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Don't talk yourself out of a 144 until you get to ride one. A good running one will spank a stock 250F for peak HP and torque numbers and it turns like a BMX.
I love my 450f also but the 250f you get to actually really ride and use all the gears. A 450 your rarely get out of 3rd gear.
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Hmm... instant power at any time and the ability to launch just about any jump with a simple twist of the throttle...I just don't see the downside of my 450 (other than maintenance).
What I like about big bikes is that you can slow them down and they are more malleable in terms of power delivery whereas with a 125, when you mod it it usually just gets harder to ride if you really want it to make more power.
My RM125 was a great bike but it had zero bottom end and would bog if you werent always on it (it was a 125 llol..) I had my 250 2-stroker tuned to the point where it was easy to ride and go fast on. Essentially I "detuned it"
I spent a lot of time and money on my 300SX trying to push the power back up more similiar to a race bike. Dick's carb bore, SST pipe, raised port height, lower compression, etc... I was playing w/ squish the other week on my 300SX and I lost a piece of sauter (sp?) down a trasfer port and didn't realize it and munched the motor the next time out. On a good note my engine builder said that my bottom end was like brand new (well accept for the bearing that the sauter went thru) ! That is w/ 200+ hrs in race like conditions (BelRay @ 32:1 btw).
Anyways, my crank is now at Falicon getting a 5mm stroker kit. This is a mod first done on the 300s by KTMWorld and I'm just copying, 2/3 down the page: http://www.ktmworld.com/blog.aspx
This will take my displacement from a 293cc to a 314cc but more importantly it will increase the stroke in relation to the current bore. Because of this the people that I know that personally did this modification said it was the largest 21cc improvement that they ever felt, much larger than the 300 top end for instance which actually gives over 44cc of increase.
I rode a stock '12 250SX the other day and honestly I almost preferred the engine over my heavily modified 300SX engine. I'm looking to change that.
I was going to snag a 250f or 450f, but this RM deal came across and I bought it.
Having said that, my son just got a really nice YZ125, when we were at the track last weekend I tried out the 125 and hammered that screamer around the track, and it was a blast keeping my friend on a KX250f 2009 behind me for 2 or 3 laps....granted he was pushing for a pass pretty hard, I felt good about the power of the 2-Stroke.
The power delivery on the 250-2 RM is much more even, strong and fairly predictable. If and when I get a 4-stroke I guess I will get a 250f, cause I think it will be more fun to ride according to my ability.
I think everyone should have a 2 Stroke or two around for raw fun...
chl
Pit Row
125: Currently building one, haven't ridden one in 10 years, as a 140-155# teen I never felt my 2000 YZ125 or 01 RM125 were too slow with basic intake and exhaust mods at 50/50 race gas. I benefited most from suspension mods. Currently doing a CR125 build, I'll post what happens when a near 200#, near vet rides it in about a month. Too far back to judge speed.
250: Last bike was a 2005 CR250, hated it while I had it, realize now I had been away from the sport too long to remember what I should have done to properly set it up. Wish I still had it, motor was super twitch and it had a lot of handling issues, but I would gladly pay back the 2200 I sold it for maybe 2400 to have never made the transaction. It didn't help that the previous owner had let it become a total roach. I should have immediately sent suspension to competent authorities rather than frustrate myself and eventually sell. Never felt fast on this bike. However, I had a 2002 RM250 that I felt awesome on, however it was in 2002 and before I ever rode a 4 stroke.
250F: Last bike was a 2006 KX250F, again foolishly bought a roach. Previous owner had ground down the shock shaft, didn't realize how bad it was until I got the call from Pro Circuit to tell me about the suspension internals. Difference was the $900 job Pro Circuit did along with rebuilding the top-end and clutch gave me an awesome bike. Got comfortable enough on this bike to start racing after nearly a decade hiatus. Felt the fastest I have since I was a teenager doing laps, never dialed in starts though, blamed it on the bike vs rider weight issue.
450F: Current bike, 2011 KX450F, bought brand spankin new as the '12s were coming out for cheap! Absolutely hated the suspension, and crashed a lot learning to ride a 450. After about 7-8 hours got the bike set up pretty well. I am faster on this bike than I've ever been. However, there is no way that I'm cornering like I was on the 250F. I also was at the point that I could do 10 laps (at as close to race pace as I can do in practice) on the 250F, no way on the 450. I slow after about 6 and can barely hold on if I do 8 hard laps.
The point is you can't go wrong if you get any of them and set it up, especially at your weight. My favorite was a 250F overall between speed, fun factor and consistency. Good for you for getting back into the sport.
You should pushing yourself every second regardless of the size of bike you are riding.
I'm in the same position as you. I'm not a tall rider and only weigh 155. I had a YZ125 for years and I loved that bike. I came across a cheap 2005 RM250 that I fixed up and I love that bike! It would be hard to go back to a 125 after adapting to the 250 power. You're right because I can't ride the 250 (or 125) to its full potential, but damn it's fun. I have to be in a little bit better shape to ride the 250 because of the weight, whereas the 125 I could muscle it around a bit more. However, when I get on my buddies 450's, I just don't like them because I feel like i'm just hanging onto the bike and not riding it because of how heavy they are.
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