Posts
1474
Joined
4/13/2019
Location
AZ
US
Edited Date/Time
8/23/2021 12:09pm
125 before 250F or No?
Jett was good enough to win EMX250 races at the age of 14. Same here, not a good example for other normal amateurs/juniors.
Everyone over in Europe go from the 85 to a 125. The exceptions are riders that have support from manufacturers that don't make a 125 or incredibly special talents that can jump straight to EMX250 (or any other national MX2 class). And these exceptions are super rare.
The Shop
One, power transition. Going from an 85 to a 125 is a smaller step up in power than going to a 40hp+ 250f with a whole lot of torque. A good 85 will make around 23-25hp built, stock 125 is around 35-38 depending on manufacturer and mods. There is still a learning curve to transitioning from 85 power to 125 power, but the jump isn't so massive that most kids fresh of 85's have no issues going from one to the other. The biggest issue is being able to touch the ground.
Two, riding technique. Riding a 125 which has virtually no bottom end torque whatsoever will teach kids how to maintain momentum around the track. It will teach them how to maintain speed through a corner instead of just stopping mid-corner and dumping the clutch. Being able to ride a 125 fast and efficiently, especially on a rough track, is a great ability to have in your pocket and will make you that much better of a big bike rider when moving to a 450 later on.
Three, the cost. The only time I ever see supermini's run is at Loretta's or BIG amateur events. Locally, no one is running or racing a supermini. It costs more to build a supermini and make it fast than it does to buy a 125 and lower it if your kid is short. Most moto families are not going to sink $10k plus into building a supermini that their kid will ride for a year when they can buy a 125 for cheaper. Aside from supermini's, rebuild costs and modding a 125 is cheaper than a 250f. About $150 for a top-end at the end of the season. If the kid wants more power, 125 Port and Head job will be around $350, pipe $250, silencer $150, reed block $170. So around $1000 in motor mods to make some more HP. 250f mods will be around $5-6k depending on who you use.
Was so glad when MX Sports added the 125 C Class to the AMA Amateur Championship a few years ago. I followed suit and added it to the Series I run in Texas and had it added to a few other series in the state as well. Its one of the biggest classes now and the right place specially for those mid pack 85 riders to transition to.
Also the torque, engine braking and weight can all bite you in the ass pretty quick when you’re not used to it in race scenarios. Hell it even caught out AP7 at the weekend.
-Rider learns big bike skills and gain strength while riding a bike with similar power characteristics (and less power to weight, in fact.)
-Rider is forced into a high effort/high reward paradigm when riding. It's not easy to go fast on a 125. Learn how, and you can make a 250F fly.
-Rider will have more time on a 2-stroke, learn to love them, possibly eschew 4-strokes forever. More guys like this and then the world will be a better place. Peace and love will reign, the planets will align, and the sweet, sweet smell of castor will fill the air.
Yeah there are outliers that can handle it but not worth the risk to me.
Hammer 663s
Pit Row
You learn how to ride this 125 hard enough that you start winning races and can run with 250s then we will look at a 250. You've got to be a good rider to go fast on a 125.
They stopped riding it before LL and focused on the Supermini.
My son is going to ride every bike as long as possible because he is really small for his age.
It was mainly driven by cost and need - he was getting too big for the SW but wasn't ready skill-wise for a real supermini or 125. I didn't want to buy a full BW bike since the 85 only had 50 hours on it. We ran the 85 BW for 6 months then turned it into a 105 supermini with PC suspension and he really started to rip. The recent move to the 125 was easy. He's got 1.5 hours on it and he says he feels ready to race it, so he will tonight at PiR for the first time.
I think each jump from 65-125 was maybe 5-10 hp and/or 25-ish pounds bike weight. The move from 85BW to Supermini was the one that triggered vast improvements. So much more power and way better suspension than the stock 85. It's worked out really well and his confidence is high in the bikes and his capabilities. Who cares what I think right? It's all up to him when he's out there.
Hammer 663s
you are gonna crash as you progress, theres no stopping that.
The sport has seen more deaths on 4 strokes and it's not because
riders skipped the 125s.
Post a reply to: 125 before 250F or No?