Trail Riding with the Bird Man

[ajayhawkfan]

This past Saturday Bird Man (Larry) invited me to go trail riding with him on his farm in SE Kansas on one of his bikes. I eagerly accepted his offer.

We got started riding around1:30 and rode for about 3 hours. I had not been on a dirt bike for over 30 years and I had a blast. I was very tentative at first but gradually gained some confident. I was following Larry all over his trails and down into the creek. At the end of the day I was still not good but wanted a small dirt bike of my own for my farm.

This morning I found a 2007 Honda CRF230 for $1700, the same bike I was riding at Larry's farm. It is suppose to be in great condition. I'm going to view it tomorrow. Who know, maybe I'll have Bird Man over to my place this weekend.

[allkidd]

Nothing against the Honda 230 but I would spend a little extra money and get a better dirt bike...your body will thank you for it. The suspension on the 230 is not very good and will beat up your body. Compared to technology of 30 years ago the crf230 is okay but nothing like a good modern bike. I made the same mistake and ended up buying a much better bike (KTM) after only a few months.

[ajayhawkfan]

Nothing against the Honda 230 but I would spend a little extra money and get a better dirt bike...your body will thank you for it. The suspension on the 230 is not very good and will beat up your body. Compared to technology of 30 years ago the crf230 is okay but nothing like a good modern bike. I made the same mistake and ended up buying a much better bike (KTM) after only a few months.

I appreciate you comments. You maybe right but this bike will be left in the country for around the farm. I don't think I'll be hauling it to an off road area often (if ever). I do think the price is right so I don't think I'll get hurt if I do decide to trade it in later.

[bird man]

Allkidd ,You are right the 230 suspension is awful....but the 230 is just right for riding around the farm as transportation and in general utility bike,checking crops ,cows and such. It is a fun pleasure bike for casual trail riding and etc. If you want anything more then the more modern competition bikes are the right choice.

[bird man]

Thanks Eddie for coming over and riding with me. I too enjoyed sharing the day and trails with you. You are welcome back any time.

[ajayhawkfan]

Still don't have a bike. I offered 1500 they countered at 1600. The bike showed more wear then I expected.

[Stu]

The Honda is a good bike and I could go crazy on one chasing people so I would not worry too much about that if you do not mind getting thrown around some and getting your rear slammed. However, a used, and not very well cared for 4 stroke of any kind is EXPENSIVE to repair. Think $1,000. I think the price should be closer to $2,700 by the time it would be a reliable bike. You can rebuild the top end on a KTM 300 for about $450 (2 stroke) and the top end on a KTM 500 for about
$1,000 (4 stroke) just to give you a sense of relative costs.

Personally I would look for another bike for the farm and it would be a 2 stroke. Cheaper to repair, easier to work on, lighter and more agile than a 4 stroke (and this from a guy that just sold his 2 stroke and got a 4 stroke -- go figure.)

Stu

[troy]

We all have lots of advice! Really, you can't go wrong buying any used bike for the right price. A 5+ year old bike is not going to depreciate much in 6 months. Buy it right. Ride it. If/when you decide it's not the right bike for you, sell it and move on. Heck, you might even make a profit in the sale.

I think I understand what Eddie wants. He's got a great gravel road machine--his 1200GS ADV. He's probably not going to be hauling a trail bike to AR for 3 days of riding at Brock Creek. He simply wants something to play on his land with--something he can run up and down trails in a dry creek bed in tight woods. Maybe cross a deep creek crossing without fear of drowning an expensive 1200GS ADV! Stuff like that.

Eddie, here's what I think you should get (mainly because I want guinea pigs):
http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/zero-x/

It's a street legal, electric dirtbike that will let you play for a maybe 2 hours between charges. No worries about upsetting the neighbors with your loud dirtbike. OK...so it's expensive and not really practical.

[Stu]

"OK...so it's expensive and not really practical."

So you are recommending a rat bike for the farm? If it breaks use it for erosion control on a creek bank?

Stu

[troy]

"OK...so it's expensive and not really practical."

So you are recommending a rat bike for the farm? If it breaks use it for erosion control on a creek bank?

Stu

Or as fish habitat in the creek behind his cabin. The batteries are guaranteed not to leak for at least 6 months.

[stimmer6253472]

Look for a KDX 200/220. Cheap, reliable and will take you anywhere. I just sold one for $1700 in good shape a few monhts ago and if you look around you could pick up a good one in the sub $1500 range. There are always a lot of them on Craigslist.
Jim

[ajayhawkfan]

I purchased the 230.

[troy]

I purchased the 230.

Cool! You got your farm play bike!

[bird man]

I purchased the 230.

Great ,we all get to play this weekend.

[katbeanz]

I purchased the 230.

You'll have a blast with that, & perfect for checking cattle.

[Stu]

That looks like the street legal version. If so you will not only enjoy it but you will be able to ride it anywhere. It is a far, far cheaper version of what other race oriented manufacturers offer. For nearly 90% of the riding that most people do this bike is perfect. For that last 10% (which includes me) we need rocket ships and my KTM 500 EXC delivers! Woo Hoo! It handles like the 300 XC-W but it flat tears and screams out of corners.

Support Dirt Bike Violence!

Stu

[Rusty Jug]

Grrrr! I'm jealous I was trying to find a street legal 230 for my wife, settled for the dirt ttr, your bike will be a blast! An yes before you know it you will be trading up for just a little more power and a little more suspension !
Everybody gets the bug!

[troy]

Grrrr! I'm jealous I was trying to find a street legal 230 for my wife, settled for the dirt ttr, your bike will be a blast! An yes before you know it you will be trading up for just a little more power and a little more suspension !
Everybody gets the bug!

And when Eddie gets the bug, you get a nice little 230 for your wife!

[ajayhawkfan]

Thanks all, however it is not street legal. I assume a previous owner installed the light. There is no brake lights or turn signals (or maybe they were removed?).

For my need's at the farm, I would be surprised if I need more power down there. I dropped off my bike at the farm and rode for a few hours on the deer and cattle trails, single track at it's worse, and crawling was the needed speed. Having something that has a "tractor gear" was great the woods.

I'm going to need help with the bike. I can't even figure out how to remover the seat to get to the battery. I'm counting on bird man to help out a lot. I would like to stiffen the rear shock and the front if possible.

It will be fun. I'm looking forward to playing on it more this weekend.

[ajayhawkfan]

Grrrr! I'm jealous I was trying to find a street legal 230 for my wife, settled for the dirt ttr, your bike will be a blast! An yes before you know it you will be trading up for just a little more power and a little more suspension !
Everybody gets the bug!

There are two street legal 230 Honda's at the Joplin Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki if you are interested.