Dirt Bike for beginner

I know...been posted before.

The only experience that I have had was in 1977 with a Honda CT70 trail bike. My friend recently bought a Honda Odessey(mini-dune buggy). My wife and I enjoyed riding that a lot and looking into purchasing a dirt bike.
Where we were riding was a dry lake bed. I'm 5'8" and 225 lbs.

beginners, but the salesperson at the shop recommended Yamaha TT-125L or the
Honda 150 cc model(didn't have this one in stock). I did tell him that most of the areas that we would be using it for was dry lake bed or dirt roads. What is your folks opinion on 125~150cc for fat old foggies such as myself.?

Next just a thinked, how about picking up a grotesquely used TTR125L or better yet a XR200R.
They are plentiful because persons buy them & either loose interest or move up to bigger bikes. Try searching www.cycletrader.com . After a couple months if you decide you want somewthing bigger and better you should be able to sell and get most if not all of your money back.

What would be the top speed of 125cc on level ground for a rider such as myself.

The other question can the 230cc Honda be lowered? I could barely touch the ground(lean to one side to touch). I kind of liked the 125l seat height...both big toes could touch the ground.

My opinion would be witch whether you make sure that you exercise some caution while you're learning that the XR250 would be a better choice. For your first day, the 150 would probably be better but you're undoubtedly going to go past that quite qiuckly. Good luck.

I'm 48years old, 230lbs and my RM125 can pull my sorry old ass way faster than I should be going! It's light enough so that when it falls down I can pick it up! There is a relationship between going fast and falling down, I don't know the exact equation yet........