Your favorite Dirt Bike

Chance1216 wrote:

1987 CR 125. It was a gift from someone important in my life.

PTshox wrote:

This one above. Had one of the last cylinders Mitch Payton did for Rick Ryan on it. And revalved shock/fork that worked well. Just a fun...

This one above. Had one of the last cylinders Mitch Payton did for Rick Ryan on it. And revalved shock/fork that worked well. Just a fun bike and a fun time in my life. Towed it with a small trailer behind a VW bug when I was a broke student. To this day a few people give me crap about the trailer behind the bug. It's all I had though... or could afford. LOL

AH387 wrote:

Always thought that YZ125s were the best bikes for me. My 97 (first one) felt so much better than my friends' 125s of other brands, back...

Always thought that YZ125s were the best bikes for me. My 97 (first one) felt so much better than my friends' 125s of other brands, back then. And it always stayed that way with the models after. That bike always feels like home to me. I have bought and sold a few as an adult, for a 2nd bike. Bought another last year and told myself that I'll just hang on to this one. So in short, all of my YZ125s but currently my '19.

AH387 wrote:

Always thought that YZ125s were the best bikes for me. My 97 (first one) felt so much better than my friends' 125s of other brands, back...

Always thought that YZ125s were the best bikes for me. My 97 (first one) felt so much better than my friends' 125s of other brands, back then. And it always stayed that way with the models after. That bike always feels like home to me. I have bought and sold a few as an adult, for a 2nd bike. Bought another last year and told myself that I'll just hang on to this one. So in short, all of my YZ125s but currently my '19.

profeshenal125 wrote:

How does your 19 compare to your 97 ? Like a improved version of a 97. I,m curious because I had a 97 Noleen yz125, I...

How does your 19 compare to your 97 ? Like a improved version of a 97. I,m curious because I had a 97 Noleen yz125, I liked it a lot, but washed front end out after holeshots. All my 125,s where great in different ways. Stand out bikes 87 cr125 nsr porting, faster than 92,97,98 01 RM125,s. 95 yz125 NCY Pedro,s sx bike, liked the handling, fun power. 97 yz 125 handling, power. 04 CR125 by far the best handling bike ever, stock motor slow, ported Much better. can do no wrong on this bike. 2 06 cr125 ,s. With 03 kx hgs pipe, is a perfect 125 power band, handling feels like a mountain bike compared to a 04, not as stable. 06 engine in 04 chassis perfect 125.

Thor34103 wrote:

Beautiful bike. Where did you get the dragon graphics?

Chance1216 wrote:

Back when I received mine, it was a gift from my grandfather for graduating high school. We were going through tough times in 95 after my...

Back when I received mine, it was a gift from my grandfather for graduating high school. We were going through tough times in 95 after my grandmother passed.

It was the funnest bike the way that thing could just come on the pipe and sing. The only thing I had to watch out for was the lock to lock bar swap when decelerating. Definitely a pucker factor. We did the poor man’s steering stabilizer by tightening the steering stem nut a bit more then specd and it helped a bit. I lived in So Cal at the time and didn’t have my own car and, very rarely asked to use my grandfathers truck. I’d push that thing about six miles to sneak into a track that was closed down (Ascot) at the time to ride a couple hours till the cops kicked me out. After about the fourth time they’d just wave and I knew it was time to go home and push it back. I miss that bike and I often browse Craigslist Los Angeles hoping to find it. Unfortunately, it was stolen a few months before I left for the PNW in 98.

There’s nothing wrong with compromising to get where you need to be. I think that’s pretty cool towing a trailer with a Bug.

KennyT wrote:

I’m old so many of you might not know what the hell I’m talking about. I started racing in the early 70’s and you could go...

I’m old so many of you might not know what the hell I’m talking about. I started racing in the early 70’s and you could go buy a new bike each year as soon as they came out by working part time after school bussing tables or washing dishes. In 1975 I bought a Bultaco 250 Pursang.

It weighed 192ibs and had the most amazing easy to ride motor of anything I ever owned. Tons of torque. I’d miss a shift and still get the holeshot. Speaking of missing shifts. The tranny was horrible but the rest of the bike made up for it. My favorite rider at the time was Kenny Zahrt and he was a big influence on my reason to go with the Bultaco.

The next favorite was a 1978 Kawasaki KX125 A4. They only made 2,000 that year so I’d go to the races and be the only green bike on the line. It was fast, lightweight and had decent handling. Best of all it was very unique

hypermoto wrote:

I had one and my YZ and KTM 250 2 strokes both have way better motors, the YZ has way better suspension and chassis too IMO...

I had one and my YZ and KTM 250 2 strokes both have way better motors, the YZ has way better suspension and chassis too IMO. The 03 CR didn’t hold a candle to either for me

H4L wrote:

Ok. Thnxz for sharing..

hypermoto wrote:

I had one and my YZ and KTM 250 2 strokes both have way better motors, the YZ has way better suspension and chassis too IMO...

I had one and my YZ and KTM 250 2 strokes both have way better motors, the YZ has way better suspension and chassis too IMO. The 03 CR didn’t hold a candle to either for me

H4L wrote:

Ok. Thnxz for sharing..

omalley wrote:

Hyper, was your engine stock? If so, that’s the issue . The 02-07 CR250 was a whole different animal once ported/head milled/etc.

luke11 wrote:

I miss this one every day..

Herb Eaversmells wrote:

1981 RM 125 [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/11/23/460983/s1200_53EB50C6_3CF6_4ACA_9055_362F4A016111.jpg[/img]

1981 RM 125

KMC440 wrote:

Had a few but the one I miss the most and I've mentioned it here before. '82 yz490. First "real" dirt bike as well. Didn't do...

Had a few but the one I miss the most and I've mentioned it here before. '82 yz490. First "real" dirt bike as well. Didn't do ANYTHING well other than scare the hell out of you by getting "there" (wherever "there" was) too fast for the brakes keep you "there". Usually ended up "over there" and had to ride back a little ways to "there".Berms were your friend and you NEVER went out for first practice as every corner ended up being "back there".

God in heaven it was fun !!

omalley wrote:

Hyper, was your engine stock? If so, that’s the issue . The 02-07 CR250 was a whole different animal once ported/head milled/etc.

H4L wrote:

Yup. With mods it’s at a different level & a completely different animal. I’ve owned all the 4 Japanese brands (RM, YZ, KX & CR) dating...

Yup. With mods it’s at a different level & a completely different animal. I’ve owned all the 4 Japanese brands (RM, YZ, KX & CR) dating back to the early 80’s. Have also ridden some KTM’s dating back to a 92 through 17 models & wasn’t impressed.
Owned 02, 04, 06, 09 & 11 YZ250’s & IMHO the steel frame YZ’s are a much better bike.

The 3rd gen CR is the best 250 2t owned out of the bunch once it was set up & dialed.

hypermoto wrote:

It’s always funny how much everyones opinions differ. I was always blown away with the sheer power of the KTM. It was insane. Stock, it was...

It’s always funny how much everyones opinions differ.

I was always blown away with the sheer power of the KTM. It was insane. Stock, it was faster than my Tom Morgan CR. The YZ does everything well. I only had a steel frame YZ125 (and an Aluminum framed one) and prefer everything about the Aluminum gen, minus handling.

I will say, I’m trying to replace my 19 YZ250 with a 02-07 CR or 04+ RM250. Mainly just to have something different.