Madhatter wants a dirt bike….

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ballisticexchris

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While the KTM's are nice, both 2T and 4T's are huge money pits when raced or ridden hard. I raced and rode the piss out of my 300 for over 10 years. Not reliable at all unless you like wrenching. Power valve gear pin needs to be welded, upper shock bolt comes loose, numerous countershaft seal failures, top ends are only good for a season etc. Stock PDS suspension is very ill handling without major suspension re-valve and tuning.

The 4 strokes are worse. Top ends are good for around 400 hrs and full motor rebuilds (big end bearings) are required at around the 600hr mark. When I owned my 300 it was a love hate relationship. My XR650R was reliable but a very heavy beast for single track.

My Beta has been the most versatile rock solid reliable bike ever. Everything from a Iron Butt to 800 mile Death valley tour to super nasty rock crawling. It does it all!! If you want reliable, and easy to ride, then Beta is a great choice!! The only major issues on my Beta was having to replace the clutch basket at around the 300hr mark. One valve adjustment at 150 hrs and upgraded to a new auto decompression device under warranty.

I will tell you that any single cylinder plated dirt bike is only good for around 300-400 miles of "tolerated" comfort on a day ride. Anything over that is torture. At almost 60 years old, I got sick of pissing blood after long days in the saddle on my Beta. With the Super Tenere it begs to peel off the miles in total comfort!!

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BTW, Don't do what I did and ride with SPOT mounted on the bike. I had it mounted just so I could mark off sections that were challenging on this fairly easy double black diamond trail. Not the smartest thing but my wife and I have a "check in system" when I don't have the spot attached to my body.
 
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Madhatter

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back in april I rode to ft. davis . 85mph fighting a 30 to 50 mph head wind all the way down interstate 10 to ft. davis…… on the way back no head wind rode about 90 to 95 mph for about 2 hours on I-10 . busted the ton numerous times passing large trucks.... I guess im slow.....
 

Madhatter

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in truth I am a slow rider , there is no doubting it. I am a man who when he rides is more interested in what he can see between points A and B than how fast I can get from A to B . I enjoy a relaxed riding speed , I am not a fan of adrenaline rush , makes me a not so pleasant fellow. I am interested in becoming proficient in dirt riding more the technical side than the racing side, to navigate through a rock garden is more interesting I think than 500 foot wheelies across a field at high speed , and I could be bad at both or with practice become a better rider in what makes me happy. and I would be happy to be able to do a controlled wheelie if I needed to do it. I ride fast at times if the conditions seem safe enough , I make my living primarily as a professional driver, have over 3 million miles accident free (40years driving class A semi trucks ) maybe more , I can retire in about 3 years if I can maintain that record I feel I would be successful as a driver. that is my goal , tickets affect my job , accidents hurt , don't want either . but if I need to push it I can and have been known to light the candle . it is my choice , I don't do peer pressure , never been a good thing to follow the crowd. their usually wrong. I admire those who have great skill , that's my goal to be better at motorcycling , it doesn't take a lot of skill to go fast ( crosses on the side of the road attest to that ) if you no when and are able to do so , go for it. I choose my way for me.
 

Madhatter

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if I were a young lad I think a trials bike would be my ride. I like watching trials riding more than any other style or race I see on TV. not to fast.
 

heberhog

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i bought a Yamaha 450 FX and have enjoyed it. i'm not too experienced in the dirt but this bike has been great to learn on. lots of single track and it's awesome in Moab with the Rekluse
 
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ballisticexchris

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i bought a Yamaha 450 FX and have enjoyed it. i'm not too experienced in the dirt but this bike has been great to learn on. lots of single track and it's awesome in Moab with the Rekluse
I saw that bike in Kennedy Meadows a few seasons back. Looks to be a solid machine. The guy riding it said the FI is spot on. I'm pretty sure you can set the different maps right under the seat. I think it would be a perfect match for the Tenere.
 

Madhatter

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that's what im leaning toward a bike I can learn on and if my skills improve it will have plenty left to enjoy , im not a beginner ( but might as well be as its been a long time ) don't have a lot of bad habbits to unlearn , and I have some time on my hands to make a choice and then will have to live with it . and so far all the advice I have recieved has been valid, whether its 2 stroke or 4 stroke that's been suggested. when I reread some of my own comments I think im leaning toward a rokon…..
 

heberhog

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this is how i have it set up now but it only takes me an hour or two to change the wheels and i'm riding singletrack
I saw that bike in Kennedy Meadows a few seasons back. Looks to be a solid machine. The guy riding it said the FI is spot on. I'm pretty sure you can set the different maps right under the seat. I think it would be a perfect match for the Tenere.
 

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Madhatter

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heberhog, that's a cool looking bike.... not a fan myself of the motard but those wheels really make that bike pop. so for a change of wheels you get two bikes for one price , more or less... that's cool.
 

Madhatter

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ktm 500 exc-f , ktm 300 xcw tpi , or honda crf 450 x and possibly crf 450 l …… these are the contenders for my money …… crf 450 l , probably least likely to purchase , not enough after market support to make the changes I would like...… that leaves three , 450x has power and after market and price ( left over new unsold models everywhere with a savings of 2k or more ) would fit the budget best .... ktm 500 is interesting and has after market , already have a farkle list should I choose this bike.... that leaves the 300 smoker , I like the bike , I am intrigued by it more than the others … and it is lite.
 

twinrider

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ktm 500 exc-f , ktm 300 xcw tpi , or honda crf 450 x and possibly crf 450 l …… these are the contenders for my money …… crf 450 l , probably least likely to purchase , not enough after market support to make the changes I would like...… that leaves three , 450x has power and after market and price ( left over new unsold models everywhere with a savings of 2k or more ) would fit the budget best .... ktm 500 is interesting and has after market , already have a farkle list should I choose this bike.... that leaves the 300 smoker , I like the bike , I am intrigued by it more than the others … and it is lite.
If you are planning on doing mainly gnarly single track get the 300. If you want a travel enduro, get the 500.
 

jmz

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Just got back from Tennessee with my 500 xcw. I've been riding dirt bikes since my xr75 back in the 70's. Had a 79 RM400 when I was 14. All I can say about the 500 is WOW !!! For me, it will take the place of the KTM 380 2 stroke and my XR650R. I really think you'll be limited with a 2 stroke MH. My xcw came with a reckluse clutch. I would have never bought one but I believe it will help me on the tight single track .
 

Madhatter

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jmz, long trip for a great bike I hope.... there is going to be a demo day at spoaks in lockhart in January , I can ride and decide ( hopefully ) what will be best for me. and I hope to ride your way some times soon as the riding weather has improved as far as temperature goes ( rain needs to go away ) I am totally booked in october ( big bend trip end of month ) so a November visit to Gonzales just might happen, ill drag carrot along too.
 

Madhatter

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tick tock tick tock...… its been raining here more than the sun shine we (I) need to be able to work.... no matter just gives me more time to ponder what bike to get ….. hard to spend money when one is not making any...… next week me and a couple of good friends are riding to big bend ( two tenere's and one triumph 1200 ) hope the rain stops by then.... been visiting the dealers staring at bikes sitting on bikes asking questions about bikes driving the staff a bit crazy ..... lot of tire kicking so to speak.... watched every youtube video ever made I think about the bikes on my list ( probably not all but its early yet) …. checking out riding gear , need to protect myself ….. maybe I should just buy a boat. if it keeps raining...….
 

greg the pole

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another here for 2s, but it will all depend on where you ride, and all that..
Love my 300. on my 2nd one now. Next bike will be another 300..possibly a new ktm tpi or 2019 BETA.
Where we ride the 300 is the weapon of choice
 
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ballisticexchris

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another here for 2s, but it will all depend on where you ride, and all that..
Love my 300. on my 2nd one now. Next bike will be another 300..possibly a new ktm tpi or 2019 BETA.
Where we ride the 300 is the weapon of choice
I would highly suggest a TM300 or Beta 300. I have ridden both and they are way ahead in handling the nasty trails. The Beta RS is almost like a 4T in tractability. The TM is a pure bred racing rocket that takes some clutch work to get the most out of it. When I see pictures like that I miss my 300. Then I remember all the reliability issues I had. My Beta 498 gives up nothing except a little weight when the going gets rough. And boy the 4T will find traction and crawl where the 300 will spin and hop.
 

greg the pole

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I would highly suggest a TM300 or Beta 300. I have ridden both and they are way ahead in handling the nasty trails. The Beta RS is almost like a 4T in tractability. The TM is a pure bred racing rocket that takes some clutch work to get the most out of it. When I see pictures like that I miss my 300. Then I remember all the reliability issues I had. My Beta 498 gives up nothing except a little weight when the going gets rough. And boy the 4T will find traction and crawl where the 300 will spin and hop.
thanks for that. Ridden a few buddies 300rr betas and they are torque monsters. Never tried a tm...too obscure.
There's a well set up beta 430 locally..it's low hours, but he wants a bit of money for what is now a 3 yr old dirt bike.
I've had very few problems with my 2014, and I beat the crap out of it, but do maintain it well.
 
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ballisticexchris

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thanks for that. Ridden a few buddies 300rr betas and they are torque monsters. Never tried a tm...too obscure.
There's a well set up beta 430 locally..it's low hours, but he wants a bit of money for what is now a 3 yr old dirt bike.
I've had very few problems with my 2014, and I beat the crap out of it, but do maintain it well.
The newer KTM 300's are pretty darn reliable. Mine was a 2005. I just got rid of it last year as I'm no longer doing the all day "trail torture" type of rides.
 
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