Dirt Bike FAQ

There are a variety of good options for you. I would recommend a 4-stroke for trail riding for the wide powerband, the low end torque allows them to just keep on chugging. Though there are some perfectly capable 2-strokes out there for trails.
For trail riding, I would recommend against a moto-x or "racing" style bike. The gears are too close and the lowest ones are often too high for real technical trail stuff.
Some of the ones I am familiar with (through ownership) are the
WR-250 and the XR-250.
I moved up to the XR-250 from an XR-200 and it is a WORLD of difference. It surprised me greatly, so make sure you start carefully moving up from an 80. The engine is vastly superior, and it can do 3rd gear wheelies without popping the clutch . It's among the best off road machines I've ever ridden, the powerband is perfect. It also has disk brakes on both tires (unlike the 200), which you definitely want.

The racing derived bikes, like the WR (based off the YZ), is basically a racing bike with different gearing and a few trail oriented changes. Usually they keep the same high-output high-compression racing motors, which can be finicky. Some of them even recommend a rebuild after every racing season (or more frequent!), though trail riding doesn't put as much strain on it. The XR has an air cooled engine, which I've noticed can get VERY HOT in the summer when your not able to move very fast for a while. The racing derived bikes tend to be liquid cooled, but are a tad more high-strung. I've had issues with both bikes with hot starting, especially after being dropped (the XR not as bad, but sometimes it can be stubborn). If you get a bike that uses a decompress to help start (WR does, XR has one but doesn't need it), it helps if you can get one with an auto-decompress exhaust cam (greatly eases starting), or electric start (though I personally won't ride a bike that ONLY has an electric start). The WR I believe has come with a decompress standard for quite some time now (and I think electric start now too), but I had to retrofit my older model with the cam. 2-strokes do tend to start easier, I will concede that to them .

Things you want in a trail bike:
tons of low-end torque
disc brakes, front and back
lower, wide ratio, trail gearing
comfortable (enough) seat
probably more I'm forgetting…

almost all bike manufacturer's make a good trail bike around that displacement class. Hit up the bike forums and reviews and see what people have to say about the bikes your looking at.

best of luck on your decision and have a blast!

edit: forgot to mention, if you like the Honda CRF250, check out the CRF250X model, it is the Honda equivalent to the WR, with the different gearing, etc. from the full out racing bike.

Probably not. the engine has to have a mounting pad and an internal gear to accept the starter motor. i doubt that your engine has the capability for either. probably also need a bigger battery and battery case.

YOU put less fuel in the tank? If no
Open and clean the silencer.
Clean the sponge(muffler)

Kits are available for many popular models (such as the Honda XR650R or the Suzuki DR650). But many of the smaller bore bikes 400cc may not have a kit available. It depends on what bike you have that you want to install a starter to.

Do a search for electric starter kits for the bike of your model to see if one is even available. If there isn't one, your out of luck.

Pmk is dead on with that one. Go sit on a CRF150F and a CRF230F to see which is a better fit. Then if you don't want to buy a new one, search cycletrader.com for a used one in your area and price range. I have ridden the 150 and owned the 230, both are super fun easy to ride bikes. All of the 230 year models have electric start and the 2008 150 also has it. I think previous 150's were kick start only.

http://powersports.honda.com/motorcycles/off-road/model.asp?ModelName=CRF150F&ModelYear=2007&ModelId=CRF150F7

http://powersports.honda.com/motorcycles/off-road/model.asp?ModelName=CRF230F&ModelYear=2008&ModelId=CRF230F8

We used to build a Go-Kart frame similar to the store bought and make enough room for the Engine to mount behind the Seat. IF, it not have electric start take into consideration room to use the kick starter or mount a Rope Pull maybe using a compression release. Make a rod to run where you want the hand shift and use pedals for Clutch, Brake and Gas. Good Luck, it a fun project and you should be able to use a nice size tire, look for a cost effective Tire set up.

12-24 hours dependng on the charger you have. 20 minutes if you take the battery out & take to a shop.

All of the contact info for the manufacturer is on this page http://www.alibaba.com/manufacturer/13440521/Sell_2006_Mongoose_CX24V450.html

They don't, sorry man. It would be really dificult to do that anyway because you would need to install a full electric system, which would include mounting batteries. you would have to get a starter motor off a different bike and hope by some chance that it fit, making a full seal against the gasket, whouch would be a one in a million.

I tried the same thing with a pocket bike and wasted my time and money to find out that it was wishfull thinking.

Just sell it and buy one that does.

In most states they require the following,
1) street legal tires.
2) a muffler along with the spark arrester.
3) DOT approved head light, tail light and horn.
4) a charging system and battery. (electrical system must work with the engine off)
5) Your local DOT will have forms to fill out to register it the first time as it was originally an off-highway vehicle.

There might be a few other items in your state but those are the 5 key items to do it. I did this several years ago with my motocross bike. Just a note you will want to change the rear sprocket, dirt bikes are geared low and will be reving high when going down the road.

Now for my MOTORcycle/ Bicycle rant. While you are doing this change over, buy a bicycle to ride while the dirt bike is being modified.