Is riding a big bike (250T or 450F) making you slower?

Hando
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Hando
Edited Date/Time 2/20/2012 1:37pm
So..im about to buy a bike (if this guy buys my car tomorrow) and it is a 2004 CR250.

my last mx bike was a 2001 cr250 and before that I spent about 2 years on a 125 2-stroke. Even then, I knew I couldnt ride a 125 to its full potential but i rode a friends 250 2-stroke and decided i needed to have one. in reality though, a 125 is more then enough for someone of my size so i will probably get one in the future.

Im a pretty small dude but I still want to get the 250 because I know it last alot longer and it wont require top ends and clutches as frequently as a 125.

So ...to all of you riding a 250 2-stroke or 450. ... do you really need it? If so ..why
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Trent179
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Trent179 12/3/2011 10:23pm
12/3/2011 10:23pm Edited Date/Time 12/3/2011 10:24pm
Sounds like the 450 is going to wear you out before it makes you lazy. Some offset triple clamps make the 2004 turn better by the way. The rake wasn't steep enough thAt year.
Hando
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Hando 12/3/2011 10:26pm
12/3/2011 10:26pm
Trent179 wrote:
Sounds like the 450 is going to wear you out before it makes you lazy. Some offset triple clamps make the 2004 turn better by the...
Sounds like the 450 is going to wear you out before it makes you lazy. Some offset triple clamps make the 2004 turn better by the way. The rake wasn't steep enough thAt year.
Its probably better than the 01 that I had Woohoo What offset though?

IIRC, it has the new TC forks that the CRF's got ...
chump6784
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chump6784 12/3/2011 10:38pm
12/3/2011 10:38pm
I am 195 lbs. My wifes 125 pulls me around most tracks nearly as quick as my rm 250 does but on hilly tracks or with step ups and doubles just out of corners it is a lot more difficult. It is good to jump on the 125 every now and again but I do a lot better on the 250
nadeauracing229
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nadeauracing229 12/3/2011 10:40pm
12/3/2011 10:40pm
I have a 250f, 250 2 stroke, and 450 and each bike size up I ride I'm faster on however I ride/race the 250f.

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LtColMXUSM131 12/3/2011 10:41pm
12/3/2011 10:41pm
faster on my 250F than I was on my 450.
More fun as well.
44yrs 175 lb
EvanR127
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EvanR127 12/3/2011 10:41pm
12/3/2011 10:41pm
It did for me I went from an 06 yz125 to a 07 rm250.

I felt the 125 was almost too light and took more guts to hit the bigger jumps. While the 250 2 stroke can be really smooth and predictable around a track.
Trent179
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Trent179 12/3/2011 10:46pm
12/3/2011 10:46pm
RG3 sells some for it. It was like 22 or 24 mm offset clamps if I remember right. You could find it on the net. That bike really does push in the front bad. Been years ago but it was the best mod we did to my friends bike.
Hando
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Hando 12/3/2011 11:04pm
12/3/2011 11:04pm
Trent179 wrote:
RG3 sells some for it. It was like 22 or 24 mm offset clamps if I remember right. You could find it on the net. That...
RG3 sells some for it. It was like 22 or 24 mm offset clamps if I remember right. You could find it on the net. That bike really does push in the front bad. Been years ago but it was the best mod we did to my friends bike.
Thanks, Ill see how it rides if i get it.

It's gotta be better than my 01 which had pretty skaty turning but the bike was still good.
SwapperMX
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SwapperMX 12/3/2011 11:45pm
12/3/2011 11:45pm
I was fastest on my 250 two stroke. Just suited my style better. I felt fast on a 125 and they are super fun to ride, but lap times were always better on the 250. I tried the 450's and always ended up getting myself into trouble way too quickly, mostly due to wanting to ride the bike aggressively, and it getting away from me. Didnt like the idea of trying to be smooth on one. The 250 two stroke was always better than the 250F for me as I much preferred the lack of engine braking and the extra horsepower of the two stroke. Perfect bike in my opinion, if you can ride one.
WhKnuckle
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WhKnuckle 12/4/2011 3:17am
12/4/2011 3:17am
I can go faster on my CR500AF than I can on my son's YZ125, but I haven't ridden his new YZ250 yet. IMO, a modern 250 two stroke is probably the best balanced motocross bike ever made. I wish the big factories made a 350 two stroke, that would be better still.

I haven't ridden 450s enough to know, but I just don't like them. Maybe I don't ride them right, and they were always borrowed bikes (swapped for my 500 for a few laps) and I might have done better to ride them longer, but they feel unbalanced, top heavy, take a lot of effort to turn and unable to change lines easily. I imagine I could go fast - relatively - on one, but I'm out for fun anyway, and that's not fun to me.
machine
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machine 12/4/2011 4:57am
12/4/2011 4:57am
Just came off a 250 2-stroke onto a 450 and I can say i'm probably not much faster, but I can go faster easier and clear jumps that I was afraid to do on the 2-stroke. Those things are pretty big to me.
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Hando 12/4/2011 7:42am
12/4/2011 7:42am
WhKnuckle wrote:
I can go faster on my CR500AF than I can on my son's YZ125, but I haven't ridden his new YZ250 yet. IMO, a modern 250...
I can go faster on my CR500AF than I can on my son's YZ125, but I haven't ridden his new YZ250 yet. IMO, a modern 250 two stroke is probably the best balanced motocross bike ever made. I wish the big factories made a 350 two stroke, that would be better still.

I haven't ridden 450s enough to know, but I just don't like them. Maybe I don't ride them right, and they were always borrowed bikes (swapped for my 500 for a few laps) and I might have done better to ride them longer, but they feel unbalanced, top heavy, take a lot of effort to turn and unable to change lines easily. I imagine I could go fast - relatively - on one, but I'm out for fun anyway, and that's not fun to me.
I feel the same way...as if the 250 2-stroke is the ideal bike as far as weight and power goes.

I remember when I was 16 or so and I was just starting to ride a 250 2-stroke and after coming off a 125 it felt heavy but after i got used to it, it didnt feel heavy at all.

I rode a then friends 05 yz125 and thought..holy shit..this thing doesnt weigh anything!!!

Ive ridden a few 4-strokes but never moto'd one...they feel awkward to me but i def want to try and get used to one
aFACEdismembered 12/4/2011 8:20am
12/4/2011 8:20am
Way faster on my 250T than I ever was on my 250F. A lot of that has to do with my past though I think. Over 50% of my riding life was spent on a 125 and I never rode anything bigger than a 250f before my 250T. It's like having a 250f out of the corners but waaaay more power IF you understand how a 2 stroke works. You can still roll on the power in certain situations like a 4 stroke you just have to understand the bike enough to make it efficient. I can't flick it around as much as my old 250f yet though... the bike is a little longer.
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mx317 12/4/2011 8:46am
12/4/2011 8:46am
WhKnuckle wrote:
I can go faster on my CR500AF than I can on my son's YZ125, but I haven't ridden his new YZ250 yet. IMO, a modern 250...
I can go faster on my CR500AF than I can on my son's YZ125, but I haven't ridden his new YZ250 yet. IMO, a modern 250 two stroke is probably the best balanced motocross bike ever made. I wish the big factories made a 350 two stroke, that would be better still.

I haven't ridden 450s enough to know, but I just don't like them. Maybe I don't ride them right, and they were always borrowed bikes (swapped for my 500 for a few laps) and I might have done better to ride them longer, but they feel unbalanced, top heavy, take a lot of effort to turn and unable to change lines easily. I imagine I could go fast - relatively - on one, but I'm out for fun anyway, and that's not fun to me.
I would be in that LONG line for a modern 350 2-stroke!
Barrett57
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Barrett57 12/4/2011 8:50am
12/4/2011 8:50am
I seem to be faster on 125s than anything else.

Been on a few 250 smokers but i was slower and didnt have as much fun.
njracer46
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njracer46 12/4/2011 9:28am
12/4/2011 9:28am
The 450 makes you ride lazy, Exp in corners. I prefer a 250f, so much more fun to ride to
Rooster
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Rooster 12/4/2011 10:24am
12/4/2011 10:24am
One thing I've learned over the years is that it's way more fun to ride a slow bike fast, than it is to ride a fast bike slow.
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bvm111 12/4/2011 10:31am
12/4/2011 10:31am
SwapperMX wrote:
I was fastest on my 250 two stroke. Just suited my style better. I felt fast on a 125 and they are super fun to ride...
I was fastest on my 250 two stroke. Just suited my style better. I felt fast on a 125 and they are super fun to ride, but lap times were always better on the 250. I tried the 450's and always ended up getting myself into trouble way too quickly, mostly due to wanting to ride the bike aggressively, and it getting away from me. Didnt like the idea of trying to be smooth on one. The 250 two stroke was always better than the 250F for me as I much preferred the lack of engine braking and the extra horsepower of the two stroke. Perfect bike in my opinion, if you can ride one.
X2.... I have ridden them all and i always went back to my 250 2stroke... I dont want to sound like a 2stroke nut hugger because I really think ANY motocross bike is awesome.... I just really like the 250 2 stroke... but I had that thing set up just perfect! I could lug it in third around a corner or pin it and abuse the clutch.... to me it is the perfect blend of all bikes..... now that KTM 300 project bike MXA has on their website would really be interesting too?

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mmcmx
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mmcmx 12/4/2011 10:39am
12/4/2011 10:39am
I've never been as fast as when I jumped from the 250 smoker to the 250f. If I could afford It I would have booth. You get lazy if you just ride 4 strokes.
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jeffro503 12/4/2011 10:39am
12/4/2011 10:39am
Personally I only own a CRF450 right now , but I really , really want a 250 2 stroke bad. I KNOW it has made me a little lazy. You can get away from having to keep your momentum going , because they are so fast anyways. I want to get a 250 2 stroke and learn how to get some of my aggression back. I never felt as fast on one of my 450's as the day I stepped off my 250 2 stroke I had. I steadily got lazier as time went on. Can't afford a second bike right now , but it is definitely something I want to get by next year some time.
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jeffro503 12/4/2011 10:40am
12/4/2011 10:40am
mmcmx wrote:
I've never been as fast as when I jumped from the 250 smoker to the 250f. If I could afford It I would have booth. You...
I've never been as fast as when I jumped from the 250 smoker to the 250f. If I could afford It I would have booth. You get lazy if you just ride 4 strokes.
Damn.....you pulled the holeshot on me on that reply. Almost exactly what i just typed! haha!
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Rewindcaz 12/4/2011 10:52am
12/4/2011 10:52am
I'm 6'5 and easily get over 235lbs when out of shape, and so I tend to need all the juice a stock 450 can give me. I pulled out my YZ250 2 stroke the other year and I just felt like I was going to blow the top end, I had to ride it way too hard to match how I ride my YZ450F.

The bigger the better, to me. If I were smaller though, I'd honestly probably just hang onto a 250 2stroke and ride that. 2 strokes just feel at home to me. If only they'd make new 500 2-strokes... Sad
keeptwostrokesalive 12/4/2011 1:38pm
12/4/2011 1:38pm Edited Date/Time 12/4/2011 1:38pm
Being that i am 6'4 when i made the switch from a 125 to a 250 two stroke it helped me out a lot.
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Flatliner 12/4/2011 1:53pm
12/4/2011 1:53pm Edited Date/Time 12/4/2011 1:56pm
WhKnuckle wrote:
I can go faster on my CR500AF than I can on my son's YZ125, but I haven't ridden his new YZ250 yet. IMO, a modern 250...
I can go faster on my CR500AF than I can on my son's YZ125, but I haven't ridden his new YZ250 yet. IMO, a modern 250 two stroke is probably the best balanced motocross bike ever made. I wish the big factories made a 350 two stroke, that would be better still.

I haven't ridden 450s enough to know, but I just don't like them. Maybe I don't ride them right, and they were always borrowed bikes (swapped for my 500 for a few laps) and I might have done better to ride them longer, but they feel unbalanced, top heavy, take a lot of effort to turn and unable to change lines easily. I imagine I could go fast - relatively - on one, but I'm out for fun anyway, and that's not fun to me.
mx317 wrote:
I would be in that LONG line for a modern 350 2-stroke!
TM makes a 300, and ktm has a bolt on 300 for the 250sx. That's already plenty of juice no?

I'm personally stuck right now. I'm considering 3 bikes. The TM 144, the ktm 150sx, or 250 sx. I really enjoy ringing out the small bikes, but at 225 lbs I'm worried that I'm going to get tired of not having that power. Also finding a review of the 144 by someone who owns and maintains one has been difficult.
Hando
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Hando 12/4/2011 2:15pm
12/4/2011 2:15pm
WhKnuckle wrote:
I can go faster on my CR500AF than I can on my son's YZ125, but I haven't ridden his new YZ250 yet. IMO, a modern 250...
I can go faster on my CR500AF than I can on my son's YZ125, but I haven't ridden his new YZ250 yet. IMO, a modern 250 two stroke is probably the best balanced motocross bike ever made. I wish the big factories made a 350 two stroke, that would be better still.

I haven't ridden 450s enough to know, but I just don't like them. Maybe I don't ride them right, and they were always borrowed bikes (swapped for my 500 for a few laps) and I might have done better to ride them longer, but they feel unbalanced, top heavy, take a lot of effort to turn and unable to change lines easily. I imagine I could go fast - relatively - on one, but I'm out for fun anyway, and that's not fun to me.
mx317 wrote:
I would be in that LONG line for a modern 350 2-stroke!
Flatliner wrote:
TM makes a 300, and ktm has a bolt on 300 for the 250sx. That's already plenty of juice no? I'm personally stuck right now. I'm...
TM makes a 300, and ktm has a bolt on 300 for the 250sx. That's already plenty of juice no?

I'm personally stuck right now. I'm considering 3 bikes. The TM 144, the ktm 150sx, or 250 sx. I really enjoy ringing out the small bikes, but at 225 lbs I'm worried that I'm going to get tired of not having that power. Also finding a review of the 144 by someone who owns and maintains one has been difficult.
if you're 170 lbs+ you need a big bike

125s and 250f's are for 100-150 lb kids ...160 lbs if you're strong i guess.
chump6784
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chump6784 12/4/2011 2:22pm
12/4/2011 2:22pm
MXA have done a review on the 2011 tm 144. It's on their website. Judging from that review I would go the ktm but the 2012 tm's are sexy
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nytsmaC 12/4/2011 2:24pm
12/4/2011 2:24pm
mx317 wrote:
I would be in that LONG line for a modern 350 2-stroke!
Flatliner wrote:
TM makes a 300, and ktm has a bolt on 300 for the 250sx. That's already plenty of juice no? I'm personally stuck right now. I'm...
TM makes a 300, and ktm has a bolt on 300 for the 250sx. That's already plenty of juice no?

I'm personally stuck right now. I'm considering 3 bikes. The TM 144, the ktm 150sx, or 250 sx. I really enjoy ringing out the small bikes, but at 225 lbs I'm worried that I'm going to get tired of not having that power. Also finding a review of the 144 by someone who owns and maintains one has been difficult.
Hando wrote:
if you're 170 lbs+ you need a big bike

125s and 250f's are for 100-150 lb kids ...160 lbs if you're strong i guess.
Bad advice, that's simply not true.

Ride a 144 before you buy a 250. Either you'll love it or you'll hate it regardless of your size.
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pacetruckdrvr 12/4/2011 2:29pm
12/4/2011 2:29pm
I am 180 lbs, had 125, 250 2 stroke, went to 450 and then down to 250 4 stroke. I can ride the 250f faster and more comfortable than any bike I have had in the past.
Hando
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Hando 12/4/2011 2:32pm
12/4/2011 2:32pm
Flatliner wrote:
TM makes a 300, and ktm has a bolt on 300 for the 250sx. That's already plenty of juice no? I'm personally stuck right now. I'm...
TM makes a 300, and ktm has a bolt on 300 for the 250sx. That's already plenty of juice no?

I'm personally stuck right now. I'm considering 3 bikes. The TM 144, the ktm 150sx, or 250 sx. I really enjoy ringing out the small bikes, but at 225 lbs I'm worried that I'm going to get tired of not having that power. Also finding a review of the 144 by someone who owns and maintains one has been difficult.
Hando wrote:
if you're 170 lbs+ you need a big bike

125s and 250f's are for 100-150 lb kids ...160 lbs if you're strong i guess.
nytsmaC wrote:
Bad advice, that's simply not true. Ride a 144 before you buy a 250. Either you'll love it or you'll hate it regardless of your size...
Bad advice, that's simply not true.

Ride a 144 before you buy a 250. Either you'll love it or you'll hate it regardless of your size.
well you dont NEED it ...but i feel like after a certain weight you're big enough to handle a big bike.

but i suppose its more talent dependent too... ive seen plenty of smaller guys (both pro and local) aboslutely haul the mail on a big bike..
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Tyrell 12/4/2011 2:40pm
12/4/2011 2:40pm
mx317 wrote:
I would be in that LONG line for a modern 350 2-stroke!
Flatliner wrote:
TM makes a 300, and ktm has a bolt on 300 for the 250sx. That's already plenty of juice no? I'm personally stuck right now. I'm...
TM makes a 300, and ktm has a bolt on 300 for the 250sx. That's already plenty of juice no?

I'm personally stuck right now. I'm considering 3 bikes. The TM 144, the ktm 150sx, or 250 sx. I really enjoy ringing out the small bikes, but at 225 lbs I'm worried that I'm going to get tired of not having that power. Also finding a review of the 144 by someone who owns and maintains one has been difficult.
Hando wrote:
if you're 170 lbs+ you need a big bike

125s and 250f's are for 100-150 lb kids ...160 lbs if you're strong i guess.
Yup, agree with Hando.

On SX 250 at moment. 250 4T was good, but slow and I never felt comfortable thrashing it (ie. no fun). 450 4T felt too heavy and would not turn. 250 2T is a bit too snappy.

I'm thinking about a 300xc with MX springs for next year. Anyone tried this for MX?

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