Topic: How much to pay for a dirtbike?

[ktm525]

I must be getting old, starting to choke on dirt bike prices.    I need to put a deposit down on a new Husky TE300 and am having second thoughts. $12 799 along with $1100 freight and prep  with tire tax puts it to $14 602 out the door tax in. Of course it will need another $1000 to make it rideable...

That being said the new TE is TBI (throttle body injection) and completely reworked. It may be peak two stroke off road, ever.  I plan to make it a street legal dual sport.

It could be worse in that the TE is listed in the US at $11549 US which works out to $15429 Canadian before any charges...   KTM is limiting supply to Canada for obvious reasons.

[Fobroader]

Everyone I know with a dirt bike paid like $500-1000 or it was included with an old vehicle, log splitter, or as a trade for some labour. $15k seems ludicrous to me.

[OliverD]

Everyone I know with a dirt bike paid like $500-1000 or it was included with an old vehicle, log splitter, or as a trade for some labour. $15k seems ludicrous to me.

It's not the '90s anymore. 

[ktm525]

Those old clapped out trail bikes couldn't skip through rocky trail at speed with a magic carpet ride. The suspension and motor technologies have evolved to ridiculous levels. Like comparing my old Ridgeline to a Ford Raptor.  I have been riding a thoroughly prepped 2007 KTM 300 XC (aftermarket suspension valving, complete rebuilt and ported engine and it feels like an old hay wagon vs the newest offerings.  I guess dirtbike is a misnomer. This will be a dual sport lol.

The question is KTM and PDS or stick with the husky linkage.       Going to hop on the 501 and go have a talk with the KTM dealer. 

[bridgecity]

I'll never buy new so not much advice from me.  I don't ride enough to justify new bike prices.  Heck, I don't ride enough anymore to justify having a bike.  Haven't swung a leg over the Honda or Yammy this year. 

[ktm525]

I'll never buy new so not much advice from me.  I don't ride enough to justify new bike prices.  Heck, I don't ride enough anymore to justify having a bike.  Haven't swung a leg over the Honda or Yammy this year.

That's why dirtbikes need to be dual sported. Riot on the roads. Still I noticed an ad for a redone 1977 Suzuki PE250 has popped back up. Wanted $4k last year and is now at $2k  If I can retrofit a modern hydraulic front brake...Would make a hell of a dual sport steam punk hooligan bike.

[HeliDriver]

Yeah, the new bikes look really sweet, but I don’t see myself spending that kind of coin for one.

I think I paid $9,700 for my 250 back in 2010. It was totally worth it, as I actually got out to ride it. Got my money’s worth the first five years for sure.

I think I put 3 hours on it last year, and none the year before that. Maybe 10 hours total in the last four years? I was going to sell it, but don’t think I’ll bother. For the maybe $4k I’d get for it, may as well keep it around. It’s still in fine shape and fun to ride when I do get out on it.

[rrocket]

.

The question is KTM and PDS or stick with the husky linkage.       Going to hop on the 501 and go have a talk with the KTM dealer. 

Check out the Gas Gas models. Same as KTM and Husky..but a bit cheaper.

[WP v3.32]

I must be getting old, starting to choke on dirt bike prices.    I need to put a deposit down on a new Husky TE300 and am having second thoughts. $12 799 along with $1100 freight and prep  with tire tax puts it to $14 602 out the door tax in. Of course it will need another $1000 to make it rideable...

That being said the new TE is TBI (throttle body injection) and completely reworked. It may be peak two stroke off road, ever.  I plan to make it a street legal dual sport.

It could be worse in that the TE is listed in the US at $11549 US which works out to $15429 Canadian before any charges...   KTM is limiting supply to Canada for obvious reasons.

How old are you getting?   Can you handle that much power at your age? 

[ktm525]

.

The question is KTM and PDS or stick with the husky linkage.       Going to hop on the 501 and go have a talk with the KTM dealer. 

Check out the Gas Gas models. Same as KTM and Husky..but a bit cheaper.

Has not been released yet. Actually my preference but may not get many for 2024. As you know they are all essentially the same bike except for the non linkage system on the KTM. The KTM also still uses an aluminum rear subframce vs the composite on the Husky. Not sure what the gas gas uses.

Husky's are cheaper than the KTM.. Weird.

[rrocket]

.

Husky's are cheaper than the KTM.. Weird.

Orange is worth the extra expense.

[ktm525]

I must be getting old, starting to choke on dirt bike prices.    I need to put a deposit down on a new Husky TE300 and am having second thoughts. $12 799 along with $1100 freight and prep  with tire tax puts it to $14 602 out the door tax in. Of course it will need another $1000 to make it rideable...

That being said the new TE is TBI (throttle body injection) and completely reworked. It may be peak two stroke off road, ever.  I plan to make it a street legal dual sport.

It could be worse in that the TE is listed in the US at $11549 US which works out to $15429 Canadian before any charges...   KTM is limiting supply to Canada for obvious reasons.

How old are you getting?   Can you handle that much power at your age? 

Even the new 300s feel weak compared to my uncorked 501. The ultimate do everything off-roader as torque everywhere and no need to shift. It does drain you faster though muscling it around on tight stuff at pace. The 300 feels like a toy and is easier to ride to in the real tight stuff.

[ktm525]

.

Husky's are cheaper than the KTM.. Weird.

Orange is worth the extra expense.

Cheaper/faster to swap the rear spring too.  I lean towards the KTM but the dealer is worse and the waiting list is longer.

[rrocket]

. It does drain you faster though muscling it around on tight stuff at pace.

Was going to say, that thing would kill you and wear you out in the woods

[HeliDriver]

I’d be seriously considering the 150 if I were to buy a new bike.

[ktm525]

. It does drain you faster though muscling it around on tight stuff at pace.

Was going to say, that thing would kill you and wear you out in the woods

Yes and no, definitely have to change the riding style. Carry momentum and ride the wafting torque. It's still only about 250lbs and If I keep only 8L in the desert tank then not too bad. I can push many of the riding group on 300s as they look over their shoulder. 

All that said my main motivation for a 300 is to have a choice of ride and keep the hours off the 501.

[rrocket]

. It does drain you faster though muscling it around on tight stuff at pace.

Was going to say, that thing would kill you and wear you out in the woods

Yes and no, definitely have to change the riding style. Carry momentum and ride the wafting torque. It's still only about 250lbs and If I keep only 8L in the desert tank then not too bad. I can push many of the riding group on 300s as they look over their shoulder. 

All that said my main motivation for a 300 is to have a choice of ride and keep the hours off the 501.

Yes and no.

That's a recipe for "slow" in the Midwest and left behind out East. When I was out East, most of the fastest guys ran 125s such was the technical, tight nature of woods riding there. At times, I thought a Trials bike might be best! LOL [emoji38]  If they were on thumpers, it was small stuff.

In the Midwest (particularly MI,WI and OH) lots of the woods riding also has sandy, loamy soil. So technical woods riding...while riding in essentially sand. A big 4 stroke doesn't work as well there. Sure, you could do it...but wrong tool for the job and more effort.

[ktm525]

. It does drain you faster though muscling it around on tight stuff at pace.

Was going to say, that thing would kill you and wear you out in the woods

Yes and no, definitely have to change the riding style. Carry momentum and ride the wafting torque. It's still only about 250lbs and If I keep only 8L in the desert tank then not too bad. I can push many of the riding group on 300s as they look over their shoulder. 

All that said my main motivation for a 300 is to have a choice of ride and keep the hours off the 501.

Yes and no.

That's a recipe for "slow" in the Midwest and left behind out East. When I was out East, most of the fastest guys ran 125s such was the technical, tight nature of woods riding there. At times, I thought a Trials bike might be best! LOL [emoji38]  If they were on thumpers, it was small stuff.

In the Midwest (particularly MI,WI and OH) lots of the woods riding also has sandy, loamy soil. So technical woods riding...while riding in essentially sand. A big 4 stroke doesn't work as well there. Sure, you could do it...but wrong tool for the job and more effort.

I ride both and will say four stroke technology has grown leaps and bounds. A modern 350 XCW puts out similar HP and is similar weight to a 220/250 bike. In the olden days when you rode it took a super human like Scott Summers to muscle around older thumper technology. Handling is getting very close..  I can ride my 501 at an advanced pace as fast as the 300 and only notice it when at full race pace. In some gnarly sections I prefer the 501 because it is very easy to loft the front wheel over logs and let the mass carry me over. Picking finicky lines in the real tight stuff is easier on the 2 stroke. If the terrain gets steep and opens up there is no substitute for a hard charging 500 4 stoke at full song. Short answer. You need both.

[ktm525]

This is a good video with a couple of competent hacks comparing the 300/350.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPKRHxBvcDo

[rrocket]

. It does drain you faster though muscling it around on tight stuff at pace.

Was going to say, that thing would kill you and wear you out in the woods

Yes and no, definitely have to change the riding style. Carry momentum and ride the wafting torque. It's still only about 250lbs and If I keep only 8L in the desert tank then not too bad. I can push many of the riding group on 300s as they look over their shoulder. 

All that said my main motivation for a 300 is to have a choice of ride and keep the hours off the 501.

Yes and no.

That's a recipe for "slow" in the Midwest and left behind out East. When I was out East, most of the fastest guys ran 125s such was the technical, tight nature of woods riding there. At times, I thought a Trials bike might be best! LOL [emoji38]  If they were on thumpers, it was small stuff.

In the Midwest (particularly MI,WI and OH) lots of the woods riding also has sandy, loamy soil. So technical woods riding...while riding in essentially sand. A big 4 stroke doesn't work as well there. Sure, you could do it...but wrong tool for the job and more effort.

I ride both and will say four stroke technology has grown leaps and bounds. A modern 350 XCW puts out similar HP and is similar weight to a 220/250 bike. In the olden days when you rode it took a super human like Scott Summers to muscle around older thumper technology. Handling is getting very close..  I can ride my 501 at an advanced pace as fast as the 300 and only notice it when at full race pace. In some gnarly sections I prefer the 501 because it is very easy to loft the front wheel over logs and let the mass carry me over. Picking finicky lines in the real tight stuff is easier on the 2 stroke. If the terrain gets steep and opens up there is no substitute for a hard charging 500 4 stoke at full song. Short answer. You need both.

No doubt. I've ridden both as well. 4 stroke tech is fantastic. And there is no doubt that KTM makes the highest performing singles in the industry. You want to see single engine tech porn? Read up on the KTM 450 SMR!  Like...wow!

I'm just saying for the really tight out East stuff, the fastest guys were on 125cc...featherweight stuff. 200lbs wet.  No 4 stroke (with similar power) will match that weight.

West and East riding is about as different as they come. At least for racing. There is no "flow" out East. Nearly too technical to be fun IMO. Almost stop and go. I'd say the lines were beyond finicky. And self navigating in that almost made my head explode...

And that's another thing. You're working the roll chart and odo. You're looking down. Just easier on something that's a feather.in that crap.