Some opinions for a transition to woods...

I raced woods on an RM125. Never had more fun on a bike in my life!

Ran a few woods races last season on this, couldn't agree more than you. Had a couple guys say it was like being chased by an angry weedwhacker, and a cheetah on cocaine

Purchased this 2002 during the summer. Was in rough shape. Made a project out of it and brought it back to life.

Use it mainly for woods riding. Put a fww, Rekluse, Tubliss front and rear, 18/21 wheel combo, Q Stealth S/A muffler, and a few other goodies on it.

Currently have the forks and shock disassembled to change out some shims. The stock MX valving will throw your ass off the trail if it has roots or sharp edges to the terrain. Can't wait to try it with the softer settings.

Still keeps a smile on your face when you're almost 2 hours deep in the race and dragging your tongue haha

George, raced my 450 and 250 (2stroke) in multiple woods events. I'm 100% more comfortable and faster on my 450. Bone stock other than a pipe, rekluse auto clutch, and some suspension work. Stop at hour mark for fuel. Don't sweat the starts, lot of time to be made up in the woods. Make sure you properly hydrate for a couple days before and during the race. Make sure your brakes are properly bled and in working order. Quit pussy footing around with these mini enduros and come hang at the big boy 2-3 hour races

I have a 2005 ktm200exc. My brother has a 2014 ktm200xc. I bought the 05 off him at the end of last season and he won many B 250 races on it. Now with his new bike he's winning in the A class. Doesn't matter what year, the 200s are awesome bikes for someone less than 180 or so pounds. We have the recluse clutch, good skid plates, and wrap around hand guards. The thing I like about the wrap around guards is you find yourself gliding off trees with them in the really tight woods and it doesn't hurt your hands.

If you get a ktm or husky, consider using GTR Suspension. He has 2 guys who rode the club division of ISDE this year and won gold. He knows how to set up ktms for woods and rides all the time. He's still a top A Vet guy in New England.

I have ridden the yzf250x on a ride day back in january,
I couldn't imagine a better bike, no i didn't compare it to a ktm, but fuck it did every thing moving my old fat arse, handled great. Electric start and a long 5th gear!

IMO, hare scrambles with MX tracks mixed in are the most I fun you can have on a dirt bike. You will be fine with whatever bike you get, honestly doesn't really matter. Hard to go against the trusty YZ250 though when it comes to "value".

I race the JDay Offroad GP series in New England. The courses feature MX, grass, woods, and an extreme section (think endurocross) at each event. Some of the courses are at the MX tracks like The Wick, Crow Hill, & MX207. Other rounds are hosted on natural private facilities. Two 30 minutes motos at set times during the day.

I ride an 07 YZ250 with 18" rear wheel & Pirelli MT16 Garacross, Rekluse EXP 3.0, & Cycra Barkbusters. The 18" wheel with the off road tire helped tremendously in rocky, rooty, or wet terrain. The Rekluse is definitely nice but not essential. The bark busters are most important, seen way too many broken knuckles/hands in this series. I ride stock suspension and play around in the very softest compression settings on the fork, I also run a little more sag in the shock . Skid plate, pipe & silencer tuned for the woods, brake-snake, radiator & brake rotor guards are also very popular but I don't have them yet.

When I ride MX (which is often) I just swap back to the 19" rear, take off the hand guards, and change suspension settings.

I'm really hoping more of the hybrid events like JDay start to be come popular across the country.