Advice on wife's 1st big bike

So I started my wife with a ttr230. As for the power and Estart she loved it but it was just so heavy. I built a ttr125 with YZ85 suspension and big wheels.  Used the Bbr 150 kit.  It’s a torquey little bike but she loves it and has ridden on some fairly rough trails and the light weight has done nothing but help her confidence.

1st thing~ Get her a bike with an electric start 

A newer 250f with a Rekluse and maybe lower the suspension a bit, would be what she would like. Just my opinion

2016-22 KTM 250XCF or XCFW. E-start and throw a rekluse in it. Plenty of lowering options avaliable if needed. 

She might just need a newer CRF250F with electric start. Used ones are a expensive though. 

Just buy her a bike with E start.

I often say that the girls should run 125’s. They won’t stall as easy, less weight and easy to start.

BUT the girls seems to love the bottom end of a 250f. So i would get her a 250f and invest some time in it to suit her height/skills

Things you can do if you are interested in putting in some time that i have done to my GF’s bike:

-Lower the subframe so it get easier to swing the leg over.

-lower seat foam or cut it down -10mm

- Raised footpegs 5mm

- 999 bend renthal bars 

- slide up the forks in the clamps

She have a 07 cr125 and on that i have a shock from a 02-04 that is 10mm shorter so the bike becomes lower that way to.

Making small adjustments in multiple places make the bike feel and handle better than just cutting down the seat so it looks like a early 2000’s fmx bike. 

Rekluse is the key.  My partner is on a EXC350 and loving it.  We tried a 150 2 strike first and she always ended up on my 450 as she like the 4 stroke low end.  

My buddy got a crf250F for his chick and she loves it, go have her sit on one at the dealership. Solid stepping stone bike imo 

I would agree on a TTR125. E start, reliable, mellow power. Not quite as big or heavy as a full on MX bike. She will have fun and not be intimidated. I found one for my granddaughter a few years ago and it was about perfect for her.

My vote is the tc125. Husqvarna has the lowest seat height out of the 125 lineup and it will be lighter than a 250, easier to maneuver. I see a lot of the girls at the track riding them.

Perhaps give thought to the KTM Freeride models.

All Electric start, both the 2T and 4T.

She's ridden the 112, so a 2t should not be something for her to be uncomfortable with, and, well the original 250 2T Freeride is far from being  a peaky bike. It's also a very simple bike, no PV, no Linkage, and lighter than the 350  and, indeed the bigger bikes you've had for her.

Might be hard to get though - the 250 2t  more so, I think (I've been chasing a mate to sell me his  with one that's just sitting in his garage for a few years now)  - people tend to keep them, If  they kept them. Some thought they were getting something near equivalent to EXCs, and, others, spent megabucks on putting bigger forks / brakes etc on them, losing track of the 'entry level / basic bike ' they (could have) represented for KTM.

I've always said that the Freeride 250 and 350, but the 250 2t especially so,  was a perfect bike to be made by Bajaj in India for KTM. I think it  / them could (have) been the sort of 'DT1' for the Indian / Asian Dirtbike market, and, they could have been a far more affordable 'simple bike' for established markets. 

If she likes the 250 4st, I would get her a newer 250f wit an e-start. I'm shorter than her 5'3/4 and have no issue on my Husqvarna FC 250 2024. Look into a newer Husky (21 or newer) as they have the lowest seat height. Also, I see many girls on newer Honda Crf 250r in my area.

Stark Varg. 
1. Set the power to what she is safe and comfortable with increase as needed. 

2.  Set the power to what you like to ride. 

3.  Keep YOUR current bike. 

4.  You now own two bikes and she is happy. 

Win win. ✌️

Beta xtrainer. Low seat height, electric start, and plenty of low end that won’t stall out.

I can help. My wife has been riding for 30 years, and we have helped many of her friends learn and set up bikes. Number one thing to learn and know, is the more she enjoys riding, the more you will ride. You have to set up a bike for her that is accommodating and that she is not going to be uncomfortable operating without you around. First things first is suspension setup, whether it be lowering (many times it is, ladies we know like to be able to get both feet on the ground), softening, get it right for them. Keep in mind if they are fairly new to riding, they will not be certain what they like, read between the lines, watch them ride, and make it right. Steering stabilizers help, auto clutches help, right hand rear brakes help, flex bars help, seat concepts comfort low seats help, phds bar mounts and the like help, cut down bars help, heavy flywheels help. Get the ergonomics correct for her. If you think they would like to ride a TTR, CRF-F, whatever foo-foo bike, think how much you would like one. Those bikes chase beginners from the sport, they are heavy and unresponsive, weight is a big deal to a lot of beginning and women riders. Beta Xtrainers work great, my wife's current bike is a lowered XCFW350 and works well. It's broader power helps with less shifting and stalling than a 250F, it is relatively light, and lots of parts are available to customize it to her needs.

I actually went from an xr250r, to a wr250f, and back to a ttr225 for my wife. The jerky throttle at low speeds on race bikes with the high seats really scared her and she didn't like riding. Moved to the ttr with it's low seat and tractor like motor and she's ridden from West Virginia to New Mexico and wants to go riding now. If she falls over she complains about the weight, but she's able to pick it up by herself. Her next bike will be the crf250f as it's lighter, has a 4 valve head, and fuel injection.

Also, if she is slow, a radiator fan will be helpful.  

Trails or MX?

A 2017+ KTM 150XCW is really hard to beat, that's what my wife rides and she loves it, she has ridden 250f's and much prefers the lighter weight. My wife is 5'9" and she has no issues with stock seat height even on technical single track stuff. 

Pictures of her bike for reference at 5'9"ish height the bike is very manageable, also did a refresh on it a couple months ago to bring it up to her style standards haha. 

Beta 200 , it will lug well and has smooth powerband. 7/8 scale frame, so not MX tall.

I think any bike with an electric start will help her with her confidence, its not such a big deal and as exhausting to get up and moving again. With her starting out on the 112, she should be fine with the torque of bikes. Shaved seat would also be beneficial getting used to moving a bigger bike around. 

Coming from a female rider, I started on a kx 100 and have had many bikes since then. Currently on a 2024 ktm 250xc, the XC models are awesome when it comes to 2stroke benefits, but also very easily manageable power.

Get her a CR500. 

Throttle cams help too

If you're doing trails did you consider the CRF300L? For sure the engine is limited at 27 hp but that's a terrific starter bike for trails. As it's road homologated it's on the heavy side at 310 pounds.

This bike can climb pretty much anything, Itchy boots vids helped a lot of women to get into bikes.

Thank you! Someone has to say it!!!! Well played!

Great suggestion. 

crf250F is a much better option, less bulk and weight. I don't think 99% of the people even realize it's produced, and no i'm not talking about the crf250R.

It sounds like she wants a full sized bike as she was already on a supermini. I’m assuming it had the bigger wheels on it. If so, all those off-road bikes listed above are going to feel the same but heavier. I would say YZ125 for full size or back to super mini size with a CRF150R.

X2 on the 150xcw

My wife just recently upgraded to a 150xcw from a 105sx. Highly recommend the 150, its light  and nimble. I spent some time on it over the weekend and I may like it better than my 200xcw. 

Yeah the CRF250F is not available here so I don't know it. Interestingly they're very similarly priced (the 300L costs $450 more).

Looking at the specs the CRF300L is more modern with DOHC liquid-cooled engine (5 more hp and 20% more torque compared to 250F), higher travel suspensions with 43 mm inverted forks,... but it's a dual sport, it's 40 pounds heavier which could be deal breaker for some. On the other side, it offers more options for someone getting into bikes, to get more seat time and get comfortable on it. Grocery run, country roads, and obviously trails, it can do a lot.

I feel like the kx112 and tall bars, tall seat, whatever else might have been the ticket?

If you’re riding moto you really need a 250f with estart or a ktm 125 with efi and estart.

If trails the beta xtrainer sounds like a really good move.

Was she shredding on the 112 we need a lot more info, on what you plan to ride, and her skill/agression level on the previous bikes.

There's really only 1 logical choice here.