Are you an enthusiastic dirt bike rider? Do you want to try something interesting, new, and bold?
Then trail riding is the thing for you! Riding your dirt bike on the berm can be a lot of fun.
Heading out on a sunny day and enjoying the freedom of the open tracks alone or with other riders can be interesting.
But, have you taken a minute to think about how it feels riding through the woods, through mud, or over the hills?
It is different and quite thrilling. However, choosing the right bike for trail riding can be quite challenging.
That is why I made a comprehensive list of best four-stroke dirt bikes for trail riding.
Choosing the best four-stroke bike for trail riding will depend on a wide range of factors such as your weight, height, ability to ride off-road, the bike design and even the engine capacity.
All these factors will play a crucial role when it comes to determining which four-stroke dirt bike for trail riding is best suited for you.
The other thing you need to keep in mind while selecting your trail riding dirt bike is the overall condition of the tracks and roads.
You should also remember the fact that dirt bike suspension plays a critical role when it comes to trail riding.
Before you start shopping for your four-stroke dirt bike for trail riding, make sure that you conduct thorough research and determine what you need.
That way, you will go out knowing what suits you making your work a little bit easier.
In this post, I will share some of the four-stroke dirt bikes that I believe are good options when it comes to trail riding.
Would you like to know my best selection for top dirt bikes for trail riding? Read this post: What Dirt Bike Is the Best for Trail Riding?
My list features a wide range of options from the simplest and least expensive bike to some of the most aggressive and feature-packed machines.
Contents
Honda CRF250X
We can’t deny the fact that Honda is one of the leading trail riding and motocross dirt bike manufacturers.
Visit any Honda showroom, and you will find it packed with a wide range of four-stroke trail riding dirt bikes suitable for both beginners and veteran riders.
Another thing is that the accessories and spare parts for this dirt bike can easily be found. You can shop for spare parts and other Honda CRF250X accessories on Amazon using this link.
One bike that stands out from the Honda line of production when it comes to trail riding is the Honda CRF250X.
This is a beginner-friendly dirt bike that is ideal for taller riders who want to enjoy the adventure of trail riding.
The bike is fitted with an electric start that comes in handy when enjoying your time off-road.
You need to keep in mind that when you are out racing over boulders and trying to maintain your balance through the single tracks, the last thing that you will want to do is stop and start kicking your bike after a stall.
With the electric start, all you have to do is pull in your clutch, push the electric start button that is strategically located on the handlebars and get your Honda CRF250X dirt bike rolling again.
You will find the whole process to be quite smooth and hassle-free.
The wheelbase of the CRF250X is quite similar to that of the CRF250F, but it is a little bit wider to provide greater stability and reliability no matter the terrain.
The wide wheels help the rider feel confident and more comfortable while riding over the inconsistent terrain.
The solid frame allows you to ride faster and once you position your feet on the footpegs, the issue of balancing this bike will be gone.
The four-stroke engine that features a wider powerband gives the rider total control over the bike.
The power produced by the 250cc engine isn’t too intimidating, and the relatively easy control of the rear tire of the bike ensures that you enjoy a smooth ride.
Yamaha YZ250FX
The Yamaha YZ250FX is among the best four-stroke dirt bikes for trail riding available on the market.
This machine comes with a reliable 250cc, four-stroke engine that is also equipped with four titanium valves.
In fact, it is easy to get Yamaha YZ250FX spare parts on Amazon and other stores.
Its seat height is approximately 38 inches, and the ground clearance is about 12.7 inches.
The bike also features a unique transmission controlled ignition fitted with a multi-plate wet clutch.
The two gallons fuel capacity of this dirt bike is enough for any off-road trip or event.
Its engine is quite similar to the engine of the Yamaha YZ250F, and it is equipped with all the essential features for successful racing, whether for fun or as part of a competition.
The Yamaha YZ250FX comes with an improved oil jet and an updated version of the engine cylinder head that is much lighter.
This is an ideal option for intermediate and advanced riders who want to try out off-road riding.
This dirt bike can beat any other dirt bike in a racing competition as long as the rider knows how to handle it well.
It comes with XC tires that are designed for racing.
Its six-speed transmission ensures that the Yamaha YZ250FX can run on any terrain without any problems.
With the much-advanced suspension that comes with KYB rear shock absorbers; this dirt bike will make you feel comfortable.
Its engine is reliable and stable no matter the riding conditions.
If you are looking for something that is perfect and purely designed for the off-road experience, then you need to try out the Yamaha YZ250FX dirt bike.
Kawasaki KLX110
According to some seasoned dirt bike riders, the Kawasaki KLX110 is the greatest trail dirt bike of all time.
I wouldn’t go that far but what I know is that this is a pretty good dirt bike for trail riding.
Its 112cc four-stroke engine is strong and reliable and drives as smoothly as you would expect.
Although its seat height is somehow low – at 26.8 inches, it doesn’t hinder the overall performance of the bike in any way.
The bike is fitted with an automatic clutch that lets the engine do all the hard work to enhance the overall rider experience.
The rear and front suspensions are also as cushy as possible to provide the best riding experience possible.
Its fuel capacity is one gallon which isn’t that bad, and its overall length is approximately 61.4 inches with a wheelbase of 42.3 inches.
It is relatively lightweight weight approximately 167.5 pounds.
This sturdy trail riding dirt bike is a real pleasure to ride off-road, and itis ideal for beginner and intermediate riders.
It has a top speed of 50mph, and the rear brakes perform well.
You can achieve abrupt stopping without causing much harm to your rear wheel.
If you are also looking for a good trail riding dirt bike for your kid, you should consider buying the Kawasaki KLX110.
It performs well on all terrains and has both a kickstart and electric start button, so you get to choose how you want to start it.
It can also accommodate a wide range of rider sizes and abilities which makes it a good family bike.
Getting Kawasaki KLX110 spare parts is also not that hard.
However, you need to keep in mind that the wheels are relatively small and the lower seat height might inconvenient your riding if you are too tall.
KTM 350XC-F
If you have ever been to an off-road race in the United States or anywhere around the world, you have most likely seen the tremendous impact that KTM has when it comes to that discipline.
In fact, over the past few years, no other dirt bike manufacturer has dominated the motocross and off-road racing scene like KTM.
And one of the most popular KTM brands is the KTM 350 XC-F that was explicitly designed to provide competition to the likes of Honda and Yamaha.
The KTM 350 is KTM’s most sought after engine size. The 350XC-F has a similar engine with the SX-F with only a few improvements.
For instance, the 350XC-F engine has six-speed gearboxes compared to SX-F’s five-speed.
Its engine is air-cooled four-stroke and is fitted with titanium valves that are optimized to allow for up to 13,000rpm.
The KTM 350XC-F is popular among off-road riders thanks to its stable handling, increased reliability, and excellent power delivery.
Since its introduction, this dirt bike has remained a top contender in both casual weekend trips and serious racing.
Its ignition provides two maps that the rider can easily toggle in between them.
The aggressive map is ideal for loamy conditions where there is plenty of traction or in circumstances where more power is needed.
On the other hand, the smooth traction is perfect when the trail is hard-pack and quite challenging to get the power to the ground.
To help the suspension provide better performance under fast racing conditions, KTM rebuilt the suspension from the SX-F series.
The new suspension is re-valved, re-built and comes with updated settings.
Overall, the changes implemented in the 350XC-F model are meant to improve its performance and provide a better riding experience.
KTM understands that a good trail bike is supple and should be able to hold up to high-speed without necessarily bottoming.
This is what KTM 350XC-F delivers. The bike is also EPA certified as a quality off-road dirt bike.
Suzuki DRZ 400S
We understand the fact that not everyone has the money to splash on a trail racing dirt bike of their dreams, but that doesn’t mean that you have to miss out everything if you are on a tight budget.
The Suzuki DRZ 400S is a budget trail riding bike that offers you much more than you could expect.
What is even more exciting about this machine is that it is low maintenance and easy to ride.
The air-cooled four-stroke engine provides sufficient power for off-road riding.
If you plan to ride the DRZ 400S on the road, then make sure that you switch out the rear mudguard since it will eventually break off or fall.
The other thing that you need to do is to remove the factory tires and replace them with some high-quality tires for an enhanced off-road experience.
If you have been riding and want to keep the bike away for some time, make sure that you keep the trickle charger on the battery.
Yamaha TTR-230
This is an amazing all-around bike that that is perfect for beginner and intermediate riders who want to take the dirt bike riding sport seriously and sharpen their skills.
The good thing about Yamaha TTR 230 is that it features a timeless design and is durable.
Therefore, if you are looking for a trail racing dirt bike that may be still be on track 20 years from today, this is your best option.
The TTR-230 bike provides sufficient power for any rider out there.
In fact, you will rarely hit the 5th gear on this machine.
It doesn’t matter whether you want to rev up the rocky and steep hills or you want to ride leisurely around the trails in the thick woods, you get what you want.
You can even take your Yamaha TTR-230 to your favorite motocross track and still soar twenty feet into the air.
Although the bike is designed as a beginner dirt bike, any rider can take it up.
The seat height is relatively low to help the rider feel comfortable and reach the ground with much ease.
If you are still new to trail racing, you will find this dirt bike to have a superb amount of power that is just enough to do what you want to do.
The Yamaha TTR-230 is an electric dirt bike which means that you will not experience any issues when it comes to firing it into life – even when the weather outside is freezing.
This dirt is quite affordable and available in all leading online stores such as Amazon.
Summary
If you are looking to acquire a trail racing dirt bike, the most critical thing you need to do is take your time and do your research to find something that suits your needs.
Whatever you purchase will depend on many factors such as your height, weight, engine capacity, design, and price.
If you are looking for a low maintenance trail racing bike, I would recommend an electric dirt bike.
No matter the type of bike that you choose, trail riding is a lot of fun and getting the right bike makes it even better.
