Time for another dirt bike - which one to get for a short rider?

[sixstringsteve]

tonkaman's 450 sat really low yesterday. I was surprised.

If it were me, I'd take the 230F. After riding a fast small bike (kx100) and moving to a slower big bike (current bike), I value big wheels and a good wheelbase that rolls over stuff far more than pure speed. I have so much more control when I'm on full size wheels at a full size wheelbase. I feel a lot more comfortable with the right wheelbase over tons of power. I realized that most of my riding is in 2-3rd gear, and it's with the first 1/4 turn of the throttle. For the trails and the way I ride around here, a race bike wouldn't be the right thing for me.


I was surprised that my bike took 1/2 gal of coolant. That's 4 lbs of liquid up high. That being said, 4 lbs isn't all that much.

Either way, I'd rather have a dead-reliable bike over a racy high-maintenance bike.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I wonder if there's anyone here who has a ttr230 or crf230 you could borrow for a day.

 

[STAG]

Yeah the 230F fit me like a perfect glove. My sisters each have 150F's and although its better than nothing, I don't care to buy one.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I've never ridden a 150F, but they're actually a bit bigger (wheelbase) than a 150R. I think a 230f could be a great trail bike.

 

[rholbrook]

150R doesn't make a good trail bike until you put a Rekluse in it. It's wound pretty tight. The 230 is bigger and probably atleast 50lbs heavier but the motor and gearing is very forgiving. They are two totally different bikes

 

[STAG]

lol just found a picture of me getting on the 230F.. Still a bit of a leg throw.

 

[Gravy]

I feel like the 230 would be a better fit for a trail bike with more low end grunt.

Jeeper bought his wife a ttr230

 

[sixstringsteve]

I know that feeling well Chance. The better I get, the less I have to pick the bike up, which is nice.

 

[rholbrook]

My son can't even touch on his tippy toes. He dumps his bike all the time trying to swing his leg over. Once he is on, he is good to go. I have just taught him to make sure he is in first gear when he stops. If you notice in the picture he is slid off to one side quite a bunch.

He rides a CRF150F. Its big for him right now but every ride he continually gets better and better.

 

[sixstringsteve]

One thing I noticed on my last ride is how short my fingers are. I really have to stretch to reach the levers. Does anyone recommend any levers that I can adjust to pull closer to my fingers?

 

[Tonkaman]

If I were but any levers they would be the sunline 4 way unbreakable ones

 

[Greg]

Question for you vertically challenged folk... specifically those that have kickstands. When you get on your bike, do you ever put a foot on the peg (with the kickstand down of course), stand on the peg, then swing your other leg up & over the seat? Once you're seated, the suspension compresses and you can flip up the kickstand.

On a ride 2 yrs ago I was doing this w/o thinking and Jared (DeadEyeJ) picked up on it and pointed it out, thanking me for showing him how to get on the bike the easy way.

 

[sixstringsteve]

That's a great idea. I've always felt like I was breaking the kickstand to do that, so I never did. A lot of the time I end up putting it in gear, and putting my left foot on the left peg. Then when I get the momentum going a bit, I swing my other leg over.

 

[STAG]

I have done it a couple times, but havnt really found it easier and didnt pick up the habit. usually I just keep my left foot planted at all times until I am ready to start moving forward, that way I could just "scoot a cheek" with my 450 and I could still kick start it.. If my pickup or trailer was nearby I would sometimes push it over by it and then use that as a balance holder with my right hand.. also made it so I wouldn't accidently hit the throttle whilst kicking..

Thats another thing I'm after, Elec Start lol.

fwiw I'm 5'7" with a 32" pant inseam.

 

[Caleb]

One thing I noticed on my last ride is how short my fingers are. I really have to stretch to reach the levers. Does anyone recommend any levers that I can adjust to pull closer to my fingers?

I loved my ASV levers. I had the F3 Series on my CRF. I'll definitely eventually get another set on my current bike. Right on their front page they have a picture of "Small Hands, Medium Hands, and Large Hands" and how the levers adjust for each reach. They also stand behind their product. If they break (doesn't matter how) they will replace them (within the warranty period) no questions asked. Even if it's something like a worn bushing and causing too much slop, they'll make it right.

 

[Greg]

That's a great idea. I've always felt like I was breaking the kickstand to do that, so I never did. A lot of the time I end up putting it in gear, and putting my left foot on the left peg. Then when I get the momentum going a bit, I swing my other leg over.

Unless you have a WEAK kickstand, it'll be fine. Give it a try, I bet you won't have nearly as many problems getting on the bike. If you can remember to keep getting on that way, it'll really help IMO.

I have done it a couple times, but havnt really found it easier and didnt pick up the habit. usually I just keep my left foot planted at all times until I am ready to start moving forward, that way I could just "scoot a cheek" with my 450 and I could still kick start it.. If my pickup or trailer was nearby I would sometimes push it over by it and then use that as a balance holder with my right hand.. also made it so I wouldn't accidently hit the throttle whilst kicking..

Thats another thing I'm after, Elec Start lol.

fwiw I'm 5'7" with a 32" pant inseam.

I'm 6' 4" and don't have a problem swinging my legs over most bikes, but when I have my bigger bikes loaded up with a bag on the back, getting on and off this way is MUCH easier. Less energy and no pulled hammies!

 

[Tonkaman]

I loved my ASV levers. I had the F3 Series on my CRF. I'll definitely eventually get another set on my current bike. Right on their front page they have a picture of "Small Hands, Medium Hands, and Large Hands" and how the levers adjust for each reach. They also stand behind their product. If they break (doesn't matter how) they will replace them (within the warranty period) no questions asked. Even if it's something like a worn bushing and causing too much slop, they'll make it right.

I have ASV levers and they have been indestructible. My only complaint is that the front brake is squishy with that lever due to using an adaptor between the lever and master cylinder

 

[STAG]

I WILL have a dirtbike before Memorial Day weekend, I just can't make up my mind. I need to decide fast though. Help me decide. I know that I've already posted on the topic but its gettin real now ha. I've narrowed it down to two.

CRF150RB (Expert/big wheel) vs. CR230F

I really want electric start. The 230 has electric start, the 150 R has a kick starter. Not a deal breaker but I would really prefer to spend my energy riding instead of kicking an engine, even being only a 150cc motor. That being said, the 150R ready-to-ride weight is 187 lbs, and the 230F is 249 lbs. Over 60 lbs of difference. I'm sure that would make a huge difference in energy spent riding/loading unloading off my truck/picking up because I laid it over/lifting it over a ledge etc... Most of my riding will be Moab/AF Canyon/5 mile, but I'm sure when someone is going to the dunes I will throw it in just so that I can go. I've never ridden a 150 R but I've heard the motor is "peppier" than the 230F but I have ridden a 230F and it felt torquey and was enough power for the riding I would like. The 150R has the better suspension, and also has disc brakes front and rear, while the 230F has disc front and a drum rear. Both bikes have similar seat heights so that is a tossup, while the 230F has full size wheels (21" front, 18" rear) while the 150R has a 19" front and 16" rear. I would really prefer the larger tires both for ease of finding tire selection, and also because it seems like the larger the wheel, the less flat tires you get, and they would support my fat self (180 lbs) better. I don't care if I get new, or a few years old as long as it is in excellent condition. If I did buy new, the 230's are $4,100 while the 150R is $4,950. The 150R is liquid cooled, which if it does overheat then it spews coolant everywhere, but up until the point of overheating it would run cooler. The 230F is air cooled, which is a reliable system if you don't get it too hot. So the cooling systems IMO have pros/cons that although are not similar to each other, one does not scream out "better/worse" enough over the other enough to be a deal breaker to me.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I will never ride anything with less than 21/18 wheels again. It's just too difficult when it gets rocky. You get bounced around too much and you can't keep your momentum nearly as well, especially in the technical stuff. I was extremely impressed with glockman's ttr250, that thing motored up everything he pointed it at. I think a TTR230/CR230F would be the better choice, for the big wheels alone. If there were a way to get big wheels on a CRF150, that would be awesome.

In my mine, CRF150r doesn't have enough torque. When I rode Corban's back in the day, it felt like a fast high-strung race machine, not a mountain goat to chug along. And it also felt super top-heavy. I think the 230s are tough to beat. Sure, they're heavy, but you won't be dropping them much since they're so hard to stall, and they're really easy to ride.

 

[STAG]

If I look at it like this, (honda symbol denotating the winner, the middle is a draw) the only thing the 150R really wins at is the weight.