Dirt scooters that turn good past and present

wwdiii
Posts
2578
Joined
4/15/2019
Location
League City, TX, USA
Edited Date/Time 11/23/2022 4:37am
It’s cold, raining in Houston Texas area and I don’t want to do anything. I’ve read the internet and watch it rain it the swimming pool all I can. Figured I post something.

Recently picked up a 2023 CRFR, it turns really good. I’m not very fast any more but It’s very easy to pick where you want to turn, it goes where you point it with precision. Doesn't seen to exit like my old 2014 YZ250F but that’s probably me/ may need to get my set up dialed in better. Set sag but need to check it again, haven’t done much with the front. Haven’t ridden the Honda that much yet, been raining a lot lately and can’t get to the track.

Being one of the older guys on the site and thinking back to racing days. In my high school days my 1973 CZ250 would corner like a bandit and hook up coming out of a corner like a tractor on steroids. I brought it home new and pulled it apart, ported polished, matched transfers. Took a hacksaw and a file to the back side of a new wisco piston, swapped the pipe and carb out. Eventually moved the shocks forward and replaced with after market. Would hook up coming out of a corner with front wheel off the ground like it was on rails. I miss those days.

Prior to the CZ I had a new Suzuki TM250 MX, 72, 73 can remembe what year. Trying to get it to corner was like trying to bounce around a corner on a pogo stick. Ditched it quick for a CZ.

I recall a wicked fast 83-84 YZ250, seems like I was either washing out or high siding about every other turn LOL. Hurt my back at work and had to get off two wheels shortly after I bought it. Was off two wheels for along time cause of my back.

One of the reasons I bought the 2023 Honda 250R had to do with a 2019 CRF250F trail bike I bought new. Bought to keep at my lake house which was close to some logging roads in East Texas I had access too. This 250F set good when you climbed on it and good turned good but had crap for suspension. Suspension so bad I hardly got it out of the garage. Recently went through the suspension with Brazilian Tuscany Racing rear shock and dual chamber fork conversion. I ended up with a big pit bike/trail bike thats really fun ride. It corners really good for a heavy red pig. Figured a new 250R would too.

Like I said bored and lazy today. What bikes have you guys had past and president that would or would not go around a corner.

Thanks Billy
7
2
|
Adam43
Posts
3309
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
WF
11/19/2022 1:34pm
Literally any RM125. Spent a lot of time on an ‘03 that carved so well and easily it seemed wired to your brain. They were light enough that it was easy to hang on through any headshake.
7
Hcallz5
Posts
3279
Joined
8/20/2013
Location
USA
11/19/2022 1:45pm
I've heard that the old KDX two strokes are really great handling bikes. Carson Brown posted a video of his recently that is badass. I may need to pick me up a KDX.
1
wwdiii
Posts
2578
Joined
4/15/2019
Location
League City, TX, USA
11/19/2022 2:20pm
I missed out on RM days, was to busy hunting and fishing bass tournaments. Always heard from my buddies RM’s would turn. They had to turn better than their predecessor the TM. The TM’s had strong motors, but were jetted wrong coming to the US. We never could get my TM jetted correctly. Even jetted wrong we’re still bad fast. Would also kickback trying to start one and all but throw you over the bars. A TM400 would. The Little Jap Engineers and Techs could barely start them and some couldn’t. All I can say is the Suzukis Roger DeCoster rode must have had better suspension than stock LOL.

A buddy of mine back in the day in the 70’s had some kind of Kawasaki, might have been mentioned above and it would corner and rip pretty dang good. Back then Kawasaki was kinda like a Subaru, yeah they are pretty good but many steered clear of them for some reason.

My age is showing !!!!
1
TeamGreen
Posts
37180
Joined
11/25/2008
Location
Thru-out, CA, USA
11/19/2022 3:27pm











4

The Shop

Dave v3.0
Posts
704
Joined
7/15/2022
Location
Ozark, AL, USA
11/19/2022 4:24pm
Nothing today turns like the pre-long travel bikes that arrived in the mid-70's. Center of gravity is too high.

That being said here are some really good ones.

Any Maico up to 1981. Suzuki RM's and RMZ's...damn near all of them. The mid-80's Hondas that DeCoster helped design. KTM's since 2012...that DeCoster also had a hand in. There's a running theme with bikes that Roger helped out on.

4
11/19/2022 4:36pm
Adam43 wrote:
Literally any RM125. Spent a lot of time on an ‘03 that carved so well and easily it seemed wired to your brain. They were light...
Literally any RM125. Spent a lot of time on an ‘03 that carved so well and easily it seemed wired to your brain. They were light enough that it was easy to hang on through any headshake.
Agreed. My ‘03 was almost automatic. You’d look at a rut and it would just take it. That was a fun bike I regret selling
1
11/19/2022 4:46pm
2003 RM250 that was loaned to me by a friend for a woods race. Thing diced through singletrack incredibly and the motor worked really good down low and pulled like a freight train.

My 2006 CR125 handled great too, but I always wondered if the lack of power made it a great handling bike…
2
wwdiii
Posts
2578
Joined
4/15/2019
Location
League City, TX, USA
11/19/2022 5:20pm
You guys keep talking about all these older bikes that turn and handle really well will end up getting in the bike a month club. My wife has a lack of understanding when it comes to these matters. Another two wheels in the garage and I’m really in trouble!!!!
1
sandtrack315
Posts
2844
Joined
7/19/2013
Location
Philadelphia, PA, USA
11/19/2022 5:36pm
2000s era RM125, 2022 CRF250R.
yamahaha131
Posts
730
Joined
4/7/2010
Location
Newark, OH, USA
11/19/2022 5:54pm
My 18 yz450f turns pretty good but the 19.5 fc450 rockstar edition I had briefly was Incredible. Forks sucked though.
yamahaha131
Posts
730
Joined
4/7/2010
Location
Newark, OH, USA
11/19/2022 5:55pm
I also store a buddy’s mint 01 rm125 and ride it occasionally. Turns amazing. I’ve rode an 01 year rm250 turns very well also.
yamahaha131
Posts
730
Joined
4/7/2010
Location
Newark, OH, USA
11/19/2022 5:55pm
I also store a buddy’s mint 01 rm125 and ride it occasionally. Turns amazing. I’ve rode an 01 year rm250 turns very well also.
1
250 cross
Posts
278
Joined
10/30/2020
Location
Belding, MI, USA
11/19/2022 5:55pm
Team Green, what's the story on the white 125 monoshock in your post? Don't remember that bike. Was that a US model?
2
ATKpilot99
Posts
10455
Joined
4/13/2010
Location
Lake Geneva, WI, USA
11/19/2022 6:00pm
Did you do the frame mod or just change the wheel ? They were supposedly really unstable without the frame modification .
1
ATKpilot99
Posts
10455
Joined
4/13/2010
Location
Lake Geneva, WI, USA
11/19/2022 6:35pm
That's right it was a Baker mod . I think I remember reading about it first in mxa . I love the look of those 79 elsinores .
2
crowe660
Posts
2271
Joined
8/15/2020
Location
USA
11/19/2022 7:25pm
Maybe a weird choice, but the best handling bike I’ve ever owned was my 03 CRF450. Locked in on ruts like nothing else, but how it handled flat sweepers was something I still haven’t experienced since. I also had an 07 RM250 after the CRF, and while it was close, for some reason that 03 CRF was something I still dream about. I don’t know if I just hit the sweet spot on setup or what, but once I had it set, I didn’t touch a clicker for a year and a half.
quadmx301
Posts
506
Joined
9/23/2014
Location
Murrieta, CA, USA
11/19/2022 7:29pm
YZ250s w/ 10mm fork height, good front tire, and 95mm sag
3
1
Austin_Rankin
Posts
1119
Joined
9/3/2019
Location
Georgetown, KY, USA
11/19/2022 7:30pm
any 19-22 KTM 350SXF!!!!
2
OleTex
Posts
658
Joined
7/16/2016
Location
Central, TX, USA
11/19/2022 7:42pm
80’s CR 125 overall could slice through corners.
Press516
Posts
5789
Joined
9/11/2018
Location
Gilbert, AZ, USA
Fantasy
11/19/2022 7:43pm
I'm old... But the best turning bike I ever rode was the '81 RM125X. The '79 YZ125 was a close second.
wwdiii
Posts
2578
Joined
4/15/2019
Location
League City, TX, USA
11/19/2022 7:57pm
I read a while back and not to far back, may have been a recent magazine. Don’t remember which one but article was dirt bikes tested over the years. Writer mentioned a 2008 CRF450R as I recall he tested, said it would still be competitive today. Evidently turned well and did a lot of good things.

Interesting how certain years bikes turn well, handle good and next year may not. Would think bikes would continue to get better across the board and stay, guess not all ways the case. I retired from a very large Industrial control system company. We built control systems for Refining and Chemical plants etc in the early to mid 90’s that had function/features current control systems still struggle with today.

With that said, as a whole the new stuff today is really good. Not many flies on that 2023 Honda in the garage other than me trying to get used to it.

11/20/2022 1:28am
For me ( let's just say a larger chap) all bikes turned and handled like crap until I learned about spring rating and sag..
2
wwdiii
Posts
2578
Joined
4/15/2019
Location
League City, TX, USA
11/20/2022 5:24am
For me ( let's just say a larger chap) all bikes turned and handled like crap until I learned about spring rating and sag..
You are so right on spring rates/sag when it comes to big guys and how a bike handles. I’m 225, my guess 230 with gear, although I need to weight about 185/190 LOL. Dirt bikes are sprung for 160-180 pound riders for the most part. If I still raced etc. I’d more than likely need to swap the rear spring on my Honda to a heavy per the competition handbook that come with it. There’s a reason to measure spring length after you set sag. I’m right at the border line maybe over a little on spring length on my rear. Haven’t got around to the front yet.

Speaking of weight, I need to get off the internet and get my ass to the gym this morning!!!
MXWebmaster
Posts
831
Joined
6/19/2017
Location
South Central, TX, USA
11/20/2022 5:34am
Had a '78 YZ100 that would not turn for sh*t, but was very stable through the rough stuff, so decent trade off. My 1980 RM125T would turn like the dickens but had headshake so bad it would scare me. Had an '86 YZ125S model that turned very well and was stable. Best of both worlds.
AH387
Posts
1666
Joined
8/29/2019
Location
Bridgeville, PA, USA
11/20/2022 5:43am
My old 02 RM125 was the best cornering bike that I owned. As I've gotten older I have sort of gravitated towards more neutral handling bikes than the razor sharp bikes.
4the7ove
Posts
108
Joined
8/6/2014
Location
Billings, MT, USA
11/20/2022 6:27am
I’ve owned a plethora of RMs. 01, 04 and 05 125, as well as an 05 250. Pretty hard to beat imo as far as cornering/handling.
2
wwdiii
Posts
2578
Joined
4/15/2019
Location
League City, TX, USA
11/20/2022 6:54am
Somebody mentioned/commented on recent year KTM 350. I thought there would be more mention about Austrian bikes. I’ve never owned one but they must do a lot of things right, lots of them at the track.
1
TeamGreen
Posts
37180
Joined
11/25/2008
Location
Thru-out, CA, USA
11/20/2022 8:34am
ATKpilot99 wrote:
Did you do the frame mod or just change the wheel ? They were supposedly really unstable without the frame modification .
I had a yellow ‘81; but, a friend came up from South Africa and brought a white one with him (we raced the Golden State Series).

Had the white one in a pic …so, I just used it…
Moto520
Posts
3640
Joined
2/4/2013
Location
Schaumburg, IL, USA
11/20/2022 8:42am
2010-2013 crf250R

2014 Suzuki rmz450
SmokinJoe439
Posts
2392
Joined
3/7/2012
Location
Renton, WA, USA
11/20/2022 9:08am
My 04 kx125 those were the like low slung chassis. Weren't as tall lil closer to the ground shorter length wise.
I could hit any line on it. First big bike I've owned i could touch both feet on the ground.


1

Post a reply to: Dirt scooters that turn good past and present

The Latest