yz 450f or sx 250 2 stroke

hoova
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hoova
Edited Date/Time 3/6/2012 7:19pm
hi all,
i currently own a tm 125mx and am looking to upgrade to either a yz 450f or sx 250. what are some + and - of these two bikes (most of my riding is trail and some mx tracks). any help would be appreciated, thanks.

Matt
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JJO741
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JJO741 3/5/2012 6:55pm
3/5/2012 6:55pm Edited Date/Time 3/5/2012 6:55pm
Depends on what you like. Try and test out both if you can to see which you like better. I would personally choose the sx250 due to it being the more fun bike to ride. This is vital so be warned if you don't choose the 2 stroke you will be crucified and everyone here thinks that Yamaha is a piece of shit.
T-Fish
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T-Fish 3/5/2012 7:04pm
3/5/2012 7:04pm
JJO741 wrote:
Depends on what you like. Try and test out both if you can to see which you like better. I would personally choose the sx250 due...
Depends on what you like. Try and test out both if you can to see which you like better. I would personally choose the sx250 due to it being the more fun bike to ride. This is vital so be warned if you don't choose the 2 stroke you will be crucified and everyone here thinks that Yamaha is a piece of shit.
Get the KTM. This shouldn't even be a debate.
crashnburn11 3/5/2012 7:24pm
3/5/2012 7:24pm
I would get the 250. It is a lot of fun, and will be a better trail bike, especially if you ride the harder trails where you will be stalling, crashing, or pushing a lot. I can atest that kicking any bike in those situations sucks when you are tired as hell, but you will appreciate the 2 stroke firing easier.

I wouldn't buy into the whole 2-stroke is so much easier/cheaper to maintain thing for your type of riding. You will probably find with a modern 450 if you change the oil, clean the filter, and check the valves regularly you will never have an issue.

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mjskier
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mjskier 3/5/2012 7:26pm
3/5/2012 7:26pm
450f are just not designed as trail bikes. The combination of tall 1st gear, light flywheel, and in some cases not much oil and smaller radiators means they are going to suck in tight situations.
I'd never buy a used 450f mx bike that has been mostly trail ridden.
GeorgiePorgie 3/5/2012 7:44pm
3/5/2012 7:44pm
Go against hippy tree huggers and get a environment-toxic 2 stroke! Long live the 2 smoke.
seth505
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seth505 3/5/2012 8:30pm
3/5/2012 8:30pm
Only decision should be if you want the 250sx or a yz 250 Smile
bullpen58
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bullpen58 3/5/2012 8:58pm
3/5/2012 8:58pm
Both bikes have their advantages and disadvantages. I would NEVER buy a two stroke again for as long as I live (at least not for ME to ride).

Trail riding is lame but you can use either one for it. The 450 will be way more fun IMO. Gear it down and never ever ever use 1st gear. Who uses 1st gear anyways? The 450 will climb hills like a boss. The 450 will torque around tracks like a boss. The 450 will do everything better (except for fouling plugs and giving you arm pump).

But if you want a "flickable" bike that you can do nac nac reverse cowgirls on while whipping it over gaps and you wanna be different, get the 250.
2T42
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2T42 3/5/2012 9:27pm
3/5/2012 9:27pm
SX250 if you are considering woods at all. I made the 450 in the woods mistake...once. Never again. If you are going to be riding where there are actual trees to go around or very many turns or tight sections or rides longer than 15 minutes, you will not appreciate all the extra centralized mass after an hour or so.

When the marketing wears off and the laws of physics set in, you will know which one you prefer. If you are familiar with your 125, the 450 will feel like a tank in comparison. I owned a 125 and 450 at the same time once. The 450 is long gone and I've had a couple of bikes since. I still have my 125 in the garage. You may want to think before ditching that TM. I would highly recommend riding the two before switching.
Deetsmx
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Deetsmx 3/6/2012 12:38am
3/6/2012 12:38am
Both are good bikes but at slow speeds the 450 will feel like a tank compared to the 250.
8686
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8686 3/6/2012 5:20am
3/6/2012 5:20am
bullpen58 wrote:
Both bikes have their advantages and disadvantages. I would NEVER buy a two stroke again for as long as I live (at least not for ME...
Both bikes have their advantages and disadvantages. I would NEVER buy a two stroke again for as long as I live (at least not for ME to ride).

Trail riding is lame but you can use either one for it. The 450 will be way more fun IMO. Gear it down and never ever ever use 1st gear. Who uses 1st gear anyways? The 450 will climb hills like a boss. The 450 will torque around tracks like a boss. The 450 will do everything better (except for fouling plugs and giving you arm pump).

But if you want a "flickable" bike that you can do nac nac reverse cowgirls on while whipping it over gaps and you wanna be different, get the 250.
Nice avatar pic. :D

To the OP, I vote for the 2 stroke.
crf250pilot
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crf250pilot 3/6/2012 6:05am
3/6/2012 6:05am Edited Date/Time 3/6/2012 6:14am
I've been riding an 06 yz125 for over a year now and just swapped over to an 06 yz250. I love the 250 even more than the 125. The 250 is easier to clear obstacles on and having so much more power, I do not have to be as precise with my shifting and clutch work as on the 125. I'd go with the 250 if you are just a pro practicer like myself, but if your going to race one, my choice would be the 450.
Ing
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Ing 3/6/2012 6:29am
3/6/2012 6:29am
Katoom. Especially for trail riding.
Drfletcher
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Drfletcher 3/6/2012 7:42am
3/6/2012 7:42am
bullpen58 wrote:
Both bikes have their advantages and disadvantages. I would NEVER buy a two stroke again for as long as I live (at least not for ME...
Both bikes have their advantages and disadvantages. I would NEVER buy a two stroke again for as long as I live (at least not for ME to ride).

Trail riding is lame but you can use either one for it. The 450 will be way more fun IMO. Gear it down and never ever ever use 1st gear. Who uses 1st gear anyways? The 450 will climb hills like a boss. The 450 will torque around tracks like a boss. The 450 will do everything better (except for fouling plugs and giving you arm pump).

But if you want a "flickable" bike that you can do nac nac reverse cowgirls on while whipping it over gaps and you wanna be different, get the 250.
What he said ^^^

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pete24
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pete24 3/6/2012 7:53am
3/6/2012 7:53am
yes get a Yamaha a Yamaha 2 stroke stay away from the pumpkin
newmann
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newmann 3/6/2012 8:14am
3/6/2012 8:14am Edited Date/Time 3/6/2012 8:15am
KTM. Build quality is great and comes with top quality components. Coming off a TM125 and wanting to move up to a bigger bike, the 250 sounds good to me. Of course I've never been too interested in open class bikes to begin with.
PaleBlue
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PaleBlue 3/6/2012 9:39am
3/6/2012 9:39am
IF you've got a TM, how could a KTM or a YAM be an upgrade???

Unless you're strapped for cash why aren' t you considerimg the the TM's 450 or 250 "2"?

We've now got the set (144, 250f, 250 and 450f) and couldn't be happier......
MtnBoy
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MtnBoy 3/6/2012 9:41am
3/6/2012 9:41am
mjskier wrote:
450f are just not designed as trail bikes. The combination of tall 1st gear, light flywheel, and in some cases not much oil and smaller radiators...
450f are just not designed as trail bikes. The combination of tall 1st gear, light flywheel, and in some cases not much oil and smaller radiators means they are going to suck in tight situations.
I'd never buy a used 450f mx bike that has been mostly trail ridden.
This

And the Yamaha is even harder to make a good trail bike out of than the rest of them in my opinion, sure Paul Whibley makes it look good but he's a beast!

Get the 250 SX you won't regret it.
PaleBlue
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PaleBlue 3/6/2012 9:50am
3/6/2012 9:50am Edited Date/Time 3/6/2012 9:58am
our TM 450f. Pretty much unused since this day.

TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 3/6/2012 10:09am
3/6/2012 10:09am
KTM300XC...

IF...IF...you can find one!

It's got bottom-end that doesn't worry about the 450's on the track and it's made to ride ANYWHERE.
hoova
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hoova 3/6/2012 4:04pm
3/6/2012 4:04pm
PaleBlue wrote:
IF you've got a TM, how could a KTM or a YAM be an upgrade??? Unless you're strapped for cash why aren' t you considerimg the...
IF you've got a TM, how could a KTM or a YAM be an upgrade???

Unless you're strapped for cash why aren' t you considerimg the the TM's 450 or 250 "2"?

We've now got the set (144, 250f, 250 and 450f) and couldn't be happier......
i have trouble getting parts for the tm and there is no dealer i know of in SA. there is a dealer for ktm and yammi in my town and they've got good after sales support.
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josh8811 3/6/2012 7:19pm
3/6/2012 7:19pm Edited Date/Time 3/7/2012 4:54pm
I've got both.. Both 2011's... I agree, it depends on what kinda riding you wanna do, your budget, and skill level..

The 450 will make track a lot easier if you suck like Bullpen58 and myself.. If your a stud on the track, you'll still kill it on the 250SX..

You absolutely wouldn't believe the weight difference of the two bikes, just pushing them in the trailer.

Only idiots foul plugs.. The 250SX absolutely rips. It's got great power everywhere..

In tight, technical riding, the 250SX all the way.

Fast sand whoops, and track, I ride my yamaha..

You will lose at least twice the money over the course of a couple of years with the yamaha..

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