Bikes that improved the most from one model year to the next?

moto116
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moto116
Edited Date/Time 5/8/2013 10:18am
I was just curious to see what people's opinion was on bikes that improved the most from one model year to the next.

For example, I know the 2003 yz250f was drastically improved over the 2002. It was 7 pounds lighter, featured automatic decompression, the oil system was different (the dipstick for the '02 was clear up by the gas tank and handlebars), and many more features.

What's everyone's thoughts?
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ATKpilot99
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ATKpilot99 5/4/2013 5:58pm
5/4/2013 5:58pm
1997 to1998 KTM 125 SX
1999 TO 2000 CR 250
Deetsmx
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Deetsmx 5/4/2013 6:03pm
5/4/2013 6:03pm
02 to 03 rm250. bike was a turd before they copied the Yamaha motor.
YellowZonker 5/4/2013 6:17pm
5/4/2013 6:17pm
1995 to 1996 YZ125 was a huge difference.

The Shop

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Kartwheel84c
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Kartwheel84c 5/4/2013 6:20pm
5/4/2013 6:20pm
'75 TM400 to the '76 RM370. Not exactly the same model, but no other bike improved so much in one year. It went from the worst bike ever offered to the public, to the best in one year. Nothing else is even close.
JJO741
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JJO741 5/4/2013 8:05pm
5/4/2013 8:05pm
2009 RMZ250 to 2010 was a drastic difference in performance.
Tokyo_Tiddler
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Tokyo_Tiddler 5/4/2013 8:26pm
5/4/2013 8:26pm
77 vs 78 CR's and RM's, 99 vs 00 CR 250 .. night and day difference.

mike
40Plus_922mx
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40Plus_922mx 5/4/2013 8:29pm
5/4/2013 8:29pm Edited Date/Time 5/4/2013 8:31pm
1992 to 1993 KX125.
1997 KX250 to 1998 KX250
2002 YZF450 to 2003 YZF450
2007 to 2008 CRF450
2011 KX450 to 2012 KX450 Ask rv bout this one
SoCalMX70
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SoCalMX70 5/4/2013 9:25pm
5/4/2013 9:25pm
Deetsmx wrote:
02 to 03 rm250. bike was a turd before they copied the Yamaha motor.
'03 suspension (especially the front forks) was junk. I feel that '03-'04 was a bigger improvement.
Prairieboy43
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Prairieboy43 5/4/2013 9:46pm
5/4/2013 9:46pm
JJO741 wrote:
2009 RMZ250 to 2010 was a drastic difference in performance.
Also 80 to 81 RM125. From air-cooled, twin shock to water-cooled, full floater dream ride.
Kartwheel84c
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Kartwheel84c 5/4/2013 9:48pm
5/4/2013 9:48pm
You guys giving examples of bikes in the 2000s have no idea how little improvement there has been when compared to 20-30, even as little as 15 years ago. The last really big improvement was when Honda ditched their 1st Gen aluminum frame in 2000.
scooter5002
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scooter5002 5/4/2013 9:54pm
5/4/2013 9:54pm
Sure wasn't the 08 to 09 Honda.
newmann
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newmann 5/4/2013 10:04pm
5/4/2013 10:04pm
Tokyo_Tiddler wrote:
77 vs 78 CR's and RM's, 99 vs 00 CR 250 .. night and day difference.

mike
On the CR's, the 77 and 78 CR125's were identical. The 250 however was such a turd that they didn't even offer one for 1977. The 78 CR250 was decades ahead of the 76.





The 78 CR125 was another one that was long overdue for a total remake but the 79 while definitely improved had its shortcomings.
burn1986
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burn1986 5/4/2013 10:15pm
5/4/2013 10:15pm
YellowZonker wrote:
1995 to 1996 YZ125 was a huge difference.
Yep X2. Beat me to it. 96 started the reign for the YZ125, that hasn't stopped.
AS64
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AS64 5/4/2013 10:44pm
5/4/2013 10:44pm
JJO741 wrote:
2009 RMZ250 to 2010 was a drastic difference in performance.
That even sounds like an understatement. It was night and day.
kzizok
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kzizok 5/4/2013 10:54pm
5/4/2013 10:54pm
YellowZonker wrote:
1995 to 1996 YZ125 was a huge difference.
burn1986 wrote:
Yep X2. Beat me to it. 96 started the reign for the YZ125, that hasn't stopped.
How about the 1985-1986 YZ 125 or even their 80 for that matter? The 1985 was considered to probably be the worst japanese MX'er, of all sizes at the time. The '86 model was an incredible change.
mototrader
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mototrader 5/4/2013 11:16pm
5/4/2013 11:16pm
Deetsmx wrote:
02 to 03 rm250. bike was a turd before they copied the Yamaha motor.
SoCalMX70 wrote:
'03 suspension (especially the front forks) was junk. I feel that '03-'04 was a bigger improvement.
x2, the 04 was the base for the rest of them which were awesome, and the first year they went to Showa boingers

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hartebreak
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hartebreak 5/4/2013 11:17pm
5/4/2013 11:17pm
11 to 12 Ktm 450
AZ35
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AZ35 5/4/2013 11:31pm
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Prairieboy43 wrote:
Also 80 to 81 RM125. From air-cooled, twin shock to water-cooled, full floater dream ride.
Close, really close. The 81 RM125 was a game changer.

Anyone voting for any model years other than the 70's or 80's is obviously young. Or retarded.

Everything since about 1990 was just baby steps.

But the clear winner was the 1983 KX80. Just look at a picture of a 1982 KX80 and the 1983 version, and the discussion is over- clear winner. Riding them both made it even more obvious, but just look at the pictures and even my 10 year old daughter can see the clear winner.....

If I could remember how to post pictures I would, but that is also the same reason I can recall how great the 83 KX80 was... I am old and computer illiterate.
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mnomis484
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mnomis484 5/5/2013 12:35am
5/5/2013 12:35am
02 to 03 ktm sx 250
Growboxracers
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Growboxracers 5/5/2013 5:20am
5/5/2013 5:20am Edited Date/Time 5/5/2013 5:20am
2004-2005 YZ 125
Growboxracers
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Growboxracers 5/5/2013 5:22am
5/5/2013 5:22am
85-86 CR250

91-92 CR250

88-89 RM250

82-83 CR250

83-84 KX125

84-85 KX250
Kartwheel84c
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Kartwheel84c 5/5/2013 5:59am
5/5/2013 5:59am
"Anyone voting for any model years other than the 70's or 80's is obviously young. Or retarded.

Everything since about 1990 was just baby steps."

This. To list a bike later than the early '90s is laughable.
queen of spodes 5/5/2013 6:04am
5/5/2013 6:04am
kzizok wrote:
How about the 1985-1986 YZ 125 or even their 80 for that matter? The 1985 was considered to probably be the worst japanese MX'er, of all...
How about the 1985-1986 YZ 125 or even their 80 for that matter? The 1985 was considered to probably be the worst japanese MX'er, of all sizes at the time. The '86 model was an incredible change.
I thought the 86 was mediocre at best.
kawasa84
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kawasa84 5/5/2013 6:04am
5/5/2013 6:04am
83 - 84 KX 125 Much improved Uni-track, the 84" motor was killer, won the bike shootouts that year.
04 - 05 KX 250 Moved cylinder angle to 5 degrees, improved trans, new frame, this was 2 stroke raced by James Stewart,
campaigned indoors and outdoors. But it was a great leap forward and a great bike for amatuers.
mx317
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mx317 5/5/2013 6:19am
5/5/2013 6:19am
40Plus_922mx wrote:
1992 to 1993 KX125. 1997 KX250 to 1998 KX250 2002 YZF450 to 2003 YZF450 2007 to 2008 CRF450 2011 KX450 to 2012 KX450 Ask rv bout...
1992 to 1993 KX125.
1997 KX250 to 1998 KX250
2002 YZF450 to 2003 YZF450
2007 to 2008 CRF450
2011 KX450 to 2012 KX450 Ask rv bout this one
There wasn't a 2002 YZF450, it was a 426.
mx317
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mx317 5/5/2013 6:22am
5/5/2013 6:22am
1981 CR450 to 1982 CR480
JW381
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JW381 5/5/2013 7:08am
5/5/2013 7:08am
96-97 CR250 - Best chopper Honda has ever made.
kzizok
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kzizok 5/5/2013 8:29am
5/5/2013 8:29am
kzizok wrote:
How about the 1985-1986 YZ 125 or even their 80 for that matter? The 1985 was considered to probably be the worst japanese MX'er, of all...
How about the 1985-1986 YZ 125 or even their 80 for that matter? The 1985 was considered to probably be the worst japanese MX'er, of all sizes at the time. The '86 model was an incredible change.
queen of spodes wrote:
I thought the 86 was mediocre at best.
Gotcha, however, I am talking about a bike that I thought improved the most. I didn't mean it to be the best bike, just most improved from model year to model year.

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