It's finally time to move the kid up to an 85. He's currently on an RM65 and he's outgrown the bike, physically as well as the engine and suspension. We've been looking back and forth at new and used bikes. I've been kind of pushing him towards a KX85. The lack of rebound on the forks is a bummer but the power valve would make learning the bike that much easier for him as well as the 14+ have a reasonably modern plastic and such.
He really likes the old CR85's. Says he wants a Honda in the worst way but unfortunately they're pretty old and outdated at this point. Going to look at an 05 tomorrow that allegedly has only ten hours on it and was just refreshed with all new OEM cylinder, crank, carb etc. He's not in love with racing, he loves going to tracks to practice but just doesn't have the competitive edge yet so he doesn't need to be on the latest and greatest but at the same time I'm having a hard time justifying purchasing a 2005 Honda for the same price I can get a 2019 KX for.
Just wanted some opinions from those who have experience with the CR's and 85's in general and help my sanity with this decision. Thanks
Zero bottom end. They look bitching though.
can’t be any more outdated than an RM?
In 05 or earlier they were great. They are now 18 years old though. Move along to something modern
Thing is, we've looked at YZ's as well, but they're just as outdated until 2021 and I'm not looking to spend that much. I found one new leftover 22' KX for $4150 out the door but every KTM I find is $5,000+ for a 2018 ish era bike. Even the CRF150R isn't a modern bike but people are still buying those
Get him the CR 85 might be dated in some ways lil harder to get parts for it. Keep him interested in riding and if it's a red bike it's a red bike. Logically the kx makes more sense.
If you show or convince him into the green machine. He'll lie and say he likes it if you just show up with it.
I had an infatuation with a red bike around his age a 1984 CR60. My dad tried to convince me into a yz60 and I wasn't interested it was the CR or nothing. My dad was wise enough and came home with a CR60.
It be kinda like him asking for a ps5 and you bring home the Xbox. Get the ps5.
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I remember riding my friends CR85 back in 2003 I think I was on the KX85 from memory I much preferred my KX, however the CR did look nice.
Buy the KX otherwise you'll both be green with envy.
Your money dad...Don't do this.
A fresh 2019 KX sitting in yr shop with shiny new plastics under the garage light?
Give him the best you can,for both of you.
Crf150r ? He will end up on four stroke anyways later on .
I guess I should have worded it differently than I did. I look at things like the banana seat as somewhat of a draw back compared to the newer bikes with flatter seats that are much easier to move around on. Are the forks alright though? As previously stated the KX doesn't even have rebound adjustment, and the YZ and RM forks are probably just as old design wise as the CR. I can't see much difference between the CR85 and CRF150 fork either truthfully. I understand that the Austrian air fork is going to be light-years ahead, but again, unless he starts to get a big time itch for racing then I doubt it will matter too much.
As far as the CRF150 goes, the thought of a carbureted four stroke that has been hammered on and neglected for years makes me cringe. I honestly don't think I'd feel comfortable letting him ride it until I had a chance to tear it down, inspect and possibly replace the valves, cut the seats and guides and replace the valve springs just to make sure it wasn't a time bomb
You mentioned the YZ is also outdated, but Yamaha still makes them, so they still produce parts. Are they as readily available for the CR? To me, that would be the deciding factor between getting the Honda or something newer.
Your answering your own questions.
Your right-what does it matter if he's not full time racing.
Your nuts to buy an 05 "banana seat" when you could set his heart on fire with a shiny new green KX ready for a weekend away.
Greatest moment of his life.
Come on Dad!!
Had a friend buy one a couple summers ago for his kid. Terribly outdated and under powered. Do yourself a favor and buy a decent Austrian 85.
I don’t think any of the japanese 80s have changed significantly in terms of performance since the mid nineties. The kx and yz have had a couple plastic updates…
The answer is YZ85 but you may have to go through a CR85 to convince him. Good for him to learn though.
Or take a gas gas and put Honda stickers on it. Wouldn't be the first time a parent lied to their kid for their benefit.
If anyone is looking for a clean CR85 one of my good friends is selling his Son's.
It has low hours.
I think the cr best for high-rpm only. If not at least a top novice, get the kx.
Get an Austrian Honda (Gas Gas) and put a Honda decal kit on it. Problem solved.
They KX85 has rebound in the fork....
What bike needs a new cylinder, crank & carb after just ten hours use?
Pit Row
The 05 had a different cylinder and had good bottom power. 04 and earlier were light switches.
If he's not racing the number one priority should be reliability and durability. Can't beat a Honda on either of those fronts. I remember back in the 2 stroke days a Yamaha would win the 250 shootout and my buddy would go buy a new one and at the same time I'd get a new CR and by the end of the season of just riding together his looked trapped out and mine looked fresh and I never had troubles. As reliable as a shovel. If he starts riding it and after a season or two is getting more agro and wants to race you can probably sell it for what you have in it.
The 2021+ YZ's are a totally new bike, but the 2002-2020's are all the same except a plastic change in 2015, so yes, parts may be more readily available because it was built later, but still doesn't mean it wasn't an old bike
A low hour anything is better than a thrashed something.
Nothing goes bang like modern 85's.
10 hours on something he wants anyway... bargain
Educate him by lettting him read this thread.
My son rode KX 80's and still rides a KX at 41 years young. We had lots for parts, created big wheels for LL........everything is readily available.
The goal should be fun and experience.
The story I'm being given about the CR85 is that it was purchased new and ridden for approximately 10 hours and then the motor was pulled to build a DRR Hybrid Quad. It then sat in someone's basement for years. This shop bought it, bought a new cylinder, crank, carb etc and pieced the rest of the engine together with other parts they had laying around. It certainly looks like it only has ten hours on it, unless the frame guards are hiding a bunch of scuffed paint
Get the CR. The manufacturers don't throw a lot of updates at their 85s anyway, and the progress of the sport in minis was pretty much over long before 2006. That CR has all the features of the new bikes, just not the minor adjustments to power production. Especially since you mentioned he won't be racing, I'd say get him the bike he wants.
The potential drawback of the Honda is parts availability and price. Those bikes are getting old and OEM parts availability can be a problem.
I have a friend that’s put his kid on a 2020 KX85 & recently stepped up to the big wheel/112. They ride off-road & his kid loves it.
I’ve heard nothing but great things about the Austrian 85s…except for some complaints about parts prices and availability. Both of those issues can be resolved with some good dealer or internet shopping.
Good luck!
Do you think they would have worn out a rear sprocket and tire in 10 hours? Also, that appears to be a Michelin MS3 tire out back (going by the looks)...with significant wear. I do not think they came stock with that tire. Do you trust the shop to piece an engine together?
The bike looks great though, depending on the price it could be worth it. They are a bit harder to ride than the power-valved 85s. But lots of kids learned how to ride them back in the day.
Back in the days when my kids ride , we had some cr85 and yz85 and the crf150 . The Cr85 was a slug , under powered and problem clutch , the Yz85 had good power, better bike . The crf150 was great bike , engine was bulletproof.
My gf Sold her cr85 2006 last summer. Nothing wrong with it. Engines are bullet proof. More then enough power for a kid to enjoy it on the track. And yeah, a old red one is still nice to look at compared to a old orange.
I agree. That’s a 10 hr bike if that look at the wheels, clutch cover, letters on the seat r not wore off,etc. Honda reliability is 2nd to non back then. Make sure it’s a oem crank & not a after market. Honda durability testing on parts back then was extreme. Try to get the stock pipe& silencer. Guy Cooper,s main ride is a 05 cr125. And it has a real high quality seat. If you want to soften the seat up. Beat it with a baseball bat. The cr85 hold there value I see them on fb for 2,200-2,500.
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