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104
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6/23/2013
Location
Anchorage, AK
US
Edited Date/Time
10/31/2015 10:12pm
I know this topic has been discussed more than Bush and Obama have been criticised combined, but none of what I was reading is doing it for me. Each bike has its advantages and disadvantages that I qualify for. I am an 18 year old, 5'10", 180lb novice/intermediate rider. I only race, no trail riding. I've raced my 07 YZ250F for about two years now in the novice class and I'm beginning to actually progress. In the first two races this year I outright smoked the novice class, so the president of the club is making me move up to intermediate. I believe I'm fairly quick on my 250f; I've gotten to the point where I feel that the bike is under total control at all times. In races, I'm usually ringing out my bike pretty good, and I *almost* have whipping down. Based off of just that, most of you will automatically suggest the 250, but there is a caveat: it's also my riding style. I jumped on a Kawi 450 one time at that track and I felt like I had just jumped on a bike for my first time ever. It had such amazing throttle response and power that I nearly whisky throttled myself into berms on multiple occasions. It goes without saying that I kind of got pulled back toward my slower bike like a magnet. I like to ride in the high rpm's all the time. The combination of the facts that my 250F has never been jetted correctly (makes no power in the low end) and that it has hotcams that improve the power in high rpm's has made me develop a habit of riding in the higher rpm's, just like a 2-stroke. I am being pulled towards a 125 for that reason only. I know that the minute I jump on that 125 I'm gonna be able to control that just as well as my 250F. I'll be ringin it out right off the bat. At the same time, I'm being pulled towards a 250 because dropping down to a slightly smaller bike power wise just doesnt make sense. I ask myself if I'll even be able to progress any more on a 125. I've never ridden a 125 or a 250; I jumped from an 85 up to a 250F. That 85 is the reason I prefer 2-strokes. I just love that little thing, it always starts on a dime, its still amazingly fun to put around on, etc. It's all for the fun factor. I know I could probably make better lap times on a 250F but thats not what I'm going for here.
Also, the reason I'm even changing bikes is not a power issue but a reliability issue. My ol' 250F is getting pretty clapped out. It's a serious pain to start and I'm beginning to learn more and more that I am just not into this whole 4-stroke maintenance bullcrap. I can barely afford gas for my damn car and having to shim the valves on this thing all the time is driving me insane. I know the ins and outs of a 4 stroke motor by heart simply because half the time I'm fixing my bike rather than riding it. I rebuilt the entire motor shortly after buying it.
Anyway, what's your opinion on this?
Also, the reason I'm even changing bikes is not a power issue but a reliability issue. My ol' 250F is getting pretty clapped out. It's a serious pain to start and I'm beginning to learn more and more that I am just not into this whole 4-stroke maintenance bullcrap. I can barely afford gas for my damn car and having to shim the valves on this thing all the time is driving me insane. I know the ins and outs of a 4 stroke motor by heart simply because half the time I'm fixing my bike rather than riding it. I rebuilt the entire motor shortly after buying it.
Anyway, what's your opinion on this?
Also, if you ride a 125 all the time as your only bike for practicing and racing be prepared to become an expert at top ends and clutches because you will be replacing them frequently. Especially if you wring it out constantly with 180lb on it.
You might be able to get away with stock springs on the YZ250 but I can pretty much guarantee you won't on the YZ125.
Also, the 125 burns a lot more race gas and 2-stroke oil than the 250 does since you are constantly WFO on it. Trust me.
The Shop
Just as you learned to wind the crap out of your 250F, you can learn to ride in the meat of the power on any bike.
Even still, if you are frequently racing, any bike will require somewhat frequent maintenance. It is part if the lifestyle
85cc to a 250f and you missed all the fun and flick ability of a light 125?
You will learn the key to momentum, 250f will bust your ass on the exit of corners vs. 125. Unless you learn how to enter faster.
After you grasp momentum, get a 250 or 450 you will be exponentially faster.
https://littlerock.craigslist.org/mcy/5285366005.html
My son is 15, 6'1", 155 lbs. We have 2 YZ125s, one stock and one modded to the gills. We also have 2 YZ250s, One stock and the other with pipe and silencer only.
I bough him a 250F last year and barely rode and we sold it to keep riding the 2 smokes.
My suggestion is this, get a YZ250 2stroke, leave is stock and put a flywheel weight on it, around the 10oz size. This will mellow out the hit but still have great power and live happily ever after.
Stock 125s are great but the power is easily outgrown. If you mod it to make it faster, it takes a bunch of money and they are great and fun but again, in a year, you will be needing more power as your skill progresses.
So go with the stock 250 and add a flywheel weight. This really takes the "bark" out of this motor but does not loose much power. It will make it controllable, even for a beginner, and it is a bike you can grow your skill level with. There is no real difference in top end repair so it is easy to redo yourself but the 250 is slightly more complex on the bottom end, but still pretty easy once you learn how to do it.
STOCK YZ250 with a 10 (+) oz flywheel weight.
Also, Since you are asking about size of bikes and not who builds them, apply that theory to any brand you want (I swear some people cannot stay on topic and use every minute to force their opinions on you)
Always remember, the best brand of bike is the one YOU OWN
Back to my original question. Does that 125 seem like a good deal at 2k? To me it seems like 500-800 below what it could go for. If this is true I can purchase the bike and ride it for a year then sell it and not lose too much money. That is if I don't fall in love with it and just decide to keep it.
Easier to make a 250 rideable than a 125 fast.
We have a 300 with a flywheel weight and it is like an electric motor.
Pit Row
Unless this is all in response to panic rev. In that case.. way to hijack!
What made you go with the Husky? Happy with your choice?
I went with Husky because of price. Got it for $500 less than a new YZ250 after comparing prices at dealers. Yamaha wouldn't go down, either. Glad I went with Husky, it's a helluva bike. You Yamaha boys are really missing out on that hydraulic clutch, I'm tellin' ya. Haha!
Back in the 70s when my dad started racing there, it was a great sand track apparently. 40+ years of wind and traffic have caused that place to basically deteriorate into what it is now, which is a shame.
I long for the day I can ride in SoCal on a quality track. I would ride so much more, enjoy it more, and I can't help but feel that it would increase my speed a lot.
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