unk said:
I was looking at 80cc's on craigslist, but I am starting to think it might be too small for me and I should go with at least a 100cc/full size bike.
An 80cc bike is WAY too small for you. Not only is the power too low but frame would be too small for you to ride safely. I would not recommend a 100cc either.
unk said:
Would a Honda CR 125 be a decent size/power for me?
It is a great size bike. It will NOT be the easist to learn on, however. Two strokes have a "power band" and you need to keep the RPMs in the proper range to have any power at all. This can be very hard for a beginner. Two strokes also do not like to "putt" and you can foul a lot of plugs if you try.
Once you get the hang of it a 125 2-stroke can be a blast to ride. When it comes to climbing hills they can certainly do it but more power does come in handy sometimes.
For the record, I learned on a 1986 YZ-125.
unk said:
Is getting something already with a green sticker better?
Yes, especially if you want to ride in the Forest Service parks.
Where do you live?
There are many private tracks around that you can ride without any registration / sticker at all. Technically you need a red/green sticker, as well as a spark arrestor, for any public land. If you ride the desert areas then you can get away without having the proper registration, but it is still technically required.
I can tell you from first hand experience that it is certainly possible to take a non-registered bike and get the necessary red/green sticker. If you have plenty of time and patience it isn't a big deal. If you hate DMV like I do, it is a pain. My experience is that it required four trips to DMV and one to CHP to get the bike registered.
So, the short answer to your question is that it is better to buy a bike with the sticker. Green sticker is preferred over red. The good news is that to be in your price range you will probably be older than 2002, which means you will get a green sticker.
unk said:
Year of the bike, what would be good years of bike to look at?
Thanks
In general, newer is better. To get into your price range, you will be looking at 10 to 12 years old.
As I stated above I have a '86 YZ-125 (among others). I don't have any problem finding the parts I need to keep it running.
Rod