Recently we have aqquired some recreational property adjacent to numerous great riding areas... logging roads, goat trails etc and we ( Wife and i) were considering a pair of entry level dirtbikes as it has been years since we rode....

At first we considered buying a Quad but then realized that for the price of 1 Quad we could buy two bikes...
We have done some comparison shopping and i think wev'e narrowed down our choices to the Honda crf230/ Yamaha ttr225 for myself and the Honda crf150/ Yamaha ttr125l/le for my wife. I think the Hondas have a bit more hmmff in the motors and seem to be built a bit stronger but the Yamahas seem to make up that minor difference with a far superiour suspension setup?

Anyone who has owned these or similar bikes, your opinions would be greatly appreciated... and go easy on me cause i'm a novice in this field k?

thanks in advance!

 

You can't go wrong with either make of bike. It comes down to personal preference, cost, ergonomics and for me, ease of maintenance. I am partial to Hondas. Their valves are very easy to keep in adjustment. I believe the Yamahas require the use of shims to adjust the valves. As far as the power, either one can be bombed . First thing I would do on either one is put a decent filter on it (UNI or K&N) and remove any "restrictions" that may be in the stock air box. I have a Honda XR-250 that I did that to, I also rejetted the carb and put an after market pipe on it. Stock, the bike was anemic. With those few simple and fairly inexpensive additions, the bike came alive. I also changed my rear sprocket for "wuds" riding, but you probably won't need to do that.

Good luck and ride safe!!

~Rob

 

Given those choices I would go with the Honda's
My Son owned a TTR125 and it was ok but the 150 Honda was not out yet. His TTR eventually gave way to rough ridding along with his growth spurt and is long gone now.

I owned a Honda XR400 for over 6 years and it was extremely dependable. I raced it in many enduro and cross country events over those years plus did allot of play ridding, I even converted it to a dual sport bike and rode a handful of those events too.

All with just regular maintenance, never even pulled the head off and ran great the day I sold it.

 

buy the Honda's and set up the suspension as YOU need it. Not a difficult thing to do. Good suspension will make any bike a joy to ride...slow or fast. I think you may want more power or speed than the sizes you are looking at. What do you weigh? If you are 200+, look at a bigger bike....Honda....JKE

 

I'm with JKE on this, for a 4 stroke bike 225 or 230cc is pretty small for a grown man. Have you looked at the WR250F? Can be livened up by doing the same things as the TTR, and the suspension is way better on them. Motor is the same basic engine as the 250F motocross engine, just choked down for emissions. I mention the Yamahas, but Honda builds a real nice bike too. Buddy has a CR250 the same year as mine and I actaully like the way it rides a little better than my YZ250. 'Course, he's way behind due to the fact that the Honda 2 strokes leave alot to be desired these days.

 

I think the 2 stroke development is going down hill due to the emission issues in Kali. They are all focussing on the 4 strokes. The WR450F will tote you along pretty good and so will the Honda XR400. For less money, you could get the Suzuki DR-Z 400E. Well, I think it is less...maybe not. JMO - JKE

 

The wife and I got us a Polaris 6x6 and we have alot of fun in the mountains together, If you do decide that motor cycles are what you want definatly go with the 4 stroke, get one 2x's your weight ...............I have had 13 bikes and the most enjoyable was the 4 strokes.

Cheers, Kevin

 

Thats good advice - never thought about it in those terms. No wonder my Yamaha 500 and 540 thumpers are so much fun ....

For the orig poster, I'd get nothing less than a 250 for yourself.

 

I agree with the above- The 230's are really just competition for a good 125 2 stroke. Look into a 450 four stroke. Several of the guy's around here ride them and they really like them. Lot's of low end to lug around, but will rev on top also.

 

LONG LIVE THE 2 STROKES!!
but all yelling aside, for you, I think that 230 will get very boring very quick. I would go with a 400 or 450 if you are going 4 stroke.
I am in the process of restoring a 1985 CR500 and I know that spells suicide. But If I am too tired or not up to the challenge of riding it one day, I still have my Suzuki Vinson, it has alot of power and speed for a 4x4 which is nice. But it is like riding a Cadillac through the trails, good for riding after a long days work. Just my two cents....

 

And if your really adventurous- build one like I did

 

If you do decide to go a bigger bike the 250X deserves a look with its electric start. Specs on it are here

 

Hey Scottrod, what year is that bike, I was wondering because I am having a really hard time find a graphics kit for my 85 CR 500 and I see that you have the older style frame and rad guard. Any info would be great. Thanks

-Jared

 

Jared- sent ya a PM-

 

Thanks for all the great input guys! You guys have confirmed what i've thought all along...i think i'll go for a bigger bike cause i know i'll regret it later if i dont... and it'll be the Honda!

thanks again!

P.s And after looking at all the differnt makes of bikes out there i think the worst one i saw was that bike with all the duck feathers festooned all over it......what was it again?

the Quackasawaki????