Recommend good older 4-stroke dirtbike?

[JRSC00LUDE]

Hoping to find older 4-stroke that would be reliable and have enough power to haul around my 230 pound ass at a decent clip as well as handle some jumping.

Any suggestions? Nothing too hardcore and don't want the money/maintenance pit that is a 2-stroke.

Would basically just be for ripping around and jumping a bit with some buddies that bought race quads. I'd never ridden either one before till last sunday but liked the bike (buddy has bike as well) a lot better. By the end of my first day on it I was ripping it up pretty good and catching some decent distance in the air off some jumps.

It's just like jumping a mountain bike but without all the pedalling!

Anyways, if you have some good suggestions on what to look for I would like to hear it. Thanks.

[schurchill39]

How much older are you looking to go? I would recommend staying in the 2000's if possible. If you can manage that then any of the 4 major brands (Yamaha Honda Kawasaki Suzuki) would work great for you.

Also it depends on what you have to spend. I havent really looked at 4 strokes because I am a big fan of 2 strokes but I think you should beable to pick up a nice bike for around 3g

[JRSC00LUDE]

Yeah, 3G or less was kind of the ballpark I was thinking of.

I know an older 4-stroke won't be as "snappy" as a 2-stroke, but that's all right. I'm willing to trade some power for less maintenance since it wouldn't see a whole ton of use.

You figure with that kind of thing it doesn't really matter what manufacturer you look at? Kind of apples to apples so to speak?

[schurchill39]

I would say for a newer rider then yea it wouldn't really matter which brand you went with but like cars its best to go with something thats fairly common that way if and when something does break parts will be cheep and readily availible.

I myself am biased towards yamaha but I heard nothing but good things coming from honda. If I was looking then it would be what ever I could find between those two. They both make great bikes!

[marko polo]

2000ish xr400 . very little maintenance issues, decent power, pretty good all around bike

[Graham_A_M]

I have a Honda XR500 for sale. I got it from a friend, and dont use it. Brand new chain, & sprokets. Its a little old, as its an '84. but it runs great. I have to install a new throttle cable in it.
its off road only, so no lighting coil. Very powerful bike.

[JRSC00LUDE]

pm'd

[snowboard]

wr450f/wr250f
yamaha's, such sick bikes.

[ZedMan]

^ If he doesn't want a 2-stroke level of maintenance he sure as hell wouldn't want the level of maintenance a high-strung modern 4-stroke requires.

[legendboy]

Originally posted by ZedMan
^ If he doesn't want a 2-stroke level of maintenance he sure as hell wouldn't want the level of maintenance a high-strung modern 4-stroke requires.

lol thats what i was thinking too

the days of no maintenance 4 strokes are long gone

[Dave P]

Long live 250 2-Strokes haha


There are plenty of bikes on kijiji for your price range. I dont think brand really matters. but if i must........ GO HONDA GO

[JRSC00LUDE]

Originally posted by legendboy


lol thats what i was thinking too

the days of no maintenance 4 strokes are long gone

That's why I'd like an older one. I don't need anything hardcore, just something to go enjoy the trails on every now and then. Seems like the 80's 4-strokes are right up my alley.

Thanks for the help guys!

[kevie88]

I have an '06 TTR-230 Fs, $3300 takes it.

[craigcd]

Originally posted by ZedMan
^ If he doesn't want a 2-stroke level of maintenance he sure as hell wouldn't want the level of maintenance a high-strung modern 4-stroke requires.

Totally depends on the bike, there are lots of reliable 4 strokes.

Kevie88's bike would be a good place to start^^^

[JRSC00LUDE]

Bump for bike purchase!

Thanks Graham_A_M for the old honda, it should be the perfect thing to learn how to ride/wrench on.

Graham went out of his way to take care of all the usual maintenance and then some before handing it over as well, most people would have just sold as is and let the new guy worry about it.

to a hell of a good guy!

[The Cosworth]

^^ wicked to hear.

Also a 500 will be wicked for your... how did you put it.... 230 pound ass.

haha






Now if I can just get a truck I will have a bike too! How are you going to be getting it around? Back of the lude?

[JRSC00LUDE]

^

haha, I'm fat!

I also have a Nissan X-trail so I'll just have to find a small trailer. Till then, I'll just throw it on my friends trailer when we go out.

[Graham_A_M]

Your welcome. Should be good for a while longer, pretty good bike all things considered.
Glad you enjoy it. You may want to lube the throttle cable again as it was quite dry when I first bought it from the local wreckers. I've only lubed it once before putting it on, but you can do it fine while its still on the bike, as you have to pull the tank & the seat just to remove the cable.

I dont think I'll ever buy an older used bike again. I know the feeling; and rather then throw it as an imcomplete, non-ridable mess and let you sort through it, I fixed it up for you, but sorting through piles and piles and piles of throttle cables at TJ's cycle in the rain wasn't fun. They didn't have one, so that whole throttle assembly (being the casing, the cables & the sleeve) are off of a early 80's Honda XL200 I believe it was.
At least at all works well now.
I'll give you a trader rating now too.