What is a good starting dirtbike?

Question

I am a large guy (6' and 290lbs) but have short legs (30" inseam). I am looking for a good dirt (or dirt/street) bike that is good for beginners but that I won't tire of due to it being too small or tame. I have a few dozen rides under my belt (mostly with honda XR's ranging from 250 to 650) and have not found a good fit for me yet. Any ideas?

I plan on doing about 40/60 mountian trail rides and desert rides, and do not plan on taking it to sand dunes.

Answer 1

Most of the "real" dirt bikes will feel a little tall but you get used to it. For your size I would only even consider 3 bikes, the Honda CRF450X, KTM 450 XC-F or KTM 450 EXC.

Answer 2

You might want to try a suzuki DRZ.  very cheap to run, very light, and has a fair amount of power that can be improved with a large aftermarket.  You might just want to lose some weight.  I lost 50 pounds and my bike felt completely different when I got back on, plus it's good to be healthy!

Unfortunately, with only a 30" inseam, most dirtbikes will have you standing on your toes to balance it.  Just bad luck at the genetic roulette table.

Answer 3

Try Honda CRF450X for a start.