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What’s The Best Dirt Bike Under 5000? [New or Used]

By: Author Kelley Fager

Posted on Last updated:

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Looking for the best dirt bike under 5000 but not sure where to start? Whether you’re brand new to this sport or just trying to find an affordable dirt bike, you’re in the right place!

In this article, I’ll show you what the top dirt bikes are that cost less than 5000, why you need to pick the right kind of bike, and how to choose the best one based on your needs. 

What type of riding are you doing?

Before we start looking at the best dirt bikes, you need to figure out what type of riding you’ll be doing. You don’t want to go out and buy a race bike if you plan on riding on adventure riding on gravel roads and easy trails, for example. 

The main types of dirt bikes you can buy are:

  • Trail bike
  • Enduro bike
  • Motocross bike
  • Dual sport bike
Spring Creek Reservoir 4 What's The Best Dirt Bike Under 5000? [New or Used]
Do you prefer to ride epic trails and see beautiful scenery? A budget trail bike might be in your future…

What’s your experience level?

You need to be realistic with your riding experience if you want to have the most fun. If you pick a dirt bike that’s made for a rider that has much higher skills than you, then it will be a struggle to keep it in control – I see it all the time…

“My buddy recommended this bike and then I proceeded to whiskey throttle and loop it out” is a fairly common problem, which is very unfortunate. If they had just been properly informed, all those people might have had a better experience learning to ride. 

Nate Crash Uphill What's The Best Dirt Bike Under 5000? [New or Used]

Fortunately for you, you’re here and want to pick the best dirt bike for your specific needs so that you can enjoy riding for the rest of your life – and I’m serious about that if you are!

On the flip side, you don’t want to choose a bike that’s too slow and underperforming if you have higher needs, but that’s not as common. In fact, I generally find it more fun and exciting to ride a “slow bike fast” as opposed to riding a “fast bike” slow… Think about it. 

Simply put, the closer to a “beginner level” you are, the more important it is to choose a dirt bike that will be easy to ride and handle. 

How tall are you?

The next big question to choosing the right bike is your height. Riding a dirt bike with a seat height that’s too tall makes it harder to ride, especially if you’re a beginner that’s just starting out.

So, to find the right size bike, a good starting point is looking at the seat height and comparing it to your height and inseam. As long as you can touch the ground with one foot while sitting on the seat, you’ll be fine.

Is a 125 or 250 dirt bike good for beginners?

A 125 or 250 can both be good dirt bikes for beginners if you pick the right kind. For example, a TTR125 or CRF250F trail bike are good beginner dirt bikes. I’ll explain why in just a moment. 

What’s the best dirt bike under 5000 dollars?

Honestly, there aren’t many dirt bikes that you can buy for under 5000 brand new from the dealer. So, in that case, in this list I will cover the best used dirt bikes that you can usually find for under 5k. 

For beginners

Since trail bikes are your top choice for your first off-road motorcycle, you can find some new ones for close to or under $5000, depending on the model. 

These are the best beginner dirt bikes under 5000:

  • Honda CRF110F
  • Yamaha TTR125LE
  • Kawasaki KLX140R
  • Yamaha TTR230
  • Honda CRF250F
  • Kawasaki KLX300R

For trail riding

This category can be a little tricky because it depends on your riding skill and where you’ll be riding. I’ll include beginner-friendly, as well as the top trail bikes if you’re an experienced rider. 

These are the best used trail dirt bikes under 5000:

  • TTR125LE
  • KLX140R L
  • CRF250F
  • KTM 250 XCW
  • Yamaha WR250F

For dual sport/adventure riding

Maybe you want a motorcycle that you can ride on the road and off-road for some adventure riding. A street legal dirt bike is your top choice because it’s already plated and legal for street riding from the factory, but it can also handle some mild trail riding. 

The are the used best dual sport dirt bikes under 5000:

For enduro riding

Enduro riding has gotten popular in the last 10 years, but it’s really not that much different than traditional trail riding. Enduro riding is basically just trail riding on technical single-track trails or hard terrain. 

This usually requires a dirt bike with more power and suspension if you are an experienced rider. With a high-tech trail bike, you can ride faster and more aggressively while still being comfortable because you’re not “over-riding” the bike. 

The best used enduro dirt bikes under 5000 are:

  • KTM 200 XCW
  • Honda CRF250X
  • KTM 250 XCW
  • Yamaha YZ250FX
  • KTM 300 XCW

For motocross

Looking for a good motocross bike that’s reliable but not ready to buy new?
These are the best used motocross bikes under 5000:

  • Yamaha YZ125
  • Yamaha YZ250F
  • Honda CRF250R
  • Yamaha YZ250
  • Honda CRF450R
  • Kawasaki KX450F

Top 10 cheap dirt bikes for beginners

Find this article helpful but want a bigger list of the best cheap dirt bikes for beginners? Download my FREE top 10 cheap used bikes guide here.