I'm not exactly a new rider, since I started in 1968 but I do have some basic questions about dirt bikes. Besides my VFR, I'm in the market for something like a Yamaha xt225, but I have noticed that some if not all dirt bikes are very high maintenance. Some guys I've talked to mention changing oil every time they ride, for example, and lots of these bikes have lots of racing accessories, or seem to get torn down frequently. Why would such simple bikes need such a lot of maintenance? Is there a class of bikes that I can change oil once a year? I don't care about performance much, just want something that I can drive at 70mph for short highway stretches while still being light enough so I won't kill myself on the trails. I won't be jumping or racing or anything, just plodding along. Maybe I just need to use a Honda Rebel 250, or some little standard bike, ha ha. Back in the old days the Triumph 250 Cubs were used like this I think, but I don't think oil changes were done every ride.
Several of us in Sacramento have DRZ 400 as our off rode bike, very tough and lend well to lack of attention and care.Parts grow on trees and can be pinned to the rev limiter for years on end with no complaints.
Here's a couple sweet ones: http://www.maxmoto.co.uk/images/Aprilia RXV450 08.jpg http://www.dsadventures.com/advfront.jpg
Most underated best trail bike of all time is kdx 200 from Kawasaki. Can't ride on street but power enough for 90% of trails and hella easy to work on. Here's the best part...CHEAP. Since they have been around forever there are lots of used ones out there. Do a search and read up on them. It's my favorite dirtbike of all time, and I have ridden several. You can usually find decent kdxs for less than a grand. That being said, my current dirt bike is a YZ450f. I do change the oil more often than I used to and such, but the costs and reliability are pretty good for it. It's a bit more race oriented than the DRZ previously mentioned, but still can be trail ridden.
The maintenance schedules that your friends are referring to are for the 4-stroke motocross bikes. What you need is a trail bike which doesn't require a fraction of the maintenance of the MX bikes. I would look into the Honda XR, Suzuki DR/DRZ, Yamaha XT/TT or Kawasaki KLX/KDX. Personally, I own a Honda XR650R that I've ridden hard for 6 years now and have never had the top end opened up.