Are older 2strokes bad?

jamesdry
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7/26/2018 6:01am Edited Date/Time 7/31/2018 11:31am
I feel like in the mx community these days everyone has the newest and best bike, making me feel like I myself need a newer bike. Realistically are older bikes (early 2000’s) specifically 2strokes bad compared to new bikes. I have a 04 KTM 125SX and I kinda feel like the odd one out at the mx track as my bike is older however I had a strict budget when buying so I could not get the best and the most fancy bike. Just wondering what everyone else thinks about this.
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TJMX947
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Indian Trail, NC US
7/26/2018 6:11am
Back in the early 2000s it seemed like everyone had a brand new or one season old bike. I had a 5 year CR125 and I stuck out like a sore thumb. Now its common place to see people ride 5 year old bikes, or even 10+ year old bikes...YZ125s and YZ250s have been the same basic design since 2005, and almost mechanically unchanged since 2006.

Ride what you have and enjoy it. Fast is fast, and slow is slow no matter how old your bike is. When you pass someone on a new bike take pride in it, develop your skills, and when money permits upgrade to a newer 125.
newmann
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7/26/2018 6:14am
Nothing better than passing the latest and greatest on a decade (or 4!) old bike.
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newmann
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7/26/2018 6:19am Edited Date/Time 7/26/2018 6:22am
My son's 04 RM125, nothing here that isn't up to par with modern offerings for any normal weekend warrior.





And I beg anyone to find fault with these decades old rippers. Amazing stuff and with a good rider, an effective weapon.


The Shop

H4L
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7/26/2018 6:35am
olds cool wrote:
Yes. Bad to the bone.
I concur. I'm still rocking an 03 CR2 from that yr.. Test rode the 17 white & orange KTM's last yr. & wasn't impressed. The only advantages felt were the brembo brakes & hydralic clutch.
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Log Hopper
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7/26/2018 6:40am Edited Date/Time 7/26/2018 6:40am
My brother and I are 1-2 on holeys with our 15 and 17 year old bikes on the regular. Love rippin holeshots on those antiques against all the new bikes.
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7/26/2018 6:46am
They're obviously not better than new bikes but they're not insufficient either.
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JBecker 72
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VA US
7/26/2018 6:49am
newmann wrote:
My son's 04 RM125, nothing here that isn't up to par with modern offerings for any normal weekend warrior. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2018/07/26/277048/s1200_3A2517AB_63F2_41D3_92AC_A95CCB9D51CE.jpg[/img] And I beg anyone to find...
My son's 04 RM125, nothing here that isn't up to par with modern offerings for any normal weekend warrior.





And I beg anyone to find fault with these decades old rippers. Amazing stuff and with a good rider, an effective weapon.


That steel frame CR125, want!
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Donovan759
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7/26/2018 6:53am
Twist that throttle a little further and send it James. Show all those guys at the track how its done. Rip it.
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omalley
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7/26/2018 7:00am
I was able to hold my own in 40+ B against 450’s on my 02 CR250R. I even nailed a couple decent starts.
The difference to me is that I have to be perfect on the 250, whereas on a 450 I could use power to mask mistakes. I can go faster on the new (KX) 450 with less effort, but it doesn’t mean I’m slow on the 250.

The more slippery the track the bigger the handicap because I’m searching for traction while they are driving forward.

As someone said above, passing guys on new bikes on something 16 years old is priceless.

I will add that in my opinion, some of the last two strokes (02-07 Honda’s etc) are the best handling bikes on the planet. I love my 250 in that regard.
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Hoseclamp
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7/26/2018 7:12am
omalley wrote:
I was able to hold my own in 40+ B against 450’s on my 02 CR250R. I even nailed a couple decent starts. The difference to...
I was able to hold my own in 40+ B against 450’s on my 02 CR250R. I even nailed a couple decent starts.
The difference to me is that I have to be perfect on the 250, whereas on a 450 I could use power to mask mistakes. I can go faster on the new (KX) 450 with less effort, but it doesn’t mean I’m slow on the 250.

The more slippery the track the bigger the handicap because I’m searching for traction while they are driving forward.

As someone said above, passing guys on new bikes on something 16 years old is priceless.

I will add that in my opinion, some of the last two strokes (02-07 Honda’s etc) are the best handling bikes on the planet. I love my 250 in that regard.
My ride is an 02 cr250 and I also love the way it handles! I always tell my son its not the magic wand but the magician holding it.
FLmxer
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7/26/2018 7:13am
I still have that 02 yz250 in mint condition. I got an 02 crf450 at the same time and barely did ride the yz except I raced it in one class for one series and like zero hours besides those few races. It was an awesome bike though and I won that Florida series championship pretty easily on it but I rode the wheels off that crf as it was the first 4stroke I rode and loved it.
Anyway I pulled it out of storage a few years ago but ended up in corner of garage a bit buried. I have been thinking of cleaning out garage of bikes so i can fit some new ones but i will keep the yz and a 19 450.
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jamesdry
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AU
7/26/2018 7:21am
TJMX947 wrote:
Back in the early 2000s it seemed like everyone had a brand new or one season old bike. I had a 5 year CR125 and I...
Back in the early 2000s it seemed like everyone had a brand new or one season old bike. I had a 5 year CR125 and I stuck out like a sore thumb. Now its common place to see people ride 5 year old bikes, or even 10+ year old bikes...YZ125s and YZ250s have been the same basic design since 2005, and almost mechanically unchanged since 2006.

Ride what you have and enjoy it. Fast is fast, and slow is slow no matter how old your bike is. When you pass someone on a new bike take pride in it, develop your skills, and when money permits upgrade to a newer 125.
Thanks for the wise words! Will definitely boost my confidence
jamesdry
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AU
7/26/2018 7:22am
Donovan759 wrote:
Twist that throttle a little further and send it James. Show all those guys at the track how its done. Rip it.
Will do! Thanks!
Spudnut
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7/26/2018 7:32am
For what it’s worth I got off a 2012 4 stroke and onto a 2001 2 stroke and have never looked back. Funnest bike I’ve ever rode and I go just as slow as I would on a shiny new one.
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AJ565
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San Antonio, TX US
7/26/2018 7:46am
The only reason I went with a new bike was after a few months of searching craigslist all that I was able to find were clapped out '00+ junk for stupid amounts of money around here. By the time I rebuilt the bike I wouldn't have been far off a new bike when you factor in how much time I'd have in it. It's all about the rider, not so much the bike.
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Donovan759
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7/26/2018 7:52am
AJ565 wrote:
The only reason I went with a new bike was after a few months of searching craigslist all that I was able to find were clapped...
The only reason I went with a new bike was after a few months of searching craigslist all that I was able to find were clapped out '00+ junk for stupid amounts of money around here. By the time I rebuilt the bike I wouldn't have been far off a new bike when you factor in how much time I'd have in it. It's all about the rider, not so much the bike.
I run into the same problem in PA. Everyone and their cousin Jerry is selling a 2 stroke for like $2.5-3k claiming everythings new w/ 6hrs on new rebuild while its a heap of shit missing multiple plastic panels, ripped up seat, dirty and its more scratched up than a dead cat.
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JM485
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Davis, CA US
7/26/2018 7:56am
Condition of the bike is more important than anything. If your older bike has loose linkage, blown suspension, and everything is worn out then yes, a new bike will be substantially better. If your older bike is cared for, kept tight, and doesn’t have a huge amount of hours on it then for most riders the improvements are going to be negligible in the grand scheme of things. I can have just as much fun on my 04 cr125 as I do on my 18 yz450f because it’s in great condition, but for the racing I do the 450 is a necessity.
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BobKerr
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7/26/2018 7:57am
No
7/26/2018 8:17am
Love my 1999 kx 250 smoker, its all about having fun and the smile on my face while riding....
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colintrax
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7/26/2018 8:35am
Bikes pretty well peaked in the early 2000s. 4 strokes came, and they've gotten a lot better. But suspension, frames, and brakes haven't improved all that much. Enjoy your bike, it's a good one. Most people spend their paycheck on new bikes because it's a hobby and it's fun to have the latest tech/gadget/whatever.
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7/26/2018 8:47am Edited Date/Time 7/26/2018 8:48am
There is no bigger badass on the planet than the guy at the local track on an old 2 stroke smoking everyone else on their fancy new four strokes. Something to aspire to.
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Kelz87
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7/26/2018 8:48am
It’s all how you rock it my man. My first car was an old Wrangler and I felt like a lot of people in high school had better cars. But old Jeeps are cool and so are old 2 strokes. I kept mine super clean and to anyone who’s not in-the-know, they can’t tell a difference. And those in-the-know don’t mind

Older 4 strokes are a different story
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colintrax
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7/26/2018 8:52am Edited Date/Time 7/26/2018 8:53am
Edit my phone is dumb
Adam43
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7/26/2018 8:57am
Bikes have not progressed as much from 2002 nearly as much as they did in the 16 years before that.

Don't worry about upgrading until it's easy for you to do so.
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TJMX947
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7/26/2018 9:22am
I always have the most fun on this old two stroke [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2018/07/26/277068/s1200_26142237346152.jpg[/img]
I always have the most fun on this old two stroke



1983 YZ125???

I love those early 80s YZs...I really want a 1983 YZ100, hopefully I come across one of those unicorns!

pete24
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Marlborough, MA US
7/26/2018 9:36am
im old, 55, but im not any slower on my 02 yz then my 18 crf and of course i use castor, is there any other oil? y
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NorCal 50+
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Grass Valley, CA US
7/26/2018 9:42am
Forget about the image- there is always somebody faster that looks cooler. I have never had more fun riding than now, when I don't care in the slightest how cool I look or what anybody thinks of my riding. (I'll be 51 on Sunday and riding my 2004 RM250 since...2004).
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