Begin....again

pmmhd3
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pmmhd3
Edited Date/Time 5/13/2019 1:05pm
Hey all
After nearly ten years since I last raced (now age 46) I’ve decided it’s time for Moto....again.
Question: Am I completely nuts and should I go 250f or 250 smoker??
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mimafia
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mimafia 5/12/2019 10:24am
5/12/2019 10:24am
250f is a lot easier to ride. Fun bikes. Plenty of power. On your first ride you'll be laughing at how much torque there is, how broad the power delivery is, and how easy they are to ride. You can still ride a 250f aggressively though. Also, as you probably know, a 250 smoker can be a handful.

One thing to consider though is the different riding style of a four stroke. They turn differently, have engine braking, much less clutch use, and a lot less shifting.
6
Sluggo77
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Sluggo77 5/12/2019 10:50am
5/12/2019 10:50am
You are definitely not nuts. If the old desire to race has returned than embrace the moment and have fun!
The guy above makes a really good argument for a 250F as it is easier to ride fast, if that is your thing. If you have the skill and fitness to ride the 2 stroke, that might be more fun to go fast on.
1
yeroc281
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yeroc281 5/12/2019 10:57am
5/12/2019 10:57am
Not crazy, mid life crisis is all rage now. I haven't raced in about 12 years. I'll be 45 in a few weeks and I just bought my 2nd 96 cr250(last year) some 23 years later. I have 3 goals when practicing and racing the vintage classes 1. Don't crash 2. Don't get lapped 3. Have fun. I'm hitting some local practices and the big AMA mid Ohio vintage race.
10
bvm111
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bvm111 5/12/2019 10:58am
5/12/2019 10:58am
You are not nuts!

I took 12 years off and started again 5 years ago. I will be 46 this year and ride as much as I can. I work out harder now in order to make my ride days more enjoyable. I started by finding a 250 2 stroke as that is all I had ever ridden before I hung up my boots in 2002. Now I own both a 250 and a 450, I still love riding the 2 stroke more for nostalgia reasons but I love riding my 450, I can ride it harder faster and in more control for longer than the 250.

All I can say is take it slow, you will remember what to do when you get on the bike and most important have fun!
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pmmhd3
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pmmhd3 5/12/2019 11:01am
5/12/2019 11:01am
Great ?? thanks all. Never thought I’d come back but this sport never leaves you ?
Must be time to go bike shopping and get out there racing.
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pmmhd3
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pmmhd3 5/12/2019 11:10am
5/12/2019 11:10am
yeroc281 wrote:
Not crazy, mid life crisis is all rage now. I haven't raced in about 12 years. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/05/12/346673/s1200_IMG_20190429_095858.jpg[/img] I'll be 45 in a few weeks and I...
Not crazy, mid life crisis is all rage now. I haven't raced in about 12 years. I'll be 45 in a few weeks and I just bought my 2nd 96 cr250(last year) some 23 years later. I have 3 goals when practicing and racing the vintage classes 1. Don't crash 2. Don't get lapped 3. Have fun. I'm hitting some local practices and the big AMA mid Ohio vintage race.
CR looks awesome..
Mid life crisis it is ? now where’s that Fox gear...
1
crowe176
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crowe176 5/12/2019 11:34am
5/12/2019 11:34am
I took 7 years off, planned on picking up an 07 RM 250, as that was the last bike I had (450 CRF's before that), and after borrowing a friends RM for a day, I decided a 4 stroke was the way to go. I ended up buying a 350, which I didn't gel with (4cs was HORRIBLE), now I have a new YZ450, and to be honest, I think I went the wrong way. Probably should have bought a 250f.. I rode a friends 18 250sxf, and that thing was sooooo fun and smooth. The 450 is easy to ride, but it's overkill.
3
yeroc281
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yeroc281 5/12/2019 11:38am
5/12/2019 11:38am
yeroc281 wrote:
Not crazy, mid life crisis is all rage now. I haven't raced in about 12 years. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/05/12/346673/s1200_IMG_20190429_095858.jpg[/img] I'll be 45 in a few weeks and I...
Not crazy, mid life crisis is all rage now. I haven't raced in about 12 years. I'll be 45 in a few weeks and I just bought my 2nd 96 cr250(last year) some 23 years later. I have 3 goals when practicing and racing the vintage classes 1. Don't crash 2. Don't get lapped 3. Have fun. I'm hitting some local practices and the big AMA mid Ohio vintage race.
pmmhd3 wrote:
CR looks awesome..
Mid life crisis it is ? now where’s that Fox gear...
I was actually lucky enough to snag some fox zebra(RJ/DB version not the new solid) the Friday it went on sale. Me=plus 1.
2
pmmhd3
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pmmhd3 5/12/2019 2:12pm
5/12/2019 2:12pm
yeroc281 wrote:
Not crazy, mid life crisis is all rage now. I haven't raced in about 12 years. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/05/12/346673/s1200_IMG_20190429_095858.jpg[/img] I'll be 45 in a few weeks and I...
Not crazy, mid life crisis is all rage now. I haven't raced in about 12 years. I'll be 45 in a few weeks and I just bought my 2nd 96 cr250(last year) some 23 years later. I have 3 goals when practicing and racing the vintage classes 1. Don't crash 2. Don't get lapped 3. Have fun. I'm hitting some local practices and the big AMA mid Ohio vintage race.
pmmhd3 wrote:
CR looks awesome..
Mid life crisis it is ? now where’s that Fox gear...
yeroc281 wrote:
I was actually lucky enough to snag some fox zebra(RJ/DB version not the new solid) the Friday it went on sale. Me=plus 1.
Love that kit ?
pmmhd3
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pmmhd3 5/12/2019 2:14pm
5/12/2019 2:14pm
crowe176 wrote:
I took 7 years off, planned on picking up an 07 RM 250, as that was the last bike I had (450 CRF's before that), and...
I took 7 years off, planned on picking up an 07 RM 250, as that was the last bike I had (450 CRF's before that), and after borrowing a friends RM for a day, I decided a 4 stroke was the way to go. I ended up buying a 350, which I didn't gel with (4cs was HORRIBLE), now I have a new YZ450, and to be honest, I think I went the wrong way. Probably should have bought a 250f.. I rode a friends 18 250sxf, and that thing was sooooo fun and smooth. The 450 is easy to ride, but it's overkill.
Last bike I raced was a 450 Honda - a beast, especially when you get tired. 250f sounds the way forward.
What didn’t you like about the 350?
Froggy76
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Froggy76 5/12/2019 2:27pm
5/12/2019 2:27pm
Hi pmmhd3;

I ll cheap in from my perspective.

Complete newbie. 43 this year. Started riding only 1.5 years ago. I was going to get a bike with my son for his birthday and he said “ why don t you buy one too”, and walked out of there with two bikes, one for him and a CRF250R 2015.

Never ridden mx, only borrowed a few of my mates road bikes ( 125cc) when I was a kid. In France you can t get your drivers licence until your 18, but you can get a 125cc road bike from 15. Go figure....

Long story short, those 250f are super easy to ride. Very linear power, no real surprises any where. It s been great for me to learn on. Crashed a few times but nothin major.

As mentioned above, you can go as slow or as fast as you want on them. I m still way out from using it to it s full potential but give it a good crack.
Statutes racing last Saturday for fun, and did a novice class, and an open. Even amongst the open and 450, I did not come last, which proves that 5he bike is competitive enough on an average track for the average rider.
I can not see myself going a 450.
Quite the opposite actually, I am trying to test ride a 125 as I like the lightness of them. Never ridden one before and want to see what the 2 stroke fuss is all about, though I am not sure I really want to constantly be shifting...

I really enjoy cornering and jumps more than raw speed.. might test ride a rmz250 to see if they live up to their name and turn really well. Demo day the 26/05

Hope this helps
4
Teejay
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Teejay 5/12/2019 2:42pm
5/12/2019 2:42pm
I was in a similar boat around 2012, grew up riding and racing then for some strange reason ended up having 10 years without a bike. Last bike I rode was an RM250 so I decided to get another one and pick up where I left off, to be honest I never really got on with it. I borrowed my sisters 07 crf 250 and loved it, made the RM feel like an old boneshaker.

Decided 4 stroke suited me better and bought a 12 crf 450, was a good bike but a bit overkill on the tracks I ride. Ended up selling that and buying a 16 crf 250 and absolutely love it. Plenty of power for what I need, easy to ride on mx tracks or enduro and generally lighter feeling and less tiring than the 450.

In my opinion a fuel injected 250f is the perfect all round mx bike, obviously that’s just my view but my 2 stroke days are well and truly in the past.

Have fun with it whatever you decide to do, that’s all it’s about at the end of the day!
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sandtrack315
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sandtrack315 5/12/2019 7:13pm
5/12/2019 7:13pm Edited Date/Time 5/12/2019 7:15pm
I just got a 2019 YZ250F. I had taken off about 6 years (31 now). I think it’s the perfect bike, if you’re under 170 pounds. I used to be able to wring out a 450 on a bigger track, but a 250F is all I need now and keeps it fun and safer. I was never a fan of the 250 two strokes, and the 250Fs nowadays make such great power I’m sure I’d be even less of a fan now.

Good luck!
2
Excaliburbmx
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Excaliburbmx 5/12/2019 7:38pm
5/12/2019 7:38pm
yeroc281 wrote:
Not crazy, mid life crisis is all rage now. I haven't raced in about 12 years. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/05/12/346673/s1200_IMG_20190429_095858.jpg[/img] I'll be 45 in a few weeks and I...
Not crazy, mid life crisis is all rage now. I haven't raced in about 12 years. I'll be 45 in a few weeks and I just bought my 2nd 96 cr250(last year) some 23 years later. I have 3 goals when practicing and racing the vintage classes 1. Don't crash 2. Don't get lapped 3. Have fun. I'm hitting some local practices and the big AMA mid Ohio vintage race.
Same here but I’m 50. I’m sure I will get lapped but I will have a blast doing it.
3
crowe176
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crowe176 5/13/2019 1:01am
5/13/2019 1:01am
crowe176 wrote:
I took 7 years off, planned on picking up an 07 RM 250, as that was the last bike I had (450 CRF's before that), and...
I took 7 years off, planned on picking up an 07 RM 250, as that was the last bike I had (450 CRF's before that), and after borrowing a friends RM for a day, I decided a 4 stroke was the way to go. I ended up buying a 350, which I didn't gel with (4cs was HORRIBLE), now I have a new YZ450, and to be honest, I think I went the wrong way. Probably should have bought a 250f.. I rode a friends 18 250sxf, and that thing was sooooo fun and smooth. The 450 is easy to ride, but it's overkill.
pmmhd3 wrote:
Last bike I raced was a 450 Honda - a beast, especially when you get tired. 250f sounds the way forward. What didn’t you like about...
Last bike I raced was a 450 Honda - a beast, especially when you get tired. 250f sounds the way forward.
What didn’t you like about the 350?
The 350 was a 15, so it had 4CS forks and those things are worse than any bike I’ve owned aside from my 96 rm 125. I was looking at getting them kyb converted and race tech quoted me over a grand just for forks, and I decided to to just sell it and go new. I just never got comfortable on it. I talked myself into thinking I needed the low end power of a 450, and after a day on it, it’s just over kill. 3rd gear around the whole track gets boring and makes me feel lazy lol
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Froggy76
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Froggy76 5/13/2019 5:14am
5/13/2019 5:14am
Out of interest, is there a 250f that is easier to ride than other?or one that feels light and nimble.
According to the specs they are pretty are much all the same weight.
Are the yellow bike really that better are cornering or is it a myth that people have kept Going with.
Cheers
sandtrack315
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sandtrack315 5/13/2019 5:17am
5/13/2019 5:17am
Froggy76 wrote:
Out of interest, is there a 250f that is easier to ride than other?or one that feels light and nimble. According to the specs they are...
Out of interest, is there a 250f that is easier to ride than other?or one that feels light and nimble.
According to the specs they are pretty are much all the same weight.
Are the yellow bike really that better are cornering or is it a myth that people have kept Going with.
Cheers
Suzuki and Honda probably have the best handling and nimbleness, but the Yamaha is very stable, handles bumps great, and has a great front end feel. Just a bit heavier.
1
pmmhd3
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pmmhd3 5/13/2019 11:43am
5/13/2019 11:43am
crowe176 wrote:
I took 7 years off, planned on picking up an 07 RM 250, as that was the last bike I had (450 CRF's before that), and...
I took 7 years off, planned on picking up an 07 RM 250, as that was the last bike I had (450 CRF's before that), and after borrowing a friends RM for a day, I decided a 4 stroke was the way to go. I ended up buying a 350, which I didn't gel with (4cs was HORRIBLE), now I have a new YZ450, and to be honest, I think I went the wrong way. Probably should have bought a 250f.. I rode a friends 18 250sxf, and that thing was sooooo fun and smooth. The 450 is easy to ride, but it's overkill.
pmmhd3 wrote:
Last bike I raced was a 450 Honda - a beast, especially when you get tired. 250f sounds the way forward. What didn’t you like about...
Last bike I raced was a 450 Honda - a beast, especially when you get tired. 250f sounds the way forward.
What didn’t you like about the 350?
crowe176 wrote:
The 350 was a 15, so it had 4CS forks and those things are worse than any bike I’ve owned aside from my 96 rm 125...
The 350 was a 15, so it had 4CS forks and those things are worse than any bike I’ve owned aside from my 96 rm 125. I was looking at getting them kyb converted and race tech quoted me over a grand just for forks, and I decided to to just sell it and go new. I just never got comfortable on it. I talked myself into thinking I needed the low end power of a 450, and after a day on it, it’s just over kill. 3rd gear around the whole track gets boring and makes me feel lazy lol
Was thinking of a 350 today, seems some great prices on a nearly new one here in UK

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crowe176
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crowe176 5/13/2019 12:16pm
5/13/2019 12:16pm
pmmhd3 wrote:
Last bike I raced was a 450 Honda - a beast, especially when you get tired. 250f sounds the way forward. What didn’t you like about...
Last bike I raced was a 450 Honda - a beast, especially when you get tired. 250f sounds the way forward.
What didn’t you like about the 350?
crowe176 wrote:
The 350 was a 15, so it had 4CS forks and those things are worse than any bike I’ve owned aside from my 96 rm 125...
The 350 was a 15, so it had 4CS forks and those things are worse than any bike I’ve owned aside from my 96 rm 125. I was looking at getting them kyb converted and race tech quoted me over a grand just for forks, and I decided to to just sell it and go new. I just never got comfortable on it. I talked myself into thinking I needed the low end power of a 450, and after a day on it, it’s just over kill. 3rd gear around the whole track gets boring and makes me feel lazy lol
pmmhd3 wrote:
Was thinking of a 350 today, seems some great prices on a nearly new one here in UK
They're fun bikes. I would get a 17+, just to avoid the 4cs. My only gripe was the suspension on my 15. You really have to wring them out as well. They beg to be ridden like a 250f.
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Pirate421
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Pirate421 5/13/2019 1:05pm
5/13/2019 1:05pm
pmmhd3 wrote:
Was thinking of a 350 today, seems some great prices on a nearly new one here in UK
I would try and ride one but they are awesome bikes. I’ve had 250f’s, 250 2ts, and a ‘17 350. The 350 was by far the fastest, people say you need to rev them but you really don’t as much as a 250f. The 350 still has 54hp. Yes you can rev it to the moon but it’s really not necessary as it will always have more power than a 250f and they handle soo lightly. They feel like in the air, turn so well and the aer suspension is really pretty good. I didn’t have any reason to want to revalve them. Every person who ride mine loved it and my buddy just bought a 2019 after coming off a factory edition 450 and 250sx he loves it.
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