Posts
30
Joined
7/10/2020
Location
BR
Edited Date/Time
8/14/2020 12:56pm
I rode bike parks and downhill for 12 years before switching to motocross last year. I bought a CRF 250F to see if I would like the sport and now I can say that I really do.
I was ready to buy a KX 250 2020 but suddenly I started seeing some 2 strokes on the track, a lot of videos about how much fun they are and now I'm stuck trying to decide which bike to get: a SX 150 or a KX 250 (both brand new). I wonder if the SX would give me more of a mountain bike feel, a light and fun machine.
Which one would you guys get and why? Unfortunately there's no way I can test ride a SX or even a 125 2 stroke.
I was ready to buy a KX 250 2020 but suddenly I started seeing some 2 strokes on the track, a lot of videos about how much fun they are and now I'm stuck trying to decide which bike to get: a SX 150 or a KX 250 (both brand new). I wonder if the SX would give me more of a mountain bike feel, a light and fun machine.
Which one would you guys get and why? Unfortunately there's no way I can test ride a SX or even a 125 2 stroke.
Power to weight is probably better than any full size bike given that its so light
The Shop
I can’t comment on the 125 vs 150 debate, but have a hard time imagining this 150 is a turd up top compared to the 125. I went up two teeth on the rear sprocket (after reading Jeff Crutcher’s post about his 150 that he attempted to qualify at the pro nationals on) - and was able to tighten the gear box. I now basically live in 3rd or 4th gears, and can pull 3rd even in tight ruts with a little flick of the clutch. Trust me..... you won’t run out of rev in 4th. I think with the stock gearbox, 2nd did plateau a bit quick and there was a gap between 3rd and 4th - but man, two teeth on the back is the play.
My obligatory shameless photos of me on my 150:
If you want to take advantage of the balance and skill from downhill then Stick with the 250f. If you get the 150 you'll have to take a step backwards to learn how to use the clutch to stay in the powerband. Also the 2t style is to get the back wheel to break loose a little then counter steer. The 4t tracks better to the front wheel, which I would imagine is closer to the downhill style.
Either way you'll be fine. They're both good bikes. Maybe go with the one that has the closest dealer.
Whatever you do, dont get one and then start beating yourself up that you should've gone with the other.
OP once you throw a leg over a 2 stroke bike coming off a 4 stroke, it makes for an ear to ear grin under the helmet when riding, its such an awesome riding experience, I also thought it would be a learning curve figuring out how to hit jumps and gear selection when riding overall but It only took about a day of practice before I was hitting the same lines as I was on the 4 stroke, good luck man the 150 sounds like an awesome machine !
2014 KX 250F
2015 Husky TC 125
2018 KTM 150 XC-W
2018 KTM 250 SX-F
2019 KTM 150 SX
My son and I race MX, hare scrambles, and western enduros. We use the 250F's on the MX track and I take the TC 125 out there just for fun. I'm much faster on the KX and he's a LOT faster now on his 250 SX-F than he was on the 150 SX. They're just easier to ride, smoother, and maintain much more speed in the corners.
We both use the 150's off-road in the hare scrambles and enduros where they're lighter and easier to flick in the 10,000 turns that you make in enduros. They don't stall, are easy to restart when you do, and they're faster from corner to corner where you can't necessarily maintain momentum IN the corner. On a track, yeah, the KTM 150 doesn't rev as much as the 125 but the mid range is so strong it doesn't matter. It still is easier to beat another 125 on it.
When I was riding the 125 and my son on the 150, I had to ride as hard as I could to keep up with him and he's still just walk away- more pull in the corners and much more speed on the straight. I got the KX and on the first day, I passed him in a corner and waved as I went by. He couldn't pass me back. I mean, that's a _dramatic_ difference and I didn't even have the bike set-up right. Then he got HIS 250F and blew me away again. So, there's a real world difference in practical terms.
If I was gonna sell one, it would be the 125. It's a lot of fun to ride and all that, but it's a lot of work, too.
I raced the TC 125 and the 150 XC-W last weekend in the 50+ class and "Enduro" class in a Vintage MX race (modern classes) and on the sand/hard pack/sand track, the 125 had to be in the exactly correct gear going into a sandy corner and already on the pipe in the hardpack corners. The 150, by contrast, would pull out of the sand and pulled thru the hard corners, ready to explode on the straight. I also hole-shot the first moto on the 150 and was 5-6th to the corner on the 125.
For MX, I vote 150 if you wanna be different or 250F if you wanna go faster and be like everyone else. For off-road, including MX, I vote 150, period.
The kawi is an awesome bike, easier to ride faster but it isn't as fun as the 2 stroke.
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