Did you think all industry insiders rode shiny, new bikes? Well, they don't. Inside the businesses that make our sport what it is, the used off-road dirt bike market is alive and well with plenty of buyers and sellers making deals. One of those deal makers is Brett Madron and his posse from Fastway/Pro Moto Billet. OK, his bike is shiny, but it's not new!
Madron and the crew at Fastway/Pro Moto Billet recently rounded up three personal bikes for their own in-house used-bike shootout. We were lucky enough to talk our way into one of their real-world testing sessions in Idaho. The point? They have a buddy looking for a used bike and thought it'd be fun to show him some options. We're focusing on the Suzuki RM250 here since we think it's the most versatile, but the story of the other players-a cool 2006 Yamaha YZ125 and a ripping 2006 Kawasaki KX450F-are online at
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Madron's 2007 Suzuki RM250 is the perfect example of what used-bike buyers can hope to find out there. It's versatile and clean, and even though it has a fair amount of aftermarket accessories it's still an affordable way to enjoy all aspects of dirt riding. The 250cc two-stroke is a hard bike to beat for versatility and ease of use, and in the used-bike world, it's one of the safest ways to go. The RM250 has a reputation as a great candidate for full off-road conversion and is in stock trim a capable, good-handling motocrosser.
Madron's 2007 has seen plenty of mountain trail use and even showed up at the Vegas EnduroCross for some laps in hell. It lives in Idaho and rides in Idaho, so it can just as easily see a desert sprint or a side-hilling goat trail on any given ride. It's also a test mule for his company's products and as such is outfitted with Fastway full-wrap hand guards and the new Fastway System 3 Steering Damper they've developed with Elka. It also has their fancy KickIt kickstand installed in a not-for-sale experimental version. Suspension components are modified by Fox and valved with a WORCS-style valve stack to bridge the gap from moto to off-road. There's also a bigger IMS fuel tank on the bike to ensure a return from those riding adventures. RidePG.com graphics round out the package to make the used bike look better than new.
The bike feels light and nimble and has a very broad powerband. The FMF Gnarly pipe is less prone to damage and gives good pull to the power while the Q silencer smooths out the delivery and keeps it quiet. This broad powerband allows a rider to rip in the high rpm on an MX track and in a desert sand wash, but the low-end torque plugs through tight sections easily as well. It is much more forgiving to improper gear selection and entry-level clutch skills than a 125 two-stroke or 250 four-stroke. Madron likes the two-stroke because it's easier and cheaper to maintain, too.
"Although each of the bikes we tested stood out in their own way, in my opinion, the 250 two-stroke is a bike that will allow an entry-level rider to get into the sport inexpensively," Madron said. "It will encourage the rider to try his or her skills in all types of terrain and will allow them to get out and enjoy the outdoors and grow into a lifelong rider."
We definitely agree. So even without being in the industry you can be like Brett and build your own used machine. Then start making it shine!
RidePG.com can fool anyone...
RidePG.com can fool anyone into thinking a used bike is new.
FMF's Q is a quiet power ...
FMF's Q is a quiet power partner.