[crfsonly]

bpamp...i don't have a 230 so i can't speak from direct experience...but i do have three bikes that are of similar design (xr400, xr100 and xr70). These bikes exhibit the same tendancies that you are describing with your CRF230F.

here's what i've learned with my xr400. it's all related to flooding the motor...so, when i crash/get off/tip over...if i'm able i'll quickly turn the petcock off. this helps a lot. i can usually turn it off faster than i can get the bick up so it helps to limit the flow of fuel. second, if i'm lucky enough to be on a slope i'll 'bump start' instead of trying to kick it (the xr400 doesn't have THE button). if you're not in a hurry, giving it some time for the fuel to evaporate will help to.

however, the best advice i could give you is to not crash...this has several advantages...one, engine stays running; two, it doesn't hurt like crashing does; and three, bike retains that "new bike" look longer.

[ev]

...the best advice i could give you is to not crash...

b/s Ken
you grew up on two wheels, it is easy for you to make fun of us latecommers
but speed, riding technique and confidence come in stages
every time you try to climb to the next level you start crashing more again
Barb still has some levels to climb
she will do her share of picking up her 230
even though women normally do not spill as much as men do,
their motoric skills are better and they tend to turn on their brains before they twist the throttle
OK, that also slows them down, but ...

[crfsonly]

ev...i'm a latecomer on dirtbikes too...and trust me i have my fair share of get offs...then and now...some very spectacular too. and i agree crashing is part of the learning curve...the at the end of my 'best advice' comment was a clue...

[ev]

I found one!
guys, you will not believe this
last Monday we were at Whissenhunt OHV,
the Bear riding with Chris, I riding with Kinzie (Chris' wife)
YES!!!
one brave female
the first I found here so far
no she does not outrace me, jet
but she made great progress in only one ride and we will ride together again next Monday
she thinks riding with me is not near as intimidating as riding with her hubby
his noisy smoker makes her very nervous

now we have one TTR125L too many
and lack a nice beginners bike for a 5ft7 girl
used, not too expensive, not too much power, button or easy to start
CRF230?
KDX200?
what else comes to your mind?

[hondafan]

DRZ-250
KTM-200EXC
TT-R225
TT-R250
XR-200
XR-250
CRF-230
KDX-200
CR-125

[ev]

DRZ250 never seen one in RL
KTM-200EXC definitely NOT a beginners bike, not cheap
TT-R225 please, she already has a piece of trash
TT-R250 too heavy, top heavy
XR-200
XR-250 with original carb a hard starter
CRF-230
KDX-200
CR-125 definitely not a beginners bike

so the list of possible bikes grows
we now need to get rid of my SV650
then I will buy his XR650L
and she will get a decent bike

[hondafan]

the CR-125 is THE slowest 125 2 stroke out there. so i would classify it as a beginners bike.


you said the TT-R250 was "too heavy, top heavy". ever rode one?

[ev]

YES
of course
#4 of our cloverleaf rides one, we swap bikes every now and then

not every beginner weighs 200+lb
and some are even shorter than 6ft

[hondafan]

ohh... i see. the CR-125 "is not a beginners bike"- so that means the CRF-250X will be perfect for her.

[ev]

not really
too tall
she can barely tippytoe mine

[63vettegal]

[quote="ev"

now we have one TTR125L too many
and lack a nice beginners bike for a 5ft7 girl
used, not too expensive, not too much power, button or easy to start
CRF230?
KDX200?
what else comes to your mind?[/quote]


How about a Gas-Gas Pampera? I almost got one of those before I bought my CRF230. It's a nice riding bike,really easy to start (no button, though) and weighs less than a 230. It's was a little pricey and I'm a Honda gal, hence my purchase. However, if you aren't loyal to Honda, the Pampera is a good beginner's bike for a lady.

[ev]

double posted - sorry

[ev]

already commented on the Pampera, Charon
"the 230 sure is a good choice
and a lot less trouble than the Pampera"
my loyalty is not the point am not loyal at all, but a bit biased
Kinzie needs an affortable mount, guess she will stick with the (ab)used KDX of a friend
but as real grits she thinks 35 degree is too cold to ride:roll: and we'll postpone the testrides, the KDX owner wants his wife to try Kinzies TTR ...
other than that
we only have one GasGas dealer, one non-rush-hour away, on the other side of town, and we already had a cat fight, he does not even have a Pampera on the floor, why should he, women are to be kept in the kitchen, barefooted and pregnant @#$%
don't know if I like the new Pampera, I loved the original Frankenstein playbike the Spaniards built as a joke during lunchbreak, the 250 weighted 171lb, she'd bottom on both ends on a bumpy straight, but was close to indestructable and the engine was superb (the 320 was a piect of trash, tho), when they civilized her, changed primary gearing, tamed the engine, put a battery and turn signals on ... she lost a lot of the fun factor
remember her?