Have you ever had a bike that held you back?

Lastander
Profile picture for user Lastander
Posts
1234
Joined
10/9/2016
Location
SE
Lastander 5/18/2018 12:45pm
5/18/2018 12:45pm
-16 450sxf, urgh
Wells423
Profile picture for user Wells423
Posts
357
Joined
4/1/2017
Location
Granbury, TX US
Wells423 5/18/2018 12:49pm
5/18/2018 12:49pm
15 ktm 350 sxf. I’m actually switching to an 18 kx250f. I have no confidence in my 350. Handles like shit and beats the crap out of me.
usafwx
Profile picture for user usafwx
Posts
1471
Joined
7/19/2012
Location
Trussville, AL US
usafwx 5/18/2018 12:50pm
5/18/2018 12:50pm
16 SX150, first and last orange bike.
PJRAUS
Profile picture for user PJRAUS
Posts
1531
Joined
5/28/2016
Location
AU
PJRAUS 5/18/2018 1:24pm
5/18/2018 1:24pm
ddog558 wrote:
1986 KX 125... absolutely gutless motor!
downard254 wrote:
Which was still WAY faster than the ‘86 RM125 that I had. I swear it was like racing while dragging a ship anchor behind you. Would...
Which was still WAY faster than the ‘86 RM125 that I had. I swear it was like racing while dragging a ship anchor behind you. Would have been faster to get off and push.
KYFHO699 wrote:
I had the 1986 KX 125 and the engine was the worst I ever had! I had an 84 KX 125 that would totally smoke the...
I had the 1986 KX 125 and the engine was the worst I ever had! I had an 84 KX 125 that would totally smoke the 86 model in the engine department. The only good thing about the 86 model was that it was the first year they had the rear disc brake on it.

Wasn't the 86 RM 125 the year they painted the engines blue? My brother had one, it was a dog!
My mate bought an 84 kx125 while I was flogging my dead horse 84 cr125, he gave me a ride on his bike and I was astounded, it felt like a 250 compared to that gutless Honda

The Shop

See All »
Rdubs19
Profile picture for user Rdubs19
Posts
767
Joined
4/16/2014
Location
Little Rock, AR US
Rdubs19 5/18/2018 3:29pm
5/18/2018 3:29pm
RutDipper wrote:
2003 CR85...was the only bike I hated. 2011 kx450....coming off 06-08 CRF450's could never get comfortable on the Kawi....switched to KTM450 in 13' and was happy...
2003 CR85...was the only bike I hated. 2011 kx450....coming off 06-08 CRF450's could never get comfortable on the Kawi....switched to KTM450 in 13' and was happy again.
My man.....fellow '03 CR85 owner right here and I hated that pile. No power yet somehow loved to loop out, constantly lost the front end, lost compression very quickly.

But the only bike I can really say ever held me back was one of those $130 mountain bikes from wal mart back when i was afflicted with the poorness. Hell, I had to save up to buy that thing. Literally didn't last one single ride, even though I went over it and tightened everything first hand. Didn't help. Damn thing just came plum apart. I bet the slickest mechanic in the world couldn't make a bicycle fall apart into seperate pieces like while going down the road if they tried.
bents
Profile picture for user bents
Posts
3386
Joined
12/31/2009
Location
CA
Fantasy
951st
bents 5/18/2018 3:33pm
5/18/2018 3:33pm
1981 Honda Pro Link 125 & 250. Drove me into my first retirement. Those things were JUNK.
scooterwhipmoore 5/18/2018 3:53pm
5/18/2018 3:53pm
ddog558 wrote:
1986 KX 125... absolutely gutless motor!
downard254 wrote:
Which was still WAY faster than the ‘86 RM125 that I had. I swear it was like racing while dragging a ship anchor behind you. Would...
Which was still WAY faster than the ‘86 RM125 that I had. I swear it was like racing while dragging a ship anchor behind you. Would have been faster to get off and push.
KYFHO699 wrote:
I had the 1986 KX 125 and the engine was the worst I ever had! I had an 84 KX 125 that would totally smoke the...
I had the 1986 KX 125 and the engine was the worst I ever had! I had an 84 KX 125 that would totally smoke the 86 model in the engine department. The only good thing about the 86 model was that it was the first year they had the rear disc brake on it.

Wasn't the 86 RM 125 the year they painted the engines blue? My brother had one, it was a dog!
I recieved 2 1986 RM125's under the Suzuki deal i had. My 2 1985's screamed on the topend but completely gutless down low. The 1986 was simular except they had the rev limiter kick'in and detonate too soon. I had Joe Gilbert work the porting and my 1986's screamed on the topend along with new stators.(forgot which brand) (yes those engines were the hideous blue)

That 1986 Kaw with the kips was the strongest (stock)bike out there.
Jbulz
Profile picture for user Jbulz
Posts
871
Joined
3/29/2016
Location
Ithaca, NY US
Jbulz 5/18/2018 4:58pm
5/18/2018 4:58pm
Jbulz wrote:
My 06 RM250 is the only bike I've felt that way on. I [I]wanted[/I] to like the bike and played with many different bar/clamp combos, spring...
My 06 RM250 is the only bike I've felt that way on. I wanted to like the bike and played with many different bar/clamp combos, spring rates, valving, etc, but I could just never get to the point where I felt comfortable. It felt like the bike was always on a mission to throw me on the ground, which was more frustrating since so many members here seem to love these bikes!

To sum it up: the engine was awesome. The transmission was not awesome, and would eat gears every 15-20 hrs. The headshake was terrifying, and the rear end would step out without any notice. It was a pretty looking bike, but so unpredictable. Good riddance.
samifan wrote:
Same here with my 03 RM 250. I never got comfortable on that bike. The motor was a rocket but I could never get it to...
Same here with my 03 RM 250. I never got comfortable on that bike. The motor was a rocket but I could never get it to handle. And like you said, the fact that everyone seems to love that bike just made it all the more frustrating. Moved on to a 2006 KTM 250sxf and within about 2 laps was on a different level speed-wise. Good to hear I wasn't the only one who struggled with the RM 2strokes!
H4L wrote:
+3 To this day I don't get what the fuss is about the RM's besides a good turning chassis. The 06 RM250 owned didn't handle very...
+3 To this day I don't get what the fuss is about the RM's besides a good turning chassis. The 06 RM250 owned didn't handle very good even after I had RG3 do some work to it. Sold it about 2 months after I bought it since it was real sketchy on an mx track for me.
Yeah man, I went back and forth with Enzo 3 times and couldn't get it right. Bet I had $7k wrapped up in that thing between suspension and transmissions. Had to send it down the road.
Falcon
Profile picture for user Falcon
Posts
12300
Joined
11/16/2011
Location
Menifee, CA US
Falcon 5/18/2018 5:04pm
5/18/2018 5:04pm
ddog558 wrote:
1986 KX 125... absolutely gutless motor!
downard254 wrote:
Which was still WAY faster than the ‘86 RM125 that I had. I swear it was like racing while dragging a ship anchor behind you. Would...
Which was still WAY faster than the ‘86 RM125 that I had. I swear it was like racing while dragging a ship anchor behind you. Would have been faster to get off and push.
This. My '86 RM125 held me way back, although I didn't know it at the time. I got an '88 too, which was only a fraction faster. When I got on a '90 KX I couldn't believe the difference.
BobPA
Profile picture for user BobPA
Posts
8329
Joined
10/31/2013
Location
PA US
BobPA 5/18/2018 5:15pm
5/18/2018 5:15pm
1988 YZ 80. My first “race” bike. That thing had a powerband like a hydrogen bomb. Talk about all or nothing. a year later I got a brand new 1999 KX 80 and my speed improved greatly.
Eddy
Profile picture for user Eddy
Posts
37
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
Eddy 5/18/2018 6:23pm
5/18/2018 6:23pm
1983 YZ60. The KX60 came out that year and was far superior to the YZ.
hamncheeze
Profile picture for user hamncheeze
Posts
2427
Joined
1/13/2018
Location
British Columbia CA
hamncheeze 5/18/2018 6:28pm
5/18/2018 6:28pm
In retrospect my 1984/85 Suzukis were junk compared to the Hondas. But I ripped in 1986 on the KX250 that was largely inferior to the Honda so go figure!
jimmie
Profile picture for user jimmie
Posts
2262
Joined
8/21/2008
Location
Huntington Beach, CA US
jimmie 5/18/2018 7:19pm
5/18/2018 7:19pm
Let's be real, every bike I ever rode/raced was help back by me.Wink
racerx317
Profile picture for user racerx317
Posts
225
Joined
1/4/2016
Location
Thompsons Station, TN US
racerx317 5/18/2018 8:01pm
5/18/2018 8:01pm
1992 RM125 was the biggest turd pos I’ve ever had... I switched to Suzuki at the end of the previous season because my Honda shop’s support program shut down. I got talked into that dog slow, puke seat pos and was getting like 25th to 30th place in B class D-5 Spring series local stuff so I didn’t even attempt to do any Nationals until the end of the year. Even my best bud who worked with me as my mechanic through his hands up and just said I sucked after we did a bunch of mods and my finishes were still garbage. Needless to say, I sold that hunk of trash to some sucker and bought a brand new 1993 CR125. A week later I raced it, bone stock, at the State Championship Race at High Point to a 3rd Overall. (back when we had 2 gates of B riders and qualifiers to get to the final motos)

Needless to say... I listen to my son when he says he’s not meshing with a bike. It makes a massive difference In Confidence, finishes, etc...
loftyair
Profile picture for user loftyair
Posts
2900
Joined
7/3/2009
Location
riverside, CA US
loftyair 5/18/2018 8:26pm
5/18/2018 8:26pm
2000 ktm 380. Engine was great. Suspension sucked, bad, even after revalve. So much power, with sketchy handling was scary!
Ranch Life
Profile picture for user Ranch Life
Posts
83
Joined
3/20/2016
Location
Redding, CA US
Ranch Life 5/18/2018 11:11pm
5/18/2018 11:11pm
madmaxperformance wrote:
2003 KTM 250 SX. Worst bike I ever owned by a MILE. It was hideous.
inthebadboycorner wrote:
No matter how much money was spent on suspension this bike hammered me into submission or the ground!
That motor though!
themrtoad
Profile picture for user themrtoad
Posts
1244
Joined
5/29/2009
Location
SE
themrtoad 5/19/2018 12:55am
5/19/2018 12:55am
Honda CR125-98. Disliked everything about that bike. It was missing a gear(5speed) and several hp to the -97 which I liked. Cornered terrible(it actually understeered lika a fwd Saab. Clearing jumps was a challenge since the bike was both slow and missing the right gear...
omalley
Profile picture for user omalley
Posts
1528
Joined
7/27/2016
Location
Snohomish, WA US
omalley 5/19/2018 1:35am
5/19/2018 1:35am
97 CR250. Although I certainly wasn’t fast enough to be faster than the bike, that POS had my confidence so rattled that I rode like crap. I hit the ground more times on that bike than I could count. The worst part was I gave up my totally dialed 96 for it.

Pit Row

See All »
AS64
Profile picture for user AS64
Posts
1752
Joined
5/14/2012
Location
CA
AS64 5/19/2018 1:51am
5/19/2018 1:51am
2012 RM-Z250
Suspension.
Aggelosp_801 5/19/2018 1:55am
5/19/2018 1:55am
Once rode a KTM. Forgot why i like motocross
KHI Guy
Profile picture for user KHI Guy
Posts
386
Joined
3/21/2017
Location
Cleveland, OH US
KHI Guy 5/19/2018 8:04am
5/19/2018 8:04am
ddog558 wrote:
1986 KX 125... absolutely gutless motor!
downard254 wrote:
Which was still WAY faster than the ‘86 RM125 that I had. I swear it was like racing while dragging a ship anchor behind you. Would...
Which was still WAY faster than the ‘86 RM125 that I had. I swear it was like racing while dragging a ship anchor behind you. Would have been faster to get off and push.
The YZ 125 in 1986 was pitifully slow as well. I didn't have any time on the KX that year, but it had to be faster than the YZ and RM. Honda was the bike to be on in that era.
KYFHO699
Profile picture for user KYFHO699
Posts
523
Joined
1/15/2011
Location
MT US
KYFHO699 5/19/2018 8:48am
5/19/2018 8:48am
KHI Guy wrote:
The YZ 125 in 1986 was pitifully slow as well. I didn't have any time on the KX that year, but it [i]had[/i] to be faster...
The YZ 125 in 1986 was pitifully slow as well. I didn't have any time on the KX that year, but it had to be faster than the YZ and RM. Honda was the bike to be on in that era.
I kicked myself in the ass for getting the 86 KX 125 over the Honda. The 86 and 87 Hondas were badass.
rockn216
Profile picture for user rockn216
Posts
11
Joined
6/1/2015
Location
Wallace, NC US
rockn216 5/19/2018 8:59am
5/19/2018 8:59am
Yep my 16 yz450. Never did jell with that bike. I bought a 17 ktm 450 sx-f...instant love affair.
mxjeff575
Profile picture for user mxjeff575
Posts
453
Joined
7/14/2011
Location
Festus, MO US
mxjeff575 5/19/2018 9:05am
5/19/2018 9:05am
It's interesting how many dog slow 125's came out of the 1981 - 1992 era.
1981 KX125
1984 YZ125
1985-86 RM125
1991-92 YZ125
dadofagun
Profile picture for user dadofagun
Posts
2007
Joined
3/28/2015
Location
Satan's Hollow, OK US
Fantasy
607th
dadofagun 5/19/2018 9:16am
5/19/2018 9:16am
Eddy wrote:
1983 YZ60. The KX60 came out that year and was far superior to the YZ.
I agree. Had 82 YZ 60’s, and Yamaha let me ride an 83 in July of 82, and it was essentially the same. Went to Ponca that year, saw the 83 KX 60 on display and was amazed. Hank Moree running away from everyone that week on it sure helped impress me as well. I rode one a couple weeks later and that was all it took. Called Bob Brown at Team Green and off we went..... Epic little bike.
CDswinehart
Profile picture for user CDswinehart
Posts
236
Joined
9/26/2008
Location
Mendon, NY US
CDswinehart 5/19/2018 9:19am
5/19/2018 9:19am
Never came to terms with my '82 KX250. It was only years later figured out why.
aeffertz
Profile picture for user aeffertz
Posts
12535
Joined
7/16/2015
Location
La Crosse, WI US
aeffertz 5/19/2018 9:26am
5/19/2018 9:26am
Probably could've been a lot quicker laptime wise had I switched to the thumpers but I'll stick to my 125.
RickyRoss519
Profile picture for user RickyRoss519
Posts
148
Joined
4/21/2017
Location
Marysville, WA US
RickyRoss519 5/19/2018 9:41am
5/19/2018 9:41am
I had a brand new 08 ktm450xc that I loved.... until I rode a Clapped out 02 crf450. At that moment I realized I was human and do in fact bleed red. So fortunately for me at that time ol pa offed the ktm and got me a 08 crf. Still to this day one of my favorites!
Eddy
Profile picture for user Eddy
Posts
37
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
Eddy 5/19/2018 10:14am
5/19/2018 10:14am
Eddy wrote:
1983 YZ60. The KX60 came out that year and was far superior to the YZ.
dadofagun wrote:
I agree. Had 82 YZ 60’s, and Yamaha let me ride an 83 in July of 82, and it was essentially the same. Went to Ponca...
I agree. Had 82 YZ 60’s, and Yamaha let me ride an 83 in July of 82, and it was essentially the same. Went to Ponca that year, saw the 83 KX 60 on display and was amazed. Hank Moree running away from everyone that week on it sure helped impress me as well. I rode one a couple weeks later and that was all it took. Called Bob Brown at Team Green and off we went..... Epic little bike.
I was at Ponca that year as well. I also remember Paul Denis killing it on the all new 83 KX80. Good times!
moore433
Profile picture for user moore433
Posts
525
Joined
11/2/2011
Location
Denton, TX US
moore433 5/19/2018 1:32pm
5/19/2018 1:32pm
1988 Cr 250 to me was horrible.
Loved my 1988 Cr 125 though!!

Post a reply to: Have you ever had a bike that held you back?