Blown away by modern four strokes

Sometimes I feel like that but then I hop on my 125 and everything from the sound, maneuverability, and just how much fun it is to ride it WFO immediately make me forget about another bike. Maybe 4 strokes just don’t get me going as much as some. 

450s have way too much power for most of us 

Go find yourself a 07 CRF and live happily ever after. 

I don't know how anyone could down vote that post. The biggest issue with a 125/150 is they are not competitive with 250f given relatively equal riders. If you just want to ride for fun, I don't think anything can beat a 125/150.

I wouldnt say I was blown away but I had a similar experience when I returned to the sport after eight years. It was almost expected - if bikes released a decade apart don’t feel much different, what does that say about reviews/shootouts that claim improvements every single year?

I’m in between modern bikes right now after breaking my scaphoid last september. I love my 2006 KX250, will never sell it …and I am/was a two stroke die hard! That being said I can’t wait to get my new KTM 350 SXF. The KX rips and puts a smile on my face, but holy shit it’s all over the track and you have to be on top of it the whole time or it will do silly things like high side you off a simple little double and break your scaphoid 😂

I hardly race other than Day in the dirt and a few harescrambles here and there. Actually the 125 has been the best harescramble bike for me because I can ride it as hard as I can and almost can’t tire myself out, I come off the track ready to line right back up. 

At the local level I’m a firm believer that they are just as capable as a 250f as long as they’re in the right hands. 

LOL!  I had an 05 KX250 which was basically the same bike 05-07 models. I never came to grips with the handling of the bike & sold it after it put me on the ground a few times.

https://motocrossactionmag.com/reviving-one-of-the-worst-bikes-ever-tes…

What's up Ace..  Also owned a 04 YZ250, that was a very good handling bike, but didn't turn as well. Good engine that felt similar to 93-01 CR250's owned.  Going off memory I think you owned a 02 CR250r with PC engine mods ?  The 3rd gen AF CR chassis / suspension will feel more modern.  The 04 YZ will feel big & heavy in comparison to modern bikes.  

You may love it , but it was not known for its great handling. Any of the other big 4,  2-stroke offerings  from those years were better overall.

I have it set up well now with suspension,  Pro Circuit Link and Triple Clamps have helped with the over all handling and cornering, but the “turn and stomp” still rears its ugly head once and awhile! When i say all over the track I mean as a two stroke being lighter and sort of dancing around the track where as a four stroke is more planted and sure footed… at least for me! The full blown Tom Morgan motor helps too 😂

I am a weekend warrior these days, no racing, just practice days and private tracks. It's all in personal preference. I find the 2 strokes to be safer to me, keeps me aware and on my toes the entire time I'm riding it. 

Also, I will note, pulling up to the track last week, a 57-year-old guy was absolutely wringing his yz250 out all alone. I paused for a bit and just listened, the echoing, the pinging, the smell. Oh, so great!

I've owned 4 new 4 strokes - 2014 yz250f, 2018 crf250, 2019 crf250, 2007 yz250f

Out of all of those bikes listed, the 2007 yz250f was the best 4 stroke bike I ever owned. It does not even compare to the 04 kx250 I owned, which was actually to me one of the worst 2 strokes I've ever owned " Due to headshake/handling issues it put me down more than once in a turn or braking bumps". 

Im done buying 10,000 4 strokes. I refuse to buy one used. I don't like them, and I won't ever like them. Not because they are inferior, but because I just don't.

I had a 04, was an awesome bike, but always fought a headshake issue with it. Alot of times i felt like it went where it wanted, if you fought it, it would fight you back

Is the fat guy Deegan and the sporty guy Stank Dog?  

I feel ya man. Been on YZ 2 strokes my whole life, just started riding a 2020 KTM 250F this past year. Its a good bike as it is super easy to ride, makes plenty of trackable power, and easy to corner too. I really miss my 2 strokes for the fun factor, but then I ride this 250F again and I can stay out on track for twice as long without getting tired. I guess I need a 250F AND a smoker in my garage at all times haha!

Turn the throttle less and it'll send less power to the rear wheel. If you need more turn it a little farther and enjoy not having to spend thousands to mod the engine for 3 more hp like the 250 and 350f riders do.

Never been on a modern 4 stroke past a 14 rmz450 with a blown shock.  By my 18 yz250 is eons better than the 04 yz450 I replaced it with.  I’m sure a modern 450 would be easier to ride and smoother, but I love this yz250, and the suspension works very good, it was done up for a 175 c class rider before I got it.  I weigh 210 but have the skill issue so haven’t had any issues with it yet.

Did a year on a new Honda, just wasn't as fun. Sure, I got faster and moved up a class, but that all translated when I got back on a YZ250.

I've described it many times to my riding buddies... On my YZ I'm always trying to go faster and push a little more. On the Honda, I always felt like I was trying to slow down and keep it under control. That's not fun, the 2 stroke is always fun. I can "get wild" without feeling like I'm about to get thrown off the track.

I could see a 350 or even the KTM 300 2 stroke being a great balance.

Been racing for 30 years.  Swore off brand new bikes 10 years ago and even more so, 250 four strokes.  I just thought they were dumb and couldn’t fathom why you wouldn’t just ride a 250 two stroke.  I completely grenaded my yz 250 2 stroke, earlier this year and had to replace cases, cylinder and all the internals only to get it back together and ride it an hour before it quit shifting.  So I tore that apart again.  Meanwhile I rode a friend’s yz 250f and fell in love.  Bought my own and am blown away with it.  The new bike feel, ergos and how stable and predictable it is has reignited the enjoyment I get out of riding.  The suspension is the best I’ve ever rode as well.  

The 250 2T is obviously faster and has always been more fun to ride.  However, the yam 250f likes to be beaten.  Depending on your skill set and how much momentum you carry in general, you can ride it like a 250 2T in some areas of the track while in other parts, lug it around like a 450 can be ridden.  I think smooth and controlled roll speed is probably the most important aspect in going fast and will also determine how you ride your bike with respect to throttle control.  This is what riding a two stroke well facilitates because you they don’t have the torque and tractor power delivery.  

That said, I mapped it using Keefer’s passive aggressive map and it does fall off a little more than I’d like way up top and def doesn’t rev out like the 2T does.  Everything else is soo good.