Off Road Biking

H

Hotwheels

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Hi

I'm looking to start off road biking as a hobby (dirt trails etc). Can anyone suggest a suitable, reliable and fun beginners bike?
 
Motorized or not........If you are looking for a peddle bike I have no idea...
If motorized:
Depends on how much you want to spend.
Used Honda CRF230s go for around R20k and will work even after you are comfortable.
Bigger & more expensive you can find nice DRZ 400's used for mid 20s up

Stay clear from the Chinese imports and from MX fourstrokes. The first will kill your bank balance and the second will kill you.

So what is your price range?
 
I started on a DRZ400 - awesome bike. It was a perfect bike to learn on, got me around, was light, handled well and easy to maintain. I have since moved on. upgraded to a KTM 640 Adventure, words dont describe the grin she gives me . There are some pretty informative forums out there:
1. http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php - SA Forum
2. http://www.advrider.com - International
 
I had 2 strokes for many years, as that was all you could buy. Then everyone including me, went 4 stroke. Now I am back on a 2stroke and as long as I can buy oil I will keep on them...BUT 4 strokes are way more user friendly for newcomers, no messing with oil or worse pre-mix. You can fill up wherever you want without worrying about oil.
Also the big manufacturers are selling only 4 stroke entry bikes. Actually the only 2 strokes you get is 125/250 motocrossers..and they are all a generation or 2 old in technology. 4 strokes are more environmentally friendly, and that is the bottom line unfortunately.
 
HammerDown said:
I had 2 strokes for many years, as that was all you could buy. Then everyone including me, went 4 stroke. Now I am back on a 2stroke and as long as I can buy oil I will keep on them...BUT 4 strokes are way more user friendly for newcomers, no messing with oil or worse pre-mix. You can fill up wherever you want without worrying about oil.
Also the big manufacturers are selling only 4 stroke entry bikes. Actually the only 2 strokes you get is 125/250 motocrossers..and they are all a generation or 2 old in technology. 4 strokes are more environmentally friendly, and that is the bottom line unfortunately.
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I cant stand the four stroke, nothing like the smell of 2-stroke mix in the morning :D

KTM has a 150cc, 200cc & 300cc 2T. GasGas has a 200cc & 300cc. Husqvarna has a 300cc. These are proper offroad bikes and not MX bikes.
My personal favourite is the 200cc KTM or GasGas.

The older KTM 380 was one scary mofo bike :eek:
 
Yeap, but none of those are good beginner bikes and of those the only one you will find below 20k is the 200 KTM and then it will be well used and abused.

But I am fully with you, once you have progressed past beginner 2 stroke would be my way to go. (although plenty will disagree with reason ..and that's all about personal preferences;))
 
unfortunately your price range is a bit low. me my dad and many friends have adventure tourers. i myself have a suzuki dl 650 and have done many tours. exp. die hell, Swaziland, Zambia, namibia, cape, tosca/brei so on and so on. get yourself a good adv tourer thats light. like suzuki 650 bmw 800 kawasaki 650 klr, bmw 650, ktm 690
 
He has R15k......I also do a lot of dual-sport riding, and although it is fun, you are talking R35k (old Dakar) to R120k (GS800).....way above what he wants to start off with and to be honest not good bikes to learn to ride on......
 
How about a KDX200 or KDX220R? I know lot's of people that started off on these.
 
Awesome bikes those...I completely agree
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Stickfigure said:
Friend of mine has a Yamaha 500cc 2 stroke. Not sure of the model but that thing makes you pee your pants in a second.
Click to expand...

Must be very old (20yrs) as they stopped making 500cc 2T's a long time ago. I would not even describe them as ridable.

Probably a YZ490 or IT490, SC500 is much older.

If you want a semi ridable (based on skill and faith) beast look into a 1996 KTM 550 MXC, just wear adult nappies :eek::D Oh, it eats sprockets, tyres and puppies for breakfast.
 
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