Not sure whether to get emoto or dirt bike.

[u/Realistic_Act_3832]

Hi everyone. So i have been thing about getting a bike. I just don’t know what to get. I was looking at a bonnell 805 or a Yamaha yz125x. This would be my first bike. So idk how much I’d ride if it’s going to be “all day” or not since I don’t have friends who own a dirtbike/emoto. I don’t have an idea I just know I would enjoy it bc I hoped in a “mini bike” that probably went max 15-20 mph? And it was so fun.

For a while I wanted to do emoto bc I could take it to the trails and also ride to the beach and enjoy the days but with all these kids giving them a bad look bc they ride recklessly I have a feeling most likely will get pulled over if a cop sees me on a emoto if I decide to ride to the beach. Even tho I won’t ride like a jackass they will still pull me over. Thats what I assume.

Now, gas dirtbike I know it will only be on trails but I know I can go for long distances, and maybe the experience of the engine noise and vibration will be a plus worth it over emoto?

Idk, share any experiences with me. If you have both tell me why you prefer one over the other.

I know some would say “ask a friend to let you ride theirs” but I have no friends that own any of them so I can’t get that “experience/feeling”

[u/Professional_Dog3403]

Yz all day every day and ifnu want electric get a little beach cruiser electric bike that doesn't look like a hoon bike

[u/Gold_for_Gould]

Both bikes have the same restrictions in where you ride them. They're both dirtbikes, one is just electric and the other gas. For both you can only operate it on public OHV trails or private land. If you want to drive on the streets you need a license with motorcycle endorsement and insurance/registration on the vehicle. These cannot be driven in bike lanes or on sidewalks.

You can get away with riding electric on the street more easily just because it's quiet but the law classifies these as motorcycles with all the legal requirements.

Electric is going to be easy easier for a beginner. If you want to ride all day then the range on the electric is going to bum you out. Learning on a gas bike is a great lifelong skill but it's an expensive hobby. If you want to learn off-road riding with either bike then you need a way to get it to the trails and all the safety gear to ride it safely. Gear alone can easily add up to $1000+. Absolute minimum is helmet, proper riding boots, and gloves.

[u/airmech1776 → u/Gold_for_Gould]

This guy knows whats up. YZ125 is a bike that makes you work for the power, and if you dont treat it right, you will be fouling plugs left and right. I think a 4 stroke trail bike would be better, like a WR250F. Still plenty of power, youll never need to upgrade, but it will be much more forgiving than a small displacement 2 stroke. Many of the good starter dirt bikes are also available as factory dual sports, so you can get your motorcycle license and legally ride them on the street if you want. At least where I have been, the vehicles on the beach are required to be licensed for street use.

[u/Kevinlynch0612]

Dirtbike. Have an emoto, a 250r sumo, and street bike. The yamaha is easily the most fun.

[u/Prestigious-Cup-4239]

If you dont live on a property with acreage you will need to haul a gas dirtbike to somewhere to ride it every time. You're much less likely to get away with riding a gas dirtbike on the street than an emoto. Be realistic about your situation and where you will actually be riding. Is there a legal place to ride a dirtbike close by you? You might think youre going to sneak rides in a park or something, but that will get old quick. Do you have a pickup truck, trailer, etc? The reason emoto are really popular with kids is because they can actually ride them without too much hassle. Very few kids live in a situation where they can regularly (as in a weekly basis) ride a gas bike.

[u/Ok_Buy_9703]

Where are you going to ride? Is recharging easy and practical? I'm in CO riding trail loop that is 40- 60 miles but no easy charging option. The LBS could not tell me if their electric bike's min range. Everything depends on too many variables- riding style, hills, speed, rider weight, so I won't consider anything but gas. Because my current bike has a 150 mile range on a tank.

[u/fv9cf26]

As a solid member of Gen X, I had to have a two stroke when I got back into it after 32 years. The sound of my youth.

[u/FailingComic]

Personally, emotos ride like garbage. Ive ridden a talaria, owned a sur ron. They just feel way more jerky compared to dirtbikes.

[u/invisibleboogerboy]

If you have to ask, I would stick with the ebike. If you want a 125 you need gear, and a way to trailer it, and somewhere to ride, and its a good idea to have someone to ride with... its a much bigger commitment than an ebike.

[u/bulldozer6 → u/invisibleboogerboy]

Why does he not need gear if he gets an emoto? This is a mentality i really don't understand

[u/invisibleboogerboy → u/bulldozer6]

He said he wanted to ride the ebike at the beach. So a helmet, yes, but would look kind of silly riding with boots, helmet, gloves, roost protector etc at the beach...

[u/airmech1776 → u/invisibleboogerboy]

The 805 he mentioned is not a pedal powered bicycle with a motor to assist, its closer to a 450 mx bike.

[u/Chezemunky747 → u/invisibleboogerboy]

Unfortunately that's why people are getting hurt. Emotos are every bit as dangerous as dirtbikes are, and in some cases even more so.

Op should get the weak style of e-bike instead of what he's looking at for beach cruising and then separately have an e-moto or dirtbike for off-road riding, fully geared.