Older Vet guys...and their 125's.

Mx451
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Bozeman, MT US
7/15/2020 12:21pm
True about having fun. I was just thinking KTM this go around for a little more engine performance.
AH387
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Bridgeville, PA US
7/15/2020 12:49pm
I'm starting to slow down on the "buy a new bike every year" thing. So I plan on keeping my 125 for a long time (maybe forever) and the 350 is still getting modded little by little. I like riding the 125 for fun and it also keeps hours low on my 350, so it works out nicely.

11
7/15/2020 6:20pm
Mx451 wrote:
True about having fun. I was just thinking KTM this go around for a little more engine performance.
Stick with the yz125, if you liked the handling. You might not adapt to a ktm. Mxa vid looks like both bikes r equal. All 125 test say the yz, is more fun. PC makes a fast yz 125. In Wi. There is 125 open class, some trackS get 28 riders.
brocster
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Aliso Viejo, CA US
7/15/2020 6:34pm
125 all the way. Let the smile on your face be the result you are looking for...
4

The Shop

gjbruny
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559
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1/14/2012
Location
Spokane, WA US
7/15/2020 6:48pm
If u are racing a class u will have no problem adapting to the orange or white ktm. Bike is noticeably faster than the yz but forces you to ride it a little more aggressively. Ive ridden the 150 back to back with my 125 and while the 150 certainly has more in the mid, i think the 125 has a broader spread of power and a better power delivery. I find that i ride it more than my 350. Small bores are such a blast to ring their necks around a track as well as the woods. Hard to argue against a 192lb bike that makes close to 40hp. 4th of july weekend i was on it twice as much on mountain single track as my 350xcf. Had no problem showing a wheel to the faster guys in our large group on the bigger bikes. Sure it was a lot more work but thats part of what makes them so fun. And they always know you are right on their arse when the tiddler is shrieking through the timber. Just as fun making passes on bigger bikes on the track with the little motor on full sing! Sooooo much fun. I say get one and have a blast! Having as much fun as u can is more important than a plastic trophy at ur local series plus riding a 125 is an art that takes longer to learn. My guess is u will get faster. It translates to more aggression on the 4 strokes. I know my lap times have definitely come down since buying the pinger. Good luck with whatever u decide!
1
Mx451
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Bozeman, MT US
7/15/2020 6:58pm
Stick with the yz125, if you liked the handling. You might not adapt to a ktm. Mxa vid looks like both bikes r equal. All 125...
Stick with the yz125, if you liked the handling. You might not adapt to a ktm. Mxa vid looks like both bikes r equal. All 125 test say the yz, is more fun. PC makes a fast yz 125. In Wi. There is 125 open class, some trackS get 28 riders.
I can only imagine how fun a gate full of 125s must be. I've ridden on lots of KTMs and I do like the chassis feel better. I owned a 2013 300xc and have tested the 2019 250f and 450f.
Mx451
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Bozeman, MT US
7/15/2020 7:06pm
gjbruny wrote:
If u are racing a class u will have no problem adapting to the orange or white ktm. Bike is noticeably faster than the yz but...
If u are racing a class u will have no problem adapting to the orange or white ktm. Bike is noticeably faster than the yz but forces you to ride it a little more aggressively. Ive ridden the 150 back to back with my 125 and while the 150 certainly has more in the mid, i think the 125 has a broader spread of power and a better power delivery. I find that i ride it more than my 350. Small bores are such a blast to ring their necks around a track as well as the woods. Hard to argue against a 192lb bike that makes close to 40hp. 4th of july weekend i was on it twice as much on mountain single track as my 350xcf. Had no problem showing a wheel to the faster guys in our large group on the bigger bikes. Sure it was a lot more work but thats part of what makes them so fun. And they always know you are right on their arse when the tiddler is shrieking through the timber. Just as fun making passes on bigger bikes on the track with the little motor on full sing! Sooooo much fun. I say get one and have a blast! Having as much fun as u can is more important than a plastic trophy at ur local series plus riding a 125 is an art that takes longer to learn. My guess is u will get faster. It translates to more aggression on the 4 strokes. I know my lap times have definitely come down since buying the pinger. Good luck with whatever u decide!
Thank you for taking the time for a thought out answer. I guess at this point in my life I need to give up the ghost on trying to be faster and worry more about trying to be "funner". I also rode my last 125 in the woods and it was pretty fun. I'm also kinda looking to try something else as I've owned 3 post 2006 yz250s and one yz125. Thinking back even practicing on the 125 was more fun than my current 250f.
Mx451
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213
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Bozeman, MT US
7/15/2020 7:08pm
brocster wrote:
125 all the way. Let the smile on your face be the result you are looking for...
Words of wisdom
7/15/2020 7:22pm
My favorite chassis is a 04 cr125, 06 is great to. The 04 is much better say at Millville in 2nd motos. All 3 cr125,s where stolen. No cr125 for sale anywhere. So I like the YZ, I had a 97 noleen yz125. I think a 2020 is pretty similar, I should adapt easily. As long as I can get, the front wheel to stick in corners, I don,t care what the year of 125 is. Pic of 04 cr151

1
Indy mxer
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The Villages, FL US
7/15/2020 7:26pm Edited Date/Time 7/15/2020 7:27pm
About 3 years ago I decided I wanted a 125 as a second bike. I bought a pretty nice 15 Husky 125. Had FC do the suspension and added a few goodies to it.

About 5 months after that a local kid I know was wanting a 125 and was asking me to sell it to him, so I did.
Then a couple months later I bought a 16 KTM 125sx and did the same thing. Loved the bike but decided I didn't ride it enough and sold it last summer.

Fast forward to February of this year. The kid that bought my Husky 125 moved up to a new KX 250 and was selling the 125. Although a bit worn out I bought it back and rebuilt it. So now I have a 125 again.

Wtf am I thinking? I'm 63 for gods sake! lol
Anyway It's finally ready to ride.






12
brocster
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Aliso Viejo, CA US
7/15/2020 7:33pm
Indy mxer wrote:
About 3 years ago I decided I wanted a 125 as a second bike. I bought a pretty nice 15 Husky 125. Had FC do the...
About 3 years ago I decided I wanted a 125 as a second bike. I bought a pretty nice 15 Husky 125. Had FC do the suspension and added a few goodies to it.

About 5 months after that a local kid I know was wanting a 125 and was asking me to sell it to him, so I did.
Then a couple months later I bought a 16 KTM 125sx and did the same thing. Loved the bike but decided I didn't ride it enough and sold it last summer.

Fast forward to February of this year. The kid that bought my Husky 125 moved up to a new KX 250 and was selling the 125. Although a bit worn out I bought it back and rebuilt it. So now I have a 125 again.

Wtf am I thinking? I'm 63 for gods sake! lol
Anyway It's finally ready to ride.






Dirt Bikes don’t care what age, size or speed is on the seat Wring it!
1
gjbruny
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559
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Spokane, WA US
7/15/2020 7:48pm
^
Great looking bike!!! I hadnt raced or spent any real time on a 125 since back in the early 90s in high school. Last year my nephew frew out of his 85 so i bought him a 125sx. On our memorial day camping trip all the kids in our group had a little turn track carved in around us. I hopped on my nephews bike and couldnt get off of it. Felt like a kid again. For the next several weeks my wife heard me talking to friends about how much fun i had and how my next bike might actually be a small bore. A few weeks later i get home from work and my wife asks me to run out to the shop and get some pliers. I kinda thought that was weird since we also have tools in the house. I get out there and there is a new leftover ‘18 tc125 sitting in the shop. I about fell over. She even ordered and installed my numbers, put a carbon pipe guard on, hand guards etc all on her own... i didnt have the heart to tell her it was primarily going to he a track bike so it has stayed that way... glad she did to because it goes offroad pretty often. Needless to say she got a hell of a “rogering” that night. :^)

Dont think ill ever not have a pinger in the stable. Cant wait until they get the tpi figured out on the tc/sc bikes. I got to ride a te150i. Wow that thing has potential. Seamless power and WAY WAY more bottom end than any small bore ive ridden. Once they get it to rev out a bit more it will be amazing!

This is what i walked into my shop last summer and discovered;


10
Lightning78
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Huntington Beach, CA US
7/15/2020 7:49pm
hellion wrote:
There are so many Vet riders at the races, I think it would be cool if there was a way to keep track of where the...
There are so many Vet riders at the races, I think it would be cool if there was a way to keep track of where the 125's finish. I don't think we need more gate drops, that just shortens everyone's motos. And we don't need trophies either at this stage if the game. Just keep track of where the 125's finish and keep points for them. You could finish fifth overall and first 125 and get points in both. Then at the banquet at the end of the year give the winner a #1 plate for the garage wall.

Jeffro, I feel exactly like you do about 450's. Keep on trying them, but find they're just too much, and they're not even fun to ride. Too easy, too fast, too boring all at the same time.
I agree with every single person on here about the 125 thing I'm trying to get a 2003 kicks when 25 as badly as possible without overpaying like most people are asking for them now.

Although Id be lying if I didnt say that I think this new 2021 Honda CRF450 isnt going to be a game changer for 450's. The brutish power will always be an issue but with the way Honda says they were focused on razor sharp handling, I think this will be the first 450 to not feel like a 450 chassis wise. Itll be interesting to see how the bike shakes down....its going to be an agonizing wait for me till the first reviews of the bike start coming out. The only thing I kind of worry about is that the bike will be more sx focused than mx focused and even though Gasjer ride one in MXGP this year he didt get a whole lot of motos on it and probably had his chassis made to suit the GP's bec they dont have the production rule or have to worry about setting the bike up for sx.
AH387
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1631
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Location
Bridgeville, PA US
7/15/2020 7:50pm
Indy mxer wrote:
About 3 years ago I decided I wanted a 125 as a second bike. I bought a pretty nice 15 Husky 125. Had FC do the...
About 3 years ago I decided I wanted a 125 as a second bike. I bought a pretty nice 15 Husky 125. Had FC do the suspension and added a few goodies to it.

About 5 months after that a local kid I know was wanting a 125 and was asking me to sell it to him, so I did.
Then a couple months later I bought a 16 KTM 125sx and did the same thing. Loved the bike but decided I didn't ride it enough and sold it last summer.

Fast forward to February of this year. The kid that bought my Husky 125 moved up to a new KX 250 and was selling the 125. Although a bit worn out I bought it back and rebuilt it. So now I have a 125 again.

Wtf am I thinking? I'm 63 for gods sake! lol
Anyway It's finally ready to ride.






Looks awesome
1
7/15/2020 8:31pm
Stick with the yz125, if you liked the handling. You might not adapt to a ktm. Mxa vid looks like both bikes r equal. All 125...
Stick with the yz125, if you liked the handling. You might not adapt to a ktm. Mxa vid looks like both bikes r equal. All 125 test say the yz, is more fun. PC makes a fast yz 125. In Wi. There is 125 open class, some trackS get 28 riders.
Mx451 wrote:
I can only imagine how fun a gate full of 125s must be. I've ridden on lots of KTMs and I do like the chassis feel...
I can only imagine how fun a gate full of 125s must be. I've ridden on lots of KTMs and I do like the chassis feel better. I owned a 2013 300xc and have tested the 2019 250f and 450f.
Oh yeah 90,s was crazy even 125 b, 1 time had 2 full gates. 50a rider won a 125 open moto, he was a fast expert 25 yrs ago. If the start is short, those 14 yr old 130 lb kids, advantage goes away. That 1st pic of my cr, that is a 03 kx125 pipe. Worked better on a 06 all stock, much stronger than a noleen yz125. I got holeshot on the yz, that made local news in Mi.
gjbruny
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Location
Spokane, WA US
7/15/2020 8:39pm
Oh yeah 90,s was crazy even 125 b, 1 time had 2 full gates. 50a rider won a 125 open moto, he was a fast expert...
Oh yeah 90,s was crazy even 125 b, 1 time had 2 full gates. 50a rider won a 125 open moto, he was a fast expert 25 yrs ago. If the start is short, those 14 yr old 130 lb kids, advantage goes away. That 1st pic of my cr, that is a 03 kx125 pipe. Worked better on a 06 all stock, much stronger than a noleen yz125. I got holeshot on the yz, that made local news in Mi.
So awesome! Takes me back to racing in the late 80s and early 90s in high school. Most of my friends and i raced and 125s were king back then. Toward the end of college my buddy had a ‘97 noleen yz125. Was soooo trick for a local bike! Ah the good old days
1
7/15/2020 9:06pm
Yeah those Noleen yz,s where trick. It was Jeff Wilohs national bike, with a ohlins shock, skid plate welded on. I went to a nuclear series race. Practiced there during the week. Race day I,m telling people, yeah I got a National yz125, this should be easy. Haha. Chad Johnson is on a JM racing team green KX. He was faster than anyone, no I didn,t win. Those tiny Noleen silencer,s where trick also.
Mx451
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213
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Location
Bozeman, MT US
7/16/2020 4:17am
gjbruny wrote:
^ Great looking bike!!! I hadnt raced or spent any real time on a 125 since back in the early 90s in high school. Last year...
^
Great looking bike!!! I hadnt raced or spent any real time on a 125 since back in the early 90s in high school. Last year my nephew frew out of his 85 so i bought him a 125sx. On our memorial day camping trip all the kids in our group had a little turn track carved in around us. I hopped on my nephews bike and couldnt get off of it. Felt like a kid again. For the next several weeks my wife heard me talking to friends about how much fun i had and how my next bike might actually be a small bore. A few weeks later i get home from work and my wife asks me to run out to the shop and get some pliers. I kinda thought that was weird since we also have tools in the house. I get out there and there is a new leftover ‘18 tc125 sitting in the shop. I about fell over. She even ordered and installed my numbers, put a carbon pipe guard on, hand guards etc all on her own... i didnt have the heart to tell her it was primarily going to he a track bike so it has stayed that way... glad she did to because it goes offroad pretty often. Needless to say she got a hell of a “rogering” that night. :^)

Dont think ill ever not have a pinger in the stable. Cant wait until they get the tpi figured out on the tc/sc bikes. I got to ride a te150i. Wow that thing has potential. Seamless power and WAY WAY more bottom end than any small bore ive ridden. Once they get it to rev out a bit more it will be amazing!

This is what i walked into my shop last summer and discovered;


Best wife ever.
4
7/16/2020 6:47am Edited Date/Time 7/16/2020 6:49am
I'm 58, 5' 6", 155 lbs. I race my '15 Husky TC 125 in the 50+ class, when I race MX. I'm not a contender for anything- just out there to have fun and most of the time I let everyone get 1/2 way to the first turn before I even start. Last race, I went from 30th (dead last) to 8th in 4 laps, which I thought was a pretty decent ride considering I was the only 125 on the gate.

I ride a KTM 150 XC-W in the 50+ C class for enduros. Last year saw both my first enduro EVER and my first MX race in 40 years (rode the '04 KX 125 in that and took 3rd place in 50+).

I don't do a lot of racing but I do ride a lot of practice days and we ride _something_ pretty much every weekend and the Husky and KTM are my preferred rides.

Here's the Husky during practice. Unfortunately, my helmet cam fell off on the starting line of Moto 1 so I didn't get any footage of the race.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1nBPrmHgIU


Here's the KTM in action:



1
AH387
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1631
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Location
Bridgeville, PA US
7/16/2020 8:04am
Figured I would add some action pics to the thread. We have a cabin with a small (overgrown) track on the property. No good jumps or anything but nice lines and some elevation. I barely ride my 350 now, when I ride there. The 125 is just so fun.



And here is a track photo.

5
Gworm
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Monett, MO US
7/16/2020 8:13am
I just turned 56 and 240lbs and still have fun on one. Just playing around the yard, so no gear.



4
MxKing809
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Big Sand Whoops, MI US
Fantasy
7/16/2020 8:14am Edited Date/Time 7/16/2020 8:31am
I recently (last month) pickup a left over ‘19 KTM 150..... and my ‘18 CRF450 is for sale.

31 years old, Vet A.

6’0 and 193 lbs..... the exact same as the bike.











14
Tracktor
Posts
2343
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8/17/2006
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The RTF/Amboy, WA US
7/16/2020 12:05pm
gjbruny wrote:
^ Great looking bike!!! I hadnt raced or spent any real time on a 125 since back in the early 90s in high school. Last year...
^
Great looking bike!!! I hadnt raced or spent any real time on a 125 since back in the early 90s in high school. Last year my nephew frew out of his 85 so i bought him a 125sx. On our memorial day camping trip all the kids in our group had a little turn track carved in around us. I hopped on my nephews bike and couldnt get off of it. Felt like a kid again. For the next several weeks my wife heard me talking to friends about how much fun i had and how my next bike might actually be a small bore. A few weeks later i get home from work and my wife asks me to run out to the shop and get some pliers. I kinda thought that was weird since we also have tools in the house. I get out there and there is a new leftover ‘18 tc125 sitting in the shop. I about fell over. She even ordered and installed my numbers, put a carbon pipe guard on, hand guards etc all on her own... i didnt have the heart to tell her it was primarily going to he a track bike so it has stayed that way... glad she did to because it goes offroad pretty often. Needless to say she got a hell of a “rogering” that night. :^)

Dont think ill ever not have a pinger in the stable. Cant wait until they get the tpi figured out on the tc/sc bikes. I got to ride a te150i. Wow that thing has potential. Seamless power and WAY WAY more bottom end than any small bore ive ridden. Once they get it to rev out a bit more it will be amazing!

This is what i walked into my shop last summer and discovered;


Throw a 38mm Keihin with STIC metering block on it & you won't worry about fuel injection again...........
gjbruny
Posts
559
Joined
1/14/2012
Location
Spokane, WA US
7/16/2020 12:56pm
Tracktor wrote:
Throw a 38mm Keihin with STIC metering block on it & you won't worry about fuel injection again...........
I did that. Carb is sitting in my cabinet in the shop probably to go on my nephew’s 125sx. Bike ran very well but still didnt compensate for temp and altitude like the lectron. I had forgotten how finiky 125s could be on jetting with temp and elevation changes. Overall i like the lower mid and mid better on the lectron and the stic gets the nod up top. Since ive had so much fun with it in the mountains the lectron is staying on it permanently due to fuel range as well as compensation for temp, elevation and humidity changes.

Nobody will change my mind on FI or TPI on smokers... and early on i was one of those that didnt like the idea for simplicity purposes. But the TPIs are here to stay and they literally run flawlessly. The 150i i rode blew my mind at how much torque it had down low and in the mid. Its right there or just very slightly softer than the beta 200. Once they get the needed changes to get the TPI to allow the higher revs needed for the track, ill be first in line. I spent about 30min on the 150i on gnarly mountain single track and it blew my mind going back to back with my 125. I then had him bring it to ride my private track and while it definitely falls on its face up top, roll on out of corners was incredible. Obviously suspension on the te is horrible for moto but i just wanted to see what the engine felt like in that environment. The smoothness of any size TPI is mind blowing. Having said that, i kinda think part of the fun of the pingers is forcing the rider not to be lazy. jmo
4
7/16/2020 8:08pm
MxKing809 wrote:
I recently (last month) pickup a left over ‘19 KTM 150..... and my ‘18 CRF450 is for sale. 31 years old, Vet A. 6’0 and 193...
I recently (last month) pickup a left over ‘19 KTM 150..... and my ‘18 CRF450 is for sale.

31 years old, Vet A.

6’0 and 193 lbs..... the exact same as the bike.











Same weight as your bike, that,s cool. You Look fast, Great pics too.
1
Deja New
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2781
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AU
7/17/2020 12:39am
jeffro503 wrote:
So I have a new Husky TC 250 coming here in a couple weeks. And I'm thinking real seriously about pairing it up with a TC...
So I have a new Husky TC 250 coming here in a couple weeks. And I'm thinking real seriously about pairing it up with a TC 125 sometime this spring / summer.

Just trying to think...it's mainly for fun , but if I want to race it , is there a class I could run it in? Wondering if the 125 has gotten popular enough out here in the NW , that we have an actual 125 class? I wouldn't mind having to run against the kids either.

So for a vet guy who owns a 125...just thinking where I might fit in on race days. Got this 2 stroke bug and I don't think it'll be going away any time soon.
3 years late to the party and I just turned 46 got my tc250 from Santa and 6 months later I got the matching TC125 and love it almost more than the 250.....
3
Mx451
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213
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Location
Bozeman, MT US
7/17/2020 4:24am
Deja New wrote:
3 years late to the party and I just turned 46 got my tc250 from Santa and 6 months later I got the matching TC125 and...
3 years late to the party and I just turned 46 got my tc250 from Santa and 6 months later I got the matching TC125 and love it almost more than the 250.....
What about it do you like vs. the 250?
Deja New
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2781
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11/22/2016
Location
AU
7/17/2020 5:00am
Deja New wrote:
3 years late to the party and I just turned 46 got my tc250 from Santa and 6 months later I got the matching TC125 and...
3 years late to the party and I just turned 46 got my tc250 from Santa and 6 months later I got the matching TC125 and love it almost more than the 250.....
Mx451 wrote:
What about it do you like vs. the 250?
The 250 has no end of power but no engine breaking so you have to ride it like a typical 2 stroke and at my age and fitness level I get 4 fast laps before arm pump is bad. But the 125 I can ride 10 fast laps although you have to work the bike you don’t have to hang on it’s an easier ride. Egos cornering handling are on par but it does not tire me out as quick. I can make the 125 sing but I can’t use the full power of the 250 anymore.....
My wife has a TC85 BW and i love riding that thing too Smile we also have a Tm125 that’s also a wicked bike to ride.
3
Mx451
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213
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Location
Bozeman, MT US
7/17/2020 5:43am
Deja New wrote:
The 250 has no end of power but no engine breaking so you have to ride it like a typical 2 stroke and at my age...
The 250 has no end of power but no engine breaking so you have to ride it like a typical 2 stroke and at my age and fitness level I get 4 fast laps before arm pump is bad. But the 125 I can ride 10 fast laps although you have to work the bike you don’t have to hang on it’s an easier ride. Egos cornering handling are on par but it does not tire me out as quick. I can make the 125 sing but I can’t use the full power of the 250 anymore.....
My wife has a TC85 BW and i love riding that thing too Smile we also have a Tm125 that’s also a wicked bike to ride.
Awesome, thanks for that. Have you ever tried a 150?
Deja New
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2781
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Location
AU
7/17/2020 5:55am
Deja New wrote:
The 250 has no end of power but no engine breaking so you have to ride it like a typical 2 stroke and at my age...
The 250 has no end of power but no engine breaking so you have to ride it like a typical 2 stroke and at my age and fitness level I get 4 fast laps before arm pump is bad. But the 125 I can ride 10 fast laps although you have to work the bike you don’t have to hang on it’s an easier ride. Egos cornering handling are on par but it does not tire me out as quick. I can make the 125 sing but I can’t use the full power of the 250 anymore.....
My wife has a TC85 BW and i love riding that thing too Smile we also have a Tm125 that’s also a wicked bike to ride.
Mx451 wrote:
Awesome, thanks for that. Have you ever tried a 150?
No I haven’t would love to try a TM150 is the only true 150 with its own motor KTM/husky it’s just a 144 kit on a 125 more or less.
Taking both my TC’s out this weekend will try get some lap times and photos.
2

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