I need opinions and experiences to make the call. I really am having trouble committing and pulling the trigger one way or the other. I want to buy a new pit bike and I’m torn between the klx140L and crf125bw. I have sort of eliminated the ttr and Drz 125’s unless a dealer is really willing to deal because if I’m going carbureted, I want the extra hp’s of the 140 and the crf is the only fuel injected option. This is for use as an adult pit bike, not a lot of jumping, mostly farm field turn tracks with buddies and on the ice in the winter. I would plan on some light mods but not interested in sinking 10k into a mini bike. They are basically the same money, the klx has more power but is quite a bit heavier, the crf is fuel injected but is there enough tuning ability with a power commander to ride in the summer and on the ice in the winter like I can do with jetting on a carb? Every time I think my mind is made up, I talk myself right back into the other one.
I'd get the klx. It only weighs 10 lbs more but with that, you get a full frame unlike the bolted together crf frame. I know which one I'd rather land from a jump on. Carburetors are perfectly fine. Easy to service and will never fail. Just don't let the gas go bad and you're golden. Also, klx gets you 5 speeds instead of 4. Plus, more power baby.
All of the rage around the midwest is the 140, I don't know of anyone really having a Honda. My buddies 140's are basically 4T superminis.
You can't go wrong with either, but I'm a Honda/Yamaha guy so don't buy many Kawasakis but you wont regret either of your choices.
One wonders why they don't just get a supermini sometimes...
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I have the Honda 125 and enjoy it but I am also a small guy. 130LBS. My friend Andrew is bigger but on a KLX140 and we are about even for playing in the orchard tracks. They all put the same smile on your face!
I've ridden and worked on both, the KLX is more like a true KX construction wise, the CRF is more mini-bike, Chinese bike construction. The KLX feels more like a real motorcycle than the CRF as well when you ride them.
Thanks for the update. That was my opinion as well after sitting on them. It kind of puts me more into the Honda actually. I had crf150f a bunch of years ago and what I hated the most about it was how it felt like a slow big bike and not a pit bike. My favorite mini was my drz125 and the Honda feels a lot like that for me.
Those are definitely solid points. I’m pretty good with carbs so I’m not scared of tuning but I am really into the idea of FI and I think it’s easy to make the power pretty even with the klx. The thing I hated most about the klx after sitting on it is that it feels like slow big bike and not a pit bike. I don’t really plan on racing mini supercross so jumping isn’t a huge concern
You'll love the Honda. I own both the KLX and the CRF and I like them equally well, though for different reasons. The KLX feels more stout but is an excellent bike and is far easier to trick out; the CRF is more nimble and the FI advantage is very noticeable, but it doesn't have as good a suspension or feel as "planted" as the KLX. If you get the CRF I'd get a larger rear sprocket for it, as the gap between first and second is ridiculous. A larger sprocket kinda eliminates first, making second and third the two gears you'd use the most - and they are much better matched.
I intend to give both of mine a major transformation, from their suspensions to their motors, primarily because I have genuinely found them to be more enjoyable to ride and race than my full-size race bikes are. Truth be told, I sold the last of my full-sized bikes last week - and I feel really good about it. Weird, I know - but I know what I like.
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