'98 KX250 for a beginner?

[qdude79]

Here's my rundown...

I'm 32, not new to riding, but new to two wheels. Have had limited experience on quads, etc. Pretty athletic. About 5'10" and 215. My bud has this bike with all kinds of aftermarket parts (bars, pipe, reeds, suspension, etc), in good condition, with a fresh total overhaul, for $1800. The price isn't the question, I'm satisfied with that. Thing is, I'm stalky which makes handling the bike nice as far as throwing it around, but it's tall for me. Opinions?

Thanks

 

[DirtDawger]

I am 5'10" as well. You are of average height and that is whart the bike is designed for. I love my KX but it does have some draw backs. I ride in the woods and the KX suspension is tough to tune for casual woods riding but works well at more aggressive speeds. If you are gonna ride woods I would recommend a fly wheel weight to give you a little more bottom end and it will tame the hit some. Other than that mine has been a bullet proof mount.

 

[AXE_1967]

A 125 is a bit shorter but not by much but you could try that instead of the 250. All you would need to do if it didn't haul you good enough is to invest in an overbore kit which makes it a 144cc I think and maybe a stiffer spring on the back shock. If your going to ride trails a 125 is great for trails mainly because the power band stays in more than it would on a 250cc. On a 250cc 2 stroke trail riding you'll find that your constantly reving it to clear the carb load. I'm 6.0' tall and throwing my leg over my KX 250 is getting a little hard at 39 lol, but I can touch the ground semi flat footed. Note, lowering the front shocks will make it shorter but it will also change the handling of the bike quiet abit.

 

[adam728]

A 125 is a bit shorter but not by much but you could try that instead of the 250. All you would need to do if it didn't haul you good enough is to invest in an overbore kit which makes it a 144cc I think and maybe a stiffer spring on the back shock. If your going to ride trails a 125 is great for trails mainly because the power band stays in more than it would on a 250cc. On a 250cc 2 stroke trail riding you'll find that your constantly reving it to clear the carb load. I'm 6.0' tall and throwing my leg over my KX 250 is getting a little hard at 39 lol, but I can touch the ground semi flat footed. Note, lowering the front shocks will make it shorter but it will also change the handling of the bike quiet abit.

I don't think I would recommend a 125 to a 215 pound guy.

Also, a 250 has a MUCH wider power band and is less work to keep in the power range. If you are "reving it to clear the carb load" then the bike is not jetted correctly.

I would take a 250 over a 125 for a trail machine any day. It's a lot easier to tame big power than it is to spread out power on a pipey machine.

 

[robwbright]

There are quite a few people here under average height still riding 125s, 250s, 450s.

I'm 5'4", 145.

BTW, some 125 seat heights I've seen are actually higher than the 250s.

At your size, the 250 would be great, IMO.

 

[Mophuka]

I am 5'7" and 200lbs and have no problem throwing my 98 YZ250 around in the woods.. Once you get used to it you should have no problems.. I have ridden sport bikes for about 7 years and I felt totally lost on my dirt bike when I first got it, but now I feel totally at home with it..

 

[4unner4life]

Trust me you will do fine on a 250. It is not too tal for you, it is just not comfortable to you right now. I am About 130 and 5'8'' and i ride a yz 125, which has a higher seat height than my neighbors yz426f. After about a week of riding it i was compltely adjusted to the high seat height, It seems normal now.

 

[ls1cameric]

I'm 5'10" and my YZ has one of the highest seat hieghts on any MX bike. I can touch the ground w/ one foot and barely my tip toe on the other foot. But when i'm riding, it's perfect.

 

[Stryke]

125 for a beginner. Best to make the right choice, not hurt urself as a result of getting to much bike, and sell it when your ready to move on up. If uve had little experiancve on a bike, the 125 will leave u breathless when u open her up. It can be a real rush, and is very easy to get used to. It will make u a better rider and look at this way u wont have to worry as much about picking gravel out of ur butt when u give it too much gas. :yikes:

Trust me ive made a mistake when i thought i could ride a 250 after no bike experiance, the ground hurts :whoa: