250 or 125

if you are a beginner no doubt go for the 125. a 250 is a big step up and i don't think you want to die just yet, j/k. but seriously, a 125 has plenty of power for a beginner.

id ride both adn see which oyu like better. here is some helpful traits of the 250vs125. 125 is a hard bike to ride as far as the power band is narrow, there is less power and less torque, i believe there is anyway, and also they require more work of the clutch to keep the power. however the 125 is lighter, and more confidence inspiring. the 250 is a heavier bike with a lot of power and it can be a scary experience at first. i feel more comfortable on my step brothers yz 400f but since i will be racing this year for the first time i want to race the 125 class so i am buying a 125. its all up to you. one thing to remember is that my friend went from an xr 100 to a 250 thats a 100cc four stroke to a 250cc two stroke, and about a 70lb difference. he bought the bike in april of 2001 and has ridden it 6 times!!!!! he is basicly scared of his bike and doesnt ride it because he is slower on that bike than on the xr!!!! so chose wisely. just my opinion, i hope it helps.;)

I weigh 190 without gear and ride a 125. I would prefer a 250 but got such a good deal I couldn't pass it up. It has plenty of power, more than enough to get me in trouble. It takes more practice and work to go fast on but overall I couldn't go much faster on a 250. If you are going to ride a lot of soft sand or do a lot of hill climbing the 250 makes a big difference, for everything else it is more rider than bike. Even at my weight, with a little practice, I have been able to get the power to the ground and keep the revs up enough to clear a 35ft double coming right out of a sharp corner.

that all depends on what your riding and how fast you progress. as i said i would be buying a 426 except for the fact that im racing this year and dont want to race the 250 class i want to race the 125 class. so i will be buying a 125. you need to look at all the factors.

If you are worried about out growing a 125 and maybe loosing money when you sell, why not buy an older used bike, say 95-98. that way, you would not have quite as much invested when you are ready for the 250!! with proper thottle and clutch control, a 250 can be ridden slow or fast. my wife rides my 93 Yam wr250. soon she will ride my 01 yam yz250. a fellow rider had a 96 yam yz125. good bike, decent power and handled well. remember to get proper equipment, learn from those of us who were hard headed.:ugg:

The new 02 125's (sx, rm & yz) have lots of power for a beginner. Does anyone know how many years you have to go back where the new 125's have as much hp as an older 250?

Hey Mind,

I'm new to the sport as well. Last October I bought an '02 KX 125, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. ( ok, probably for a YZ!) Anyway, since I never ridden dirt in my life, I have found that my 125 has got plenty of power for me. Yeah, climbing crap is a pain sometimes cuz you're always on the gas, no in between. But there is no way you could get me on a 250! Those things a hella fast and plenty scary for a beginner.

With a little time, you'll figure out the power band. And I'm sure you'll be grinnin' on that 125 while you're rippin' the trails or tracks. Later on, I plan on getting a pipe, and a V-Force Reed cage.

My thoughts. Get used to a 125 first. Build up from there. I figure I got plenty of time to play on my 125 before I need to step up to a 250. Anyway just my $.02. Good Luck!

I'll attempt to ease your MIND

I'm basically a 42-year-old beginner. Haven't been on a dirt bike in about 25 years until 2000. I'm 150lbs-w/o gear and I'm already on my 2nd 125. I started racing this September for the 1st time and I like to ride in some of the "over classes." In other words I ride over 25, 28, 30, 40, you get the picture. Riding mx in these classes I'm usually the only one on a 125, most of the older guys ride bigger bikes. Though I can't keep up with 250's & 426's on the straights I usually can stay on the gas longer, brake later and if I'm lucky I can pass in the corners. I rode a KX250 that belonged to a friend before I bought my 2nd 125 and you know which choice I made. The 250 felt like it pulled my arms out of socket and forget jumping on it. I know in time I would get used to it and probably love a 250 but right now I've very happy on the 125.

The only down side is at your age, 21, you won't be racing in the over classes and the 125 beginner class is usually more crowded and more eventful than the 250 if you know what I mean.

Another note: A 125 will require more frequent maintenance than a 250, i.e.; top ends and clutches. You have to ride a 125 harder than a 250 to get the power you'll want but that's part of the fun. I can't ride the 125 anywhere near it's potential so I'll wait until that time to move into a 250.