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651
Joined
6/11/2015
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US
Edited Date/Time
1/11/2021 9:24am
Title says it all, which bikes did you ride after immediately coming off your bike and had to have? What was so bad about your original bike?
I’ve been on orange for 8 years now, first was a 2012 KTM 250XC, I still miss that bike.
During the Vital 2019 450 Shootout, I LOVED it's feel and it's ability to be thrown around & my ability to move around on it; BUT! Our test bike had a weird mapping glitch that gave it a sort of "bog" or lag when cracking it open at lower-mid revs on turn exits. I got great lap times; but, it took a bit of getting used to with the mapping being wonky. Honestly, I was riding it like a 250...but, damn...it was a flicker.
At the same time, the Husky didn't have any such mapping problem.
Huh?
That got me thinking it was something with our particular bike.
As I recall, I loved the SXFs feel; yet, because of the issues we were having...I rated it 5th.
This mapping issue didn't make sense to me and when I asked around and talked to people like Jamie Ellis at Twisted Development...I was told it's an excellent motor and I just needed to ride one that was properly mapped.
So, I went and got one.
LOVED IT.
Still riding and racing it.
I went thru the same thing with the 2018 Suzuki RMZ450: I really liked a lot of the things it did; but, I couldn't get the shock right (Couldn't adjust it to work as good as I felt it should). So, I went and got one and figured it out. Once I had the shock done by Factory Connection? It was awesome. Rode and raced the heck out of it and even got win a Day in the Dirt on it & brought home some Bears from Mammoth.
So, let's put the 2018 RMZ450 in 2nd for very comparable reasons.
Sold it and I am now a proud owner of a 21 YZ250F waiting to recover from my broken scapula to ride it. I was blown away on how much better I felt on that Yamaha over my bike. And I had everything done to the Honda. exhaust, air filter setup, suspension, engine mounts. Aside from hopping up the motor I couldnt do anything else. I ride pretty tight tracks so the yamaha was a clear winner
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Free shipping: VITALMX
Found a good deal on a lightly used Pro circuit built 2016 KTM 125 and scooped it up. It came with an extra cylinder with light porting and head work done by pro circuit but I was already so impressed with the modified 125 I never used it. The owner of the original KTM I rode was moving to AA and bought a 250 XC-F, he gave me a sweet deal on his 125, it needed some work, but I did the bare minimum to make it rideable for me. I threw the 150 cylinder on because the cylinder that came with it had sucked some sand at one point. I was still in high school at the time and was still serious into racing so I used the mod bike for a race bike and rode the 150 2-3 times a week after school. The hour meter stopped working eventually at 184 but I rode it 5 or 6 more times before I noticed the rod had some vertical play and decided to treat the bike to a makeover.
I’m slacking in my build thread on it, but I’m refreshing every bearing and seal in the engine and chassis, as well as doing the suspension myself, and adding some Titanium and trick bits here and there. The mod bike got a bottom end done at 164 hours when a tranny bearing shit itself so that’s been my main runner for a while. Wish I could get the 150 done faster, but when I started the build I was a senior in high school and am now in college so my funds aren’t like some of the guys over in the bike builds section.
I plan on making the 150 a more off-road oriented bike since I still race some harescrambles and GNCCs a couple times a year, and use the mod bike for when we head out to the moto tracks. I love letting someone ride that pro circuit built bike for a couple laps because they always have the biggest smile on their face when they take their helmet off. These bikes are such a blast.
That 21 YZ250f was impressive and handled incredibly well but the ergonomics of the bike were probably the worst of any bike I've ever been on aside from the 2016 YZ450 I rode years back. The seat to peg ratio/room was NICE for me being 6'3 well, it was less cramped than my 2003 kx250 with lower fastway pegs and a custom made (by me) tall seat. The 21 YZ250f is WIDE at the front I dont care what anyone says that it's barely wider, its substantially wider from the start of the shrouds to the end and felt uncomfortable. The sides of my feet in my boots were hitting weird spots that felt like my foot wasnt even on the peg...it was a strange sensation I cannot explain b ur after all that 'complaining' I'm sure it's something a rider could get used to if it was your main bike. Coming of my 2003 KX250, no bike has ever felt as awkward as this 21 yz250f was ....maybe that's bec I'm tall too though...I dunno lol
Here she is:
Pit Row
Had my 16 Kx450 sold and planned on just cycling g for a year. Buddy bought a 2017 Crf 450 so I went with him to do one last ride on my Kawi and he asked I ride the Honda just to give feedback on the suspension.
3 laps later text my buddy Bob Wilson at Madera Honda Suzuki. “If you don’t have one please get me one.
So much for the year off..
Then it went the other way. Rode a 2019 Kawi and it just felt great for my size 6’4”.
So the Honda was quickly sold and I love the Kawi
Now I am all about riding my Turbo Levo to be ready for the first time in years I will be fit when the season starts.
The other bike I had to have was a 2016 YZ250F. Rode one at the end of 2015 and I was determined to have one. Great bike.
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