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Currently undecided on what to choose as a counterpart to my 450.
Pros/Cons of 125
-more lightweight
-less expensive to buy
-more difficult to ride fast
-more expensive to maintain (top end replacements)
Pros/Cons of 250 2t
-has torque that 125 lacks
-ride longer motos easier
-more expensive msrp
-less agile, possibly worse at cornering
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If you have a 450 already I would go 125. It's the complete opposite of the 450. Fun light play bike.
Or get rid of the 450 and get both, that's what I would do haha.
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Coming off a 350 I bought a yz 125 one year ago. Man the transition was so difficult it took me like 6 months to get used to the tiny powerband of the 125.
If you don't have much experience riding two strokes you will struggle to keep the thing on the pipe in every conditions.
You just become so lazy with the big 4 strokes.
Also don't imagine a 250 2 stroke is easier to ride. Yes it has more torque but you still got to keep it singing and it will tire you off very quickly.
Maintenance wise the 250 has the advantage but 2 stroke is cheaper to maintain anyways.
The 150 is also a ton of fun.
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why are you getting second bike? more fun? extra bike?
a 125 is the very opposite of a 450. a 450 you can relax almost the whole way around a track and get through any turn and get over any jump.
a 125 you have to be on it the whole waaaay. there is no relaxing.
but thats what makes it fun, you can just lock it open and it wont get away from you.
a 250 will require yuou to be on your game, it requires a little more work than a 450, and it has the power a 125 doesnt, but they also will try to get away from you too.
both are fun, 125= wring it out and beat it like a redheaded step child
250= keep it moving but give it some respect
"If you feel in control, you're not going fast enough" ~Mario Andretti
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125. So light and fun to ride. The yz125 is really good in stock form, jetting is spot on too.
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Edited Date/Time:
Sach157 wrote:
Coming off a 350 I bought a yz 125 one year ago. Man the transition was so difficult it took me like 6 months to get used to the tiny powerband of the 125.
If you don't have much experience riding two strokes you will struggle to keep the thing on the pipe in every conditions.
You just become so lazy with the big 4 strokes.
Also don't imagine a 250 2 stroke is easier to ride. Yes it has more torque but you still got to keep it singing and it will tire you off very quickly.
Maintenance wise the 250 has the advantage but 2 stroke is cheaper to maintain anyways.
The 150 is also a ton of fun.
That’s what I would be leaning towards a yz 125. I had gotten an 05 yz125 for my 13th bday the year it came out. Wish I never sold it, never really appreciated it enough. If you can learn to go fast on that, it should translate to any bike.
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Edited Date/Time:
CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:
Yeah man, 125 all day! What brand and year 450 do you ride?
14 RMZ450. I enjoy the heck out of riding it, but I’m beginning to have problems with the left fork leaking oil too often. It has SFF spring on 1 side, dampening on the other. Have to take the fork leg into RG3 this week to check for possible bushing wear.
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Phillip_Lamb wrote:
why are you getting second bike? more fun? extra bike?
a 125 is the very opposite of a 450. a 450 you can relax almost the whole way around a track and get through any turn and get over any jump.
a 125 you have to be on it the whole waaaay. there is no relaxing.
but thats what makes it fun, you can just lock it open and it wont get away from you.
a 250 will require yuou to be on your game, it requires a little more work than a 450, and it has the power a 125 doesnt, but they also will try to get away from you too.
both are fun, 125= wring it out and beat it like a redheaded step child
250= keep it moving but give it some respect
I have all 3 and this is a pretty good roundup.
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125.
Next question ?
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AJ565 wrote:
My 2018 KTM 250SX is 4 lbs heavier than a 2018 YZ125. I ride it like a 125 because it feels like it when riding, just with a lot more power. I'd imagine going from a 450 to a 125 would feel like about the same as going from a drag bike to a z50.
Not sure I could justify paying premium for a KTM as a second bike. As a primary bike it would be worth it, but I can get a new yz125 for thousands off msrp.
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AJ565 wrote:
My 2018 KTM 250SX is 4 lbs heavier than a 2018 YZ125. I ride it like a 125 because it feels like it when riding, just with a lot more power. I'd imagine going from a 450 to a 125 would feel like about the same as going from a drag bike to a z50.
Are you comparing wet weight to dry weight?
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I was. I was thinking my bike was 211lbs dry not 210. So its only 3lbs heavier.
I was at a Yamaha ride day on Saturday and rode the YZ250 and YZ125, the 250 made my hands and feet numb in 2 laps it vibrated so much. The 125 was a dog. I was having trouble getting it to shift as well, but that was just a clutch cable adjustment that needed to be made. I'd suggest riding one before you buy one if you can.
2018 KTM 250sx
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