine had this '08 YZ450 for sale so I went and looked at it. It is fantastic. This is my first 450 and my first modern four stroke to own. I say "modern" even though this is an '08 because my last bike was a super ridiculously fun '93 KDX200.

First impression: it's a ditch digger. Very snappy and easy to go really fast on. I'd say the low end and midrange are very similar to the DR650 I used to own, but the 450 keeps on pulling where the DR would sign off and force you to shift. Second impression: Cody put a Rekluse clutch in it and it makes riding off-road a treat. Stalling is not a option. Just hang on and go fast!


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Surely some of you guys ride too! Let's see and hear about it!

[SuperBuickGuy]

I have a 09 CRF450r, I love it. First year of fuel injection and it makes riding such a joy. No stalling, no high altitude jet adjustments (which is almost guarantee around here where we ride the dunes at the coast to 5000 feet (or much more) in the mountains. It's not as fast as my CR500af, but it's very close and it has a large enough fuel tank (that the CR500af did not) along with starting every time (that said, the 500 wasn't terrible if you knew the tricks).

[DanStokes]

I rode a little on cow paths and an old gravel pit when I was a younger guy but have given it up as I ran out of time to do all the things I want to do. My fave was a Kawasaki Trail Boss 100 - nothin' fancy but it was great for what I did on it.

Dan

[SuperBuickGuy]

I rode a little on cow paths and an old gravel pit when I was a younger guy but have given it up as I ran out of time to do all the things I want to do. My fave was a Kawasaki Trail Boss 100 - nothin' fancy but it was great for what I did on it.

Dan

I think there are two general types of bike, speed and transportation. Speed bikes, you have to pay attention to the bike so you don't hurt yourself; transportation for when you want to see sights and don't want to worry about the bike throwing you off..... nothing at all wrong with the second sent - in fact long ago, I had a friend that had a Suzuki 230 when we all had TRX 450s and such.... there were times when it was the bike the injured rider went back on because it wouldn't kill you for looking at it wrong (which the other bikes had, unsuccessfully, tried).

[fatguyzinc]

41+years riding and racing, started on a CR80
then went to a DR350 for a short time then straight
to a CR500R. talk about trial by fire....

i still have 2 CR500R's, an 85 and a 95. either
one still scares me at LEAST once every single ride.



ive posted this pic before, i wish it was better quality-
but heres me on the 95, a few years ago at 44 and 340lbs+,
on a 20ft step up. keep in mind i am 6'2" and could easily
walk under the bikes front tire here-and i was still going up.
and yes i am giving the finger mid air.

[Monster]

Started my dirt campaign with a Yamaha YZ125 and finished with a Honda CR500R .. with lots of others in between. All of them were vintage carbureted & air cooled types. My problem is that I push the limits of the bike and/or myself too much and kept injuring myself and/or breaking the bike.

[SuperBuickGuy]

all you people and your huge first bikes.... mine was a Honda 50, hard tail.... none of this wimpy suspended stuff for us.

[silver_bullet]

I don't do bikes anymore... My first will tell my age... A Honda 125CB converted to a scrambler...

[Beagle]

all you people and your huge first bikes.... mine was a Honda 50, hard tail.... none of this wimpy suspended stuff for us.

I've moved to a four wheeler, easier to not fall off in my old age. I've still got the first one (not this particular one, just easier to liberate a web picture than clean the garage), it's getting higher on the list of "I'll restore it someday"

Dad drove a Mercury so suspension was a foregone conclusion. Pffft. CCI - I didn't even have to mix gas, it did it for me. LOL... I really wanted a trail 70, but Dad thought it was too big and fast for me I guess.

Suzuki MT-50 Trailhopper, 50cc , maybe 3 hp of rotary valve two stroke joy! 28mph 3 speed semi automatic and my first contact with the Police, who told me I couldn't ride it but then made me ride it home (and followed me. I guess they knew not to trust an 8 year old)

[SuperBuickGuy]

except mine was an attractive red (my first paint job) - sameish specs as your 'zuki. 26 mph, 3 speed, no clutch. Getting chased by cops didn't happen until I got a 'grow into it' Honda SL125. gas mixing didn't come until my KZ250 - which was the first bike I paid for with my own dollars. I have fond memories, but those things are not cheap if you want to relive your misspent youth

[BBR]

First bike was an '83 XR100. $695 brand new. I paid half. I rode the wheels off that thing.

[SuperBuickGuy]

First bike was an '83 XR100. $695 brand new. I paid half. I rode the wheels off that thing.

I hated my SL125 because everything (okay maybe not the 50) was faster then it - my brother stepped up to an XR80 and that was light-years faster then the 125....

[RockJustRock]

I rode 'Murican. Herter\s. Came in a big cardboard box. Pro=dirt. Big tire.

[BBR]

First full size bike; '86 XR200R $1695 I was outgrowing the 100 so I mowed a lot of grass, saved my money and brought the 200 home. Man was I proud of it. It was the first year Honda combined the simple 2 valve 200 motor with the updated chassis. I rode many enduros on this bike and really wish I had never sold it.

[Monster]

Some buddies in the neighborhood had Hodaka bikes that were so basic, but kicked ass in the dirt .. a Super Rat 100 and a Combat Wombat 125 .. they tore it up !