lightest trail bike with 21"/18" wheels?

Mx746
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Mx746
My son is a new rider, 13 years old and outgrowing his KLX 140L with the 19/16" wheels. Im thinking about getting him the KLX140G to get him on something that fits better, unless theres better options?
(He isn't experienced enough yet for a 125 unfortunately)
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miketherider 8/5/2020 6:24am
8/5/2020 6:24am
You can move to a KLX 230R, at least that gives you some “more bike” to grow into.
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Mx746
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Mx746 8/5/2020 12:35pm
8/5/2020 12:35pm
I think he'd grow into the height of a 230 within about a year, but the weight is over 250lbs thats quite a tank. The 140g or F as they're called in 2021 are a more reasonable weight, at 218lbs. One day the manufacturers will market a beginner trail bike, light, slow, but good handling without the 50 extra lbs of heft. If I could find a way to stuff a trail motor into a 125 frame...
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Timo_2824
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Timo_2824 8/5/2020 9:03pm
8/5/2020 9:03pm
My wife rides a TTR225, I think it is around 285lbs. She doesn't have any issues with it except deep sand. The low seat helps mask the weight, I can drag the footpegs in corners to the detriment of the shifter and brake pedal. IMO weight isn't as big of a deal as some make it out to be. I've ridden a 520lbs street bike offroad though, so maybe I'm just crazy.
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MikeID
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MikeID 8/26/2020 5:36pm
8/26/2020 5:36pm
Where is the IT175, PE 175, XR200R, or KDX200 of the 21st century?
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Rwhite692
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Rwhite692 10/13/2020 10:49am
10/13/2020 10:49am
I'm in a bit of a similar conundrum.....

My daughter (now 14) has been on a KLX-140G (big wheel) for the last two years. It has been a GREAT bike for her. We spend a lot of weekends out at Carnegie SVRA here in CA, with a mix of trail riding and MX course riding. The KLX-140G is green-sticker so that means we can ride at Carnegie or other SVRAs, year-round.

She is now 5'8 and around 190 lbs....I put a KX100 front end on the KLX140G last year (which is a great improvement for these bikes, BTW) but, she is enjoying MX (jumping) more and more, and is ready for something with more power and a capable suspension.

But the problem is that the MX line going up from here (such as the KX250) and all of the four stroke 250 machines is that it is such a huge bump up in bike weight and seat height. In addition to that, nothing in the MX line is green sticker....And I am way too busy to build her a bike, like I would have done in my younger days.....And no, I'm not interested in two-strokes.....



alanwrench110 10/13/2020 12:45pm
10/13/2020 12:45pm
The new KLX300 looks like the ultimate modernized trail bike people have been wanting for years
Rwhite692
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Rwhite692 10/13/2020 1:18pm
10/13/2020 1:18pm
alanwrench110 wrote:
The new KLX300 looks like the ultimate modernized trail bike people have been wanting for years
I agree, the KLX300 looks like a great bike.....a whopping 286 pounds tho....

YZ250FX at 245 Lbs....That's only 27lbs more than the KLX140G....
Tuna
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Tuna 10/14/2020 4:50am
10/14/2020 4:50am
Rwhite692 wrote:
I'm in a bit of a similar conundrum..... My daughter (now 14) has been on a KLX-140G (big wheel) for the last two years. It has...
I'm in a bit of a similar conundrum.....

My daughter (now 14) has been on a KLX-140G (big wheel) for the last two years. It has been a GREAT bike for her. We spend a lot of weekends out at Carnegie SVRA here in CA, with a mix of trail riding and MX course riding. The KLX-140G is green-sticker so that means we can ride at Carnegie or other SVRAs, year-round.

She is now 5'8 and around 190 lbs....I put a KX100 front end on the KLX140G last year (which is a great improvement for these bikes, BTW) but, she is enjoying MX (jumping) more and more, and is ready for something with more power and a capable suspension.

But the problem is that the MX line going up from here (such as the KX250) and all of the four stroke 250 machines is that it is such a huge bump up in bike weight and seat height. In addition to that, nothing in the MX line is green sticker....And I am way too busy to build her a bike, like I would have done in my younger days.....And no, I'm not interested in two-strokes.....



190lbs is a lot of weight for a KLX140. One of my students is riding a 140 and she is 5’6 125lbs and I’m telling her to get a 250.
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Rwhite692
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Rwhite692 10/14/2020 9:33am
10/14/2020 9:33am
I'm looking at the (new for 2021) KX250XC, which is 240lbs, is built on the same frame as the KX, has a capable suspension, and might actually get CARB green sticker certification.
Tuna
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Tuna 10/14/2020 11:28am
10/14/2020 11:28am
Rwhite692 wrote:
I'm looking at the (new for 2021) KX250XC, which is 240lbs, is built on the same frame as the KX, has a capable suspension, and might...
I'm looking at the (new for 2021) KX250XC, which is 240lbs, is built on the same frame as the KX, has a capable suspension, and might actually get CARB green sticker certification.
Big step up in power for your girl. If she is a competent rider I’m sure she would be fine. I just sold my YZ250FX to one of my former students. 14 yr old and was on a DRZ125. He’s doing great on it. I loaded a soft map for him to start out.
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Tuna
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Tuna 10/14/2020 11:29am
10/14/2020 11:29am
15+ WR250F is a good option as well. Really depends what direction you want to go. Should be able to green sticker it.
Rwhite692
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Rwhite692 10/14/2020 3:45pm
10/14/2020 3:45pm
I think that (between those two) the YZ250FX likely better suits her since the suspension is more MX-capable for when she wants to do that. I do like how easy it is to change the A/F maps on the Yamaha.....WR250F I agree is likely easier to green sticker (or plate). The whole green sticker/red sticker thing going away in 2025 is great....But doesn't help my situation much....She will be off to college by then!
Tuna
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Tuna 10/15/2020 5:05am
10/15/2020 5:05am
Rwhite692 wrote:
I think that (between those two) the YZ250FX likely better suits her since the suspension is more MX-capable for when she wants to do that. I...
I think that (between those two) the YZ250FX likely better suits her since the suspension is more MX-capable for when she wants to do that. I do like how easy it is to change the A/F maps on the Yamaha.....WR250F I agree is likely easier to green sticker (or plate). The whole green sticker/red sticker thing going away in 2025 is great....But doesn't help my situation much....She will be off to college by then!
Pretty hard to go wrong with a 250 FX.
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ccullins
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ccullins 11/6/2020 4:45pm
11/6/2020 4:45pm
Rwhite692 wrote:
I'm looking at the (new for 2021) KX250XC, which is 240lbs, is built on the same frame as the KX, has a capable suspension, and might...
I'm looking at the (new for 2021) KX250XC, which is 240lbs, is built on the same frame as the KX, has a capable suspension, and might actually get CARB green sticker certification.
I have ridden one. It’s a pure MX bike with 18” rear wheel and different valved suspension. It’s no trail bike.
ccullins
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ccullins 11/6/2020 4:48pm
11/6/2020 4:48pm
I’m surprised no one had brought up the Beta X-Trainer. It seems to be the bike everyone is wanting. It’s way lighter and is better built than may of the Japanese trail bikes.

Don’t let the 300cc two stroke motor fool you, it is very tamed down (and easily woken up with a few mods) frame is a little smaller than a full size bike and it’s shorter.
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1983YZ125
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1983YZ125 11/10/2020 3:56pm
11/10/2020 3:56pm Edited Date/Time 11/13/2020 5:29pm
^This.

I'm on a Xtrainer.
Absolutely love the bike, low seat height, power, weight, etc.

The "weak" link is the suspension, but honestly at my weight (~150lbs) it works better out of the box than any other of the 8 or 9 bikes i've owned.

Power is very beginner friendly, but does everything you need it to and then some.
I've put a Lectron and FMF pipe on mine and bike runs absolutely great.

At some point, i will likely consider a 300RR but for now and the last 2 years, by far my favorite bike i've owned.
wrc777
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wrc777 11/12/2020 10:30am
11/12/2020 10:30am
Lightest is probably a YZ125X or KTM 125XC. Either should be around 210 lbs fully fueled.

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