Within the next few months I will be buying a new dirtbike. Ive been on a KTM 450 four stroke for the last 4 years. It served me very well, and I have grown to really appreciate the torque of the 4stokes. I ride mostly singletrack in the mountains and go out to Moab once or twice a year. Id like to use it to putt around town and be legal on service roads and Nat. Parks. Ive decided my next bike will have to meet certain criteria...
1. Headlight/Brakelight
2. Electric Start
3. Either street legal from the factory or the ability to make it legal here in CO

The requirements in CO are pretty lenient, one needs a headlight, brakelight, one mirror, and a horn. Thats it.

Ive narrowed my choices down to a few bikes. Id like to hear what you all have to say and what you think in regards to Dependability, Ease of Maint., Power, and Price.

I am thinking about the KTM 300 XC-W (two stroke), 450 XC or EXC, 530 XC or EXC, and also the Honda CRF450X and the Yamaha WR450R

Thanks
Scott

 

I rode with a ktm 675 (on street tires) and it was giving me a run for my money in the turns, straightaways were a different story though. The owner had a Yamaha R1 before it, he said he would never go back and it is the most fun you can have under 100mph on the street. It is street legal and alot lighter than most enduro bikes. It would lift the front end powering through turns and predictably slide through turns when it is pushed hard enough. An all around nasty bike, I would have one if I wern't buying a house later this year. If you are looking at new bikes you may want to hold off and wait for the 2nd or 3rd year of the fuel injected bikes.

 

Yes, the fuel inj. bikes are VERY appealing!!!

 

Get a Yamaha 4 strk. for sure. They've got it down street leagal right out of the shop. Put some good tires and floating brake discs. and ur good.

 

here is my vote

http://www.mytrailbuddy.com/1.html

:-)

Bryan

 

I would stay away from 2 strokes, they just aren't up to the task of highway running unless you have the fuel mixed PERFECTLY and honestly theres too much time involved in it, I wanna just get out there and ride. I had a WR250 (sold a few months ago ) and that was a great bike, gobs of top end power and plenty low end, I could idle it around in 3rd gear. The headlight was great and had a taillight, but no brake function, it was just an illuminator. Never overheated, would run 90+ mph, and had lots of clearance. Man I miss it.

That being said, if I had the means to, I would go jump on a new WR450 any day. Got a bud with a yz450f and it is a beast. I have a YFZ450 and its power is amazing for its size.

My second choice would be the Honda no doubt. they are another company that have done many goods for the 4 stroke world. I started off on a little crf230f. Wrecked it at least once a week, beat it to death and it always cranked right up the next day ready for more. Had a crf250F and while it was similar in power to the Wr250 I had, it didn't like to putt around much. It also was a hard starter when it got hot, no matter what.

 

That looks like my first bike!!!

 

my fault, its a ktm 625 not a 675.

 

Yeah, I knew what you meant. Its just a little too big for what I would use it for.

 

I have been racing harescrambles and GNCC's for quite some time now and I LOVE my two stroke in the tight singletrack. I have owned/raced 4 strokes in the past but went back to the 2 smoker. It is just easier to ride in in the tight/rocky singlestrack found in most harescrambles and GNCC races and I cut about two minutes a lap off my time just by switching to the two stroke

But, I also agree with Rip112, If you are gonna be doing any road riding the two stroke would not fare well at all. But if you are doing offroad only the KTM 300 would be my choice out of the bikes listed.

 

I was talking to a guy on a BMW trail bike a couple months ago. he has been thru ever state except hawaii on it.
I would go 4 stroke.

 

The BMW may be a good super motard bike but in the woods it stinks. So much so that David Knight ( the premiere offroad racer in the last 5 yrs.) decided to void his BMW contract, that was worth a fortune, so he could race a bike that he actually had a chance to win on..

 

I think the BMW is more of a street bike you can take off the paved roads.

 

I believe you are thinking of the GS series BMW's. Which are made for only the occassional offroad firetrail ride. They are outstanding bikes for sure.

I was talking about BMW's new woods racer the 450 X . Looks like a winner, Preforms like crap.

 

Thanks for all the input...keep it coming.

I think Cesnick has me figured out pretty good. I dont race but I like to think I do. I love tight woods and technical single track. Im no pro but I fair pretty well when the riding gets hairy.

Again, I think my delema (sp?) comes back to wanting a bike for the tuff stuff, (Ive been really wanting to ride 5 miles of Hell north of Moab!!!!) but also want a plated bike that I can take to the store down the street. Probably not going to be a commuter bike, but legal so I can ride EVERYWHERE I want!

That is what is appealing about the XC, WR, and CRF X 450s. I dont know, Im torn.