"450X_FTW" (mistermic)
03/24/2016 at 10:46 • Filed to: None
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"450X_FTW" (mistermic)
03/24/2016 at 10:46 • Filed to: None | 3
| 7 |
The dirt bike was due for a some maintenance, and the last time I rebuilt a motor was over 10 years ago in the high school autoshop. I wanted to take my time and make sure I did it right (service manuals and youtube are your best friend). Put in a new piston, rings, clutch pack, and had the cylinder head sent out to be serviced for new valves. Grand total - $800.
When street bikes change their oil, dirt bikes change their pistons.
New vs old piston
Before and after of the cylinder head
And, the end result......
Ethan Boone
> 450X_FTW
03/24/2016 at 11:20 |
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I’m thinking about getting a dirt bike. I’m more on the beginning spectrum, so nothing too crazy. I want something that I can ride around on the weekends, and won’t burn a gaping hole in my wallet. I’ve done a fair amount of browsing on Craigslist, but I have come up with nothing. I’m 6' and about 160 pounds btw. Anyone have any suggestions?
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450X_FTW
> Ethan Boone
03/24/2016 at 11:41 |
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250cc four stroke, trail version. By trail I mean headlight/tailight, has a kickstand, likely electric start. Race version won’t have any of those simply to save weight. Trail versions are almost always cheaper and have not been ridden as hard since it’s extremely rare to ever have one on a race track.
I’m bias towards Honda, so I’d recommend a CRF250X for your size. The 450X is what I have, and it’s a big step up in power, especially for a new rider, and I weigh 210 lbs at 6'3".
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Ethan Boone
> 450X_FTW
03/24/2016 at 11:53 |
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Thanks for the response, I appreciate it! My struggle now is that I don’t have much of a budget to work with. I have looked at a few 2 stroke 125cc dirt bikes, but a lot of them haven’t been taken care of, and I just want to ride and not have to fix one up. I would like a 250 4 stroke, but I don’t know if I have the money to get one. I want one that has been maintained, and I don’t want one that’s 30 years old. I’ve had some trouble looking, because there aren’t many dirt bikes in my area, and most of them have been trashed or way overpriced.
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450X_FTW
> Ethan Boone
03/24/2016 at 12:27 |
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You can get a very decent 250 four stroke from late 2000's model year for under 3,000. Bikes depreciate A LOT in their first few years of ownership, more than cars do.
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Ethan Boone
> 450X_FTW
03/24/2016 at 13:28 |
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I’m still not sure what I want though, I know I could get a 2 stroke for really cheap, but I don’t know if it would be in good condition, and I might have to rebuild it and stuff. I have a really small budget, and I would have to save up for at least a few more months to get a 250 in decent condition. I would prefer to have a bike to ride over the summer, but that might not happen.
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450X_FTW
> Ethan Boone
03/24/2016 at 13:30 |
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Two strokes are several times easier to rebuild though. No valves to mess with (other than reed valves), no timing chain, no cams. Very very easy. At most a piston, which is much easier to do than on a 4stroke. Downside is if you’re a trail rider, you’ll likely need to carry little things of oil with you pre measured if you need to fill up at a gas station
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Ethan Boone
> 450X_FTW
03/24/2016 at 13:40 |
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Yeah, and nothing eats up as much oil as a 2 stroke. They are pretty easy to work on, which is a plus. Probably the only riding I would do would be trail riding though lol