Anyone get the dirt bike itch ?

[Noobman]

Feeling like switching over .

I've been riding my ninja for a year now and I love the hell out of that thing.
The inevitable time eventually comes (usually) to switch (upgrade?) to something different.

Has anyone here owned or switched from a 250 ninja to a "dirt bike" ?

[Joshorilla]

No

Why would you?

Silly question, move along,



EDIT: Serious note, I have been riding the 250 for just over a year now, while it's by no means my first bike, first REAL bike, I am left wanting every time I ride it, it doesn't have enough torque to be practical where everywhere has very steep hills, I can see why most people ride KTM's or 600's here, anything less and you find yourself having to scream it to climb a cliff road.

So a dirt bike... maybe not for me, but sure they are fun.

My next bike will probably be a Triumph Sprint or a GSXR 600 or a Hayabusa or maybe a Honda pan european

[csmith12]

Yes to riding dirty, no to selling the ninja. Own both, you only live once. I would guess that there are many that have sold their bike (250 or otherwise) to go sumo and are really happy.

[subxero]

Completely different things for different purposes therefore i don't see it as much of a "switch"

Street bikes and dirt bikes are both tons of fun but for different reasons.

In short, why "switch" when you can do both?

[josefmd]

When I got back into riding back in 06 I went out and bought I dike bike since that's pretty much all of have ridden since I was 7. Never really gave a street bike a second thought. Well, four dirt bikes later, I sold my KTM 200 XCW to get a used 2012 Ninja 250, and haven't looked back since. In my case, there really isn't anywhere to ride(legally) a off-road bike that's not 2hrs away. Not very practical in my case, but would love to have both myself

[verboten1]

Never sell!!!

[Joshorilla]

No everyone has the money or space to have the luxury of having both.

[verboten1]

I have an8'x10' shed and 4 bikes in there

And I live in a ****** trailer, proving I have no money.


I make it work...

But I guess that's one of my priorities,to have what I want

[fishdip]

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

No everyone has the money or space to have the luxury of having both.

If you get a dirt bike you have something to take it to the trails?

[az3200]

Originally Posted by Noobman

Feeling like switching over .

I've been riding my ninja for a year now and I love the hell out of that thing.
The inevitable time eventually comes (usually) to switch (upgrade?) to something different.

Has anyone here owned or switched from a 250 ninja to a "dirt bike" ?

Yes, I have thought about it...seriously at one point. My 250 is my first bike... I love it and my favorite thing to do on it is just ride around and explore. Mainly roads off the beaten path. I realized very quick I want to go exploring further, and see what's down those random trails, and past the open fields. I don't have a truck so I couldn't get a "real" dirt bike, and I'd hate to sell my ninja. maybe a dual purpose... I like the KLR's

[ninjamunky85]

Nope never

But seriously, dirt bikes kick azz.

[voidrider]

Originally Posted by fishdip

If you get a dirt bike you have something to take it to the trails?

^ This is why I was more than happy to accept the compromise of a dual sport.

I don't live in a location where I can just go out my back door kick start my dirt bike and go for a ride. I am not interested in hitting the jumps and such on a motocross track, and even when I was young my off road riding style was more "explore" than "race".

When I priced out dirt bikes, to make them practical, I needed at least a trailer, or a truck to haul them. I didn't like the associated costs. Since I am not into 'hardcore' offroad riding, a dual sport which could get me to where I wanted to ride off road at a fraction of the cost of trailering, was the best solution.

After riding the Super Sherpa I bought a few times on various highways it was obvious it would NOT replace my Ninja. It did let me go places I have wanted to explore for years, where I felt I would have been abusing the Ninja. Two bikes, two different tools for different purposes. I enjoy both.

It took me over 5 years to save up to buy the Sherpa, because various things occurred that demanded I use my "Sherpa fund" to resolve some financial issue. I mention this because even if you can stuff away $20-$50 a month, not even every month, you CAN afford to make it happen. You may need to be patient, and you must have discipline. It was depressing at times to have set-backs and go back to zero...but now that I have it, I find myself focusing on how much fun I am having NOW, rather than remembering how hard and even depressing it was at times.

It also gives me a bike to ride when I am performing deep maintenance on the other.

So yeah, maybe get s dirt bike, but there is likely no reason you couldn't have both, if that is what you want, it is likely you can find a way. If later you find you are neglecting one of the bikes and just don't ride it, THEN it might be a good time to consider selling.

[ninjamunky85]

Dirt bikes are a blast, I wish I had more time to ride my 125. Supermotos are fun as heck around town and on the backroads, and can even do a little off roading. I can't help but laugh every time I ride mine.

But neither of them are a replacement to a sport bike for me. I still ride my 300 the most out of all my bikes. I could do only a sm, but it wouldn't be ideal for me.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by Noobman

.......... The inevitable time eventually comes (usually) to switch (upgrade?) to something different................ a "dirt bike" ?

Keep the Ninja and try this (no engine required):

Link to original page on YouTube.

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by Noobman

Feeling like switching over .

I've been riding my ninja for a year now and I love the hell out of that thing.
The inevitable time eventually comes (usually) to switch (upgrade?) to something different.

Has anyone here owned or switched from a 250 ninja to a "dirt bike" ?

Dirt bikes are twice as much fun as a street bike. If you have a place to ride it you will truly learn how to ride (out of control). If I ever get a bike I want it to be a dirt bike. Right now it's on my wish list.

[subxero]

Originally Posted by josefmd

When I got back into riding back in 06 I went out and bought I dike bike since that's pretty much all of have ridden since I was 7. Never really gave a street bike a second thought. Well, four dirt bikes later, I sold my KTM 200 XCW to get a used 2012 Ninja 250, and haven't looked back since. In my case, there really isn't anywhere to ride(legally) a off-road bike that's not 2hrs away. Not very practical in my case, but would love to have both myself

whats a dike bike? sounds kinky

[KawiKid860]

I have more of the "supermoto itch." Still pretty decent off road and a heck of a lot of fun around town, or so everyone says at least. Wouldn't mind a dual sport either, I'd eventually convert it to a sumo but I'd imagine learning dirt on knobbies would be better lol. I don't really have interest in a full on dirt bike though, riding to an off road destination sounds way more fun than driving their with the bikes on a trailer. + that requires a truck an/or a trailer, etc. I need to sell one of my bikes to get a DS/sumo... but I like them both so much...

[subxero]

I keep my dirtbike at my dads, we are moving back that way next week so excited. But it is nice that when i want to ride my dirtbike i just pull it out of the basement and kick it over and go. I'm on a never ending network of free trails in seconds, the gas tank is the limit.

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by subxero

I keep my dirtbike at my dads, we are moving back that way next week so excited. But it is nice that when i want to ride my dirtbike i just pull it out of the basement and kick it over and go. I'm on a never ending network of free trails in seconds, the gas tank is the limit.

Where, where, where?

I used to have an 8500 acre playground to ride in but never ending sounds even more fun.

[Snake]

+1 to having both. Dirt bikes are a blast.

[subxero]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

Where, where, where?

I used to have an 8500 acre playground to ride in but never ending sounds even more fun.

It's damn near impossible to tell whether you are serious or not, either way. I ride West Central PA, Most everyone here has a quad, a dirtbike or snowmobile so there are trails everywhere generally linked together by rail road tracks, old coal mines, and power line trails.

When riding my dirtbike locally i have bumped into people doing quad rides saying they started 40 or so miles away

[Dano]

Originally Posted by subxero

It's damn near impossible to tell whether you are serious or not, either way. I ride West Central PA, Most everyone here has a quad, a dirtbike or snowmobile so there are trails everywhere generally linked together by rail road tracks, old coal mines, and power line trails.

When riding my dirtbike locally i have bumped into people doing quad rides saying they started 40 or so miles away

When I was a Kid I could go for miles and miles on the old railroad tracks, Hell I grew up riding on the slate dumps, now everything is all blocked off. I wouldn't mind getting a dirt bike if finances allowed.....

[lgk]

Originally Posted by Motofool

Keep the Ninja and try this (no engine required):

I would love to try that on a small dirt bike

[Z-Trob]

Just got a husqvarna 510 smr and its awesome. lighter than the ninja, flicks around like nothing, and pulls like a tractor. I took it down some dirt roads and trails already and i know plenty of guys who do a lot more than that with sumo tires. I would definitely recommend one if you're interested.

[ninjamunky85]

Sweet, got any pics?

[Noobman]

Damn awesome replies.

I shoulda been more specific and said I'm interested in a "dual sport" (I live downtown), no trails around here.

Btw , can someone tell me whats the deal with "ownership" ? I'm looking online at used bikes and alot of the peeps with "dirt bikes" (dual sport, sumo, enduro, etc) have no ownership it seems
Some ads say "comes with ownership" some say it doesnt...

what.


So are dual sports better on insurance ? ( kinda overpayed for my 250's insurance policy, since im a new rider and only have my M2 (not full M license yet, March!) and a few traffic tickets .

[Jiggles]

I really want a dirt bike, it looks like a lot of fun and a great way to enhance riding skills. But I already have too many bikes, too many hobbies and not enough time or money. One day maybe

[JustRidin]

I always loved riding dirt bikes as a kid, the only problem now would be having a place to ride one. While I could swing buying one on top of my ninja I just feel like the ninja lets me ride daily while the dirt bike would be a weekend warrior thing when I could find someone to let me use their land.

If you've got a nearby place to ride go for it, but if not, I feel like the ninja will give you the opportunity to enjoy riding more often.