How To Choose The Right Dirt Bike
Make the Right Choice
Dirt biking in one of the most popular outdoor sports for a number of reasons - there is no age limit, no gender or size restrictions, and no experience necessary to start. Whether you are just starting out, or have ridden since you were a kid, dirt biking is fun and challenging for riders of all ages and experience levels. In order to fully enjoy this awesome outdoor sport, it's important to know how to choose the right dirt bike for you. The first question to ask yourself is what kind of riding you want to do.
There are two main types of riding - mountain riding and dirt track or motocross riding. Which type of riding you plan on doing is going to affect what type of used dirt bikes you should be looking at. For example, when my wife and I bought dirt bikes for our first anniversary, we specifically looked for the dirt bike features that are ideal for mountain riding.
For mountain riding, you'll want to look for a four stroke dirt bike. A four stroke is designed to have more low end torque power, which is ideal for climbing steep passes and going over rough terrain. The size of engine you choose is going to depend on your experience. A 200cc motor is going to be ideal for a beginner, as it is easier to handle; this is the size we bought my wife, since she was just starting out. A 600cc engine is best for someone who has lots of experience and can handle the power, which is the size I got.
If you prefer to do motocross or dirt track riding, then a two stroke dirt bike is going to be right for you. Two strokes have power-bands, which makes their power faster and snappier to respond when you hit the throttle. In addition, two stroke engines have twice as much power as four stroke engines, which make them ideal for racing and trick riding. Two strokes are available in the same size motors as a four stroke; however, the same size engine in a two stroke is going to have twice as much power as one in a four stroke. Once you have decided what type of riding you'll be doing, and know how to choose the right dirt bike for that type of riding, there are a few other things to consider.
The first thing to consider is price. For example, a 200cc four stroke is going to be cheaper than a 400cc four stroke, and much cheaper than any size two stroke. Consider what type of riding you will mainly be doing, and your experience level, and don't buy a bike that is beyond those things. You'll also need to decide what options you want, such as headlights, brake lights, and turning signals. These things are important if you are going to be doing night riding, or if you will be getting your bike licensed for street riding.
 KTM SX 250 SX 2007 KTM 250SX US $2,300.00 |
 KTM EXC EXC 2002 02 KTM 520 525 EXC STREET LEGAL MI TITLE GOOD US $2,500.00
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 KTM SX New 2008 KTM SX50 mini US $1,700.00
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Beyond that, brand can be chosen based on preference. While most brands offer the same size and styles of bikes, one brand may sit higher than another, for example. When we bought our dirt bikes, we went with Honda for my wife, because it sat six inches lower than the same size four stroke that KTM offered. Knowing how to choose the right dirt bike is as easy as sticking to these things. Once you have the right one, you'll quickly find out (or be reminded of) how much fun dirt biking really is.
