Choosing a Yamaha dirt bike is an important decision, and there are several options to pick from. While Yamaha is a trusted brand in bikes, there are factors to consider when you're trying to decide which one of their bikes to purchase. You'll want to look at the style of riding you'll be doing, the size of the bike and its engine, the experience level of the rider, and more to find the right bike for your needs. Take a look at some basic factors to consider when purchasing a dirt bike as well as some suggested bikes to select from.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Dirt Bike

The size and experience level both matter, and they both affect how the bike handles and how safe the rider will be using it. Height, weight, and level of experience all impact the experience of being on the bike, off-road where conditions are far less smooth than city streets. Skill, stamina, and strength are all required to ride a Yamaha dirt bike. Choose a bike where both of your feet touch the ground when mounted, and remember that a less powerful bike will be easier for you to control if you are a beginner rider.

If you're a beginning, choosing a bike that doesn't have a lot of power is still plenty of fun. It's also far safer than an over-powered machine that's too heavy for you or that you'll have trouble handling. Rookies should avoid big bore bikes, and it's a good idea for beginners to avoid anything that has an engine over 300cc. Your riding style is also important when choosing the right dirt bike for your needs. Make sure you choose a bike that matches your riding needs. For example, if you're going to be playing on the trails, you'll need something different than you would if you were racing. Take a look at some of our favorite Yamaha dirt bikes.

Yamaha YZ125

This Yamaha dirt bike is lightweight and very agile, with a great power-to-weight ratio. It's built for beginner motocross riders, and has a 125cc, liquid-cooled, two-stroke engine. Its race-ready features include gripper seats, an aluminum handlebar, and titanium footpegs. Especially for people who are just getting into the sport, or who are buying their first dirt bike, this one can be an excellent choice.

Yamaha TT-R230

With a 223cc, air-cooled, SOHC four-stroke engine, this bike is a little bit larger but still easy to handle. It can be the perfect selection for both beginner and intermediate trail riders, and its trail-ready dimensions and features include a low seat height on a long-travel suspension and 11.6 inches of ground clearance. A robust steel, diamond-style designed frame is better for handling and strength, and racing-derived ergonomics include a competition-style flat seat/tank junction that helps with the mobility of the rider.

Yamaha WR250R

This dual-sport bike is built for both the roads and the trials, and offers dirt-focused performance with an extreme dirt capability. It has a 250cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC four-stroke engine, and an advanced fuel-injection system offering EDI and advanced lightweight engine internals. That makes this Yamaha dirt bike an excellent choice if you want to ride the trails but you're also looking for a bike you can use on the street.

Yamaha WR450F

This is a great bike for off-road use with enhanced performance, and offers a 450cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC four-stroke engine. It's built for intermediate and advanced riders who are looking for a more aggressive performance on the trails. It's the ultimate enduro machine, giving riders all the features of motocross and cross-country race bikes with the added features designed for enduro riding. It also has a class-leading suspension, so you can tackle those bumps.

Yamaha YZ450F

Built for the intermediate or advanced rider who's interested in racing, this bike offers a 449cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC four-stroke engine along with class-leading performance and suspension. A more compact motor, refined chassis, and improved ergonomics are all included, along with spring-style forks that offer a refined level of speed-sensitive dampening. The Yamaha Power Tuner App is offered on this dirt bike, so you can make fueling and ignition timing changes instantly and upload them to the bike from your smartphone app during track-side tuning. You can also use the handlebar-mounted switch to change fueling maps on the fly.

Ready to get started on your Yamaha dirt bike adventure? Come see us at Tousley Motorsports today, so you can find your next Yamaha dirt bike and get out on the trails where the real fun begins.