It has been over a year since i sold my 1990 Honda CR 500 and i am wanting to get another bike in the spring time. When i first bought the 500 i was using it at school in sand dunes and it did an awsome job. But eventually i came back home where there is mostly woods riding, one of the places i ride you dont get out of first gear. After a while i got tired of it, and tired from riding it (if anyone has ridden a 500 two stroke you know what i am talking about). So i have been thinking of what i want to buy. Here are my options, A Yamaha WR 400 or 426, a Suzuki DRZ 400, or a KTM EXC 250/300/380. Now from what i have been reading in my old Dirtbike mags that the WR wasent the greatest for tighter trails, but it couldnt be nearly as bad as the old 500 could it? The Suzuki sounds like a good choice but a tad on the hefty side. Then there are the KTMs. I dont know if i really want another two stroke but i am considering them. How would the 300 and 380 perform in the tighter trails compared to the 500? I would have considerd the KTM 4-strokes but they are on the expencive side. I need something to haul my 250lb butt around. Out of these choices what are my best options?

 

Sounds like you need a Trials Bike. Tired of a 500? I loved racing the 500 in open class.....KTM and Maico's. That was way back in the day.
My Trials bike was a Suzuki. I would imagine KTM would make a nice bike, whatever the use.
A few threads have brought this up, and I will say the same as before.
I prefer a two stroke. If you submerge a 2-stroke, pull the plug, drain the water.
Submerge a 4-stroke, your walkin.

 

I had a Yamaha 426 for a while, and I loved it...

 

I think you just miss the old Honda, maybe you should get another one. I sold my last 4 stroke about 10 years ago, and I don't want another one. I have way too much fun with my 250r and I love the smell of 2 cycle oil buring at way high rpms.

 

I would look at the Honda CRF.

 

I have a KTM 300 EXC and as an ex-motocrosser I love it. Plenty of power. But I don't think I'd recommend it for tight trail riding because I think the gearing is too high.

I'd probably recommend a 4-stroke.