The Most Affordable Dirt Bike For Hardcore Off-Roading

Summary

• Prices start at just $3,999.
• With a 25.8 HP motor, lightweight aluminum frame, stiff suspension for hard landings, it is ideal for beginners and intermediate pilots.
• It exceeds expectations of Chinese bike quality, with a sleek design and decent build quality.

There is nothing like it out of the way. Give your bike the beans, let the rear wheel slide, and enjoy air time over ruts and rocks – no other feeling comes close! But not all motorcycles can handle hardcore off-road trails. You need a powerful enough engine (no, not 200 horsepower) to keep up the momentum, a long-travel suspension to soak up the bumps, and a light frame to turn quickly before you hug a tree. Such hardcore dirt bikes are often super expensiveespecially if they come from KTM, Husqvarnaor Sherco.

Fortunately, hardcore off-roaders don’t need to spend a lot of money if they want to have fun on the cheap. That’s where the SSR Motorsports SR250S comes into play. It’s the cheapest full-size dirt bike that can handle technical trails with ease. Are there cheaper dirt bikes? Yes! We also found some that cost as little as $1,500, but we chose a full-size dirt bike with 21/18-inch wheels, a near quarter-liter engine, and decent suspension. The SR250S fits the bill.

To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article is sourced from SSR Motorsports, Yamaha and Honda.

Pretty juicy power

Power Output: 25.8 HP @ 9,000 RPM

At first glance, the SSR Motorsports SR250S may seem like Honda CRF250X. But there’s more to this dirt bike than meets the eye. The bike is powered by a quarter-liter, four-stroke, liquid-cooled engine with enough punch to keep you entertained on the trails. From what we learned from the forums, the engine is perky with a smooth power band and quick acceleration. It’s still carbureted, though, so be ready to fiddle around with it (especially in the cold). As a garnish, you also get an electric and a kickstarter!

And Subs that are ready to get Gnarly

When it comes to off-roading, the engine is only half the story; the other half is the frame and suspension. This is where the SR250S will surprise you. Unlike other bikes in the price range, this enduro gets an aluminum alloy chassis with an aluminum swingarm. That makes the bike light at 260 pounds. The handling is stable, although the front end is a little rough.

The frame is suspended on, as SSR Motorsports says, a high-performance suspension. The front forks are adjustable for rebound and compression, while the rear monoshock is adjustable for preload and rebound. Unlike other cheap dirt bikes, the suspension on this one is stiff – perfect for hard landings.

Finally, there is the brake system. The SR250S comes with front and rear disc brakes. According to the forums, the braking power is more than enough for close the wheels and remove the anchors. You also get rotor guards, which would protect the discs, or at least keep them clean of muck. That’s an excellent touch in our books.

Of course, compare this bike to dirt bikes, and it certainly won’t fall short. But for what it’s worth, this is an excellent proposition. The motorcycle promises decent performance and handling characteristics for hard-core off-roading. It’s a bike we happily recommend to beginners and intermediate riders alike, since there is enough potential to learn the ropes and be gnarly. For those who have more time on off-road trails, the bike can be a little disappointing. For good reason, since this is a budget offering, after all.

Performance specifications

(Specs sourced from SSR Motorsports)

Sleek, Elegant, and Better Build Quality Than You Expect

The SR250S dirt bike looks the part. The design is sleek and stylish, and it’s honestly amazing for the price point. It’s a boss, for sure, and once you get your custom livery on the bike, it should look even better. We’re already thinking about what it would look like with TopSpeed ​​decals!

We know that Chinese motorcycles have a reputation for being low quality, but this is not that. Of all the Chinese brands, SSR Motorsports is one of the best (not as good as CFMoto, though). The bike is said to feel well finished, with great build quality (as per the owners). Even if it’s only average, what else would you expect from the cheapest full dirt bike on the market? You win some, you lose some.

Design highlights

• The gold anodized forks look great
• The muffler has a carbon fiber end cover
• Subtle touches of red add contrast to the design
• Skid plate, petal discs, and header cover make it more off-road ready

Stacking Up Against Rivals

How does the SR250S stack up against its rivals? It’s a mixed bag here. Its two biggest rivals are the Yamaha TT-R230 and Honda CRF250F. Both Japanese dirt bikes are the cheapest full-size dirt bikes from their stables, promising to offer a hardcore off-road experience to beginner and intermediate riders. Both look great, are high quality, and come at a slightly higher price point. Let’s see what they have to offer.

Yamaha TT-R230

Yamaha has been pumping out TT-R bikes for nearly three decades, and the TT-R230 is one of their best examples. The bike uses a carbed, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that is mated to a six-speed transmission. The other hardware components are also pretty basic. For example, the suspension is not adjustable, the rear gets a drum brake, and the fairing is old school.

Despite this, the Yamaha TT-R230 seems like a better bet. It weighs in at 251 pounds with a seat height of 34.3 inches. In addition, it is a motorcycle long renowned for its reliability and durability – very important if you have abused the bike on the roads. It’s a versatile and simple motorcycle that brings new riders into the fold while keeping intermediate riders entertained. For $300 more, you get a smoother, yet more reliable bike than the SR250S.

Honda CRF250F

The next biggest rival to the SR250S is the CRF250F – not surprising since the former takes a lot of design cues from it. The bike is very modern in its current avatar and can also fulfilling all your motocross ambitions. Seriously, it’s that good. It’s powered by a single fuel-injected, air-cooled unit with a five-speed transmission that pumps out about 20 horsepower. That’s pretty good, especially when you consider Honda’s reputation for reliability and cheap spare parts.

The bike uses a double-split tubular steel frame that is lightweight, and is suspended on Showa suspension at both ends. The bike also gets front and rear disc brakes, which is missing in the TT-R230. Weighing in at 265 pounds, it’s a bit heavier than the SR250S, though. The Honda dirt bike costs $1,000 more than the cheapest full dirt bike, and it’s worth it, considering it’s a Honda. It’s fun, peppy and reliable. Not to forget, SSR Motorsports does not have a wide service network like Honda or Yamaha.

SSR Motorsports SR250S Prices

Starting MSRP: $3,999

For this story, we narrowed down our options to the cheapest full-size dirt bikes we could find. Thankfully, it was the SSR Motorsports SR250S and not an AliExpress-esque dirt bike. At this price point, the SR250S is a great option. However, only consider this bike if you are over the mental block of owning Chinese bikes and have an SSR Motorsports dealership nearby.

For what it is, the SR250S is a versatile and powerful dirt bike for beginners. It’s pretty easy to get your techniques right, and when you’re ready, start bashing the trails. You will not be disappointed – it has everything to make a hardcore dirt bike. If the same bike, with the same specs, had a KTM or GasGas tag, it would have cost a lot more.