Looking for a new VET class bike

Meister
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Meister 8/8/2018 7:31pm
8/8/2018 7:31pm
For fun, a 250 2 stroke or 350.. to race competitively (for most), a 450..
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Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp 8/8/2018 7:44pm
8/8/2018 7:44pm Edited Date/Time 8/8/2018 7:45pm
Beta 480 RR Racing Edition if you want to ride for more than an hour. Alta if you don't.
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Forty
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Forty 8/8/2018 8:31pm
8/8/2018 8:31pm
Johnny Depp wrote:
Beta 480 RR Racing Edition if you want to ride for more than an hour. Alta if you don't.
what's with you and Beta?
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flopper12
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flopper12 8/9/2018 6:14am
8/9/2018 6:14am
It just depends on how much you ride and how much time you have to wrench. I have a 125, two 250 smokers, and one 250f. I don't have to have the latest and greatest, but I like to have nice well set up bikes. If I were a rich man I'd add a new FI 250f and put a big bore kit on it if I felt like I needed more...but then again if I was rich I'd have an ALTA also. They are seriously bad ass fun, and no maintenance is a game changer for a time challenged guy like me. Alas, I've got two step kids to raise and a 2 year old son of my own, so old-ish bikes that I have to wrench on is what I'll be riding.
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The Shop

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Langhammx 8/9/2018 6:48am
8/9/2018 6:48am
Fog 25 wrote:
If you don’t pound practice laps
Alta MXR. You will have a blast riding again ?⚡️?
After riding yours, I’d have to agree that the bike is legit. I was amazed at how easy it was to ride and didn’t tire me out at all. Other than reaching for the shifter to downshift in the corners, I felt right at home.
I don’t see myself replacing my gas burning bikes, but I’m seriously Contemplating one. My biggest problem is I’m out of room in my garage. I need to sell a few bikes here soon...
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Tarz483
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Tarz483 8/9/2018 7:03am
8/9/2018 7:03am
Fog 25 wrote:
If you don’t pound practice laps
Alta MXR. You will have a blast riding again ?⚡️?
Langhammx wrote:
After riding yours, I’d have to agree that the bike is legit. I was amazed at how easy it was to ride and didn’t tire me...
After riding yours, I’d have to agree that the bike is legit. I was amazed at how easy it was to ride and didn’t tire me out at all. Other than reaching for the shifter to downshift in the corners, I felt right at home.
I don’t see myself replacing my gas burning bikes, but I’m seriously Contemplating one. My biggest problem is I’m out of room in my garage. I need to sell a few bikes here soon...
Man poor guy , out of room for more bikes in the garage
That sounds like an awful problem to have ...lol
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RCMXracing
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RCMXracing 8/9/2018 9:53am
8/9/2018 9:53am
To OP: you say you like to ride agro. The newer 250 engine designs (at least KTM/CRF, dunno about others) are way more high revving than a ‘16 CRF 250. I had a ‘12 CRF 250 and currently a ‘16.5 KTM 250 and engine character so much different. Thinking you might like newer 250F’s with some minor mods.
B DUB 333
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B DUB 333 8/9/2018 10:55am
8/9/2018 10:55am
Your done racing? Just want reliability and fun? That's ez- zook van van 200
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JWACK
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JWACK 8/9/2018 11:43am
8/9/2018 11:43am
aroark247 wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2018/08/09/279567/s1200_CR500_2000_finished_001.jpg[/img]

That yours?
TogaSet
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TogaSet 8/9/2018 7:25pm
8/9/2018 7:25pm
2019 KX 450.
stone881
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stone881 8/9/2018 7:46pm
8/9/2018 7:46pm
stone881 wrote:
I really like my Derek Harris built Sxf 270. Had a 17 350 prior to this and they are really close. The 270 dyno'd at 52...
I really like my Derek Harris built Sxf 270. Had a 17 350 prior to this and they are really close.

The 270 dyno'd at 52 peak hp and a nice jump up in the still linear torque curve. This included some head work, Vortex ignition and RnD throttle body.

To me the 270 also seems just a little bit easier to handle than the 350, but again really close call.

jeffro503 wrote:
Stone.....you mind if I ask , what's the life expectancy / overhaul time on a motor like that? I've seen guys post on here about getting...
Stone.....you mind if I ask , what's the life expectancy / overhaul time on a motor like that? I've seen guys post on here about getting damn near 100 hours on a stock motor. Not sure how hard they were ridden.....but that's pretty damn impressive.
Haven't had a chance to put many hours on mine, broke my femur in early June.

Derek said to do top end at 50 hours, so we'll see. I told him that I wanted it to run on pump gas ( I live at high elevation) and be reliable enough to ride track, dunes, desert, etc.

He said this was the ticket and has seen zero problems. So far so good.

Not a cheap build necessarily, but at least I can pull the Vortex and RnD if I ever sell it.
CASH476
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CASH476 8/9/2018 9:31pm
8/9/2018 9:31pm
I went to a 18YZ250f after 10+ years on 450s and absolutely love it.Op is about the same size as me and obviously prefers the 250F. As mentioned before, the 19YZ250F might be the perfect bike for him. Electric start, great suspension, better ergo's than the older models, awesome engine and a programmable ignition. What's not to like?
KDXGarage
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KDXGarage 8/10/2018 12:38am
8/10/2018 12:38am
Two words:

Additional Bike

Keep that one and buy an additional bike.
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Helder
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Helder 8/10/2018 1:03am
8/10/2018 1:03am
Die hard yammy fan but the KTM 350sx is your bike
Tonynz
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Tonynz 8/10/2018 2:06am
8/10/2018 2:06am Edited Date/Time 8/10/2018 2:08am
From a 53 year old racer and practise rider KTM 350 SXF, all the way just picked up my new one yesterday.

murph783
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murph783 8/10/2018 9:19am
8/10/2018 9:19am
I personally love my ‘14 YZ250F, but a well set up YZ250 with a pipe, reeds, and a flywheel weight is pretty tough to beat honestly.

Pit Row

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Pirate421
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Pirate421 8/10/2018 9:46am
8/10/2018 9:46am
I’ll be another vote for 250 2t or 350sxf/fc. I have had both and they are the best mix of power and handling.

I really like my YZ250 this is my third one. Great Suspension and good power and super easy to setup. The Ktm and husky 250 2t are fast and smooth with great suspension also and turn very well.

My 2017 350 has probably the best powerband I’ve ever ridden. Could ride almost any track in third gear only power was so long and smooth and it felt so light. Awesome bikes
bvm111
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bvm111 8/10/2018 9:55am
8/10/2018 9:55am
You guys act like a 450 is so hard to ride, I’m 45 and I love mine. When I’m fresh I can put the hammer down and when I get tired in half a lap I can torque it and not loose much speed but it’s controllable, lug it in the corner in 3rd then dab the clutch and off you go! I can ride way faster longer on my 450 than I can on my 250 two stroke any day of the week.
Pirate421
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Pirate421 8/10/2018 9:55am
8/10/2018 9:55am
Plus I think when the word “vet” comes up here, people assume old, slow and broken. I know a lot of “vets” who are fast and can ride anything. They are in shape and with age comes experience.

So “vet” also means that you aren’t restricted to a 250 or a 450 you can ride anything, so to say a 450 is a “vet” bike. Or a 350 isn’t a “vet” bike, doesn’t really make sense. Vet means a lot of different criteria, be it a 30 year old pro or a 60 yr old novice. it’s the class with the widest range of skill and age and the least amount of restrictions bike wise, don’t limit yourself to “vet” bikes!
fourfourone
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fourfourone 8/10/2018 9:58am
8/10/2018 9:58am
I rode a new yz250f and my buddy has a 350sxf. It would be real hard for me to choose to be honest.
murph783
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murph783 8/10/2018 10:11am
8/10/2018 10:11am Edited Date/Time 8/10/2018 10:12am
Also rode a 19 husky 350 the other weekend, the handling is so different from my Yamaha I didn’t get comfortable in the couple laps I spun, but I’ll tell you what, I could see myself loving one of those things once I got it dialed in. I’ve got a bit of the same overly agressive at times style, where when the 450 gets out of hand you’re sort of along for the ride, the 350 is much more controllable feeling like a 250f
jeffro503
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jeffro503 8/10/2018 11:44am
8/10/2018 11:44am
bvm111 wrote:
You guys act like a 450 is so hard to ride, I’m 45 and I love mine. When I’m fresh I can put the hammer down...
You guys act like a 450 is so hard to ride, I’m 45 and I love mine. When I’m fresh I can put the hammer down and when I get tired in half a lap I can torque it and not loose much speed but it’s controllable, lug it in the corner in 3rd then dab the clutch and off you go! I can ride way faster longer on my 450 than I can on my 250 two stroke any day of the week.
Exactly the opposite for me Barron. Different riding styles.
fourfourone
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fourfourone 8/10/2018 12:01pm
8/10/2018 12:01pm
bvm111 wrote:
You guys act like a 450 is so hard to ride, I’m 45 and I love mine. When I’m fresh I can put the hammer down...
You guys act like a 450 is so hard to ride, I’m 45 and I love mine. When I’m fresh I can put the hammer down and when I get tired in half a lap I can torque it and not loose much speed but it’s controllable, lug it in the corner in 3rd then dab the clutch and off you go! I can ride way faster longer on my 450 than I can on my 250 two stroke any day of the week.
100%
bents
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bents 8/10/2018 12:35pm
8/10/2018 12:35pm


Here is my 2018 Husky FC350. I did add a tooth to the rear, but the powerband is still a mile wide and has more torque than a 250F if you don't want to go batshit crazy to the redline. It brings 3rd gear in sooner as stock 3rd gear is LONG. The biggest thing for me is that it is just less stressful to ride than a 450. I don't have to worry about having to hang on so hard as there is a substantial difference in low and mid, no doubt. I feel safer on it and can ride it a little more aggressively without the same level of fear, and at 55 that fear is real. I can ride it like a 2 stroke when I'm feeling punchy and it can be ridden quite nicely in the meat of the power as well. I do love this bike, every bit of it.
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mark_swart
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mark_swart 8/10/2018 12:43pm
8/10/2018 12:43pm
Falcon wrote:
250 2-stroke. B) It's kind of a "can't lose" situation when you ride one: a) They are fast enough to beat 450s unless you are up...
250 2-stroke. Cool

It's kind of a "can't lose" situation when you ride one:
a) They are fast enough to beat 450s unless you are up against a really talented rider on a very slick track.
b) If the above happens, hey you were on an underpowered dinosaur.
yz133rider wrote:
Meh for me they are the hardest sized bike to ride fast. If the tracks prime they are good, if its dry-slick, or wet-slick, or rough...
Meh for me they are the hardest sized bike to ride fast. If the tracks prime they are good, if its dry-slick, or wet-slick, or rough, or really tight and jumpy or, or, or, they are really tricky to ride. The window that they work great in is very narrow for me, compared to other bikes.

Although maybe the new ktms with adjustable power valve springs, mapping, etc maybe they could be really dialed in to work well over more situations.
I feel the same way about 250 2Ts for my speed / skill level / riding style. It doesn't have the power to ride in the torque like a 450, but at the same time it has too much power for me to ride aggressively like a 125. I enjoy riding them for fun, but for racing or serious laps they just don't work very well for me.

I think that '19 YZ 250F sounds like a very good choice. I have the 17 and it's been a great bike - easy to use engine, great suspension, reliable.
Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp 8/10/2018 12:43pm
8/10/2018 12:43pm
Johnny Depp wrote:
Beta 480 RR Racing Edition if you want to ride for more than an hour. Alta if you don't.
Forty wrote:
what's with you and Beta?
The bikes are bad ass. Ride one and see. 480cc steel frame spring fork 6spd. Get ya some.
Forty
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Forty 8/10/2018 1:40pm
8/10/2018 1:40pm
Johnny Depp wrote:
Beta 480 RR Racing Edition if you want to ride for more than an hour. Alta if you don't.
Forty wrote:
what's with you and Beta?
Johnny Depp wrote:
The bikes are bad ass. Ride one and see. 480cc steel frame spring fork 6spd. Get ya some.
Fair enough....good looking bike
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