Honest 2 stroke question

JVT357
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JVT357
Edited Date/Time 6/29/2012 2:11am
So I am a long time 4 stroke rider, since yz426 days, and I currently have a 2009 kx450f, but last week while riding at a track in denver I jumped on my buddies 2003 kx250 and did a moto with it. I had the most fun that I have had in a long time riding that thing and I couldnt get off of it. I was amazed at how light it was and how much longer I could ride it for. So my question is if you were to get a newer used 2 stroke what bike would you get. I know the yzs havent changed at all since like 2004 or something like that, but out of all the brands what do you think is the best older 2 stroke out there to buy? I am not looking to by a brand new one cause I know KTM makes some real nice newer ones but out of the older kxs, rms, yzs, crs what year and brand do you think handle the best and have the best motors. im not biased to brands at all. Just want to start looking for one so I can have both a 2 and 4 stroker.
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scooter5002
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scooter5002 6/23/2012 8:12pm
6/23/2012 8:12pm Edited Date/Time 6/23/2012 8:14pm
Yamaha 06 and up. Best forks on the market great all round bike. My next choice would be a newer Honda, although the motor is all midrange. Not the best on hardpack off cambers. CamP has great info to fix them though. newmann has a Kawi for sale, awesome shape low dollar. Wouldn't mind buying it myself but I have 4 bikes already.
quiknic
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quiknic 6/23/2012 8:20pm
6/23/2012 8:20pm
JVT357 wrote:
So I am a long time 4 stroke rider, since yz426 days, and I currently have a 2009 kx450f, but last week while riding at a...
So I am a long time 4 stroke rider, since yz426 days, and I currently have a 2009 kx450f, but last week while riding at a track in denver I jumped on my buddies 2003 kx250 and did a moto with it. I had the most fun that I have had in a long time riding that thing and I couldnt get off of it. I was amazed at how light it was and how much longer I could ride it for. So my question is if you were to get a newer used 2 stroke what bike would you get. I know the yzs havent changed at all since like 2004 or something like that, but out of all the brands what do you think is the best older 2 stroke out there to buy? I am not looking to by a brand new one cause I know KTM makes some real nice newer ones but out of the older kxs, rms, yzs, crs what year and brand do you think handle the best and have the best motors. im not biased to brands at all. Just want to start looking for one so I can have both a 2 and 4 stroker.
I have raced, ridden and owned just about every two stroke in the last twenty years and prefer the 08 RM 250 best, solid performance and handling if you are going used. Recently sold my 2011 KTM 250SX and bought my son a 2012 Husky CR125 which I am loving myself plenty... Just about finished restoring my 88 Suzuki RM250 I picked up a while back for some vintage fun.
Hando
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Hando 6/23/2012 8:21pm
6/23/2012 8:21pm
04+ RM250 if you want a bike that turns and is SUPEr fast

the yz250 is the most '4-stroke' out of all the 2-strokes iMO

the cr250 is more akin to an oversized 125...i love mine but its def not as fast as any other 2-stroke IMO but still a good bike, high quality and easy to get parts for
quiknic
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quiknic 6/23/2012 8:26pm
6/23/2012 8:26pm
Also looking to get another (08) Suzuki RM250 or (07) Honda CR250 in the next few months.

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JVT357
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JVT357 6/23/2012 8:28pm
6/23/2012 8:28pm
Thanks for all the info guys. I just keep scrolling craigslist every day hoping to find a killer deal on one. Dont even mind doing some restore if need be.
Hando
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Hando 6/23/2012 8:46pm
6/23/2012 8:46pm
the 04 rm250's are good bikes and if i didnt have my CR i'd have a newer RM..they got the tranny issues worked out that year as well as the jetting and they moved to showa suspension. the older rm's had problems with cylinder plating flaking and gears/synchros going bad.

the 01-03 RM's look identical to the 04+ but they got everything sorted out that year and they got better until they stopped making them in 2008 or so. the 04-08 RM250 motors are essentially YZ clones and you can use yz pistons in your RM
newmann
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newmann 6/23/2012 8:50pm
6/23/2012 8:50pm
Any 2 stroke 250 from the last decade would make a great bike. Just depends if there is anything in particular you are looking for. My mint 02 KX250 just found a new home. A friend of mine, his son who's been riding an RMZ250 was all amped up to get it.
twosmoke30 6/23/2012 8:58pm
6/23/2012 8:58pm
if you're looking to get a good solid ride, i'd look into the 06 and up yz250 and 04 and up rm250, both have monster motors, and have arguably the best handling 2 stroke chassis ever made, both turn on a dime, the rm moreso, we have a yz250 and it is a really great bike. My dad did the same thing you mentioned, had a 450, hopped on a yz250 and couldn't get off of it. Just from personal preference, you might want to invest in a heavier flywheel (9oz from stealthy) works wonders and it really helps from the 4 stroke transition into the 2 stroke again, plus it makes it a bit easier to ride, also the 05-07 cr250's were great bikes as well, really great handeling and good motors, just not as good of motors as the yz's and rm's
chump6784
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chump6784 6/24/2012 12:58am
6/24/2012 12:58am
another vote for the RM. I have an 07 and its brilliant. Have ridden a mates 06 YZ and it feels slightly more stable but i can put my RM anywhere on the track i want. no issues with reliability either, just normal wear and tear
SocalMXer
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SocalMXer 6/25/2012 10:02pm
6/25/2012 10:02pm
Just got an 05 YZ after riding an 09 kx250f for over a year and 4 strokes all my life. I feel like I can charge into corners faster, and hold my lines in ruts at a much faster speed than on my 4 stroke.
motokiwi
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motokiwi 6/25/2012 10:14pm
6/25/2012 10:14pm
RM250 all the way, the YZ is good, but the RM is a littler skinnier between the feet and better balanced in my opinion..
The RM changed its steering offset in 04 I think, since then its basically the same bike.
NorcalVet
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NorcalVet 6/25/2012 10:17pm
6/25/2012 10:17pm Edited Date/Time 6/25/2012 10:18pm
... another +1 for the RM 250, just picked 1 a couple of months ago for 2 K--- lowww hrs.
- re-valve, new front tire, graphic kit, RMZ plastics, and a new clutch kit --- 5 hund more (new bike)
- now I use my RMZ for sight laps


'11 RMZ Front Plate and Fender bolt right up if you drill 2 holes/ more modern look
sam111
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sam111 6/26/2012 12:13am
6/26/2012 12:13am
motokiwi wrote:
RM250 all the way, the YZ is good, but the RM is a littler skinnier between the feet and better balanced in my opinion.. The RM...
RM250 all the way, the YZ is good, but the RM is a littler skinnier between the feet and better balanced in my opinion..
The RM changed its steering offset in 04 I think, since then its basically the same bike.
The one thing I hated about my '08 RM 250 (and the RM125's I had before that) was how narrow the petrol tank and the front part of the seat were in relation to the frame and airbox. It felt weird and made it hard to grip the bike with my knees. Other than that it was a great bike. I haven't ridden any of the other 250's so I can't really comment on them.

The '03 model was virtually a new bike, but still looked pretty similar to the '02. Suzuki did keep updating the 250 right up until '07, but the changes were relatively minor. Here are links to the changes they made to each model since '03 if anyone wants to read into it:
2003 RM250 Changes

2004 RM250 Changes

2005 RM250 Changes

2006 RM250 Changes

2007 RM250 Changes
burn1986
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burn1986 6/26/2012 3:29am
6/26/2012 3:29am
Check MXA for some tech on the last decades models.
Kryan5
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Kryan5 6/26/2012 5:52am
6/26/2012 5:52am
I may be partialy to my 05 Kx250, but i am sure their are a lot of other people on here who can attest to the fact it is a good bike. I am pretty sure you couldn't go wrong with an 05-07 kx250. Not sure if it is or not, but the power feels top of the class for the 2 strokes. I also like the geometry of the bike. On the yz's i feel like the seat is to high and the bars are to low and it promotes bad technique and form which translates to loss of speed. I feel like my hands are at my knees on that bike which makes it hard to be comfortably in attack position.
nytsmaC
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nytsmaC 6/26/2012 7:52am
6/26/2012 7:52am
I thought my 05 kx250 was good too but im hesitant to recommend it, it was my last of a long list of kx's i owned which proved to be of rather poor quality. Id buy another one if the price was right but it wouldnt be my first pick anymore. Performance wise i thought it was excellent.
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Falcon 6/26/2012 8:22am
6/26/2012 8:22am
I'd further recommend an '06 or newer YZ or a newer RM. An '05 YZ is almost as good but does not have the SSS forks, which are the best in the business for a stock bike, even by today's standards.

The Suzukis have quicker turning and maybe a little more nervous handling; the Yamahas are stable at speed but do not turn as quickly. Yamahas also have a reputation for reliability, and I can vouch for that. I've had my '06 since it was new and it's still going strong.
Kryan5
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Kryan5 6/26/2012 8:57am
6/26/2012 8:57am
nytsmaC wrote:
I thought my 05 kx250 was good too but im hesitant to recommend it, it was my last of a long list of kx's i owned...
I thought my 05 kx250 was good too but im hesitant to recommend it, it was my last of a long list of kx's i owned which proved to be of rather poor quality. Id buy another one if the price was right but it wouldnt be my first pick anymore. Performance wise i thought it was excellent.
Curious as to what your quality issues were? i've had the bike for about 3 years now and haven't done anything to it I wouldn't expect to have to do to any other bike and I race the bike every weekend plus practice days. I agree with that performance is there and handling is what you would expect. Some suspension turning and knowing what to do with clickers and fork heights for diff. tracks is always key.

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CamP
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CamP 6/26/2012 10:56am
6/26/2012 10:56am Edited Date/Time 6/26/2012 10:58am
I would recommend an 05-07 CR250. They have the highest quality, the least expensive parts, handle like a dream, and the engine can be easily improved without spending much money at all.

BTW, there is a 4 hour '05 CR for sale here in Texas, if anyone is interested.
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yota 6/26/2012 11:00am
6/26/2012 11:00am
CamP wrote:
I would recommend an 05-07 CR250. They have the highest quality, the least expensive parts, handle like a dream, and the engine can be easily improved...
I would recommend an 05-07 CR250. They have the highest quality, the least expensive parts, handle like a dream, and the engine can be easily improved without spending much money at all.

BTW, there is a 4 hour '05 CR for sale here in Texas, if anyone is interested.
agreed. very underrated bike. just ditch the mikuni.
CR250Rider
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CR250Rider 6/26/2012 11:20am
6/26/2012 11:20am Edited Date/Time 6/26/2012 11:22am
Jody over at MXA builds himself an effective, efficient kickass YZ250.... Great read
aFACEdismembered 6/26/2012 11:40am
6/26/2012 11:40am
If you get a KX get an 05-07 personally speaking. Ridden both that version and the 03-04. While the looks from the outside don't seem to be much different the minor changes are worth it IMO. Better suspension, frame and engine. 06-07 also come with both high and low speed compression for the rear shock as well.
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scott_nz 6/26/2012 1:00pm
6/26/2012 1:00pm Edited Date/Time 6/26/2012 1:01pm
aFACEdismembered wrote:
If you get a KX get an 05-07 personally speaking. Ridden both that version and the 03-04. While the looks from the outside don't seem to...
If you get a KX get an 05-07 personally speaking. Ridden both that version and the 03-04. While the looks from the outside don't seem to be much different the minor changes are worth it IMO. Better suspension, frame and engine. 06-07 also come with both high and low speed compression for the rear shock as well.
the KX250 got a whole new motor in 2005, so it was not just a minor change, then only had minor changes till 08 (when they stopped making it for the rest of the world) they are a good bike, they also went to the twin chamber KYB fork in 05 which was a big improvemnet as well,

I just picked up a 08 KX125 for a fun toy, now to find a 06 or later KX250F front end for it,
JVT357
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JVT357 6/28/2012 9:08pm
6/28/2012 9:08pm
Thanks for all the great info everyone. I appreciate it. Still cant believe a vital thread about a 2 stroke question didnt turn out to be a 2 vs 4 thread. lol
Again thanks for all the helpful info. Just going to keep a lookout on craigslist and see what i can find
Hut
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Hut 6/28/2012 9:16pm
6/28/2012 9:16pm
CamP wrote:
I would recommend an 05-07 CR250. They have the highest quality, the least expensive parts, handle like a dream, and the engine can be easily improved...
I would recommend an 05-07 CR250. They have the highest quality, the least expensive parts, handle like a dream, and the engine can be easily improved without spending much money at all.

BTW, there is a 4 hour '05 CR for sale here in Texas, if anyone is interested.
Agreed
drmarkr
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drmarkr 6/28/2012 10:35pm
6/28/2012 10:35pm
aFACEdismembered wrote:
If you get a KX get an 05-07 personally speaking. Ridden both that version and the 03-04. While the looks from the outside don't seem to...
If you get a KX get an 05-07 personally speaking. Ridden both that version and the 03-04. While the looks from the outside don't seem to be much different the minor changes are worth it IMO. Better suspension, frame and engine. 06-07 also come with both high and low speed compression for the rear shock as well.
scott_nz wrote:
the KX250 got a whole new motor in 2005, so it was not just a minor change, then only had minor changes till 08 (when they...
the KX250 got a whole new motor in 2005, so it was not just a minor change, then only had minor changes till 08 (when they stopped making it for the rest of the world) they are a good bike, they also went to the twin chamber KYB fork in 05 which was a big improvemnet as well,

I just picked up a 08 KX125 for a fun toy, now to find a 06 or later KX250F front end for it,
"I just picked up a 08 KX125 for a fun toy..."

Yea, go ahead.....rub it in. We haven't seen a new KX125 since 06, I think it was??
zookie
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zookie 6/28/2012 11:55pm
6/28/2012 11:55pm
RM FTW. I love my RMs. They are seriously comfortable and effortless to ride. Cheap and easy to maintain.

RACE GAS! Pump gas with ethanol blows, detonation WILL be an issue even with jetting changes.

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