Hey all. Long time reader but first time poster. So I've been without two wheels for about 4 years now and can't stand it anymore. I used to ride street bikes but have little to no experience on dirt. I'm 32 years old about 5'10" and weight about 250. I'm kinda done with riding streets but have always wanted to go off road. I've always been told that dirt bikes are a rich boys sport so I never really thought I could get into it. But with a recent trip up to jawbone canyon for a little target practice brought me face to face with a dream. I NEED TO RIDE!!!  

So this is what I'm faced with. Most people I talk to say get a yz250 or kx250 between the years of 1998 and 2002 since it will be my first dirt bike and they are green sticker here in nazifornia. A few people tell me to get a 4 stroke so I won't have to make the bike scream to get it to go. What I want is a bike for trails and some hills. I would also like for it to be able to to take a few jumps. I don't want a race bike that's going to require a crap ton of maintenance ever time I go out to ride for the weekend. Basically, what I'm looking for is a simple out of the box bike that I can grow with and that it won't break my wallet every time I want to go out for the weekend. I love the look of the ktm's but don't know anything about their maintenance costs. The same goes for yamaha's. Those are the two companies whose. Ike's I like. I used to ride an R6 so I guess I'm partial to Yamaha.  I'm sure Ill have more questions but for now any input I get will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all in advance.

I would say get a YZ250f. A 2 stroke might be too much power for a new rider. best thing to do is to try out each, a 4 and a 2 stroke and see what you like

I thought about that but I don't want to have go through the hassle of having to sell one and buy another one.

At 250lbs you defiantly don't want a 250f,  450, or 250 2t would fit you much better.  What sticker do the new KTM 2 strokes get?  The KTM 300 for your size and what ridinh you want to do would be a perfect bike.  They are plenty powerful and can make quite a bit more with a few small changes if you ever feel you need it.    If no a 2002 yz 250 is an excellent year if that is your only option.  The plastics and parts for the most part interchange all the up to the current 2012 model.  Plenty of power and cheap to run.  EG makes a 295 kit for reasonable if you ever feel like you need more power.

Thanks for the response. I'm not sure which ktm's are green sticker. I do like the look of the ktm's  but the maintanence cost I'm not too sure about. Ive read all the coments about 2 strokes being cheap and 4 strokes costing an arm and a leg but I have a friend who has an older we and he says that all he's done in the last 3-4 years is change the oil. That's kinda what I'm looking for. I have seen a lot of yz250s and kx250s for sale on Craigslist for cheap though.

If you are looking for an older model 2 stroke, the YZ was a better bike back in 2002. The new KTM's have improved a lot starting in 2008.  The YZ hasn't changed much over the last several years, but is still competitive with the KTM,  so you really can't go wrong with either.  Maintenance should be similar as far as cost is concerned.  Neither bike should cost too much to maintain after the initial purchase.  Most weekend only YZ and KTM riders I know replace the top end annually.  You should be able to do that on either bike for under $200.  The suspension on the 2006 and newer YZ's is the best suspension you can get on a stock 2 stroke.

Short answer - if I were getting an '02-07, I would pick the YZ.  If I were getting an '08-'10, I would pick the one I got the best deal on.   If I were to pick a 2011 or newer, it would be the KTM.

A 250f will cost a 250lb rider an arm and a leg.  A 450 holds up pretty well.   The 2 stroke costs are much more consistent.  Basically I ride a YZ 295 100-125 hours precisely timed hours a year and in direct comparison to a 450 I run about 30% less costs excluding the 4 strokes catastrophic failures.  With a 450 if you stay up with your maintencance you can avoid them for the most part but a 250f honestly its only a matter of time before you blow 1500-2000 to fix it.  I have seen perfectly maintained 250s lose a crank at 50 hours and some run perfectly till a valve job and piston change at 80 hours.

A 2002 yz 250 is a great bike.  A 450 is a pretty decent option as well for what you want to do but buying used is a real gamble so if you do buy one used I would at least figurea quick  it and checking out the valves, head, piston and crank.
The KTM 300 would be the best bike for what you want to do, lightest best handling offroad and cheapest to maintain but depend on your sticker rules if its the most practical.

Thanks for all the help. I guess I'll be pretty much sticking to 2 strokes. I don't think the ktm 300 is green sticker. How does the kx 250 compare to the ya 250 between the 98-02 years?  This is what many of the guys I've talked to have said to get. I've never really been a Kawi guy but it seems that from 98-02 the kz's are a bit cheaper then the yz's.

Basically if your going 99-02 you want a YZ hands down.  Due to the fact that the motor on a YZ from 99-2012 is relatively unchanged parts are extremely plentiful and cheap.  I can do a complete top and bottom rebuild on my YZ for 360$ including crank, main bearings, piston, gaskets and seals.  The YZ motor has the most options for more power and aftermarket support as well during those years.  A 2002 is the best YZ during those years and like I said has the added bonus of having the gas tank and plastics fit all the up to 2012.  It is the most reliable of the bikes in that year range as well.  That era KTM just cost more to keep running.

If you were buying 2011+ I would like the previous poster said go ktm due to the amazing motor but the YZ has some very nice suspension.

You guys are awesome. Thanks for all the advice.