250 2-stroke

fanger
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fanger
Edited Date/Time 5/12/2013 8:05pm
hello fellow vital members,

over here in australia you can 250 2-strokes in the lites class with the 250f's, i currently have an 013 sxf 250. but i'm not too happy with it. the thing vibrates to much, i keep wrecking wheels, and lots of little things keep going wrong with it. so i've decided to sell it and buy a 2 stroke, but the problem is, which is currently the best 250 2-stroke in the market, and will an 07 honda still be competitive? and by competitive, i am an a grade rider and am going to try qualify for the national rounds in my state. another thing is will riding a 2 stroke be easier on the wallet?
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kawasa84
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kawasa84 5/12/2013 5:36am
5/12/2013 5:36am
Suzuki made 250 2 strokes up to 08' and they were pretty good bikes.
Yamaha of course is still making the 06' YZ 250 and selling it as a 13' model, and of course Kawasaki made 250 2 strokes till 07' here in the U.S. market, but you could still buy new 09' models in Europe. I am not sure when Aussies quit selling new 2 stroke Kawi 250's.
Personally, There was alot of after market parts for Honda CR's, but stock, they were behind the other 3 Japanese brands in 05' to 07'.
Certainly, a good 2 stroke should cost less to race week in and week out. It should easily be competitive in the 250F class as well.
As bd said, a 2013 KTM SX would be hard to beat.
rallendude
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rallendude 5/12/2013 6:29am
5/12/2013 6:29am
It seems you're probably disgruntled with KTM but go buy you a '13 KTM 250SX. The jetting is way off and the suspension is too. But once you go up to about a 172 on the main and install a different needle, it's a rocket and pulls like a four-stroke even down low. If you're an A rider you'll be doing suspension work anyway.
ty159
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ty159 5/12/2013 7:02am
5/12/2013 7:02am
I've got an 07 YZ now, but just before this bike i had an 05 CR, that was a MUCH better bike than the YZ! The biggest problem with an 05-07 CR is the soft bottom end power. A little port and head work, and typical suspension dialing, and the CR is the best Japanese smoker made. A lot of these guys on here will bash the CR, but the truth is with a stronger bottom end hit, it is a much better bike than the YZ!

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YZ125H1
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YZ125H1 5/12/2013 8:25am
5/12/2013 8:25am
A 250T should vibrate more than any 250f you might as well hop up to a 250T though cheaper in the long run if you are racing that 250f hard.
malachi177
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malachi177 5/12/2013 9:48am
5/12/2013 9:48am Edited Date/Time 5/12/2013 9:50am
ty159 wrote:
I've got an 07 YZ now, but just before this bike i had an 05 CR, that was a MUCH better bike than the YZ! The...
I've got an 07 YZ now, but just before this bike i had an 05 CR, that was a MUCH better bike than the YZ! The biggest problem with an 05-07 CR is the soft bottom end power. A little port and head work, and typical suspension dialing, and the CR is the best Japanese smoker made. A lot of these guys on here will bash the CR, but the truth is with a stronger bottom end hit, it is a much better bike than the YZ!
Blink ?? The 05-08 RM250 is on a different level (as in way better) to the same year CR's. The RM engine is awesome, and those years of RM250 are still arguably the best handling MX bike ever. The YZ is a great bike too.

To the OP, whatever 250 2 stroke you get, I would recommend you get a flywheel weight for it. Huge help in making it more tractable coming out of corners. The KTM's come with a heavier flywheel stock.
KLM85
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KLM85 5/12/2013 11:48am
5/12/2013 11:48am
Ktm sx motor is simply amazing. Once you get the jetting and suspension dialed it will be hard to beat. Its durable and cheap to maintain. If you ride that hard it will be significantly cheaper to run.
ty159
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ty159 5/12/2013 1:22pm
5/12/2013 1:22pm Edited Date/Time 5/12/2013 1:23pm
ty159 wrote:
I've got an 07 YZ now, but just before this bike i had an 05 CR, that was a MUCH better bike than the YZ! The...
I've got an 07 YZ now, but just before this bike i had an 05 CR, that was a MUCH better bike than the YZ! The biggest problem with an 05-07 CR is the soft bottom end power. A little port and head work, and typical suspension dialing, and the CR is the best Japanese smoker made. A lot of these guys on here will bash the CR, but the truth is with a stronger bottom end hit, it is a much better bike than the YZ!
malachi177 wrote:
:blink: ?? The 05-08 RM250 is on a different level (as in way better) to the same year CR's. The RM engine is awesome, and those...
Blink ?? The 05-08 RM250 is on a different level (as in way better) to the same year CR's. The RM engine is awesome, and those years of RM250 are still arguably the best handling MX bike ever. The YZ is a great bike too.

To the OP, whatever 250 2 stroke you get, I would recommend you get a flywheel weight for it. Huge help in making it more tractable coming out of corners. The KTM's come with a heavier flywheel stock.
Opinions vary, but I've ridden all of them except the KTM 250 (but if its like the 300 it's got to be bad ass ), the. CR is way better than the RM in my opinion. I don't like the steel frame as much as the Honda aluminum frame, hell I think the YZ is better than the RM. that said, they are all good bikes and one may suit different riders better than the next. To me the CR has way more potential than any of the other jap bikes. All of that said, my next bike will be a KTM 300, because all of the KTM smokers are better than the jap bikes.
burn1986
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burn1986 5/12/2013 1:31pm
5/12/2013 1:31pm
I would get the 150. The fun won't wear out. If you get tired of it you can sell it since these bikes have very high resale value.
T-Fish
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T-Fish 5/12/2013 1:44pm
5/12/2013 1:44pm
burn1986 wrote:
I would get the 150. The fun won't wear out. If you get tired of it you can sell it since these bikes have very high...
I would get the 150. The fun won't wear out. If you get tired of it you can sell it since these bikes have very high resale value.
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malachi177
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malachi177 5/12/2013 2:47pm
5/12/2013 2:47pm
ty159 wrote:
Opinions vary, but I've ridden all of them except the KTM 250 (but if its like the 300 it's got to be bad ass ), the...
Opinions vary, but I've ridden all of them except the KTM 250 (but if its like the 300 it's got to be bad ass ), the. CR is way better than the RM in my opinion. I don't like the steel frame as much as the Honda aluminum frame, hell I think the YZ is better than the RM. that said, they are all good bikes and one may suit different riders better than the next. To me the CR has way more potential than any of the other jap bikes. All of that said, my next bike will be a KTM 300, because all of the KTM smokers are better than the jap bikes.
Very true with opinionsSmile I had an 06 and didn't like the rigid feel of the frame, the handling, and the motor was weak. I got an 08 RM and instantly liked it better. I still have it today, as well as an 08 RM125. I agree if I was to buy another new bike it would be the KTM....if only they made a 300SX!!
nytsmaC
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nytsmaC 5/12/2013 2:54pm
5/12/2013 2:54pm
burn1986 wrote:
I would get the 150. The fun won't wear out. If you get tired of it you can sell it since these bikes have very high...
I would get the 150. The fun won't wear out. If you get tired of it you can sell it since these bikes have very high resale value.
Did you read the original post? He wants to race pro with it and try to qualify for the Aussie nationals.
SwapperMX
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SwapperMX 5/12/2013 4:03pm
5/12/2013 4:03pm
Fanger, which state are you in?? Jacob Wright has been racing a CR250 in the sunny states and doing really well on it. Todd Waters was even racing a KTM 250SX on the weekend and was hauling on that too. Those new KTM's certainly do seem to be the pick of the current crop of 250 two strokes. If you cant bring yourself to buy another new KTM, then my pick for a second option has to be a YZ250.
fanger
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fanger 5/12/2013 4:44pm
5/12/2013 4:44pm
thanks for the replies, the only thing that makes me hesitate about getting a cr is i have heard the suspension is nowhere near as good as the other bikes, then again that could be people talking about things they have no idea about. im in vic, i have a few mates that i've asked, but they are biased to what they ride..... so its not much help. the local shop deals honda suzuki and ktm, so i'm pretty much limited to those three.
SwapperMX
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SwapperMX 5/12/2013 5:04pm
5/12/2013 5:04pm
Does that shop still have left over 07 CR250's ?? Or even any RM250's ?? Otherwise the decision has already been made for you. And you have kinda missed the boat on racing the nats in Victoria this year. The second Vic round is this weekend, the first one was two weeks ago, and only one other round at Swan Hill. Get another Kato, you wont be disappointed.
seth505
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seth505 5/12/2013 5:08pm
5/12/2013 5:08pm
I'd go with a yz or a ktm just because you can still get new/close to new and I wouldn't want to be on a 5-8 year old bike riding at expert level.
burn1986
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burn1986 5/12/2013 5:12pm
5/12/2013 5:12pm Edited Date/Time 5/12/2013 5:14pm
burn1986 wrote:
I would get the 150. The fun won't wear out. If you get tired of it you can sell it since these bikes have very high...
I would get the 150. The fun won't wear out. If you get tired of it you can sell it since these bikes have very high resale value.
nytsmaC wrote:
Did you read the original post? He wants to race pro with it and try to qualify for the Aussie nationals.
I think it would be competitive. If it doesn't have enough power I'm sure he could have it bored out to like a 167 or the next higher. A lot of riders are faster on a 250f than a 250 2-stroke. And some riders are faster on a 150 than a 250f.
fanger
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fanger 5/12/2013 5:17pm
5/12/2013 5:17pm
im not looking for a brand new bike, id like to buy something second hand and spend the money i save on the save on the bike, i've already sold my ktm for 8000 and could buy a neat cr for 3500 to 4000 and spend 4000 on making it a competitive bike, whereas if i buy a new ktm, not only do i lose money but i will have to race it stock. yeah i know, i broke my back at frankston earlier in the year and have only started riding these last few weeks. so its do or die for swan hill. so i think the cr is my bst option.

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SwapperMX
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SwapperMX 5/12/2013 5:29pm
5/12/2013 5:29pm
bd wrote:
A stock 250 two stroke, hard to beat a 2013 KTM 250SX. However, you can make 2007 Honda CR 250s scream. Search on Vital MX for...
A stock 250 two stroke, hard to beat a 2013 KTM 250SX. However, you can make 2007 Honda CR 250s scream. Search on Vital MX for Honda CR250 hop ups.

CamP is the 2002-2007 CR 250 guru

Example: http://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/2007-honda-cr-125-amp-250…
If you do go with the CR, then hit up CamP as BD mentioned for advice and info. You will have an awesome bike once its sorted !!
seth505
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seth505 5/12/2013 5:29pm
5/12/2013 5:29pm
fanger wrote:
im not looking for a brand new bike, id like to buy something second hand and spend the money i save on the save on the...
im not looking for a brand new bike, id like to buy something second hand and spend the money i save on the save on the bike, i've already sold my ktm for 8000 and could buy a neat cr for 3500 to 4000 and spend 4000 on making it a competitive bike, whereas if i buy a new ktm, not only do i lose money but i will have to race it stock. yeah i know, i broke my back at frankston earlier in the year and have only started riding these last few weeks. so its do or die for swan hill. so i think the cr is my bst option.
Makes sense, best of luck man
fanger
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fanger 5/12/2013 5:44pm
5/12/2013 5:44pm
thanks for all the help, as for luck im going to need it haha.
burn1986
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burn1986 5/12/2013 8:05pm
5/12/2013 8:05pm
burn1986 wrote:
I would get the 150. The fun won't wear out. If you get tired of it you can sell it since these bikes have very high...
I would get the 150. The fun won't wear out. If you get tired of it you can sell it since these bikes have very high resale value.
nytsmaC wrote:
Did you read the original post? He wants to race pro with it and try to qualify for the Aussie nationals.
burn1986 wrote:
I think it would be competitive. If it doesn't have enough power I'm sure he could have it bored out to like a 167 or the...
I think it would be competitive. If it doesn't have enough power I'm sure he could have it bored out to like a 167 or the next higher. A lot of riders are faster on a 250f than a 250 2-stroke. And some riders are faster on a 150 than a 250f.
You know what, I posted this in the wrong thread. I meant to post it in the "I rode the 150 today" thread.

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