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Getting Started In Motocross Guide - MX Bike

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Only a true motocross bike can withstand all of the pressures put onto the bike whilst riding a motocross track. The bike has to be able to perform well whilst the rider accelerates and brakes. A motocross bike has specially designed suspension with about 11-13 inches of travel at either end of the bike, which absorbs all of the bumps and jumps. The tyres are especially designed for taking the bike through all of the really rough and muddy parts of the track, with big knobbles to provide the grip. There are no lights on a motocross bike, as the races and practices only take part in daylight. The bikes engine is built for acceleration, not top speed. The bikes are strong and hard wearing, so they take virtually anything thrown at them.

Many people will wonder what bike to buy when wishing to start motocross. The answer to their questions on which bike will depend on many factors.

Ultimately, money plays a major part on what bike you end up buying. Bike prices vary, but below is a rough price guide to some second hand bikes. These prices were found by having a quick search on the web and Trials & Motocross News (search performed 27/07/05, so please consider prices for bikes will change over time).

2005 Suzuki RM85 big wheel £1995 (dealer)
2001 Yamaha YZF426 £1995 (dealer)
2003 KTM SX125 £2295 (dealer)
2004 Yamaha YZF250 £2995 (dealer)
2001 KTM SX65 £1095(dealer)
2004 Yamaha YZ 250 £2495 (dealer)

Do you want a new or second hand bike? The older the bike, the cheaper it gets, so if you want one just to have a bit of fun on, why not get one that you can easily afford, rather than stretching yourself. A major question that should be considered when buying a bike is how easy are the spares to get hold of. How do the prices compare to other makes. Is there a shop that stocks them near by? Generally there are the big 4 manufactures - Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Yamaha. KTM in recent years has come a long way in terms of popularity (it is a European bike rather than Japanese), having won many championships.

If you are getting an older bike, chances are that they could need a bit of work on them. Do you know how to fix them, or know someone who is willing to help you? All bikes need regular maintenance, so you will need to perform this after every time you use the bike.

Size of the bike also comes into play if the rider is still growing. You can make the bikes slightly smaller if the the need be (by adjusting suspension settings), but you can not make them bigger. Is the rider going to grow out of his bike before they have had their full use out of it?

What size engine do you require? Do you want a two or four-stroke bike? A 80cc and 125cc two-stroke bike have more or less the same sort of engine power, but a 80cc bike comes in a smaller frame, therefore is only useful to a small young rider. Make no mistake though, they are still quick. A 125cc bike is basically the same size as the bigger bikes, but has not got as much power and is much lighter, making them easier to handle. On a 125 you can be more aggressive in your riding style because of the power deficiency. A good rider on a 125cc bike will still be able to beat other riders on bigger bikes - there's no substitute for riding skills.

A 250cc two-stroke bike has a broader powerband, making them easier to ride. They are much quicker than a 125, but are also heavier.

251+cc two-stroke bikes are also available, and are the most powerful. They provide awesome power, and are also heavier than the 250's. You don't see as many riders with bikes bigger than 250cc on the tracks usually. There is also not as many for sale in the used market.

A four-stroke bike general weights more than a two-stroke bike, and they also do not produce as much power cc for cc. Therefore, they usually have more cc to allow for this lack of power. That's why 250cc four-stroke bikes race against 125cc two-stoke bikes. Four-stroke bikes do give smoother power delivery, and have broader power-bands. This makes them more controllable than two-strokes. In slippery conditions, a four-stoke bike is ideal, as it gives you lots of traction. Development is constantly going in four-stroke bikes at the moment, to make them more competitive in motocross races.

As for the make of bike, different makes have there different good and bad points. If you take a trip down to your local practice track, you can see what the other riders are doing. Talk to them about their bikes, and get a riders point of view of the bikes. A lot of people could just choose the make of bike by its colour, or that their favorite pro rider has the same bike.

Take a test ride on a bike if possible, this will tell you if the bike is to big, small or heavy, and you can find any other issues not discussed here. If you find that a pure motocross bike is to powerful, look into getting off-road style bikes, which will provide you with an easier ride. They can handle the tracks pretty much just the same, but will not have the motocross edge that the proper bikes do.

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