Posts: 174
Joined: 3/28/2016
Location: CAN
Hey guys, after buying a 16 YZ 450 last year I got a lot of questions about how the bike feels when compared to my 12 YZ 450. After pondering over it for a minute or so all I could say is it just feels like I can push this new bike more, but I struggle to figure out why it is easier to push. Anyone else ever have this experience?
Posts: 3019
Joined: 1/11/2016
Location: Portland, OR USA
Posts: 954
Joined: 9/7/2012
Location: MA, USA
Yes, ‘02 CR125. Turned good but felt absolutely gutless.
If you're not mixing gas, you're not haulin ass.
Posts: 7833
Joined: 4/1/2008
Location: Lake Chelan, WA USA
Posts: 4250
Joined: 8/15/2006
Location: Cornland, IL USA
2004 KTM 125. Rode my ass off all year against 250f's in 2006, got a CRF250 the next year and couldn't believe how much better it handled within the first minute of riding it, let alone the power difference.
Posts: 2223
Joined: 3/18/2014
Location: OH, USA
05 kx250 15 yz250f-
good bikes just never clicked with them.
If I'm healthy enough to complain. I shouldn't be complaining.
Posts: 62
Joined: 3/14/2012
Location: Cali, CA USA
2003 CR85...was the only bike I hated. 2011 kx450....coming off 06-08 CRF450's could never get comfortable on the Kawi....switched to KTM450 in 13' and was happy again.
Posts: 708
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location: West Middlesex, PA USA
1972 Suzuki TM400. I coulda probably been another Tony D if not for that bike. 
Anyone but Ralph!
Posts: 562
Joined: 4/1/2008
Location: Winters, CA USA
Knobbyjake wrote:1972 Suzuki TM400. I coulda probably been another Tony D if not for that bike.
Beat me to it!
Posts: 708
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location: West Middlesex, PA USA
Posts: 3693
Joined: 7/9/2008
Location: Westlake Village, CA USA
'96 Kawasaki 250. Flexi Flyer is an understatement. That thing would just wind up and spit you off with that shitty, small swingarm. That's why Kawi came out with the beefier one for the '97 model year.
Posts: 23466
Joined: 4/1/2008
Location: USA
Posts: 345
Joined: 7/15/2015
Location: North, MT USA
Just wondering if you feel like riding the KTM made you a better rider once you were on equal footing by having to push harder on the 2 stroke or if you feel it didn't really matter
Posts: 3
Joined: 5/17/2018
Location: AUS
Posts: 1298
Joined: 3/21/2013
Location: Canton, OH USA
Posts: 874
Joined: 8/15/2006
Location: Arlington, TX USA
Posts: 1213
Joined: 4/2/2008
Location: Grande Prairie, CAN
Posts: 1046
Joined: 4/1/2008
Location: Houston, TX USA
Posts: 554
Joined: 1/25/2014
Location: CAN
Posts: 3344
Joined: 4/6/2009
Location: Cincinnati, OH USA
My Honda Mini Trail (50 big ones) was holding me back until I turned thirty and got my Steen 80.
Weird ain’t it, 50+30=80
Posts: 7791
Joined: 7/1/2008
Location: Las Vegas, NV USA
98 CR250
When I switched to my 2000 KX250 all my buddies that rode a class above were shocked when I passed them... loved that motorcycle.
Don’t piss off the old people - the older they get the less “life in prison” is a deterrent for them!
2020.5 KTM 450 SXF FE
2006 KX250
Posts: 22135
Joined: 11/25/2008
Location: Thru-out, CA USA
1984 CR500: I was convinced it was too fast.
All the while, it made me focus on Holeshots and utilizing smooth throttle control.
Nobody ever told me, I found out for myself. You've got to believe in foolish miracles. It's not how you play the game, it's if you win or lose. You can choose. Don't confuse. Win or lose. It's up to you!
Posts: 1419
Joined: 3/28/2015
Location: Satan's Hollow, OK USA
1986 KX 80. Complete shit mini..... The 85 model was just a refined 83, and could easily run and hide from the 86 with little effort. I was stuck with those damn things, made for a long year. No amount of work made them work..... at least the new redesign that year looked cool. But that was it.....
Posts: 2780
Joined: 1/22/2013
Location: AUS
madmaxperformance wrote:2003 KTM 250 SX. Worst bike I ever owned by a MILE. It was hideous.
No matter how much money was spent on suspension this bike hammered me into submission or the ground!
Posts: 1581
Joined: 1/4/2013
Location: QLD, AUS
Posts: 4250
Joined: 8/15/2006
Location: Cornland, IL USA
Edited Date/Time:
davis224 wrote:2004 KTM 125. Rode my ass off all year against 250f's in 2006, got a CRF250 the next year and couldn't believe how much better ...more
You-n-Gs-town born & bred wrote:Just wondering if you feel like riding the KTM made you a better rider once you were on equal footing by having to push harder ...more
Absolutely, as far as dealing with less power. The biggest thing to me though was how much easier the Honda was to turn. I couldn't hit a flat or rutted turn worth a crap on that KTM, the Honda just fell into the ruts and tracked on the flat turns
Posts: 9703
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location: CO, USA
Edited Date/Time:
1980 KX125 so slooooow, Got two 1980 KX125s from team green ride and gave them back after a month and bought two YZ125Gs and then in 1985 got a YZ125 that was almost as slow as the 1980 KX125
Ed Johnson
Posts: 825
Joined: 3/29/2016
Location: Ithaca, NY USA
Edited Date/Time:
My 06 RM250 is the only bike I've felt that way on. I wanted to like the bike and played with many different bar/clamp combos, spring rates, valving, etc, but I could just never get to the point where I felt comfortable. It felt like the bike was always on a mission to throw me on the ground, which was more frustrating since so many members here seem to love these bikes!
To sum it up: the engine was awesome. The transmission was not awesome, and would eat gears every 15-20 hrs. The headshake was terrifying, and the rear end would step out without any notice. It was a pretty looking bike, but so unpredictable. Good riddance.
Posts: 763
Joined: 8/3/2014
Location: NC, USA
My 1974 Suzuki TM-100 was the bike that held me back. I would skip school a lot so I could ride my Suzuki TM-100 instead of going to school. I missed so many days that year one of my teachers just wrote "Ha, Ha" for my attendance on my report card instead of the number of days that I actually had missed. Anyway my 1974 Suzuki TM-100 caused me to fail 9th grade and it was responsible for me having to take 9th grade all over again the next year.
Posts: 265
Joined: 12/6/2015
Location: TX, USA
My first bike, a new 1982 XR80 (which I rode a lot). My Dad just didn't understand why I sold it to buy an older bike, a used 1980 RM80.
I was going to say that all my bikes held me back, but no one would believe it.
