Advice for Newbie chosing trail bike

I'm a long time street biker who wants to get a dirt bike but I don't know
the market. Requirements for the bike:

Street legal for short (100 km) trips on pavement to get to trails. Speed
limit on local roads 80km/hr (short sections of 100km/hr).

Most trail riding will be on forestry roads (many decommissioned) with the
remainder on powerline trails. Occasional knarly stuff for fun.

I'm 205lb, 6'0" (or the metric equivalent). with 32" pant legs (I don't want
to need a stepladder to get on the thing).

I prefer a light good handling chassis over the weight penalty of a powerful
(but heavy) engine.

Prefer 4-stroke .

Do my own wrench twisting.

Electric start optional, no preference for water vs. air cooling.
..
Prefer Japanese machines.

Willing to buy it new if necessary, but I assume there are lots of good used
bikes around.


Any and all advice appreciated.

Bruce

Bruce Woodburn wrote:

 > I'm a long time street biker who wants to get a dirt bike but I don't
 > know the market. Requirements for the bike:
 >
 > Street legal for short (100 km) trips on pavement to get to trails.
 > Speed limit on local roads 80km/hr (short sections of 100km/hr).
 >
 > Most trail riding will be on forestry roads (many decommissioned)
 > with the remainder on powerline trails. Occasional knarly stuff for
 > fun.
 >
 > I'm 205lb, 6'0" (or the metric equivalent). with 32" pant legs (I
 > don't want to need a stepladder to get on the thing).
 >
 > I prefer a light good handling chassis over the weight penalty of a
 > powerful (but heavy) engine.
 >
 > Prefer 4-stroke .
 >
 > Do my own wrench twisting.
 >
 > Electric start optional, no preference for water vs. air cooling.
 > .
 > Prefer Japanese machines.


If it has to be Japanese, a Yam WR426/450 would probably fit the bill.
Personally I'd go for either a KTM 400/450/525 or GasGas though. KTM
spares in particular are generally much cheaper than Japanese bikes.

Any modern enduro bike will stretch your 32" legs, but it won't be a
problem if most of your riding's on fast open trails.

--
Krusty.

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