Need your expertise (525MXC/EXC, CRF450R/X, WR450)

Hi There! This is my first post here so I want to introduce myself a
bit first.

I am 30 years old. I have been riding since I was in my early teens.
I stopped dirt riding for many years and took up roadracing. I raced
AFM & WSMC (California Roadracing clubs) for 4 years. I had a great
time (best time even). Toward the end when I quit (1999), I was
spending in the upwards of $4-$6k per month. It just got too
expensive. I realized I wasnt going to be a AMA star and hung up my
hat.

I bought a 99 YZ250 and started dirt riding. It had been about 9
years since I had even been dirt riding so it was a big learning
experience. Wow the bikes had CHANGED. Amazing! From 99-2003 I rode
just about every "wet" weekend of the year. I ride mostly trails. I
would say 70% of my riding is in 3rd-4th gear (trail riding). My
favorite thing todo is to adventure and find "areas". I love finding
little hidden "hits" and "climbs"... and then taking turns tackling
the area in different ways. I also enjoy single track A LOT, even
though it can be pretty challanging (and tiring) so I probably only
spend 10-15% of my time in single track.

In 2003 I had a rare failure in my YZ250 carb. There is this gasket
that Yahmaha wont replace without a full carb replacement. I couldn't
believe this. Being into racing for years, I am used to taking my
bikes appart all the time. Often times I have had to make-shift
solutions to just make it onto the track to race. Anyway, I confirmed
this gasket thing with few people that had heard of it and they all
agreed that yahmaha wouldn't do anything about it. That year was a
bit hard on the finances so I left my bike in the garage to fix some
day.

(sorry for the long post, I will try not to make it a book)

So a few years ago my buddy got a KTM 450exc. I thought I would hate
it because of the electric starter and such. I tried it one day...
and I couldn't believe how I fell instantly in love with it. I didn't
believe I could love a 4stroke, and definatly not somthing that I
thought would be heavy and over kill (having electric start etc).
Needless to say, I have wanted one ever since. I only disliked 2
things about the KTM: the rear shock (weird design... felt unstable),
and the hard seat on the thing.

So here I stand, finances are good, and I can't wait to get riding
again. I want a new bike, and I have been out of touch for 2 years.
I desperately need your help. I don't mind spending more on the KTM,
because I never feel like spending a bit more is waisting money if you
get quality.

I am looking at the MXC/X/WR series of bikes because I am hoping to
get a license plate for the bike I get (It would be nice to have the
streetable option in those rare situations). I live in California,
and it can be hard to get a plate around here, but there are dealers
around here that will do it. Right now I know of a KTM dealer that
will do this for me immediatly. I am also looking for the electric
start option in whatever I am going to get. I thought they were for
pansys only, but I was REALLY wrong about that (just takes using it a
few times to fall in love with it).

Well, if you made it this far THANK YOU. I really appreciate your
input and reccomendations.

farzonalmaneih RemoveThis @hotmail.com (far182) wrote:

 >Hi There! This is my first post here so I want to introduce myself a
 >bit first.

Hello! welcome.

I have a 520 EXC (from before the bumped it up to 525) and I have been
very pleased.

Mine is street-legel as well - very easy in Arizona - but it isn't a
bike you want to ride on the street very much.

Only complaint is that it is a bit top heavy if you have to pick it up
from the wrong side of a sidehill.

Jim Hall
520 EXC and others
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