2/15/2018 9:05 PM
Edited Date/Time: 2/15/2018 9:22 PM
TM's legacy is high strung engines developed from the Karting world where max HP is King. Improved KYB setups are starting to provide ready to race bikes. Tall rigid alloy frames and the high strung engine have made the bike most suitable for the most talented of riders as they are not forgiving.
There are very few riders that can extract the high rpm power from a 125 efficiently. Those( 5%?) that are capable should do fine on a 250f. The vast majority of developing talent would be better served by some low end power in a 125. While a smaller lighter bike makes sense for developing talent, a light switch engine that falls on it's face with the slightest error does not.
I suspect the new Beta and Sherco, which are likely arriving on the U.S. shores this month, would make a more effective race weapon on the majority of (non hard packed) tracks and for riders learning their craft. We shall see. It is the mistakes that will catch you out, whether it is a stall or the inability to clear a big jump.
2015 Beta 500 RS, history: 99 KTM 300, 87 CR250, 84 KLR 600, 82 GPZ 550, 81 KX 250, 80 KX 250, 79 Montesa 414 VE, 78 250 VB, 77 360 VB, 76 360 VA, 75 YZ 125, 74 TM 125, 72 TS 125, 60's West Bend Go Boy Kart