125 vs 250f shifting

Simple way to put it is I learned how to tap dance so I could shift a 125 effectively. Lol

The difference is quite a bit. 4 Strokes just pull so much more from the bottom and now rev so high. You will literally shift 20-30% less depending on tracks. 

450s you can set them up to basically run 3rd gear everywhere if you want. May not be the fastest way but ive seen some fast dudes on  some big fast tracks basically leave it in 3rd and just moto.

You can probably run the whole track in 2nd and 3rd gear on a 250f. So figure one downshift entering each tighter corner and one exiting. More open corners you can stay in 3rd. You might use 4th if you are on a Honda or Yamaha. Ktms pull forever in 3rd. For someone your weight the change will be shocking. I think you will shift less than a 250 2t. 

If you have ever taped up the toes on your left foot, you have probably done some 125 motos....   🤣

Depends on you’re style brother…

On my 125 I will literally be 2nd in almost every corner and 5th on almost every straight, 6th if there is a longer straight.   A 250F you'll almost never be in 5th and it doesn't have 6th... LOL

Since 250Fs have been out for over 20 years now, they are a different bike to a 125. I think if you ride a 125 at the same speed as a 250F, then the 125 will be changing way more gears. The 125 needs to be in the right gear, whereas you can get away with a 250F being one gear out.

If a pro was riding a 125 vs a 250F both at maximum speed, perhaps the quantity of shifting would be the same. But without being certain, I would think the transmission in a 125 is a bit tighter as well. Also, a good 125 rider will usually take more outside lines, carry more speed etc which reduces gear changes. Whereas a 250F can go from slow to fast more easily. So in general, I would say there is less shifting on a 4 stroke vs 2 stroke, but especially on a 125. Also, I find my 125 became harder and harder to ride on some tracks, as the take offs became shorter. For example, shifting on the up-ramp of a jump for a little bit more go, whereas a 250F can have all the shifting done well before. For this reason, I think a 125 is a lot harder to ride.... since your technique has to be a lot better.

Adding 1 tooth is big on a 125 you added 2. The bike will run each gear out Real quick. Drop your gearing 1 tooth.  I run stock gearing coming off a corner I hyper tap 2 gears. It’s more fun shifting & faster shifting on the strongest part of the engine.  If you raced a sports car you would want to shift just think of of the same.  A 04 I bought had 1 less tooth it took away the surge but pulled forever in 1 gear with more top end.  I do all the passes on the inside on 250,450,s much quicker in& out. 

You'll be shifting into neutral to restart it a lot after stalling when you chop the throttle, but other than that a lot less shifting. 

On my 125 I use 1st-4th on my local vet track. On my 250f I never use first, don't really need to shift 4th but I will to keep it off the limiter (since I buy my own shit). On my 450 I put down similar lap times to the 125 and rarely shift out of 3rd. A 250f for sure feels like less work than a 125, but there's still a lot of shifting involved. Do you have any friends that have 250f's that you could put a couple of laps on? Would you still be able to race the class you want to race on a 250/300/450?