Hawk-X 250 vs DLX vs Lifan KPX

[eatondirt]

Hi,

I'm facing some decision paralysis at the moment. I'm hoping maybe someone has some advice for a new rider who was hoping to get into offroading in general.

I've been doing tons of research on these bikes, almost pulled the trigger on a Hawk 250 until I did a little more research and realized this was a rabbithole with more nuance than simply "Buy 1600 dollar bike and take it off-road". I would like a bike but also one that I could own to keep. I tend to not throw away my purchases, ever.

For a little background, I had started this journey at a dealer looking at new Japanese name brand dual sports. Unfortunately dealers and the used market have seem to have lost their minds where I live. $5000 for a 5 year old DRZ400 with 10K miles is typical where I live on the East Coast and CRF250s going for well over $6000. The most affordable bikes I can find is the KLR 650. A 480 lbs adventure bike that would likely not play well with an inexperienced, short rider of 5'6" stature and 29 inch inseam weighing a meager 142 lbs. I'm fearful that the first time I take it off-road, it would crush me like an ant.

I want this experience to be fun and be something I don't regret if I happen to spend money on one of these bikes and decide that it was never for me after all. Which is hard to do when the dealer is quoting me $5200 for a used KLX230. Which lead me to the Hawk 250.

tl;dr:
I'd like a bike that has some premium parts to it but isn't priced ridiculously expensive. The Hawk-X was my first decision until I learned the DLX is made of mostly higher-than-average parts compared to the regular 250. But then, I learned of the Lifan KPX, a model going for 2.7K on TXPS that apparently rides and feels very similar to the CRF250.

Since I'm not really sure which one to go with, I'd like a little advice if someone has it. I'm fine with a wrench, so changing a carb is not something I fear. But things like fixing shoddy, slender forks or having to hold a bike together with loctite is not something I am familiar with. Any suggestions?


EDIT: The idea of biting the bullet on a KLR 650 and just taking my licks is also not off the table, just something I am not sure is a good way to start.

[Thumper]

Lifan KPX 250 and Templars are TALL dirt bikes. You would not want that

Look into Bashan Storm 250 DB-08. It was my first Chinese dual sport. Counterbalanced dependable CG250 engine, inverted front forks, comfy seat. It has a decent luggage rack too.

I sold mine when I got. Templar X, but it was running great when I sold it.

[Bruces]

At all costs ,stay away from TXPS or any of Manny’s other dealerships ,unless you like being lied to ,ignored ,and blamed for stuff you didn’t break .Truly a Scumbag .

[Thumper]

Here is 1st my post on the Storm

https://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?p=355615

The inverted forks are nice. I did get a Tusk folding greashift lever for it. The rack is strong and pretty wide. I really recomend this bike. Bashan has not changed it at all.

A seller in Kentucky used to have the Storm (Don Hopper?). Jeff at Peace Sports had the Bashan Recon and Brozz, but I don't think he sells them anymore. The Recon is NICE. These two bikes used to be essentially the same as the Storm, but Jeff had them outfitted with 18"/21" wheeles/tires. But they were not $1500 anymore, and unavalable now.