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Technical / Buying a used 2 stroke bike
« on: September 18, 2011, 01:07:30 PM »
Hey all,
I'm looking in to getting a used 125 dirtbike. I've spent a lot of time riding four stroke sport bikes, but when it comes to two strokes, I'm kind of in the dark about the good and bad things I should be looking for. What are the things I need to keep an eye out for when checking out potential bikes?
Thanks!
Edit: Here's a little bit more clarity on my situation. Considering the service intervals of an average 125cc dirt bike, I'm not sure what route to take. Instead of spending about 1,000-1,500 on a used bike and be somewhere between having rebuild the suspension and possibly be looking at getting the top end checked at some point, I was thinking about taking that money and putting it towards my R6. It's got a valve check due in about 2,000 miles and I probably should be thinking about getting a new clutch as well. I also had the suspension rebuilt last year and it will probably be due for another service next summer depending on whether or not I make it to any more track days in the next few months. I've also been thinking about buying a set of race bodywork since the cost of plastics alone is about the same as what a headlight unit costs for my bike, not including all the other pieces like the stay and upper cowl and those are things that can get trashed pretty easily at any track day mis-hap. Then their's also the head and wheel bearings which will probably need to be serviced sooner or later.
So the decision is to either take the money and invest it in my R6 so as to be in really good shape for a long time or take a chance on buying an older dirt bike and hope it doesn't turn into a money pit. I guess in a perfect world a used dirt bike wouldn't be so chancey but so many of them get abused for so long I'm really afraid I might end up with someone else's basket case. It's a shame because a local MX track opened up not too far from where I live and I was thinking about what I could learn riding there, which is why I like riding so much. I'd probably spend a fraction of the money riding out in the dirt as what it costs to do a day on asphalt, given that neither machine doesn't fall apart haha.
Anyway, the season is winding down and all the crazy people in cars and trucks aren't cutting me any slack so I'm not racking up miles on my R6. I guess for now I'll just keep an eye on Craigslist for any possibly good deals and sit on the money I've saved while I make my mind up. Anyone have any advice?
I'm looking in to getting a used 125 dirtbike. I've spent a lot of time riding four stroke sport bikes, but when it comes to two strokes, I'm kind of in the dark about the good and bad things I should be looking for. What are the things I need to keep an eye out for when checking out potential bikes?
Thanks!
Edit: Here's a little bit more clarity on my situation. Considering the service intervals of an average 125cc dirt bike, I'm not sure what route to take. Instead of spending about 1,000-1,500 on a used bike and be somewhere between having rebuild the suspension and possibly be looking at getting the top end checked at some point, I was thinking about taking that money and putting it towards my R6. It's got a valve check due in about 2,000 miles and I probably should be thinking about getting a new clutch as well. I also had the suspension rebuilt last year and it will probably be due for another service next summer depending on whether or not I make it to any more track days in the next few months. I've also been thinking about buying a set of race bodywork since the cost of plastics alone is about the same as what a headlight unit costs for my bike, not including all the other pieces like the stay and upper cowl and those are things that can get trashed pretty easily at any track day mis-hap. Then their's also the head and wheel bearings which will probably need to be serviced sooner or later.
So the decision is to either take the money and invest it in my R6 so as to be in really good shape for a long time or take a chance on buying an older dirt bike and hope it doesn't turn into a money pit. I guess in a perfect world a used dirt bike wouldn't be so chancey but so many of them get abused for so long I'm really afraid I might end up with someone else's basket case. It's a shame because a local MX track opened up not too far from where I live and I was thinking about what I could learn riding there, which is why I like riding so much. I'd probably spend a fraction of the money riding out in the dirt as what it costs to do a day on asphalt, given that neither machine doesn't fall apart haha.
Anyway, the season is winding down and all the crazy people in cars and trucks aren't cutting me any slack so I'm not racking up miles on my R6. I guess for now I'll just keep an eye on Craigslist for any possibly good deals and sit on the money I've saved while I make my mind up. Anyone have any advice?