Dirtbiking in Colorado

[def90]

Used to ride bikes way back in my teens in the 80s, yz125 back then. Thinking about getting back into it and riding some of the backcountry trails and fire roads. I'm 6ft 195lbs but as I said I haven't spent any significant amount of time on a bike in years, would a 250 be fine? I am thinking of a used Yamaha WR250 or something similar.

Thoughts?

[SouthPaw]

I wound personally look at an older yzf400 or yzf426. Built like tanks. Real stump pulling son of bitches too. I'm 5'10" and 180lbs my 426 is plenty. My brother has an '08 kawi 250 four stroke and that still has plenty of power.

[ray1970]

It depends how fast you plan on going. I'm 5' 9", 210 lbs and a 250 four stroke will take me wherever I want to go. It just won't take me there quite as fast as I want.

[Colorado Osprey]

WR250 2 stroke is a great choice with its larger tanks and wide ratio transmission. This is the bike I ride. The only thing you will need is a flywheel weight so you can lug the engine to lower RPM when needed and make it less responsive so you don't throttle over something or spin the rear when you wanted traction. The WR426f would be my second choice. BTW I am 6'2" 240#s.
The YZ and KX's have small track tanks and are designed for quick throttle response with it's close ration transmission. They are great track bike but not a great woods bike choice.

The 250 4 stroke bikes are equivalent to your old 125 2 stroke. Probably under powered for a 200# adult and the wrong kind of power for trails.

[def90]

Thanks, was wondering what the differences between the 2 vs 4 stroke were. I have read somewhere that the WRs are just tuned down YZs and that you can do easy mods to reverse these modifications? Do you know anything about that?

[MattR]

WR450's are pretty cool, a detuned 450 so it has good torque on a 250 frame so it is still fairly light and maneuverable. They don't need the maintenance like the race bikes and they have lights and a kickstand. The kickstand is nice, they may not always be a tree to lean the bike up against. The 250 has some goofy throttle limiter on it so it will pass a street decibel test, the 450's don't. Yes you can take it off and make it right but its a little pricey. I have a YZ250f and ride with guys on KX450's and a KTM450 and for being track bikes they still do good in the hills. Really KTM has the bike for Colorado but pricey.

[wctriumph]

Find yourself a good used KTM 300EXC. Plenty of power, these things are like mountain goats, light weight, way less expensive to rebuild than a four stroke (and if you are looking at a 2 to 4 year old four stroke, it will need a rebuild) and, they hold their value way better. I am 6-4 and 280 and I ride a CR500, the 300 EXC pulls my old fat ass anywhere I want to go.

[RCCrawler]

I happen to have a clean 426 I was thinking about getting rid of.

[Mazin]

Find yourself a good used KTM 300EXC. Plenty of power, these things are like mountain goats, light weight, way less expensive to rebuild than a four stroke (and if you are looking at a 2 to 4 year old four stroke, it will need a rebuild) and, they hold their value way better. I am 6-4 and 280 and I ride a CR500, the 300 EXC pulls my old fat ass anywhere I want to go.

+1
Pumpkins (KTM) are simply awesome bikes. Broke my arms on a 450sx and still miss the hell out of it. When talking Yamaha's the Wr series are more set up for multipurpose riding (trails and roads). The YZ series is more of a race / MX / SX. Yamaha's are awesome bikes as well. If you want a wider range in the powerband / throttle response go 4 stroke, if you don't mind pinning the throttle everywhere then get a 2 stroke. It's all in the twist if the wrist when it comes to power. If you like knowing you have power in any gear then get a 450, if you can't trust yourself with having extra power then get the 250. Just my $.02 on the subject. Have fun and be safe!

[ray1970]

Not to throw a wrench in your plans, but I find ATV's much more enjoyable in the mountains.