Yamaha all the way. Ive always had Yamis, they make more power then hondas. Ive got a 2003 Yamaha XT225. They squeazed a ton of power out of it, its great has more then enough power for anything, it gets 75mpg. Its also a dual puropse bike and Im now using it as a primiary vechle becasue of fuel prices. No problems with it yet. Its also very light and easy to use on the trails as well as the roads. Im 6' 3" and I fit fine on it, cant say enough about it I love it!

 

Not mine, I submerged mine completey and I drained the water out, changed the oil, dried the spark plug off, had it running in 30 minutes.

 

go with a honda xr, or a yamaha. in my opinion, the two best bikes made right now. i personally have a real old early eighties yamaha yz-125. can be quick but maintenance on two strokes is constant. id go with the xr 250, ive been looking into buying one myself once i pull some money together.

my friend buzz mayfield used to race pro motocross, one of the guys you would see on tv, and he raced honda, theyre very good bikes.

 

This is the bike i had in my youth,it almost put me out a few times!! It was a TM-400 with some work done to it,it was wicked!! I miss it!!

 

Some padded gloves will make it less painful when bashing through trees

I rode enduros while going to school, poor man style. Tucked newspapers into my socks, tucked my jeans into my boots, and taped up my legs with duck tape - this helped keep water out of my boots, and protected my shin bones during rock attacks. Also taped a milk jug over my headlight for protection, since my bike was also my daily driver. I put my log sheet in a plastic bag and taped it to my gas tank, so that I could read it for at least the first half of the enduro. Put mechanic's wire from brake and shift levers to the frame to cut weeds instead of pulling them up in bunches and locking on the brake. Flipped my rear brake lever 180deg so it would point up, away from rocks, logs and wait-a-minute vines. Took off my air box and ran a flexible hose from the carb to up under the saddle to a foam filter, so I could go through water butt-deep without stalling.

Rode hard and often, and never found a terrain I couldn't crash on. Then one day I started to leak blood from a very scary place downstream (pun) from my kidneys. Slowed down considerably after that, eventually quite altogether and gave my bikes away.

 

Holy Crap!! Not to laugh at anyone's pain but that story was funny as hell.. Thanks for all the imput. I am looking at KDX 200 & 220 models and really like them so far. Look like really great bikes..

 

I've been riding dirt bikes for over 20 years also & I agree with Yeti. Started out with 2 strokes & have now ended up with KTM 4 stroke (520 EXC), electric start even. Ride one & you'll be sold, smooth power & very easy on gas. By the way, I'm 5' 8", 155 lbs. & the bike isn't too big or heavy for me. Newer 4 strokes are as light as 2 strokes used to be.

 

IMHO, any of the newer 4-strokes are your ticket to happiness.

The XR/CRF, WR, DRZ/KLZ, and the KTMs are all sweet bikes.

I'd go with the 400cc bikes. A little more torque makes them actually easier for beginners to ride IMHO, especially the "trail" bikes like the XR/DRZ. If you're going older, ie pre 2000 or so, I'd go with the XR400, hands down. They hold their value pretty well though, so you may be able to move up to a more modern bike like the DRZ or WR for about the same money. Some of the newer bikes even have electric start. That's a sweet option for a beginner or expert. It also means the bike has the ability to be "dual sported". In other words, make your dirt bike legal for on road use. That can mean anything from commuting to work (like I did this AM on mine ) or just connecting between trails on forestry roads.

I've got an '01 Suzuki DRZ400E. Again, IMHO, the perfect trail bike/dual sport. Broad powerband, good suspension, easy maintenance, electric start, etc..., the only penalty is the weight, it's a little heavy compared to motocross bikes.

I've got some pics in my gallery of my bike and the mods I've done. PM me if you want more info.

Waxy

 

I've got a low mile '93 XR650L, the street legal Honda. Heavy, but well mannered off road with some good DOT knobbies. Depending on where you ride, the street legal can be your key to some great back roads, dirt roads, etc.

My first thought was XR 400-- A very reasonabe compromise.

 

the best thing would be to find used bikes and test drive a couple of the ones listed above till u find one that suits u.. everyone has different taste in bikes as long as u no how to ride up and down the street im sure u'll find a bike thats gona fit ur style, i also agree to stick with a 4 stroke for the trails even tho i prefer my 2 stroke for any kinda riding. Good luck

 

Yep...exactly my point. If your close by.....you can do all that. But if your out in the woods without a portable gargage on you back.....your pushin it home. To much like work.

Been miles and miles out in the sticks. I loved going out and playing.
I had the whole deal. Little tool kit on the handle bars, full face helmet, tear of gogles, light shoulder pads/chest protector, kidney belt, nylon 'leathers', full height leather boots (flat and traction soles), good gloves. The abuse I give my self and my equipment, I can think of several times each piece was worth every penny.

 

for a trail bike i would recomend a 4 stroke espesialy if your goin to be learning on it. i personaly leared with a klr 600 when i was 14 and bout killed my selfa couple of times but i got a 1985 kdx 200 it a 2 stroke but t still has the same plug i put in when i got it it has plenty of power (enough to dust my buddys 250) and is practily stock but the thing with 2-strokes is ther diffrent every time you ride them so u need some experence