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Teejay
10/17/2020 1:04am
10/17/2020 1:04am
Edited Date/Time
1/7/2021 12:18pm
Just after information on the TC 125, I’m looking at 2016-18 used bikes, I ride and race a crf 250 mainly off-road and hare scrambles. Still ride Mx tracks though. I’m not getting rid of my Honda but would like to pick up a 125. Grew up riding and racing in the 2 stroke era and always loved the 125, I’m guessing they’re even better now?
Just after info in what to look out for other than the obvious wear and tear. Can’t afford a new one so will be used. Happy to look at Ktm as well, never owned a non Japanese bike. Any advice welcome!
Just after info in what to look out for other than the obvious wear and tear. Can’t afford a new one so will be used. Happy to look at Ktm as well, never owned a non Japanese bike. Any advice welcome!
Go for a 17/18. Great bikes, super light, great fork/shock. Won't regret getting one.
I love the TC125 hands down my favorite bike just put a VHM head and top end in it with complete HGS system and vforce she now sings and has enough power to haul my 46 year old ass around the track fast enough the scare me
How do you find the suspension?
Now at 46 some bikes are just to much but the TC125 is so nimble and light I can put it where I want when I want. Not having traction control is ok I loose time out of corners with wheel spin but seem to be able to leave breaking till my later coming into corners.
Now with the upgrades on sand or loamy surfaces it wants to stand up and scream but it’s very controllable.
Great bike and with small upgrades becomes a fantastic option if you’re on a budget.
The Shop
I’m running a 2012 350 and it’s awesome.
It’s a dirt bike.
17 aer forks, mikuni carb
18 upgraded aer forks
19 new plastics, upgraded Bellville clutch
When my kid got his KTM, I realized that the 12, 14 were useless.
Single ring race piston new ring at 10 hours and piston at 20.
I previously had a YZ125 that I liked very much. Coming from that to this TC125 I like that the bike is physically smaller (I am 5'8) and the handling is better. I would describe the handling as similar to the 02-07 Honda CR125. I love the suspension on the TC125 and I would say it's right up there with the world-renowned suspension on my YZ125, which I also loved. Only changes from bone stock I have made are went up on air pressure from 8.1 to 8.5bar, went in 1/8 turn on HSC on the shock and went in 1 click on rebound on the shock. I am 175 pounds and a fairly fast +40A rider and only do moto for reference. I can't speak on the older 16-20 TC 125 suspension as I never rode them.
Pit Row
The biggest upgrade is a JD jet kit and spring forks.
I've rebuilt my bike twice at 100 hours. I always do pistons at 25, could probably do more, but they are cheap. Going on 215 total hours on the complete bike.
If you can swing a 2019 or newer, go that route. In 2019, KTM started CNCing the exhaust port and changed the pipe design, It makes a nice difference on the power over the 2016-2018 bikes.
Jetting can be tricky on the 2017 and up, there is a little tiny gasket that deforms and makes it impossible to tune. A lot of people give up and throw on a Lectron or switch back to the Keihin, (JD jetting sells the replacement gasket and a little kit for $6-7) once jetted, they run awesome. I run VP MS109 and Maxima 927 @ 40-1 and is the bike is jetted for it. (I love the consistency of race fuel) We easily get 25 hours on a top end or until the bike won't start on the first kick....
In the mod 125 I run C12 with the same premix mixture. The forks on the 2016 aren’t that bad for me, I had billy at powerband work his magic and I have no complaints about them. They’re set up for moto but i have no problems with them racing harescrambles by just backing the clickers off.
That was my first full engine rebuild. I got 100 hours of the bike then rebuilt it again and made it a 150. It’s more of an off road bike now for the winter. Super fun set up!
The gist of my argument is this: the dealer does, in fact, have to pay for freight and he does have to put the front wheel on the bike. It does NOT cost $800-$1200 to do these things, however. Also, there are holdbacks that the OEMs pay the retailers for these expenses anyway. (They don't always line up fairly or timely, though - this is why dealers try to recoup those costs up front.)
You'll likely end up negotiating a little, but paying $2K over retail is too much, IMO.
Buy a 17+ throw a 38mm Keihin carb with STIC metering block on it and you have a 250f killer. I can barely get my kid off of his to ride a 250f...........
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