Posts
6
Joined
11/21/2018
Location
MA
US
No Coast Rider
11/21/2018 2:10pm
11/21/2018 2:10pm
Hi all, so here's my brief history, I started riding/racing motocross in 2017 at age 30 on an old 2002 CR125 after riding street bikes for over 10 years, fell in love immediately. I liked my 125 but being as old as it was the bike was an absolute money pit and tried to kill me a few times when things broke while riding it. My wife encouraged me to buy a new bike so I got a 2017 CRF250 since I liked the overall feel of the Honda. I HATED this bike, the suspension was so harsh I felt like I just got my ass kicked after riding it, and they way the plastics/seat/frame were set up I had a real hard time holding onto the bike with my knees while standing so I always felt like I was falling off the back when on the gas, and the throttle response was really jerky at on/off making it tough to ride when it was slick out. I figured I just wasn't ready for a 250 at that point, or I just didn't gel with the 4 stroke, that bike really made me not want to ride, I just wasn't having fun on it.
Over the winter I ended up tearing an ACL at work and had surgery to replace it so I couldn't ride again until July of 2018, in the meantime I sold my CRF and bought a 2018 KTM 150SX. Now this bike has just been magic for me, it fit me great right out the door, only fit changes I made was the factory low seat (I'm 5'5" with a 29 inch inseam, about 165-170 pounds) and grips. I've put about 35 hours on it before the snow started falling earlier this month. The suspension is nice and plush, everything is right where I want it, and I have no problem gripping the bike with my legs and most importantly I have endless fun when riding it.
The issue is when it comes to racing, I mostly ride the vet novice classes in NESC an NEMX (25C, 30C) which are open displacement, so most guys in my class are on 450Fs or 250/300Ts, no matter how hard I ride I just can't keep up with the pack. When we get on the straights or in the sand of Southwick, those big bikes just disappear, I can sometimes hang with the few guys on 250Fs, but even those pull on me unless I'm really on my shifting game. Many of the tracks also have some jumps right after tight corners which I have a hard time clearing on my 150 that were much easier on the 250F. Now even on a bigger bike I'd probably still be hanging around the back of the pack, but I think I'd have a better shot at not coming in last.
So I'm thinking some time next year I'd like to get a bigger bike for racing, but I don't think someone of my skill level has any business on a 450 (which is a shame because they practically give away brand new Suzuki 450s here). So I'm thinking of going with either a KTM 250SX 2 stroke or a 350 SX-F 4 stroke as something that will let me hang with the big bikes without killing myself on. I'd like to stick with KTM as I'm just so comfortable on my current one. I got a chance to do a 2 lap demo on the 250 a few months back, it felt good under me but the throttle was so savage, off the pipe it felt like my 150, but once you hit the power the front tire kept reaching for the sky, definitely can't ham fist it like I'm used to. The suspension was also set way too stiff for me so I couldn't really ride it how I'd like. I haven't ridden the 350 yet but everyone I've spoken to seems to love them.
Which of these 2 bikes do you guys think will be better some someone of my skill level and still let me be competitive with the big bikes? I prefer the power delivery of the 2 stroke on the small bores, but the bigger bikes seem to be a different animal altogether, my 4 stroke experience is limited to just that CRF I had which was kind of an oddball (huge low end power, dead up top.).
Another benefit of a big bike is that I'll also be able to run the 450C class which around here is a defacto Vet C class.
Thanks!
Over the winter I ended up tearing an ACL at work and had surgery to replace it so I couldn't ride again until July of 2018, in the meantime I sold my CRF and bought a 2018 KTM 150SX. Now this bike has just been magic for me, it fit me great right out the door, only fit changes I made was the factory low seat (I'm 5'5" with a 29 inch inseam, about 165-170 pounds) and grips. I've put about 35 hours on it before the snow started falling earlier this month. The suspension is nice and plush, everything is right where I want it, and I have no problem gripping the bike with my legs and most importantly I have endless fun when riding it.
The issue is when it comes to racing, I mostly ride the vet novice classes in NESC an NEMX (25C, 30C) which are open displacement, so most guys in my class are on 450Fs or 250/300Ts, no matter how hard I ride I just can't keep up with the pack. When we get on the straights or in the sand of Southwick, those big bikes just disappear, I can sometimes hang with the few guys on 250Fs, but even those pull on me unless I'm really on my shifting game. Many of the tracks also have some jumps right after tight corners which I have a hard time clearing on my 150 that were much easier on the 250F. Now even on a bigger bike I'd probably still be hanging around the back of the pack, but I think I'd have a better shot at not coming in last.
So I'm thinking some time next year I'd like to get a bigger bike for racing, but I don't think someone of my skill level has any business on a 450 (which is a shame because they practically give away brand new Suzuki 450s here). So I'm thinking of going with either a KTM 250SX 2 stroke or a 350 SX-F 4 stroke as something that will let me hang with the big bikes without killing myself on. I'd like to stick with KTM as I'm just so comfortable on my current one. I got a chance to do a 2 lap demo on the 250 a few months back, it felt good under me but the throttle was so savage, off the pipe it felt like my 150, but once you hit the power the front tire kept reaching for the sky, definitely can't ham fist it like I'm used to. The suspension was also set way too stiff for me so I couldn't really ride it how I'd like. I haven't ridden the 350 yet but everyone I've spoken to seems to love them.
Which of these 2 bikes do you guys think will be better some someone of my skill level and still let me be competitive with the big bikes? I prefer the power delivery of the 2 stroke on the small bores, but the bigger bikes seem to be a different animal altogether, my 4 stroke experience is limited to just that CRF I had which was kind of an oddball (huge low end power, dead up top.).
Another benefit of a big bike is that I'll also be able to run the 450C class which around here is a defacto Vet C class.
Thanks!
If your comfortable on the smoker I'd stick with that. Some people just don't click with certain bikes or brands. Ride what feels good.
The Shop
If it's too much power, tame it with gearing and a fly wheel weight. I did that with my old CR250R and it was easy to ride, fun and bulletproof.
Pit Row
1. at southwick the 350 is better, much better starts and the bike revs to the moon, great for those long sandy straights.
2. everywhere else hands down the 250 sx is better, I am easily 5-7 seconds faster @ crow hill on the 250sx, couple seconds faster at warhead etc.The 250 is easier to ride on any type of twister track, my corner speed is ridiculously faster.
3. 250 sx is much more fun to ride, always have a smile on my face, not kidding, just so much fun.
bottom line, 350 is a good bike, but I enjoy the 250sx more, I am also much faster on the 250 except for southwick...hope that helps.
With the SX you'll probably get a better deal and is cheaper to rebuild.
This is the reason I could never come to terms with thumpers. I seriously do not understand why everybody thinks they are so great; I can't ride the things.
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