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Dirt biking vs mountain biking

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-Zimbo-
Posts: 42 - Karma: 106
looking to get into one of these sports. i like both aspects of these sports. Mountain biking atracts me because it provides more of an adventure and you have to work for the pleasure. dirt biking attracts me because of the motor, sound and quickness. post you opinions... idk what to invest money into lol
Apr 25 2016 8:03PM
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270on420out
Posts: 7516 - Karma: 51,167
Dirt biking is super expensive. All my friends that can afford it absolutely love it. It's also pretty rough on the body and kinda dangerous. Lost a friend a few months ago in an accident.


I do both downhill and XC. Downhill is pretty expensive as well, but it is super fun. I also got into dirt jumping through friends. My dad and I go on cross country rides all the time.
Apr 25 2016 8:27PM
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No.Quarter
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 16,965
Mountain Biking is more satisfying, dirt biking is much more of an adrenaline rush
Apr 25 2016 8:41PM
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ForeverYung
Posts: 8385 - Karma: 2,060
Pedal power
Apr 25 2016 9:07PM
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unsteezedmachine
Posts: 44 - Karma: 268
I like dirt biking way more. But you need to buy a used 125 two stroke to learn on and all the gear, which is about 5k. Plus you need ways to transport it and tools. Plus It gives you a full body workout if you race or ride at 100%
Apr 25 2016 11:12PM
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erikK
Posts: 3245 - Karma: 2,329
Dirt biking can make for awesome adventures too, depending where you live. I'm from a big logging town in BC and the logging roads through the mountains are unreal, way too extensive to cover on a mountain bike. A downhill mountain bike is also gonna cost about the same as a decent trail bike. Riding the track is fuckin fun too but I've lost interest in it as I've gotten older, is really expensive, can't afford to get hurt anymore, etc.
Dirtbiking is funner to do solo than mountain biking imo, but if you have friends that mountain bike that's sick. Used to mountain bike a lot and loved it, lots of concussions though.
They're pretty different sports to try and decide between, I'd say a good compromise is to buy a trail bike like a KLX400 or something instead of going full motorcross
Apr 25 2016 11:51PM
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uturn
Posts: 183 - Karma: 380
both are fun as hell and expensive as fuck. i keep selling my dirt bike to buy a mountain bike and then selling the mountain bike to buy a dirt bike again I love them both. although expensive, mountain biking is much cheaper (you cant blow up a motor on a mountain bike)Unless you know how to work on motors, do not go into dirt biking. Stuff breaks so frequently when you're riding hard you'll go bankrupt trying to keep up with it, not to mention you will never get any riding time if you keep having to take it to a shop.
If you are good with mechanics then go for it, its fun ass hell.
Apr 26 2016 9:48AM
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-Zimbo-
Posts: 42 - Karma: 106
i think im gunna buy a dirt bike :) i like stuff with motors lol
Apr 28 2016 2:01PM
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No.Quarter
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 16,965
uturnUnless you know how to work on motors, do not go into dirt biking. Stuff breaks so frequently when you're riding hard you'll go bankrupt trying to keep up with it, not to mention you will never get any riding time if you keep having to take it to a shop.


Two strokes are pretty easy to work on and a lot more fun to work on than a mountian bike in my opinion, there will always be more maintenance on a motorcycle, but it can be really fun. No doubt more expensive to fix, but you don't have to go to a shop for most projects if you make an investment in tools.

I'm at the same spot OP, I really want to get a motocross bike again, but I live in Bozeman, MT and there is so much more mountain biking here so I also want a nice mountain bike. Also don't assume that just because a dirt bike has a motor it is any less of a workout than mountain biking.
Apr 28 2016 2:24PM
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Slush
Posts: 1916 - Karma: 12,960
Dirt bikes are fun as fuck

Mountain bikes are also hella fun

The best blend between the two is DH/Freeride. Cheaper than dirt biking, fast as heck, huge adrenaline rush, so muchh fun. I've recently gotten into hittin the big jumps at a freeride section near I live and it's soooo much fun
Apr 28 2016 2:42PM
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JuliusJ
Posts: 3778 - Karma: 2,106
THEDIRTYBUBBLEDirt biking is super expensive.


so are decent MTB's haha.
Apr 28 2016 2:49PM
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No.Quarter
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 16,965
JuliusJso are decent MTB's haha.


2016 Yamaha YZ450F (top level motocross bike) - $8590
2016 Santa Cruz V10 CC X01 build (top shelf downhill bike) - $8799

Used 450F moto bike 2k-4k ish
Used nice full suspension bike 1k-3k ish

Even the cheapest moto bikes that are on craigslist are around 1k
You have to spend at least 1k on a new hardtail or a used FS bike to get anything decent

Shit is crazy
Apr 28 2016 3:00PM
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JuliusJ
Posts: 3778 - Karma: 2,106
No.Quarter2016 Yamaha YZ450F (top level motocross bike) - $8590
2016 Santa Cruz V10 CC X01 build (top shelf downhill bike) - $8799

Used 450F moto bike 2k-4k ish
Used nice full suspension bike 1k-3k ish

Even the cheapest moto bikes that are on craigslist are around 1k
You have to spend at least 1k on a new hardtail or a used FS bike to get anything decent

Shit is crazy


Haha I'm all too aware. You can find some killer used deals occasionally, but yeah pretty outrageous. You should buy a MTB though. Bozeman has so much sick riding around you.
Apr 28 2016 3:04PM
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No.Quarter
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 16,965
JuliusJHaha I'm all too aware. You can find some killer used deals occasionally, but yeah pretty outrageous. You should buy a MTB though. Bozeman has so much sick riding around you.


Yeah, It's just not worth it for me to buy a truck and a moto bike for a singe motocross track. I really need to get another MTB, I currently get my dirt fix from putting a cyclocross tire on the front of my shitty 30lb Hi-ten fixed gear. It definitively gets the adrenaline pumping on little mini XC trails in town trying to go fast downhill lol
Apr 28 2016 3:09PM
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uturn
Posts: 183 - Karma: 380
No.QuarterYeah, It's just not worth it for me to buy a truck and a moto bike for a singe motocross track. I really need to get another MTB, I currently get my dirt fix from putting a cyclocross tire on the front of my shitty 30lb Hi-ten fixed gear. It definitively gets the adrenaline pumping on little mini XC trails in town trying to go fast downhill lol


I just built my bike up fast enough to stay ahead of a cop car and prayed the enforced the no chase law... then i just rode wherever I wanted, no pickup truck needed
Apr 29 2016 9:48AM
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250r
Posts: 2276 - Karma: 1,013
at least where i live i would need a truck for a dirt bike. for downhill i just start pedalling or go get on the lift. one of these days ill get a dirt bike though.

i used to ride a trx 250r 2 stroke mx quad, bored to 310cc, with a fully custom chassis. man i miss that thing, absolute drift machine. quads are way to expensive though and you cant really ride them anywhere but mx tracks and smooth logging roads.

being a skier/biker sometimes i forget about how much fun it is to haul ass going up a hill rather than down.
Apr 29 2016 2:07PM
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tac0.slayer
Posts: 254 - Karma: 947
uturnI just built my bike up fast enough to stay ahead of a cop car and prayed the enforced the no chase law... then i just rode wherever I wanted, no pickup truck needed


/claim
Apr 30 2016 7:17PM
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uturn
Posts: 183 - Karma: 380
tac0.slayer/claim


yeah
May 1 2016 12:21PM
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Tinga
Posts: 11349 - Karma: 2,333
No.Quarter2016 Yamaha YZ450F (top level motocross bike) - $8590
2016 Santa Cruz V10 CC X01 build (top shelf downhill bike) - $8799

Used 450F moto bike 2k-4k ish
Used nice full suspension bike 1k-3k ish

Even the cheapest moto bikes that are on craigslist are around 1k
You have to spend at least 1k on a new hardtail or a used FS bike to get anything decent

Shit is crazy


Funny thing is there are MTB bikes that are more expensive than the V10 at that trim level.
May 1 2016 1:02PM
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gnar_whal
Posts: 1286 - Karma: 3,788
SlushDirt bikes are fun as fuck

Mountain bikes are also hella fun

The best blend between the two is DH/Freeride. Cheaper than dirt biking, fast as heck, huge adrenaline rush, so muchh fun. I've recently gotten into hittin the big jumps at a freeride section near I live and it's soooo much fun


What the hell are you talking about a good DH bike will cost you 5-10k minus doing the actual biking (passes, etc)
May 1 2016 1:11PM
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gnar_whal
Posts: 1286 - Karma: 3,788
-Zimbo-i think im gunna buy a dirt bike :) i like stuff with motors lol

I do both. If you have tracks/trails that are close and have access to a truck/trailer than dirt bikes are super fun. But if you are close to areas where there is lift access downhill MTB trails than that is super fun as well. And honestly when it comes down to cost they are both expensive. A good dirt bike will cost you around 3-5k and even higher, and a good mtb can cost the same and even higher. But keep in mind that it WILL cost you more to maintain a dirt bike, and it helps to be mechanically inclined so you don't have to take it to a shop everytime you need something fixed (stuff will fail).
May 1 2016 1:18PM
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bananabrains
Posts: 133 - Karma: 390
MTB all the way for me. Better for your health and the environment. Easier in terms of storage and transport.
May 1 2016 1:23PM
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shotvet
Posts: 302 - Karma: 1,614
A BMC fourstroke with Di2 can cost you upwards of 14k. That'll buy you a dirtbike and a trailer
May 1 2016 1:31PM
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James.May
Posts: 494 - Karma: 321
I love my ATV's and Dirt bike's (more atv guy) I also downhill, both equally as dangerous but if you're mechanically inclined or have a good friend who is powersports in the way to go because you will always have to fix something especially if you buy used. If not you're going to be paying a shop tons of money to have things repaired. Its a fun hobby! and very versatile not just stuck riding a track you can go trail riding and if you're willing to deal with the PO-9 road/ rips are fun!
May 1 2016 6:07PM
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JayRich
Posts: 969 - Karma: 1,301
-Zimbo-looking to get into one of these sports. i like both aspects of these sports. Mountain biking atracts me because it provides more of an adventure and you have to work for the pleasure. dirt biking attracts me because of the motor, sound and quickness. post you opinions... idk what to invest money into lol


I raced and rode dirtbikes from the time i was 4 until i was 17. It's a crazy sport. The adrenaline rush is unlike any other. I regret ever stopping, but I scared myself out of it after breaking my leg and getting jumped on.
May 10 2016 3:13PM
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