No doubt, the 250 2 stroke is your best choice. Install some bark busters and a flywheel weight and enjoy the low cost / maintenance bike. I have seen some nice mid to late 90's bikes in the $1500 range on craigslist. Good luck and welcome back to riding.

Check out this link www.texasoffroad.net/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/446285/cr250_900#Post446285

My price range is $1000. If I sell my mustang, and have some money left over from that after I buy a truck, then I can also put that money towards it. But for now, I'm looking in the $1000 range. I'm hoping to sell my car quick and get a truck so I can pick up that '97 kx250 in the classifieds, but we will see if that happens!

also- What do 4-strokes require in terms of maintenance? I know of changing the oil and cleaning the air filter, but do the top ends need to be rebuilt often like on 2 strokes?

Look around the MX- Tracks when the riders just get there. What I see is a lot of riders have a hard time starting their bike. Unless the 4-stroke bike is professionally maintained they become very hard to start over a short period of time. I prefer the 2-stroke and have had both. Keep clean gas tune the gas off and drain the bowl helps keep the carburetor clean. The 4-stroke needs valve adjustments periodically and will also need top ends done maybe yearly in some case you can extend it two years. The 4-stroke carburetion is less forgiving than the 2-stroke. I mean if they are not fine tuned they just do not run well. I hope this helps and good luck in your disicion.

Thanks, that gave me a lot of insight! I'll stick to looking for 2-stroke 250's!

i would get a 250. I have a 250 exc for sale (2250) if your intrested in the trail riding and racing also.