SpED66, on 02 April 2012 - 04:49 PM, said:

I have actually been looking on CL for some time now and came up with nothing in my price range until about now. I started looking in January and didn't post anything about it because I was looking strictly for KDXs, but now I want to convert a MX which for me doesn't need much at all. Gnarly Pipe, Hand Guards, Skid Plate, and maybe a flywheel weight down the road. I am not planning on racing or be competitive at all. Just for fun and blasting through the woods. I like my power and don't need half of what people have been saying are needed, Rekluse clutch, porting, etc etc. It will make the bike better yes, but I'm not picky and can usually adapt to something pretty quick.

There was a time in my life when i could only afford one bike at a time.

I rode predominately mx and practice day mx,  but i was up for a hare scrambles , a trail ride, whatever went on in my area at any particular time.

I have ridden RM 125's , KX 500's, RM 250's and YZ 250's on the same trails, tracks , etc.  ---- maybe ignorance was bliss.   But my mx bike's suspension was fine for me with maybe a few clicks of the compression/rebound   ---- it probably wasn't ideal, but it was what i had and i compensated with my technique
   ----  i could charge sand whoops on a scrambles course  full speed with mx settings, but my softly suspended KX500 i would have to back off, but made up for it in other areas

    -----  your a young guy -- most of us didnt start out with purpose built trail machines (well, some did i guess) ---  we used our MX bikes for everything --  just being careful not to run out of gas on long trail loops

----- I am somewhat spoiled now -- i view a Rekluse clutch as an essential for me,  and my weight demands that i have the suspension tuned up by a pro,   and i am considering building my 2 stroke into a purpose built trail bike too (i think i mentioned that earlier) --- but this was not always the case ----  For years i just had 1 decent bike that i used for everything,  and life was good. ---  i will add that i am primarilly a moto guy  , but have competed and done well in hare scrambles (local enduros not so much -- timekeeping is lost on me -- but i can blitz a special test) -- have done well in GP ytype events --- all on the same bike,  as well as group trail rides.    I didnt even sweat the tires too much then,  i just dealt with whatever i had -- if i had hardpack tires, i would slide around in the slimy stuff a bit and life was still good -- but i normally run an intermediate tire because Oklahoma tracks can range from blue groove hardpack to deep , rutted out sandy dirt on the same track.  

Keep that in mind - most of us have been there.    A sweet KTM XC-W would be trick,  but a $1500 MX bike will get you out there --- ride 'em all for a couple of years, then decide if you want to specialize.

d_mac, on 02 April 2012 - 06:54 PM, said:

That's really all I'm looking for. Except the bigger tank. They cost a bit too much for my taste at the moment. I usually ride for max 2 hours and head to the truck for fuel and break, but I do that 3 or 4 times total. I usually don't need to fill up with my DR, but if I do end up getting the RM I probably will. The main things I need are a Gnarly Pipe (already on the bike), hand guards ($80 bucks max), skid plate ($100 max), and that's really it. No need to port or get a new clutch. Just learn how to ride the bike that way it was made. It's not the bike that will get you through the trails, it's the rider. . Well I just gotta wait until Saturday. It's going to be a busy a$$ weekend.

d_mac, on 02 April 2012 - 07:25 PM, said:

At minimum I would like some hand guards. I don't want any damn trees popping out of the ground. You know those pesky trees like to mess with your riding.

CDBiker220, on 29 March 2012 - 04:57 AM, said:

Helped alot, i was looking for a trails 2t and wasn't sure what to get. +1

CDBiker220, on 29 March 2012 - 04:57 AM, said:

I appreciate posts like these. It keeps my operating costs lower.

There is alot more to a trail bike than most people think. It's not just a heavier flywheel and suspension. Generally, compared to an MX bike, an euduro will have:

- 18" rear wheel
- Coolant overflow tank
- Larger gas tank
- Trail specific suspension
- Heavier flywheel
- Lighting stator
- Headlight / tail light
- 6 speed gearbox with wider ratios
- Kickstand
- Protection (factory skid plates, frame guards, etc)
- Hand guards

So add all of those things to an MX bike and you can quickly see how it makes more sense to start with an enduro bike from the very beginning.

Slick_Nick, on 12 April 2012 - 08:31 AM, said:

Some are nice to have, must have, and why have. Seems you're saying they're all must haves. I disagree.

• 18" rear wheel - nice to have
  
• Coolant overflow tank - why have? I've only overheated my bikes during extreme conditions typically found once every two years (hot weather, high altitude, long alpine ascents)
  
• Larger gas tank - must have
  
• Trail specific suspension - must have
  
• Heavier flywheel - nice to have
  
• Lighting stator - Headlight / tail light - nice to have
  
• 6 speed gearbox with wider ratios - why have when you're riding slow S/T?
  
• Kickstand - must have
  
• Protection (factory skid plates, frame guards, etc) - why have frame guards on a aluminum frame? Any enduro bike will need same. I don't see them coming stock with adequate protection.
  
• Hand guards - must have

I don't buy nice to have or why have items. If you're a good second-hand shopper you can not only find the bike cheap but the must have parts too.

Slick_Nick, on 12 April 2012 - 08:31 AM, said:

Ok well time to let everyone know. I got myself a 1998 YZ250


It has a full skid plate. Some Flex Tusk Brush Guards. (I'll end up getting full hand guards). Pro Circuit R304 Shorty and Platinum Fatty. Over Sized Bars and clamp. It has an 18" wheel on it now. When I bought the bike I also got the original 19" rim and wheel, new swingarm, radiators, and full set of the old plastics that he had for it. The front forks were leaking a drop of oil, the front tire had a crack in the side wall, and the rear fender is faded pretty good. At minimum I am getting a front tire, fork seals, and a nice graphics kit to cover up the fender. It's not cracked, just faded. It runs nice except it has a flat spot at mid throttle. I only have one ride on it so don't know much about it yet. I put fresh tranny fluid in, took the carb apart and clean the snot out of it. I messed with the idle the day after and now I can't get it back. -.-. If anyone knows what could be up with it let me know. I got it all for $1050. I'm happy with the price because my other bike of choice would've cost me $300+ and it was a year older. I have some tweaking with the rear suspension because even me being 6'1" I can barely touch. Short legs I guess. Should also add I am in need of a new front disc guard and chain. Nothing major. Just a few items and it will still put me in my budget. I am going to sell my DR350 soon and get all I paid for this bike back and more so I'll get out in the positive. As someone said before I am going to ride it the way it is and then change it to my liking. Only thing that needs to be changed ASAP is the height. On the track it would be perfect, in the trails it isn't fun not being able to touch when on a rock.

You can notice I cleaned the right side of the swing arm a little bit. The previous owner had these 1/16" stickers on the sides which you can see the other one in the top picture. I already removed both as of now and all shined up. It just has to stop raining so I can work on getting the carb dialed in and suspension dialed in. I will link my video of me riding it for the first time soon.

Edited by DR350S93, 12 April 2012 - 06:28 PM.

That sounds like a decent deal...now go ride.

moto_rider7755, on 13 April 2012 - 05:30 AM, said:

Trust me I'm on it. Just waiting for a free day and the weather to hold out.

I race an 08 yz250 in our off-road series and I think it works great. The only thing I did to it is have the squish band modified, slapped in a rekluse clutch, and a skidplate. That is basically it. I have a larger tank but prefer the stock one most of the time. And I run a spark arrestor when required. I grew up racing motocross then switched to off road. I've tried the purpose built KTMs but could never get used to them. IMO the MX bikes work better for faster riders, and you can ride them more aggressively. But each to their own.