Need Advice does anyone use 250f as race bike and 250 2 stroke as practice bike?

Tom_Ryan
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Tom_Ryan
Edited Date/Time 10/4/2015 9:58am
Need to make up my mind this week get a 250 2 stroke or 250f.
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mb
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mb 10/2/2015 3:05pm
10/2/2015 3:05pm
I would practice the same bike you race.
colintrax
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colintrax 10/2/2015 3:27pm
10/2/2015 3:27pm
I would think 125 2 stroke or 450 4 stroke. Otherwise you'll probably end up racing the practice bike lol
Phillip_Lamb
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Phillip_Lamb 10/2/2015 3:27pm
10/2/2015 3:27pm
mb wrote:
I would practice the same bike you race.
the only exception id make is if its a 125, as a training tool. but like he said race what you practice on. it does you no good going between two different bikes.

even if it was a "practice" 250f so you could keep hours down you'll need it set up the same as race bike so you dont have to "adjust"
Tom_Ryan
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Tom_Ryan 10/2/2015 3:52pm
10/2/2015 3:52pm
colintrax wrote:
I would think 125 2 stroke or 450 4 stroke. Otherwise you'll probably end up racing the practice bike lol
450 is a option to

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neverwas 10/2/2015 4:53pm
10/2/2015 4:53pm
450 ,that way you can race two classes on race day.
wildbill
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wildbill 10/2/2015 5:28pm
10/2/2015 5:28pm
mb wrote:
I would practice the same bike you race.
Phillip_Lamb wrote:
the only exception id make is if its a 125, as a training tool. but like he said race what you practice on. it does you...
the only exception id make is if its a 125, as a training tool. but like he said race what you practice on. it does you no good going between two different bikes.

even if it was a "practice" 250f so you could keep hours down you'll need it set up the same as race bike so you dont have to "adjust"
I beg to differ, on a tighter track, practicing on a heavier bike then racing a lighter one is quit effective for some. Glen Helen? Forget about it. Wink But that's not what the op asked so I'll smoke another one. Laughing
mx965
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mx965 10/2/2015 5:30pm
10/2/2015 5:30pm
Dont do that, 2 four strokes or 2 2 strokes is the way to go. I have 450 and yz250, hard to go back and forth, engine braking, weight, throttle response, braking all different.
Ransom_Bennett 10/2/2015 6:15pm
10/2/2015 6:15pm
A 250 will get you good starts every time no questions asked....
Tim507
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Tim507 10/2/2015 6:30pm
10/2/2015 6:30pm
IMHO both bikes require the same basic style to get the most out of them...... revs...... if you can master that skill you should do well jumping back and forth between the 2 bikes.

I MX a 250F and Off road a 2 stroke.... many weekends back to back - Saturday n Sunday
burn1986
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burn1986 10/2/2015 7:30pm
10/2/2015 7:30pm Edited Date/Time 10/2/2015 7:30pm
I would do it. The 250 2-stroke would be ideal since you could ride the dog out of it in practice and only worry about piston and regular maintenance. Then you could save your 4-stroke for the race. You could get a cheaper 2-stroke, fix it up with piston, crank, clutch, suspension and not worry about it (regardless of the year). Sounds like fun to me.
Tom_Ryan
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Tom_Ryan 10/2/2015 7:51pm
10/2/2015 7:51pm
burn1986 wrote:
I would do it. The 250 2-stroke would be ideal since you could ride the dog out of it in practice and only worry about piston...
I would do it. The 250 2-stroke would be ideal since you could ride the dog out of it in practice and only worry about piston and regular maintenance. Then you could save your 4-stroke for the race. You could get a cheaper 2-stroke, fix it up with piston, crank, clutch, suspension and not worry about it (regardless of the year). Sounds like fun to me.
Yeah that's what I want to do but the dealer said it would be a bad idea because of the different riding styles for both bikes I wanted to get opinions from people that have both.
CaptainRon126 10/2/2015 8:16pm
10/2/2015 8:16pm
Ditch the 2stroke. This isn't 1987.
T.Page
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T.Page 10/2/2015 8:17pm
10/2/2015 8:17pm
I swap between 2 sroke and four. I have raced both and it doesn't bother me. But I am not a pro either, I ride and race for fun.
731chopper
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731chopper 10/2/2015 8:30pm
10/2/2015 8:30pm
I have both a 250f and 250 2 stroke. It's not that difficult to switch between the two once you get use to it. I ride my two stroke more these days though. I can probably go faster on my 250f but the 2 smoke is so much fun!
Gringoe
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Gringoe 10/2/2015 8:33pm
10/2/2015 8:33pm
burn1986 wrote:
I would do it. The 250 2-stroke would be ideal since you could ride the dog out of it in practice and only worry about piston...
I would do it. The 250 2-stroke would be ideal since you could ride the dog out of it in practice and only worry about piston and regular maintenance. Then you could save your 4-stroke for the race. You could get a cheaper 2-stroke, fix it up with piston, crank, clutch, suspension and not worry about it (regardless of the year). Sounds like fun to me.
Tom_Ryan wrote:
Yeah that's what I want to do but the dealer said it would be a bad idea because of the different riding styles for both bikes...
Yeah that's what I want to do but the dealer said it would be a bad idea because of the different riding styles for both bikes I wanted to get opinions from people that have both.
Shocker, they don't want you to buy the cheaper bike that requires less up keep.

Tom_Ryan
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Tom_Ryan 10/2/2015 8:48pm
10/2/2015 8:48pm
burn1986 wrote:
I would do it. The 250 2-stroke would be ideal since you could ride the dog out of it in practice and only worry about piston...
I would do it. The 250 2-stroke would be ideal since you could ride the dog out of it in practice and only worry about piston and regular maintenance. Then you could save your 4-stroke for the race. You could get a cheaper 2-stroke, fix it up with piston, crank, clutch, suspension and not worry about it (regardless of the year). Sounds like fun to me.
Tom_Ryan wrote:
Yeah that's what I want to do but the dealer said it would be a bad idea because of the different riding styles for both bikes...
Yeah that's what I want to do but the dealer said it would be a bad idea because of the different riding styles for both bikes I wanted to get opinions from people that have both.
Gringoe wrote:
Shocker, they don't want you to buy the cheaper bike that requires less up keep.

That's exactly why I want it as a practice bike
chocolatethunder782 10/2/2015 9:56pm
10/2/2015 9:56pm
Why not practice on a 125? It would feel closer to what the 250f was like and would help you a ton in the corners because you would have to carry more speed.
burn1986
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burn1986 10/3/2015 8:41am
10/3/2015 8:41am
chocolatethunder782 wrote:
Why not practice on a 125? It would feel closer to what the 250f was like and would help you a ton in the corners because...
Why not practice on a 125? It would feel closer to what the 250f was like and would help you a ton in the corners because you would have to carry more speed.
X2

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Roscoe33
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Roscoe33 10/3/2015 9:28am
10/3/2015 9:28am
chocolatethunder782 wrote:
Why not practice on a 125? It would feel closer to what the 250f was like and would help you a ton in the corners because...
Why not practice on a 125? It would feel closer to what the 250f was like and would help you a ton in the corners because you would have to carry more speed.
burn1986 wrote:
X2
X3
less moving parts,thats easy
Tom_Ryan
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Tom_Ryan 10/3/2015 9:33am
10/3/2015 9:33am
chocolatethunder782 wrote:
Why not practice on a 125? It would feel closer to what the 250f was like and would help you a ton in the corners because...
Why not practice on a 125? It would feel closer to what the 250f was like and would help you a ton in the corners because you would have to carry more speed.
But aren't the 250 2 strokes close to the 250fs now? Well that's what I heard.
GeorgiePorgie 10/3/2015 9:38am
10/3/2015 9:38am Edited Date/Time 10/3/2015 9:39am
Totally different bikes. Races are too short for you to adjust to the subtle differences.

You should set your practice bike up identical to your race bike. So have 2 identical 250f's if you're riding a ton. 3-4x a week and racing on weekends.
Tom_Ryan
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Tom_Ryan 10/3/2015 9:54am
10/3/2015 9:54am
GeorgiePorgie wrote:
Totally different bikes. Races are too short for you to adjust to the subtle differences. You should set your practice bike up identical to your race...
Totally different bikes. Races are too short for you to adjust to the subtle differences.

You should set your practice bike up identical to your race bike. So have 2 identical 250f's if you're riding a ton. 3-4x a week and racing on weekends.
Over winter and next season I plan on riding atleast 3 times a week and race every race for d34. I just want to make sure I make the right choice I know with the 2 stroke I don't need to worry about valves or anything just top end and go. I really need to think this out.
chocolatethunder782 10/3/2015 10:58am
10/3/2015 10:58am
chocolatethunder782 wrote:
Why not practice on a 125? It would feel closer to what the 250f was like and would help you a ton in the corners because...
Why not practice on a 125? It would feel closer to what the 250f was like and would help you a ton in the corners because you would have to carry more speed.
Tom_Ryan wrote:
But aren't the 250 2 strokes close to the 250fs now? Well that's what I heard.
250fs are somewhere inbetween. You can throw 125s around easier. I weigh 170 and tried a 250 two stroke and it was too much bike for me. It hit too hard but I've always been a smaller sized bike rider.
GeorgiePorgie 10/3/2015 11:18am
10/3/2015 11:18am
GeorgiePorgie wrote:
Totally different bikes. Races are too short for you to adjust to the subtle differences. You should set your practice bike up identical to your race...
Totally different bikes. Races are too short for you to adjust to the subtle differences.

You should set your practice bike up identical to your race bike. So have 2 identical 250f's if you're riding a ton. 3-4x a week and racing on weekends.
Tom_Ryan wrote:
Over winter and next season I plan on riding atleast 3 times a week and race every race for d34. I just want to make sure...
Over winter and next season I plan on riding atleast 3 times a week and race every race for d34. I just want to make sure I make the right choice I know with the 2 stroke I don't need to worry about valves or anything just top end and go. I really need to think this out.
Well decide if you want to go all out 2 stroke route, or all out 250f route. Yamahas are bullet proof. New air filter and oil after every 2-3 ride days will keep you happy all season
imoto34
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imoto34 10/3/2015 4:51pm
10/3/2015 4:51pm
One 250 smoker. Keep it clean, ride it fast and maintain that bike and you will be happy for long time.
Tom_Ryan
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Tom_Ryan 10/3/2015 5:12pm
10/3/2015 5:12pm
The thing is I already own a 250f
mb
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mb 10/3/2015 9:47pm
10/3/2015 9:47pm
If you can run the 250 2 stroke in the same class I think it's an easy decision. Sell your 250f and get the YZ250.
ktmdan
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ktmdan 10/3/2015 11:06pm
10/3/2015 11:06pm
I used to race xc on a 200 sx and mx on a cr 250. The 200 taught me to keep momentum on the 250 and the 250 taught me to absolutely pin it on the 200. I think it was a good mix.
thephoenix 10/4/2015 8:16am
10/4/2015 8:16am
I would just get a KTM250 w/ a 300cc kit, add some flywheel, and dial in the suspension. Practice on it, race on it.

Of course I would be racing age/vet classes if I was still racing...
nytsmaC
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nytsmaC 10/4/2015 9:58am
10/4/2015 9:58am
If you want to improve your riding get a 125 or 144 for practice days. Obviously starts don't matter there and it will improve your corner speed and force you to carry momentum everywhere on the track, and that's going to help you more than anything else.
Race the 250f and it will feel like you're cheating.

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