What about a Honda XR400? I just read some stuff about it and it sounds good.

'88 Toyota Longbed 4x4 w/ 34 x 9.5 Swampers, welded rear, big skidplate, half-snorkel, ECU in glovebox

 

Talking to yourself I see. (just kidding) An XR400 would be a good bike for starters, especially with your build. I would remind you that it will take some $ to make it fully street legal, depending on what the laws are there in VT.

BTW, glad to hear you are getting into dirt biking. You'll love it.

RoosteR
I love the smell of two-stroke in the morning.....

 

The CR or KX 500 could easily dust cars off the line, mabye not in the long run (good luck finding a dirt bike that will go 120 mph). And the CR has really good low end torque, and still screams at the top end. Just a thought, and also, from what I have heard, they are controlable bikes.

A guy walks up to a whore house and sees a sign. The sign reads "BEAT IT, WE'RE CLOSED".

 

Iif you really want to jump & ditch cars a lot, then you better get a 250-500 2-stroke, even at your build you will be impressed with the power of a 250, don't get a 4-stoke, unless it is something brand new (ktm or yz426) but that aint gonna happen for $1000

The xr400 is an excellant 1st bike, faily easy to make street legal, goes a long ways on a little gas, reliable, easy to ride, etc., etc. But a little slower and heavier than a 2-stroke.

 

Well for a first bike a XR400 would be lodgical choice (good starter bike)a 500 2 stroke is a lot of bike to start out on.You might consider a 250 but if your going to stay in a price range look for a 400.

 

What's the difference in weight between a 2-stroke 250 and a 4-stroke 400? When people say a 4-stroke is easier to ride, do they mean better low end, and less of a powerband? Does the powerband on a 250 come on really fast so the bike just takes off and is hard to control? What's up?

Is there a big difference in noise between a 2 stroke and a 4 stroke? I'd like to keep it quiet.

Thanks


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'88 Toyota Longbed 4x4 w/ 34 x 9.5 Swampers, welded rear, big skidplate, half-snorkel, ECU in glovebox

 

The power band doesn't come real fast and just explode so you fly off the back of the bike, it is just a huge burst in power, you do start to really take off, but not to the point where you will have your front tire reaching for the sky.

A guy walks up to a whore house and sees a sign. The sign reads "BEAT IT, WE'RE CLOSED".

 

Exactly, the hit of the two stroke is hard, but very controllable for the experienced rider. Four stroke is smoother and more predictable, like you car or truck. Ever noitice the throttle response on a two stroke chainsaw engine as compared to a four stroke mower engine? Also, making a two stroke motocrosser street legal is tough to do and expensive.

RoosteR
I love the smell of two-stroke in the morning.....

 

it's impossible these days to make a 2-stroke pass emissions testing. so you can forget a 2 stroke if you want it to be street legal. really though you could just load up your bike in your truck and if you tie it down right it won't go anywhere as long as you don't flip your truck. My uncle has an 84 cr500 and he's 43 and can ride the hell out of it. He had an 83 toyota with some 33 m/t baja claws and he would strap it down and go wheeling and then when he would get to a nice level spot he would park and unload and ride around for a while. never lost a bike out of his truck either. Just put one strap from each corner of the bed of the truck and you will be fine.

 

We don't have emmisions testing around here yet. Next year they start testing vehicles '94 and newer. I'm not sure about motorcycles....

As for strapping it in my bed, it's a good idea, but I really want to be able to ride this thing on the road from trail to trail, so I can just go out and explore for the day.

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'88 Toyota Longbed 4x4 w/ 34 x 9.5 Swampers, welded rear, big skidplate, half-snorkel, ECU in glovebox

 

I have owned a 92ktm550, 91ktm500, 94ktm250, honda 93xr250, 85honda xr350, 84xr500 93xr600 and a honda 2000 xr650. The hondas never fell to bring me home. I ride the mountains of NM, Co, and Idaho and the flat land and hills of texas. The older xr's are trail bikes not race bikes, but with money you can make them run great and be reliable. The ktms I consider race bikes and think of them as dagasters with require on going repairs. The honda trail bike have docile power bands witch are fun to ride endro-cross country not motorcross. I ride a Honda 00 Xr650 witch is very powerful and has lots of torque and top end speed. Thats why five xr650's took the top race positions in 500 mile dersert race. This bike replaced the Xr600 witch was honda's desert race bike for the baja1000 race. Dont let people tell you that the weight is a problem you will fine it smooths out the rough trails and the rocks. A yamaha 400-426 is a race bike, the honda 400 is a trail bike easy to ride. I spent less money on my new 93xr600 in repairs then all of the other bikes together, very relaible. two strokes dont like it when a pig like a xr passes them by. Honda has never let me down!!!

 

I would recomend a xr250. I learned on a xr100 and it was the best thing for me. The 250 wont have the balls a 400 will but it is way lighter and that it important for a newbie. also is a very forgiving woods bike inthat you don't always have to worry about gears and clutch all the time. plus hondas are bulletproof so it won't break down and if you sell it inthe right season you'll get damn neer what you paid for it. Wait till you know what your doing (and can ride) before you get a 2-stroke. also less mess with a 4. Personally I ride a 125 in the woods, it takes way more work but it is also more fun once one can handle it.

 

Howd you like the KTM 550 vs. the 500? Im thinking of getting a KTM 550 My KTM 500 ain't fast enough anymore. Does the 550 kick harded then the 500?
I weigh 170 lbs so the power to weight ratio is right there


SPEED KILLS BUT YOU GET THERE FASTER

 

The 550 has a more docile power band, wide ratio gear box, able to run over 100 mph, but like all big bore bikes hard to stick the power to the ground. You have ground speed and wheel spin speed. A great desert bike where tire spin is needed. When you say fast what do you mean? Stop light to stop light or top end. It was hard for me to get off the ktms and on to my honda’s, but in a drag race where traction is needed my 2000 xr650r will bet the ktms by putting the power to the ground. My friend in a 75 yard by 75 yard square track with his Honda xr600r not stock can out accerarate the 550 - 500 from corner to corner. Once I get hooked up I gain on him rapidly but then have to slow down to make the turn. Then he is gone again. I find the 4 stroke has better trackable power. Like I said I rode them both 500, 550, xr 600, xr 650r. have a great time on witch ever bike you choose to ride, please help keep our National Forrest open for all to use and enjoy!!!!!!


What years of 500, 550 are you looking at?

Todd


Todd A Whiteley

 

Right now I have a lightly moded '85 KTM 500 - yea it screams,( ive ran it over a 100 a few times ) But it kicked back and split the cases I found a set near Tri-Cities Washington that i have to drive over and look at- the main reason I want a 550 is because my bike is kinda old ( sure eats those 250's still) and hard to get parts for and spendy at that. I donno if what year 550 I should be looking for , or even a 540 KTM- the big bore KTM's are kinda hard to find I noticed too..

I was even thinking of a KTM 380- but the don't hook up all that well I heard- still haven't rode one yet

Is the 550 harder to start then a 500?


SPEED KILLS BUT YOU GET THERE FASTER


KTM 500

 

the 91 540 is a 548cc, 92 they called it 550. the ktm 550 is easier to start, longer kick starter. if you set up engine by topping out the piston then kicking it through you will find it will start better. dont kick through the compression, start the kick at the down stroke of the piston. the 91 540, 548cc has a delorto carb and the 92 550 has a kekien carb whitch helps the low end performance. my friend is selling my old 550 i had that he bought from me in 94. he lives in denver colorado.

Todd A Whiteley

 

The lower compression on the 550 must be nice- my 500's 11:5:1 it has some serious kick to it - I do the same "trick" when starting my 500- sometime sit still kicks back though...
What does ur friend want for his bike? Im kinda curious


SPEED KILLS BUT YOU GET THERE FASTER ~

KTM 500

 

i believe he would take 1400.00 for it.

Todd A Whiteley

 

$1400 don't sound to bad of a deal for a big KTM - Id love to look at it, but I don't know how I could manage that one- since I live in North idaho - guess I might have to go for a drive this spring too take a look i guess if I can manage it. I d love to have another KTM that's for sure.............

 

just drop an email and i will call my friend and maybe he will email you a picture. i am coming to bosie idaho in the spring early summer to ride with my friend that lives there and maybe bring it with me. i ride in thr yawhees and the castcade mountians.

obe1_home@yahoo.com

Todd A Whiteley

 

You mean "Boise" Idaho?

A guy walks up to a whore house and sees a sign. The sign reads "BEAT IT, WE'RE CLOSED".

 

$1400? I am in the denver area and looking for a bike for the end of january... Let me know if he still has it