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Posted by: reconranger
I grew up riding dirt bike, and now ride ATV. The tall suspension on the higher end dirt bikes, makes them sketchy with my short legs. I find I don't miss dirt bikes at all, except I would like to have a street legal dual-sport to explore places that aren't legal for an ATV.
ATV's are better in big rocks, sand, mud, and snow. Dirt bike is "better" everywhere else.
Posted by: Raptorlegs
Quads are superior in soft terrain. Nothing else.
Where do you want to ride?
Posted by: Raptorlegs
I'd rather have a larger 4-stroke for trails.
Posted by: NEWDUCK
if your going to do any climbing at all you need a bigger bike than a 125. but for trail riding it is ok for a big guy like you just as long as you dont get into places where you have to go slow or otherwise you will be walking your bike around.
Posted by: NEWDUCK
with a 125 they dont make much bottom end power so getting started like on a slight grade of a hill can be a challenge and you really have to work the clutch to get going. but if most of your trails are open it should be a good bike for you.
Posted by: motox26
A 125 will climb anything, you just got to know how to ride it. I don't know if I recommend it for a first bike, they are pretty aggressive, but you are 15 so you might be mature enough to learn how to use it. Problem with the 125 and 250 2-strokes on trails is you have to keep them cleaned out and you can't put around. So if your wanting a strictly trail bike, I highly recommend NOT getting one of these. If you want 2-stroke real bad, the KDX200 is a great trail machine that you can lug around on.
BTW, 250's would make a better trail bike just for the scheer fact you don't have to always be on the pipe like a 125.
Posted by: motox26
There will be no 06' KX125. They are done after the 05' models or so. Now there will always be parts made for em, so if you could pick up an 05', it would be pretty cheap for a new bike.But out of all the 125's, the YZ 125 is the way to go out of the BIG 4 brands.
And don't listen to the dealer, he will tell you what you want to hear to get rid of a 125. They just don't sell theese days with the 250 4-strokes being superior in that class.
But since you are mechanically inclined, a 125 might not be a bad option. They are cheap and easy to fix.
Posted by: motox26
On a 2-stroke these days you should really be able to talk them down. Don't let them rape ya.
Posted by: oldturtle
The advantage of bikes are many. Unlimited by narrow trails, easier to haul and store, do not need to make super loud to still have a thrill. Quads are so easy to ride that you will need a loud obnoxious pipe right away. I would forget about a pipey 2-smoke for a starter bike. They are much harder to learn on. Look at a left over 2004 XR400 or find one used. The XR250 is great for your weight but 6'-4' is tall for this model plus good used ones are hard to find. I would also forget about the newer water cooled electric start models for your first bike. The top ends are not as reliable as air cooled, the radiator and shrouds are vulnerable to damage when you bail, battery maint/charging is extra headache you don't need. Plus everyone needs to learn how to kick start a middle weight 4-stroke.
Posted by: mywifesquad
I would say bike but thats what I ride. I think the quad is safer until about 25 mph depending on terrain. After that it becomes a bigger handfull than the dirt bike. The dirt bike does take more skill to ride, but you have the basics of that down form your bmx experience. I would definitely get a full set of riding gear no matter which you choose though. As for the snow I have ridden a dirt bike in the snow quite a few times. Up to about 4" it is no big deal. At a foot it gets tough and we would take turns knocking a path thru. If you ride with quads have them knock it down for you. It is easier to transport a dirt bike and store it too.
Posted by: mywifesquad
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Originally posted by: ctc1111
i was at my local kawasaki dealer today and the guy was telling me that since i'm tall and a good weight, and rather mechanically inclined, that a 125 would be a good first bike. Now i just need to decide between a YZ125 or a KX125, the same dealer sells both. And weather its worth it to wait till july or august to get a 06'
I would buy the Yamaha. It is the only 125 still competing in the 125 class in supercross and may be in the outdoors too. I havnt looked. It is also gotten some major improvements for this year and the rest of the 125 have not.
Posted by: mywifesquad
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Originally posted by: ctc1111
I went to another dealer and looked at the yz and i love it, thats the one. They have a 04' yz125 for 4300$ that is leftover, and a 05' for 5300$, I would not have enough money for it untill about late july early august and the 06's are comming out in july, so most likley that 04' won't be there by then so i will go wtih the 06'. Unless they changed something about them and they're not as good as the 05's, is anything gunna be severly different?
The '06 has major changes and is the only 125 contesting the nationals. It failed to qualify at hangtown against all the 250 thumpers, but still is easily the best 125.
Posted by: Polaris600
Get the YZ. I have ridden the newer KX's and was more impressed by the older YZ's I haev ridden.
Posted by: coach101
Bikes for me and the boys, ATV for the wife.
Posted by: ctc1111
I was sure that i wanted an atv but then i came across a kawa kx125. I really like both dirt bikes and atv's, although i've owned or ridden either. (besides small minibikes and atv's for about 5 minutes). So i'm really not sure if i would like a bike or an atv better. I'm 15 year old 6 foot 4 inches and about 185 pounds. I BMX bike so two wheel balance shouldn't be any issue. But i'm just not sure about convenience for trail riding if a dirtbike would be better? if i'm a lot more prone to getting hurt on a dirt bike? if i can drive dirtbikes in the snow? how much harder are dirtbikes to ride than atv's. And just what are the overall disadvantages and advantages of the two, and your opinions of what you would do.
Posted by: ctc1111
i would want to ride in trails. And i was kinda thinking a bike too. I go to the local riding trails with my sandrail and i see that most the trails are to small for atv's and only bikes can fit down them. If i were to get a bike do you think that the Kawasaki KX125 would be good for me (i'm 15, 6 foot 4 inches, about 185 pounds) I hear that the 125s are a lot better for trail riding because they're more manuverable around the really tight trails then the 250's. Would i beable to get a 125 2 stroke started in the snow?
Posted by: ctc1111
i sat on my friends new honda cr125 and i wasn't even flat footed. Hes shorter than me but bigger so he weighs like 20 or 30 pounds less then me but whenever he takes off the things like spinning out. He'll just crank it into about 3rd gear and then just coast for like 500 feet. So thats why i think a 125 would have plenty of power for me. And i love the way the 2 strokes sound. I also have a lot of expirence rebuilding 2 stroke engines, like those high performance scooter engines, weed wackers, sand rail. I know a dirt bike engine would be a little drifferent but its all the same principals. If i were to go and get a bike now what one would you suggest?
Posted by: ctc1111
Why would i be walking my bike around? Do two strokes stall or something?
thanks for your help on my descision
Posted by: ctc1111
I'd most likley buy a new one, do i need to break it in? how do i do this?
Posted by: ctc1111
i was at my local kawasaki dealer today and the guy was telling me that since i'm tall and a good weight, and rather mechanically inclined, that a 125 would be a good first bike. Now i just need to decide between a YZ125 or a KX125, the same dealer sells both. And weather its worth it to wait till july or august to get a 06'
Posted by: ctc1111
I went to another dealer and looked at the yz and i love it, thats the one. They have a 04' yz125 for 4300$ that is leftover, and a 05' for 5300$, I would not have enough money for it untill about late july early august and the 06's are comming out in july, so most likley that 04' won't be there by then so i will go wtih the 06'. Unless they changed something about them and they're not as good as the 05's, is anything gunna be severly different?
Posted by: ctc1111
well then i'll wait for the 06'. The people at the store were telling me that there was no changes that i would care about and they wouldn't matter because i don't know what i'm doing yet and its just a waste to get the best bike but they were just telling me that so they could hurry me along. But i just told them it will matter further down the road once i'm more expirenced, because i don't want to get another bike in a year and a half or something i want this one to last, so thats why i'm so concerned about getting the best one. and why i want it new.
Posted by: ctc1111
alright i will do that. Thats worth doing on just about anything ya buy
