Age: 43
Height: 5'9"
Inseam: 34"
Weight: 70.3 KG work out pretty consistently and ride at least a couple times a week except during winter, then it's sled time or dead of summer, then it's jetski time.
Years Riding: 8
Skill: Trails - aggressive, Track - aggressive but less so on big jumps (SCARED!)
Riding type: Trails 60% MX/SX 40% (because of the kid's racing) Harescrambles: 2 or 3 a year, love the tight singletrack ones more than open field with MX track ones.

Bike #1: 1998 KLX300 hogamatic. Great starter bike, very forgiving but heavy and especially in the frontend. I served me well on the trails for my first year of riding but I was ready to step up after that.

Bike #2 and my current ride for trails: 1994CR500 a BEAST but I love him. He scares most people, even my 15 yo haul ass kid thinks I'm nuts to ride this thing but I'm very comfy on him. I use him mainly for trails and he really shines on hillclimbs. Can be a bit tiring in the tight twisties but after riding him for the past 7 years I'm used to him. Just geared him back up to stock gearing and I'm in love all over again. He'd climb a tree if I could hang on but we can putt down the trail with the kids or new riders if needed. I have also ridden him on the track and lately dared to hit a few of the jumps with him. He still has stock 1994 suspension and it's set up soft for the woods so doubles and bigger jumps aren't the best idea unless I'm ready for the pogostick effect. If I ever learn how to really ride a wheelie, I could do it in any gear on this guy. Not sure but according to the old man, with stock gearing should be pulling 85 - 90 mph in 5th WFO. If it does, it sure didn't feel THAT fast at the last harescramble on the straights but 5th WFO was fast enough to pucker me up whatever mph I got up to. I do have a steering stabilizer on this one and it's helped tremendously with the rocky rooty stuff, especially on keeping the weight of this bike upright and moving forward.

Bike #3 and my current ride for track: 2004YZ125 (actually 144) sweet little guy that is much more manageable on the track but can be a pain in the butt on tech trails, especially hillclimbs. I've saved so many close calls on this guy on the track that the 500 would have planted me on for sure. He's taught me how to stay on the pipe and how to shift and how to jump. The 500 is so forgiving that I got lazy plus, it was just so heavy that it was scary to jump it.

Nothing like riding two extremes but I love them both for different reasons. I've had a hard time figuring out which one I really like and still wouldn't give either of them up, except maybe the 125 for an aluminum framed YZ125.

Haven't ridden a 4stroke yet that interested me. The kid's 06CRF250R I've tried out a few times but not nearly the fun of either of my bikes.

Hey BanditX, I got my 86Magna700VFC up to 95 mph out on a desolate county road that was paved. I wanted to try for 120 but then I realized that I was all alone out there except the buzzards and if I screwed up, all they'd find are the bones. I'd love a sportbike but I know I couldn't control myself so I stick with my old Magna.

Age: 15
Height: 5' .75"
Inseam: 29"
Years Riding: 6
Skill: Fast and kind of aggressive
Riding type: 95% Desert, 5% MX track

Bike #1: 2003 Honda XR80R
It was a good starter bike. It had a good amount of power and was easy to manage. It's a little heavy(around 150 or so pounds). I wouldn't recommend it for an adult though. The seat height is around 28". It's good to learn on something like this, but not for full time use.

Bike #2: 2004 Honda CR85R small wheel
It had a lot of power and was fast. I was so used to the 4-stroke power that when I got the 2-stroke it was a real surprise and I had to get used to it. With the power it made it easier to go through sand washes and not get stuck. It had nice soft suspension, and was also easy to start. I put on ASV Levers, a FMF Factory Fatty Pipe, and FMF TurbineCore 2 spark arrester. It was lighter than the 80, about 145 lbs. and a 32" seat height.

Bike #3: 2007 Honda CRF150R Expert
I absolutly love this bike. I wanted a 4-stroke again after the CR85, because I wanted a little more power. I made a lot of modifications to it to make it even faster and make it stand out more. I just love the tractor like power of the 4-stroke and the bottom end grunt of the bike. This is about 160 lbs. and has a seat heighth of 34".

On all of my bikes I have needed to tip-toe them, and never felt that I needed to lower the bike even with my short stature.

Age: 28
Height: 5'4
Inseam: ?
Years Riding: 5
Skill: Agressive for mx moderately aggressive for enduro/trails/desert
Riding type: 60%mx , 30% enduro/desert (mix of wide open and handlebar width racing, 10% trail riding

98 KDX 200 - This was my first bike. Felt heavy in the very early beginner days but nothing that didnt take a few rides to get used to. Good beginner 2 stroke power that taught me a lot about throttle and clutch control without getting me into any trouble. Suspension was ordinary but as a beginner didnt bother me. A few mods/pipe and the thing would open right up. Regretfully sold it to make way for mxers as this was a fun bike. Recomend for beginner through to intermediate riders on a budget.

04 RMZ 250 - my 1st mxer. Great low power but revved out early, very light handling, seat height resonable. It needed a 2 piece oil/water cap to make servicing better, replacement of crap steel bars, engine ice as the thing always boiled over in the desert and sand racing. Suspension was good. This was a great mxer and turned well in really tight trails but the smaller radiators meant that I was always boiling it in creek beds. I never had issues that other bikes of this model had so cant really comment on that. In 3 years of ownership I replaced the inlet valves once and did 1 rebuilt (not blown up just tired) This bike was raced/ridden 3 times a week minimum for 3 years.

Current bike 07 YZF 250- my boyfriend being a yamaha mechanic encouraged me to change to blue (he could also get a good price and race support which was a bonus) Suspension is awesome, have changed nothing but the clickers. Revs out well, has lost the top heavy feel of the old Yamahas. Have put on handguards, ASV levers, Reikon bars, radiator guards. It feels a very stable bike. Turns slower than other mx'ers but this suits my desert conditions. Engine is very strong, ride a 500km deep sand point to point race with no boiling or engine damage, very reliable.

Age: 39
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 115
Inseam: 29.5
Years Riding: 23 (There were quite a few lean years of riding due to having 3 babies and trails being hours away)

Skill: Moderately aggressive

Riding type: Woods and minimal track. Have a very small tight track at home.
Have to drive hours to get to good trails.

1st bike: 1985 Suzuki RM 100 (4 stroke.) Stock
Suzuki's equivalent to the XR 100 I think? A great learner for me. It was not intimidating. I rapidly outgrew it. When I couldn't follow my b/f (now hubby) up the hills due to lack of power, it was time to get rid of it and fast.

2nd Bike: 1986 Suzuki RM 80 (2 stroke.) Stock
A great bike and my first 2 stroke. I loved it. It was the best 80 of that year.
I had a ball on it but found it to be too cramped after awhile. You really had to rev it high to get power. Small wheels and tires made riding in sand difficult. Ready for a full size.

3rd Bike: 1988 Suzuki RM 125 (2 stroke.) Stock
Full size frame, wheels and tires. A lot better fit for me. I was comfortable on it. It was not a very fast 125. Hubby's 84 CR 125 blew it away.
I remember it being very squirrelly in the sand. Had to clutch it a lot in the singletracks. Not ideal for me in the woods. Rode it for 16 years.

4th and current Bike: 2002 KTM 200 MXC (2 stroke) LOVE IT!
Extras:
Suspension setup and lowered for me by Enduro Engineering (love those guys)
Guts soft seat foam.
Enduro Engineering graffics, handguards, and easy pull clutch lever
EXC front headlight and taillight
Michelin S12 front and rear tires
Orange billet gas cap vent and valve stem caps
Front number plate bag

This was my dream bike. I used to go into the dealership and just ooh and ahh over it. Look at it, touch it, sit on it, read the brochures
I never thought I would ever get one but in 2004 I came upon a deal that I simply could not pass up. I found a leftover and Scott drove 8 hours round trip to get it for me. He's my hero.

This bike rips. It lofts the front end up very easily which is great for going over logs or trying to get a little air off whoops or whatever. It does great in the tight stuff. It's exhilarating and thrilling to ride hard. It takes anything you throw at it. Very dependable.

Sometimes it's too feisty for me in the super tight singletrack. And I wonder if the wide ratio trans would be better. A lot of people put flywheel weights on theirs but I don't know if I should.

Things I'd like to add:
High rise bars
Scott's Steering Damper
X Bushing (to lower it a little more)
JD Jetting Kit
A license plate

Hey mods, can we make this a sticky? I think it could be helpful for newbies and those looking to move up. Great info from the whole gang on what works and what doesn't. Please?

why not? its not like i should be working. i have the garth brooks blasting in my office, and i'm ready for my 4 day weekend.

my name is audrey, and i used to be addicted to quads. i had a pw50 for my first bike though... aww the good times....

Age: 24
Height: 5'3" on a good hair day
Weight: too much. but isn't that what everyone says? 145ish.
Inseam: 29
Years Riding: 15, give or take a few for teenage rebellion, and a couple for kiddos

Skill: not too much skill, mostly hanging on for dear life. lol. mostly agressive on familiar terrain, i get cautious on new terrain. never been to a track in my life. 100% desert.... no sand. glamis is for drunken people who break their stuff.

first bike ever: 198something PW50. got it when i was 9, and was already too big for it, but i loved it. tore around on that thing like a bat out of hell. at least thats what my mom always told me.

second bike: again, 1980something cr125. got it at 13, big leap from a 50 to the 125. loved it. i loved them all. until my rebellion finally tore at my parents last nerve, and they sold it. i was never the same. lol

first quad: 1987 suzuki lt250r. still have it. love love love love love it. i got it when i was 19, for $800. some guy had bought it for his girlfriend, and they broke up, so he gave it to me supercheap. its pretty much stock, and i adore it. its a champ. it'll go anywhere, start anytime, and keeps up with my hubbies raptor. sometimes... its also the designated "give the kids a ride around camp" vehicle. it also helped me get back into riding after my kids, when i was still a little heavier, and didn't have my balance back good enough to even try a bike. that and i didn't have life insurance at the time.

second quad: techinically my hubbies. but i steal it every once in a while. 2001 Raptor 660r. fastest thing i have ever ridden, and the only thing i have every been on, that literally made me fear for my life. there's been a couple times i didn't think i was gonna stick it or even live. but i'm still standing. well, sitting right now. its pretty much stock, that thing doesn't need any more power.

thrid bike, and new love of my life: 2003 kawasaki kx85. my mom laughs at me on this thing, she says that my personality matches the bike to a 't'. i was a little scared of it at first. i rode it up and down my street God knows how many times, and was comfy. the first time in the dirt, i freaked out because of how squirrelly it was in first gear. we bought it from some kid's dad who had bought it for his kid to race, but the kid "didn't want a wimpy 85. he wanted a 250". from what i've seen, and the friends bikes i've hopped on, my 85 does just as good, if not better, and out runs some of them on their 250's. just because its not a full size doens't been it can't hang with the big boys. my husband made me get insured when we bought it. he says if i do something stupid, at least he can replace the bike

fourth bike: 2 2004 crf50's. i love small bikes. i have no idea why. maybe its how ridiculous i know i look, and i don't care. one has a bbr big frame, big wheel, k&n, short shifter, broken clutch lever, and a bent peg. lol. the other one is bone stock, with the exception of a k&n.

most of our bikes are stock, with the exception of what we needed to have on there. i don't see the point of unnecessary upgrades, it doesn't add that much value to the bike, and you ened up losing the $$$ when you go to sell it.

if my photobucket hadn't been hacked and closed, i would have pics. what is the point of hacking a photobucket account? it's like spamming. i would like to see someone who says that they do spamming for a living, and then give them a swift kick to the shins.

dirt_momma said:

I'd kick them somewhere else...

Age: 45
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 140
Inseam: 34
Years Riding: just started this year
Skill: not sure how to rate my skill - I just know I can't get enough of it

First Bikes:
I had an experienced friend suggest some bikes to me and I ended up with an
'05 Honda CRF230F and I have an '05 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer street bike.
I love them both. NO regrets so far, I put about 5000 miles on the FZ6 this year but didn't get hardly any time in the woods on the Honda. I hope it's the other way around next year.
I bought a Baja kit for it that I will put on over the winter to make it street legal so I can ride to the trails instead of loading it up every time.

I hope over the winter I find someone to ride with. I really only had one opportunity to trail ride this year. Absolutely LOVED it! Dropped it a bunch. Didn't get hurt. I didn't like the clostophobic feeling of the gear but at the end of the ride was glad I wore it.

Are there any ladies from Maine on this forum or men? Would love to have someone to ride with!

Age: 37
Height: 5' .7"
Weight: 135
Inseam: 34"
Years Riding: a few years as a kid, then picked it back up in 2006.
Skill: Getting better with each mile!
Riding type: 100% High Desert

Bike# Shared with siblings...1977-1983
I think it was a Yamaha...don’t remember how many cc’s..I just know it was fast and fun and when it broke, we’d rebuild it and go some more! Black and Yellow and fun even with no brakes!

Bike #1: 2006 Yamaha TTR 125LE
It was a good starter or even re-starter bike. If you’re vertically challenged! I am not so it was harder to ride than the big bikes. It was fun for almost a year for my son, then he grew 4 inches and it is not near as enjoyable as a big bike. Got scars from this little beast...<---selling this one now so we can pick up a 125 2 stroke asap
Bike #2: 2006 Honda CRF 230
Now this bike I chose mainly because of seat height....I was afraid to even sit on the WR and the price was so right! People call it a pig..heck even I do when I’m picking it up, but it has taught me so much! I can ride the 230 very well, working twice as hard to ride it with it’s lack of suspension and overall balance, but it has made the step up to a real bike (as opposed to a play bike) so much easier. If you can lift it and never ridden a dirt bike before, this is a good learner bike for sure. I like it so much that even tho I’m on the 250 now, I’ll take the 230 out for fun. The vibration in the bars makes my skin crawl on a long ride, but maybe changing the bars from stock will help. Rejetting and uncorking helped give it a little more Oomph as well. All in all a fun low maintenance bike, but after a year on it I'm looking for another gear and there just isn't anymore!
Bike #3: 2006 Yamaha WR250F
I absolutely love this bike. No mods yet other than sag settings for my weight, and just right for me! The suspension is so much nicer than the 230 and it just eats anything in its path. Yeah it can get away from you if you’re not careful, but that’s what I like about 4 strokes, easy to control. Jumping with this bike is so much easier than the 230 and the 125 as well...more power gets me out of the trouble that more power gets me in! I can ride this one all day long!

Hello All~ My name is Tami, I've celebrated the 9th anniversary of my 21st birthday, I'm 5'6" and 150#. My ride is currently an 05 TTR230:ride: . I became involved in the sport due to my desire to be outdoors enjoying the elements, and the uncontrollable need for speed and adrenaline.. I know, I know ~ It's very hard to accomplish on a TTR.
Started riding a few years ago with my husband and a few friends, and I am now an addict. We ride trails primarily, although I am not against setting foot an a track, but have yet to do so.
I enjoy my TTR in many ways, but I desperately want to upgrade. I've looked into the CRF150R Big Wheels, but my husband is dead set against it because of the lack of electric start:naughty: . I'm looking for quicker response, better suspension, rear disk, and preferably lighter. I try very hard to keep up with the boys, but its never gunna happen with my current bike. The biggest fustration is not being able to load it up and go ride when I have time.. I'd give myself a coronary trying to push that beast into the back of a truck. I recently pulled 2 muscles in my back lifting my turd off the ground when my husband decided I was getting to big for my ride pants and took me on a "black" trail. Rocks kicked my ass, and the bike did the rest. I dumped it 8 times in less than 1/2 hour and by the time I was trying to pick it after dump #5, I was dunn!!
I would love to hear more from those of who ride WR's. I'm seriously looking into a WR250f. I'd like to know if the center of gravity makes much of a difference? I would be lowering it a smidge, and doing everything possible to take off weight. I'm also looking at the KTM EXC250-W (I think)... e-start wide ratio, woods bike?? I think I've black listed the Husq TE 250 due to the spontaneous granading issues - I think I would go postal if I spent that amount of cash and ended up with shards of metal mixed with oil...
Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome!

I wouldn't consider e-start to be the deciding factor in bike selection. Far from it. If you ride a 150R and like it, go for it! However, at 5'6", you're probably one of the taller gals here (we have a few Amazons, but most are petite). You could ride anything you really wanted to. Yep, even a 2-stroke. (Hey, somebody had to throw it out there!)

A KTM 200 or 250 EXC or XC-W will be as four-stroke-like as a 2-stroke can be, but lighter and easier to start. In fact the new 08 250XC-Ws have e-start even though they're smokers.

Now is the time to beg a test ride on ANY and EVERY bike you come across, just for comparison! You might fall in love with something that totally surprises you.

nips n grips said:

Welcome Tami! Now that's an interesting way of looking at your age, I like that!

Well I hope you’re wrong on the TE250’s because I just got one! I think most of the problems were with the older years – I can hope anyways! I was also looking very seriously at the KTM 250 ECF-W and the only reason we went with the Husky was because it comes street legal, which was a bonus for us. You should start a new threat here asking for opinions on the WR250, I know there are several ladies here who have them and love them. What part of Oregon do you live in?

nips n grips said:

Welcome to TT Tami

I'm fairly certain of which thread on TT you might have gotten that impression from. That was the first thread in the 2.5 years of reading in the Husqvarna section of TT which several people were dissatisfied & posted. Not sure why, at least some of the posts seemed un-substantiated to me.

I ride with many Husqvarna riders and have one myself. No problems that I've seen in person that were not caused by rider error.

Post up what bike you decide on.

Hey, thanks for the feedback...I did come across the Husq bithin post, but had heard of issues prior to that. A good friend that my husband and I ride with often just bought a new TC which had the recall for the kick start. Completely demolished his case, after kissing it goodbye for 3 weeks to have it fixed he had to take it back a few weeks later because he found new shards in his oil.. We've rode a few times since and no bad luck, but its always a concern. I suppose every brand has its issues and I know several people who have had great luck with Husky.. Not to mention the 08 TE's have fuel injection ~ SWEET!
I think the hubby and I are going to go shop around this weekend.. We're also looking at a bike for my daughter (10) we've got to get her off the quad before she kills herself.. I think we're leaning toward the new TTR 110 - its a wee little thing, but upgradeable and e-start.. I think she could have fun on it for quite a while.. Thoughts??
Oh ~ we are located in Lebanon.. Throw me a message if anyone wants to get together and ride - I only know one other female rider!

age - 40
height - 5'2
weight - 130lb'ish
inseam - 28"

primarily ride trails, including some single track
ocassionally ride track

started riding in march (or may??) '06
wanna be agressive rider

1st bike - KLX110
4th gear & clutch kit, carb kit, jet kit, yoshi pipe, then my husband added a 143 big bore kit and i could barely kick it over anymore! - plus we started to realize that as long as we had this bike ... well u get the idea LOL
<bike status - sold>

2nd bike - KLX125
bbr frame cradle, bbr fork springs, pro circuit pipe, pro cycle jet kit, tag high bars, acerbis hand guards, hot wheel graphics - great little starter bike, but as i am becoming a more aggresive (and hopefully experienced!) rider i realize that i would like better suspension, disc brakes and a slightly taller bike that i am not "flat footed" on
<bike status - up for sale>

3rd bike - KLX140L
just got it today, completely stock - 37mm showa forks adjustable, piggy back rear shock fully adjustable, perimeter frame, aluminum swing arm, disc brakes front & REAR, die cast hubs, excel rims, wave rotors, rev limit @ 10,500 rpms, large foot pegs, kx style adjustable chain ... oh ya, and did i mention it has electric start?!?
only down side i can see is they did not include a back-up kickstarter?!?
and inverted forks would have been nice but prolly not cost effective
<bike status - unknown>

Hey everyone

Let's see; I'm 33, 5'8, wt approx 135 lbs, 29 inseam. AND I LOVE TO RIDE! I'm always looking for other female riders too in the area but the tough ones are hard to come by!!

I'm an aggressive rider & been riding for about 10 yrs & have had 6 bikes. Currently I'm actually still on my 05TE 250. I've had excellent and poor luck with my husky's. Before that I was on a 04TE 250 that i blew thru way too fast. Then a 2001 VOR 400 (freakin awesome bike-blew it up in Ocotillo Wells). Then a couple of XR 250's, then a XR 280, then a TT225, then a trials bike which was my first one.

I'm a singletrack rider. My husband & I travel all over the western states to ride our dirtbikes, which takes us to the peaks of Colorado, Idaho, dunes in Oregon, and the deserts of CA, Utah, etc. For the most part I ride the singletracks fast and hard. That's one reason why i stick with the 250. The husky has great power as far as a 250 goes. I'll get another 400/450 but for the tight mtn goat trails we run, I do like my husky; especially in the snow & rain.

My husband & I do lots of traveling and are always looking for another couple to go riding with or simply four wheeling with. I write trail ride articles for Blue Ribbon so some of our rides/adventures get published there. We're going to go for a desert run for 2 wks coming up in Feb. (Doing SoCal, NV, Arizona) And when we're not on a trip we're riding the weekends around norcal somewhere-So if any of this sounds good to you; drop me a PM & I'd love to meet you. Disclaimer: we're a bit hardcore; meaning we ride hard & go to remote places but we go to the most beautiful places to ride/ four wheel ever so it's worth it! Sometimes we drop the bikes (like when one of us is hurt & down for awhile) and we go for a fourwheeling caming adventure. we make excellent scenic runs doing that too!

hello...this is Mrs. Posner speaking. I am 32 years old, 5'8" and 125lbs. I have been riding for 4 years now. First bike was 4 years ago when I decided I was tired of watching, and I had my husband buy me a ttr 125L. After I finally became comfortable on the bike the aforementioned husband decided I needed more bike. So it was a 2005 CRF 230.

While I hated the girth of the bike for a few months, I grew to love the tractable power. Of course I couldnt really pick it up unless the circumstances were just right, but I didnt fall too much thankfully. After about 5 months, my husband decided I needed more bike again. SO, it was on to an 06 CRF 250X(in spite of me being perfectly content). I hated the bike for 2 months or so. My husband, shaved the seat, tricked it out with graphics(he said they were for me...yeah right!), some new bars, and some performance mods(like I needed those).


I have grown to love this bike! My confidence has sored. While I am not an espert, I can hold my own. I love tight single track, and find myself mid pack when we ride with "the guys" and toward the front when we have a girls ride. My husband is trying to get me into motocross..he bought me an 07 YZ250F. I have not even started it in 4 months. I guess I am afraid of getting hurt. So for now it sits in the garage with all the other bikes until I get up the courage! Until then, I will continue to ride the wheels off my 250X.

Mrs Posner

"girth", that made me giggle. Welcome Mrs. Posner!

Take your time on the MX track, it's fun but stuff can happen quick. Work on developing good form and pick up speed from there. MX riding definitely helps your trail riding skills and trail riding helps your MX skills. I do both also plus street and it all works together to help you become a better/safer rider.

Age: 55
Height: 5'3"
Inseam: 29"
Weight: 120
Years Riding: 11
Skill: Medium, getting better all the time, finally rode a trail called "Stick in the Nose" successfully, which I hadn't been able to do before. I love having such conctrete measures of how you're improving!
Type: 90% Trails, Lots of Single Track, Little Sand, Little Mud and an occassional track
Racing: Used to race more, never very good at it tho - pretty much always ready to give someone else the corner if they want it! But it is fun.

First bike was an old XR200.

Then several versions of a CR80 bigwheel BBR, final one had a crf 230 engine in it. I always felt a bit too big for this bike tho, and the small wheels were a problem in bigger rocks or slimy root step ups. But I could touch the ground, which was nice.

Then an '04CRF250x, lowered, flywheel wt, G2 throttle cam (if I can't LEARN throttle control, I can buy it, right?), cut down seat, lots of mods. Liked the bike a lot, felt like I could climb any hill and restart in the middle if I boofed it. But it always felt too big for me - had the same feel as if I were riding my old Ninja out on the trails....haha, quite an image, eh? If I were stopped somewhere and it started to go over (just all by itself, you know?), I couldn't catch it, just way too heavy.

So now.
An '08 KTM 250xcfw, lowered by about 2", G2 throttle cam(!), cut down seat, softened springs. I've only ridden it a couple of times, can't touch both sides at once. BUT, it feels lighter and livelier than my old crf somehow, started to tip it over at a stop and actually caught it and was able to get it back upright with out help, whew. Ordered a JD jetting kit.

I think I'm in luv.

nips n grips said:

I have an 05 wr250f. I found that I didn't like how top heavy the bike was. The new 07/08 wr's I think are less top heavy now, so that may not be an issue for you.

I perfer my 07 ktm 250 xc-w hands down. Light, fast, and much better suspension. Guess I make a better 2stroke rider than 4, lol.