Should I buy my first Motocross bike?

Firstly, I have ALWAYS wanted one. I’ve been riding bikes my whole life and been through BMX, Downhill and the generally faster, razzier side of things. Quite comfortable going flat out, sliding around etc. I’ve always thought that motocross looked like literally the most fun you could possibly have on a bike. But, I’ve somehow made it to my mid 30’s without having ever ridden one.

Now, a mate of mine has found a mint YZ125 (the bike I’ve always wanted!) being sold by a very reputable gentleman, for a very fair price. If i was so inclined (which I’m not) I could flip it for a profit instantly so I shouldn’t lose too much over a year or two. The bike is perfect and I’ve spent double the amount on mountain bikes without batting an eyelid. Actually buying it is not my main concern.

Are horrific injuries inevitable? They certainly seem to be. Surely I could have some fun on a bike without shattering my pelvis or breaking both wrists at the same time. Horror stories welcome.

Is it as fun as it looks? Or is it just load of faff and graft and driving all over the country for a few hours riding? There seems to be a lot of places to ride within easy reach of South Yorkshire. I want somewhere that I can go and be crap for a while before I have to pay £30 a day to go on a proper track and be a nuisance to all the local pinners.

Will I be crap at it? I’ve never had to change gear with my foot or use a clutch lever. I’ve never jumped anything heavier than a YT Tues. I don’t want to race but I’d like to blast some berms and hit some medium jumps without looking like I’m in slow motion.

I feel like my biggest reservation is that I’ve got no one to ride with. All my MTB mates are strictly MTB and everyone I work with is far too sensible. Without the motivation of a crew to go out with it’ll be hard to make the effort. Plus I’ll get bored riding around the kids track getting smoked by 8 year olds.

Should I scratch the itch or just buy a mid-life-crisis car and grow old without breaking any more bones?

I’d find a way to get on a taster/experience/beginner day first seeing as you’re starting off fresh.

Yes.

Would you consider an enduro bike instead? More riding options including Enduros, Rallys (Ryedale Rally used to be ace), trail riding. Still good on an MX track.

If you do purchase one enjoy but please refrain from using mountain bike trails.

Would you consider an enduro bike instead? More riding options including Enduros, Rallys (Ryedale Rally used to be ace), trail riding. Still good on an MX track.

You can race hare and hounds on a MX bike (generally have specific classes). More beginner friendly than a MX event.

Would you consider an enduro bike instead?

I would, but maybe for my next bike. The YZ125 is here now and ready to go (and it looks miiiint!). I just like the idea of learning on an old school 2 smoker before graduating, or walking away with my tail between my broken legs.

I’d definitley go road legal enduro if I had a licence.

also think about all the paraphernalia that goes with the bike including petrol, safety gear, insurance, method of getting it to and from wherever you are riding.

There will be a learning curve to go through with the gears etc, modulating the rear brake whilst wearing a giant MX boot and it is a different type of fitness but all are easily overcome with practice.

I would rather go to an official place where there will inevitably be a community ready to help than DIY’ing it somewhere quiet.

I have an enduro which I occasionally take on the mx track. Honestly though it’s gets repetitive going around in circles so is limited to a couple of times a year.
Trail riding is fine but unless you are in Wales or Scotland it’s very limited.
It’s also a lot of trailering, travelling and 4 times the cleaning plus very regular servicing. My bike has 15 hour oil and filter change intervals. It’s much more expensive than mtb also.
It is fun though but for me I prefer the variety of mtb if I had to choose.

You can race hare and hounds on a MX bike (generally have specific classes). More beginner friendly than a MX event.

Lets not run before the Op can walk, he’s not even ridden a proper motorbike yet. Firstly the Yz is a great bike and 2 strokes are the in thing at the moment. If it’s as cheap as you suggest you can buy it for polishing practice and make money. At my local track https://www.facebook.com/groups/314457776260/ they have a junior track, as a raw novice you can ride around that to get used to the bike. You will be lapped by the 8yr olds, but people won’t laugh…….much.
Once it gets busy they split the riders on the main track into novice, intermediate and expert sessions. I assume other tracks have a similar policy. It can be dangerous, but not dissimilar to mountain biking, certainly if you only do practice days. Stay within you limits and injuries can largely be avoided. It’s just bad luck if something happens. Racings different, there’s no point being there if you aren’t testing yourself and other riders will be racing you aswell, accidents are far more common.
If you’ve got the itch it won’t go away untill you scratch it, but be prepared for it to be a lifelong passion if the bug really bites.

Just buy the YZ and convert it to an Enduro bike*. 😁
It’ll be a steep learning curve if you’ve never ridden an MX bike before but you’ll have a great laugh once you get over the fear of the bike trying to spit you off at the drop of a hat.

*Rode a converted 125 MXer at British and European championships and 3 ISDE’s.
Oh and Pics of the bike please my last few years racing were on a YZ.

In a word YES

Prepare to have some toe rag try and steal it.

In your words…

The problem is you can’t keep a motocross bike in the house, they need regular engine rebuilds, they run on petrol, they’re illegal to ride almost everywhere, you need a van or at least a trailer to take one out and the local scrotes will try to steal it every single night.

But yes, if it’s cheap enough and you fancy doing some spannering (even a perfect MX bike is going to need plenty of ongoing work), you’ve got some way to transport it and a secure place to store it, and some extra cash for the kit then why not?

At my local track https://www.facebook.com/groups/314457776260/ they have a junior track, as a raw novice you can ride around that to get used to the bike. You will be lapped by the 8yr olds, but people won’t laugh…….much.
Once it gets busy they split the riders on the main track into novice, intermediate and expert sessions. I assume other tracks have a similar policy.

I guess I’ve ridden a dozen or so practice tracks and none did that. So I doubt it’s most. However, I’ve taken plenty of novices, adults and kids, to practice tracks with no issues.

I might be out of date though. Stopped 10 years ago.

Just go and get it.  You need to scratch that itch.

I’ve ridden trail/enduro for a few years and really enjoy it.  I’ve not come close to a proper injury yet.  MTB skills sort of translate, but be prepared to be learning fast (which is really exciting as an experienced MTBer).

Bikes do need a bit of looking after, but an oil change is a 45 min job and easy to do.  I can ride green lanes from home but there is a bit more faff around trailering to races etc.  I don’t have so much time now but it’s a fun day out when I get chance.  You’ll probably even meet some new people!

If you smash yourself then you can decide whether to carry on, but don’t use it as an excuse not to give it a go.

Op where do you live? If you are anywhere near Cirencester then come watch the Enduro in Cirencester Park, follow the arrows it is just past the College on the A419.

Too much fa**ying about in these answers! Just do it.

Ooops Enduro is on Sunday

There’s another option for transport

https://images.app.goo.gl/1LnMmasuwoq4mJ8B9

Dave Cooper bike rack

Me and my brother raced 2stroke Mx in our early 20’s, it’s fun but proper ringing the tits off a 125cc is far more tiring/hardwork/scary than riding DH.
2stroke maintenance is exhausting to keep them in good condition – be prepared for changing piston rings/pistons, fannying around with carb jetting, fowled plugs, suspension linkage rebuilds, clutch replacements, as well as the expensive of tyres and chain and sprockets.
We enjoyed it but I wouldn’t want to do it again.

I used to put a KX125 on a Cooper-esque bike rack (and that YZ will be a doddle to put on, should be a lot lighter than my old Kwak 🙂 ), did the job but it does rather advertise the fact that you’ve got a bike, and I’m very much of a mind that stealth is the number one anti theft device when it comes to scrammies.

I’ve had a couple of MTB come along and have a go around a simple track, they seemed to manage ok – it will of course take time to get used to it, but I wouldn’t allow to put me off if I were you. 🙂

Do of course have a bit of a practice, but it’s a race bike, and absolutely all the quality fun will be in racing the beast – it’s been a long time since I raced, but the AMCA used to be a fairly friendly place to take a look at racing, they used to do day licences so you could do, say, two or three meetings to see what you think without having to commit to joining a club. I was (and remain) pants on bikes, but even I normally had someone to battle with at the back of the back of the pack. There are two stroke specific series, but generally (and it’s been awhile since I’ve been “on the scene” so it may have changed) the standard is a bit higher than I’d recommend for someone who’s not ridden or raced a lot. Get stuck in and show them four bangers what for. 🙂

Motocross bikes are high maintenance things but two strokes are cheaper to keep fresh than four strokes (you don’t need a lot of knowledge to rebuild the top end of a two stroke) – four strokes are easier to go quick on, but I’d challenge anyone to honestly say they enjoy riding a four stroke more. A quick rider on a 125 is a sight, smell and sound to behold… 🙂

Ah – missed the “don’t want to race” bit. 🙁 Fair enoughski, you CAN have fun just practicing, but racing’s where it’s at… 🙂

If it’s an old school YZ it will probably be quite peaky and docile when it’s “off the pipe” – but be prepared the first time you ride it for when it comes into its powerband, you’ll be in for a shock!

Another thing is to ignore any existing knowledge of how you think a clutch operates! On a 125 2stroke that clutch needs to be absolutely abused to keep that engine singing and not bogging/off the pipe.

I got into mountain bikes to get away from motorbikes, seems like the flow is now turning in the other direction.
It really depends on what level of motocross you are aiming for, I raced for a short period in my early 20s, it is incredibly physically taxing, back then I was fit so the recovery was ok, not sure I could race anywhere near that 19 years later as you to be both strong and very supple.

If it’s an old school YZ it will probably be quite peaky and docile when it’s “off the pipe” – but be prepared the first time you ride it for when it comes into its powerband, you’ll be in for a shock!

I’m guessing your early 20s were a very long time ago! Early 1980s?

Right, thanks for all the enthusiasm folks. I was expecting people to start posting x-ray pictures of their broken femurs and stuff.

To answer a few questions…

I’m in Sheffield. A couple of miles outside the city centre and within easy reach of Fatcats, Three Lakes etc… There’s loads of tracks popping up on Google maps. Stuff I didn’t know existed. If there were this many DH tracks I’d still have one of those bikes. £30 a day seems the going rate so about the same as uplifts.

I need a van. This was going to happen anyway. I sold a T5 about 18 months ago and to be honest, life without a van has been miserable. I was planning to buy one asap.

I’m also about to have my very own garage for the first time. I can drill holes for ground anchors anywhere I want and can park the van backed up against the door. We’re moving to a small, civilised close and hopefully no one will have any idea it’s there. It’ll be as secure as reasonably practical.

High maintenance- I’m actually quite looking forward to it! I’ve been watching youtube videos all week of people swapping pistons and jetting carbs etc..It looks very straight forward but really chunky and satisfying. I’m actually dying to get my hands on it.

Oh and it’s a 2006 YZ125 so alloy frame. I don’t think they’ve changed much since then apart from cosmetics and it’s got the up to date plastics on already.

High maintenance- I’m actually quite looking forward to it! I’ve been watching youtube videos all week of people swapping pistons and jetting carbs etc..It looks very straight forward but really chunky and satisfying. I’m actually dying to get my hands on it.

Yeah, that’s the beauty of 2strokes. Maintenance is simple and hard to cock up. Changing tyres is the biggest faff.

Sorted then get it bought.

I think you’re right, I don’t think the YZ has changed much in years, but there’s always the potential for a bike that old to be a money pit no matter how well looked after it has been. Good luck! 🙂

Changing tyres is the biggest faff.

Oh yes, my son learned his first swear words watching me trying to change a tyre with a mouse in.

my son learned his first swear words watching me trying to change a tyre with a mouse in.

First mouse I changed BITD took 2 days and 3 people.😂
Got it down to under 10 minutes after a bit of practice and the right tools.
Always makes me laugh when people tell me DH tyres are hard to change.

Fully synthetic oil and Shell V-Power will make top end rebuilds a pleasure, so clean inside!

Stealth is the way to keep your bike safe, my old van had a mirrored back window and a black sheet over the bikes so they couldn’t be seen from the front. Also change out of your shirt before driving home, I got followed a couple of times before I cottoned on.
Lastly never show the bike off at home, all washing and servicing out of sight and no start-ups either.

Regards injuries I was unlucky but most of my friends were not, so hopefully you will be part of the majority 🙂

https://motocrossactionmag.com/mxas-2006-yamaha-yz125-test/

Review for you.
Regarding maintenance, the Op is a novice not a seasoned expert he won’t be riding like one for ages if ever. A fresh top end will last 30+ hours thats a couple of years at the practice track, same for the clutch. Regular oil changes and a clean air filter will so wonders for longevity.
I’ll second keeping hold of it can be a problem, Mx bikes are thief magnets 🙁🙁

Why not go to an off road training school for some expert tuition.
I go to the yamaha off road experience in Wales most years to scratch the dirt bike itch.
They take complete novices and have them riding confidently in a few hours.
They have a small mx track at the top of the hill and then off into the dyfi forest.
Believe me at 60 years old 6 hours on a dirt bike knackers you for days but absolutely superb fun.

I guess I’ve ridden a dozen or so practice tracks and none did that. So I doubt it’s most. However, I’ve taken plenty of novices, adults and kids, to practice tracks with no issues.

I might be out of date though. Stopped 10 years ago.

On the tracks i’ve been on they separate the 20min sessions into the rider’s registered ability.

First mouse I changed BITD took 2 days and 3 people.

I was using a Rabaconda for my first mousse fit and still having a mare of time, then I double-checked the michelin instructions and noticed the drawing of the person fitting the tyre had 3 arms…

I still think you should get some preliminary experience at a dedicated place before taking your own bike out.
I’ve taken a few people to Mick Extance (http://www.mickextanceexperience.com/) for a day and they had a great time and recommend it to novices or mildly-experienced riders.

Tom, I had a kx125 for a couple of years and never really got in to it. As you say plenty of good tracks near us and I’ll even sell you a van to cart it around in 😉 If you’ve got space to keep it etc just go for it. If you don’t like it, shouldn’t cost you much and at least you’ll know.

Prepare to have some toe rag try and steal it.

Yep. You’ll learn to sleep with one eye open and all the windows on the side of the house the garage/shed is on open too, even in the depths of winter. Every single arsehole in a 20 mile radius of your house will know you’ve got a two stroke and/or dirt bike buried in there, somewhere… Two stroke dirt bikes make them fap themselves unconscious.

Also, if you do get one, please only ride it where you’re legally allowed to ride it, ie pay to ride cos it won’t be insured, taxed or MOTed and you don’t have a full bike licence. It may be an idea to look for a road legal YZ125, there are a few of them about but you still won’t be able to ride it on the road until you’ve got a full licence cos they make too much power 🙂

edit- I always wanted one too, I had a DT125R about 15 years ago which was ace but hardly an MX bike. The closest thing I had was a WR200 which, obviously and should go without saying, got stolen.

I’d say (bit late to the thread) get it.

Be prepared for the maintenance, steep learning curve, buying loads of ancillaries like helmets/boots/gloves etc. and being restricted to riding on tracks that others will use whilst you are there (as in, you might be there ready to go but there’s 3-4 other folk in front and could be an hours wait)

I get the whole “it’ll get knicked” argument, so maybe before you buy one head to the tracks you intend to ride it on and ask those there a load of questions we’ve raised here..

I’ve taken a few people to Mick Extance

Say hello to Mad Mick for me next time you see him.
We were in the 125 championship class at the same time.

A mere 10 months after I started this thread, I now have this in the garage…

It’s very bad timing financially but the seller had to move it and was about to advertise it. It was now or never so I had to suck it up and swoop on it.

It’s a 2006 YZ125. The first year of the alloy frame and they’ve barely changed since then so they’re always current and they hold their value very well.

It might be a while before I use it as I need to buy all the kit. I can’t wait to start tearing it apart and tinkering with it, almost as much as I can’t wait to do some skids.

I’m planning to do a day with the Yamaha experience team. There’s a track not far away where I can have a day of instruction on a similar bike before I go off on my own.

I really hope my next motocross post isn’t from a hospital bed! I do have a very healthy amount of fear and respect for it.

Now, to begin the second night of bouncing around on it going ‘YING YING YING YING’.