Getting Started in Trail Riding (Help)

Hi All

I am a 43 yr old male (yeah, mid life crisis) and have just gotten a
learners permit.
I live in the SE burbs of Melbourne (Lilydale) and want to get into
trail riding.
I have about $5000 to spend but haven't got a clue what to do next.
I have been reading up everything I can find on the net but I still
have lots of questions so here goes!

I plan on buying all my gear first and then spend whats left on a bike
rather than getting a bike first.
Any advice on what gear to get and where to get it and more
importantly, what to avoid?
Should I buy an older bike (1985ish) to learn on or get a good bike
(1997ish) to avoid all the reliability issues?
I will be getting an XR 250, is it worth getting one with an electric
start?

I hope to ride up around Howqua - Mt Stirling area for starters as I
spent many years hiking in this area.
Should I get full rego or just recreational rego? (It will be
trailered up there)
Because I have not gone faster than 25kph (HART trained) are there any
good spots close to home where I can go to learn without getting
extreme?
Should I join a club now or wait till ive done all the stupid things
without any spectators?
None of my friends are into bikes yet so I have no one to drag along
to check out a bike at a private sale, should I buy from a dealer?

I would really appreciate any advice you can give me on anything that
might help a newbie!

TIA
Cheers
Steve

 

In aus.motorcycles on 7 Jun 2004 15:26:59 -0700

If I were you, I'd also spend a bit of money on learning the basics of
offroad riding. Even if you have done it before, a course will give you
a bike to try that someone else will fix and a good re-introduction
to the skills. Meaning less chance of broken bike or broken you. One
of the hassles with getting older is that you don't bounce like you used
to! For courses, try Honda Australia Rider Training or Stay Upright,
both should be in the phone book. If they don't do it, they'll know who
does.

I suggest you ask those questions on rec.motorcycles.dirt. There are a
lot more dirt types there, and so a lot more specific experience.

YOu'll get a bunch of "must always have top class moto-x gear" answers,
but I suspect you can ignore them I'd say a good helmet, protective
boots, and elbow and knee armour are the main things you should spend
your money on.

Zebee

 

after starting riding on an old xr250, I'd suggest getting the newest
and least used one possible. Although they last longer, when 4 strokes
are worn out they can cost large sums. I went to a wr200 after giving
up on the xr, I wish I'd got it (or a kdx200) straight away. Since it
sounds like you only want to do trail riding (and not anything on the
road) I'd suggest considering those options. Slightly more confronting
power delivery than the xr, but you won't outride them anywhere near as
soon. Plus I think they're cheaper.

I'm not a believer in wasting money on the jerseys / pants, but it's up
to you how you want to look out there. I prefer $5 jeans and $2 shirt
from lifeline... I'd suggest avoiding the bottom of the market in
boots, they 'seem' to fall apart fairly quickly. otherwise you want
knee guards, helmet, goggles, gloves, and something like a goat herder
or dainese safety jacket is very nice to have. (an upper body mesh suit
with padding bits all over it, kidney belt, spine protector etc.)

check out http://www.dirtbikeworld.net for a horde of aussie dirtbikers
ready to answer your questions and ride with you.

Charlie

 

Your in luck,close by too

Head on down to :

1ST Class Motorcycles
26 John Street Lilydale 9739 7277

He has heaps of dirt-bikes and also NEW and demo Husqvarna dirt-bikes,the 4
strokes those guys make are bloody rockets,took decades for the Jappers to
match them.

The Huskys are fairly expensive new but bargain buying 2nd hand

CDIHL

 

Thanks Zebee
I like the idea of a coarse as i have no bike riding experience whatsoever.
I'll try HART as I did my learners with them.
I will try rec.motorcycles.dirt but i wanted to try to keep any advice local.
Thanks again for your advice

Steve

 

See I'd have thought a course would be better when it wasn't simply
hours in the saddle getting used to it, but when you actually had a few
skills to pick up. I'd suggest quality time somewhere flat and open
would be just as good as a course, at first. But p'raps that's just the
way I like to learn...

Charlie

 

In aus.motorcycles on Tue, 08 Jun 2004 01:51:30 GMT

He already has basics on bike control, he's got L plates.

what he needs is how to handle loose surface and bumps and jumps and mud
and how to read the trail surface.

A day's riding with experienced trainers who can show hom how and why
will be worth a week pottering about learning by falling off.

Zebee

 

btw, if you can get full rego I'd recomend it, comes in handy for lots
of rides run down there I *believe*.

Charlie

 

ah. L plates in vic must be different to qld.

Perhaps. I'm not disputing the benefit of proper training, I'm just not
sure there's really a whole lot to *basic* dirt riding aside from
experience... s'ok though, he's got different opinions, he can do what
he's comfortable with.

Charlie

 

In aus.motorcycles on Tue, 08 Jun 2004 02:42:17 GMT

2 day training course I believe. as much as is needed for just riding a
trail.

Guess it depends what you are after.

I didn't think someone who had a midlife crisis would be happy with
pootling along gravel roads I figured he'd want to do something more
challenging.

Zebee

 

basic *dirt* riding Zebee, not gravel road riding

Charlie

 

In aus.motorcycles on Tue, 08 Jun 2004 03:18:06 GMT

Yup But the differences? as in basic dirt can maybe be picked up in
a few days trying, or even a few hours.

The stuff he'll learn in a 1 or 2 day course will be all that, properly
not what sorta works at slow speeds, and more.

Still seems a much better use of time.

Zebee

 

Most important thing you need is a GPS. Lilydale in the SE?

--
Cheers
Dave (Mojo67)
FZR600 >> ZX6R Brisbane
http://users.bigpond.net.au/mojo67/mojo67.htm
I used to never be able to finish anything but now I

 

Yes i spotted that as i pressed "post", dont even know why i typed it!

 

Top-level health cover = $ ?
Income-protection cover = $ ?
Gear = say $1,000
Bike = $what's left?

 

he said trail riding, not road riding...

Charlie

 

Nah... he's a Victorian. TAC premiums will pay for all hospital expenses and
decent percentage of lost income.

Nev..
'03 ZX12R

 

Sounds like a Personals Advert. Try placing it in Russian Publications,you
will get heaps of replies and the Red-Girls are bloody dolls and real
friendly to boot.....

Have they moved Lilydale? SE? Its NEE


and want to get into
Phone/join AMTRA