If you had do choose and older bike.

motomike137
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motomike137 7/20/2021 1:02pm
7/20/2021 1:02pm Edited Date/Time 7/20/2021 1:03pm
motomike137 wrote:
I'd want my 03 YZ450 back. It had the motor of doom and I had the suspension dialed on the thing courtesy of Tech Care. It...
I'd want my 03 YZ450 back. It had the motor of doom and I had the suspension dialed on the thing courtesy of Tech Care. It was a weapon on the sandy Michigan tracks.
GabeM wrote:
with 4 gears and all that power you hardly needed to shift. Start in 2nd up to 3rd and you were good to on 90% of...
with 4 gears and all that power you hardly needed to shift. Start in 2nd up to 3rd and you were good to on 90% of the tracks with zero fear of under jumping. Only issue was the shoulder sockets from the motor of doom.
Absolutely. Everybody made a big deal over the 4 speed but it's all you needed. Hell I almost never used first gear. I'd put a bigger counterpart sprocket on it to go trail riding and it was fine.
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motomike137
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motomike137 7/20/2021 1:07pm
7/20/2021 1:07pm Edited Date/Time 7/20/2021 1:07pm
motomike137 wrote:
I'd want my 03 YZ450 back. It had the motor of doom and I had the suspension dialed on the thing courtesy of Tech Care. It...
I'd want my 03 YZ450 back. It had the motor of doom and I had the suspension dialed on the thing courtesy of Tech Care. It was a weapon on the sandy Michigan tracks.
GabeM wrote:
with 4 gears and all that power you hardly needed to shift. Start in 2nd up to 3rd and you were good to on 90% of...
with 4 gears and all that power you hardly needed to shift. Start in 2nd up to 3rd and you were good to on 90% of the tracks with zero fear of under jumping. Only issue was the shoulder sockets from the motor of doom.
It handled awesome and as I said I had the suspension in the sweet spot. I had the sub tanks on the forks which really added to the ability to fine tune plushness in in the chop but still take big hits like a champ. I pulled more than my share of starts with it as well.
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southwick_mx 7/20/2021 1:37pm
7/20/2021 1:37pm
I´d get myself a 2002 KTM 380SX. Then I´d install a set of ´98 WP Extreme right side up forks and an Öhlins shock. Then I would have the bike of my dreams. I´d have to rebuild the bottom end every now and then, but that´s a price I´m willing to pay to have that sweeeeeet engine.
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skeef
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skeef 7/20/2021 1:47pm
7/20/2021 1:47pm
09' Yz450f. Only thing is if I could make it feel as light in the air as my new KTM does. I wish I never sold my 09'.
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user760a
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user760a 7/20/2021 2:18pm
7/20/2021 2:18pm Edited Date/Time 7/20/2021 2:19pm
09 KX450F is competitive with everything out there currently. awesome bike
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MetricHotrods 7/20/2021 2:54pm
7/20/2021 2:54pm
The dollar value buy right now, currently, are the 2011-2015 KTM 250SXs. If you're thinking with your wallet and getting the "most" for your buck.

Vintage twostrokes that are priced like gold currently will be scrap very soon as Boomers age out and younger generations take zero interest in air cooled MX bikes. That proverbial $3800 completely clapped CR480 is about to be a thing of the past, I'd say 3-4 years.

Wait a bit. The bottom is getting ready to fall out of this fun toy, free-for-all stimulus, "get out of the cities and pretend to be a redneck" artificial market that's been going on for about a year. It won't just be bikes, but everything connected to it. RVs. Set up trailers. Combine that with the boomer age-out, and there's going to be stuff out there for pennies on the dollar. Be patient.

P.S. Get a sprinter before the van-lifers destroy them with coconut eco toilets and white prep sinks.
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Lastander
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Lastander 7/20/2021 3:33pm
7/20/2021 3:33pm
garagedog wrote:
08 CRF250R..... with a 270kit. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2021/07/19/502198/s1200_crf.jpg[/img]
08 CRF250R..... with a 270kit.




I had a bitchin -09 250, man i would love a barking carburetor bike again (even though the crf250 -09 carb was junk)
bents
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bents 7/20/2021 7:46pm
7/20/2021 7:46pm
motomike137 wrote:
I'd want my 03 YZ450 back. It had the motor of doom and I had the suspension dialed on the thing courtesy of Tech Care. It...
I'd want my 03 YZ450 back. It had the motor of doom and I had the suspension dialed on the thing courtesy of Tech Care. It was a weapon on the sandy Michigan tracks.
GabeM wrote:
with 4 gears and all that power you hardly needed to shift. Start in 2nd up to 3rd and you were good to on 90% of...
with 4 gears and all that power you hardly needed to shift. Start in 2nd up to 3rd and you were good to on 90% of the tracks with zero fear of under jumping. Only issue was the shoulder sockets from the motor of doom.
motomike137 wrote:
It handled awesome and as I said I had the suspension in the sweet spot. I had the sub tanks on the forks which really added...
It handled awesome and as I said I had the suspension in the sweet spot. I had the sub tanks on the forks which really added to the ability to fine tune plushness in in the chop but still take big hits like a champ. I pulled more than my share of starts with it as well.
I would agree. Had the 03 and loved it. Have been looking for one for years to put back in the stable but they are tough to find in decent shape without Monster stickers all over it. Finally found an 04, all original, really good shape. Would like to find +06 suspension to put on it. It is an old school torque monster, and, little trivia for you-weighs the same as a Husky FC 450! Thank you steel frame!
SilverSpurs
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SilverSpurs 7/20/2021 8:06pm
7/20/2021 8:06pm
1977 RM370B with a 400C cylinder Wink SW
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ctbale
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ctbale 7/20/2021 8:19pm
7/20/2021 8:19pm


Kidding. I want my 2003 YZ250 back. Steel frame, low enuf compression to run clear 92, still had original engine because I am slow and it was bullet proof.
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burn1986
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burn1986 7/20/2021 10:38pm
7/20/2021 10:38pm Edited Date/Time 7/20/2021 10:38pm
Probably a 93 cr125, or another 99 YZ125. I know they’re fat and bulky, but I loved my 88 KX250.
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JamesReed
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JamesReed 7/20/2021 10:55pm
7/20/2021 10:55pm Edited Date/Time 7/20/2021 11:19pm
2002-2007 CR250. Best Ergonomics in the biz by far + Showa Supension, which is very good for hucks/aggressive riding. Power is pipey/ revvy, so the bike does best when the track prep is best. Coincidentally, so do I... Brrrreeeaaaaap!

Also nice that the transmission is bulletproof, unlike the YZ and RM.
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JamesReed
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JamesReed 7/20/2021 11:04pm
7/20/2021 11:04pm

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Lightning78
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Lightning78 7/21/2021 8:16am
7/21/2021 8:16am
A couple years ago I picked up an 03 kx250 that still had the original piston in it.....love that bike to this day can't imagine ever getting rid of it. Especially when I blow by guys on brand new 450's
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racerhansen
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racerhansen 7/21/2021 9:09am
7/21/2021 9:09am
The 2008 Honda CRF 450 was a really good bike. Or any of the late generation Japanese two strokes.
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BobPA
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BobPA 7/21/2021 9:12am
7/21/2021 9:12am
2006 KX 250, I would go back in a heartbeat.

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suspensionguy 7/21/2021 9:40am
7/21/2021 9:40am
Probably a 2012 125SX and I’d convert it to a 200SX

or

RMZ450
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crawfishoo 7/21/2021 9:43am
7/21/2021 9:43am
I'm sure magazine enthusiasts will say I'm crazy, but 2009-2012 CRF450s are phenomenal bikes. Because of poor magazine reviews they tend to be less desirable, so price and availability is usually good.

Bone stock they need a small amount of help. Stiffer fork spring & remap and you have a very very good bike.
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Tracktor
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Tracktor 7/21/2021 3:04pm
7/21/2021 3:04pm
Moto Obsessed wrote:
Couple years ago I bought a low hour 2008 CRF450R for $2,200 as a quick flip.. [b]plot twist:[/b] rode it and was so impressed that I...
Couple years ago I bought a low hour 2008 CRF450R for $2,200 as a quick flip..

plot twist: rode it and was so impressed that I can't imagine selling it. 2008 CRF450R is literally the '96 CR250R of 2000-era MX thumpers. STAMP IT.



Boxed up the original plastics and went with a modern custom look.. shout out to SKDA graphics, amazing company to work with


Yep, that era 05-08 CRF450R is one of the best overall thumpers made. I also loved my 2010 CRF250R. Like mentioned above a 93-96(97) CR125/250 is easily competitive today with just a few mods. My youngest has lined up on my 96 CR125 a few times and done just fine............
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Zesiger 112
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Zesiger 112 7/21/2021 6:39pm
7/21/2021 6:39pm
Ppsshhhh what kind of peasant would own a bike older than 2012, freaking vintage junk.


Oh wait, that’s me….I am peasant.
Yz250 all day
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Moto Obsessed 7/22/2021 7:24am
7/22/2021 7:24am
cmotodad wrote:
Nothing better than beating guys on 10k dirt bikes with my 96 CR250. Bought it for 450 bucks running, went through the motor and added modern...
Nothing better than beating guys on 10k dirt bikes with my 96 CR250. Bought it for 450 bucks running, went through the motor and added modern forks with a revalved shock. Too much fun
Did you do the Showa twin chamber fork swap?? That's what I did on my 96 CR250... forks came off a 2008 CRF450R..
Moto520
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Moto520 7/22/2021 7:27am
7/22/2021 7:27am
EriCS1991 wrote:
97 cr125r [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2021/07/20/502296/s1200_2E34D1CC_56B1_4FC4_8AFA_E4C2EAE7F9E2.jpg[/img]
97 cr125r
wow....beautiful
profeshenal125 7/22/2021 9:37am
7/22/2021 9:37am
UGOTBIT wrote:
YZ250 for me.

For the guys that prefer the CR's, what do you like better about them?
ty159 wrote:
Once the motor was dialed with some head work and port work, vForce, the motor was just awesome. The YZ motor is good, but not as...
Once the motor was dialed with some head work and port work, vForce, the motor was just awesome. The YZ motor is good, but not as good as the CR after mods. Do some mods to the YZ motor and look out, it's an excellent motor too. The ergos on CR feel better and the bike just feels right under you. The handling is by far better than the YZ. Turns better, and is as stable at speed as anything I've ridden. It inspired confidence. The harder you ride, the better it handles. The YZ is a good bike, but for me, the CR is heads and shoulders better.
I agree speaking on the cr125 the 04 chassis is even better than a 06. Jeremy from Mx Tech says the 04 cr125 chassis is the best ever, you can run a 250 or 500 engine in it and it’s still perfect. Front wheel sticks perfect,allows you too push harder. Chassis is so easy to tune,2mm more sag and it’s even more stable and still corners perfect and holds a line perfectly, jump combos made easy. Instills confidence like no other. Chad Watts does a chassis mod to the cr250, I wonder what it is. I would guess the webbing on the inside.
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sebastianer 7/22/2021 11:31am
7/22/2021 11:31am
i think the 2012 kawi 450 must be a pretty good contender, i myself have never owned one, but i did try my friends in 2012 a couple times and remember that it was surprisingly good.
B Lenny
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B Lenny 7/22/2021 8:53pm
7/22/2021 8:53pm
Cool









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