250fs

Sorry, but off the floor, Honda's are better. They have better trade in and resale value as well.

I just started riding a '08 YZ250f after being on big bikes since...well basically since I started riding (I was a big kid. I hit my growth spurt at 14).

Some good things you'll notice about the Yamaha is that the thing handles amazingly good and has phenomenal suspension. It feels like you can put it anywhere. I haven't had this bike long, but I've never had reliability problems with Yamaha in the past, so I'd say thats a plus too.

On a bad side of things, the bike seems a little underpowered. It does decent up to the midrange but shuts off a little early on top. Could probably use a pipe on it. For me being a little taller at 6'1" , 175 lbs. it's a little cramped in stock form. I had to change the bars before I could even ride it.

The 1985 YZ250 is a crapper if ever there was a crapper. I rode that thing after being a 125 specialist (I once passed a CR 500 through a long straight of sand whoops, I felt like O'mara), and on my first outing back in 89-90, I tried to pin that bastard like a 125 going through deep ass sand whoops. I flipped out. Some guy leaned over to my dad and said, "Is that your boy laying out there? My dad replied, "Yep, that's my boy.'

Me and my son just bought an 07 KX250F for $1500.00 and jerked the 4 smoke engine out and currently have the bike subbed out transplanting a KX125 engine in it. Soon as we get it back Williams Motowerks will be building us a 250F killer. Pics in the next couple months! After a 2 grand valve dropper in my YZ250F and an equally expensive grenade job on our CRF250 I'm neither impressed with nor interested in another modern 4 smoker.

I had a 03 yz250f - great bike, only expensive fixes were my own fault.
currently 08 crf250r - no problems, but plan on putting stainless valves in this fall

Always bet on RED.

YZs are the best motor durability wise. Hondas are the best overall quality wise.

as long as its not a 2 stroke....your good to go mane!