CRF's vs. TTR's

[matte1014]

Hello.. this isnt a bike question about size because i know the bikes i am looking at i just dont know which bike i would get the most fun out of..

Try to include the following info in your first post
1) your physical size (both height and weight are important)
5'5 130
2) How physical / aggressive are you ?
out of 1/10 maybe a 6
3) what do you plan to ride- MX/SX tracks, woods, fields with friends or ?????
putt around mx tracks, woods, fields and with friends
4) Do you have any riding experience?
very little.. a ttr90 a few years ago
5) Do you think you will race ?
no
6) Are you mechanically inclined and will you be doing your own bike work?
yes i will do my own work with my dad
7) Do YOU have a preferance to a brand/ motor choice (2 or 4 stroke)?
since im not racing i think a 4 stroke trail bike will be fine either honda or yamaha is what ive been looking at
8) Do you have a dealer close by your home that you might use and what brand(s) does he carry?
honda yamaha kawasaki suzuki ktm.. everything pretty much
9) How much do you plan to spend on a bike?
----
10) anything else that you think would help form an opinion


I have narrowed down my choices but apparently not enough.. I am still stuck between the CRF150/CRF230 or the TTR125L/TTR230.. i like the 125's light weight and kickstart only(L not LE) alot.. but the 150 has more power and better suspension from what ive heard of but also 50 more pounds.. i can fit on a 230 with my tip toes down with both feet and im sure they have much more power.. im just lost

 

[Moose]

if you're going to race-CRF150
if you're going to trail ride/play ride-CRF230X/TTR125L TTR230

 

[matte1014]

Is the 150 ok for trail/play rides also? What are the differences in the CRF150F and TTR125? And the CRF230/TTR230?

 

[FruDaddy]

He said no racing, also, he is referrimg to the CRF150F not the CRF150R.
Every bike in the list is for trail/playriding. I think you would get more longevity with the TTR230, and it is an easy bike to ride. You also probably have a little more growing to do. If you are too short for it, you should be able to lower it a bit. Yamaha has a kick backup in case the battery/starter fails. I don't believe that Honda provides the same backup plan. I think that if you get the smaller bike, you will wish that you had gotten something bigger. Even with a 230, you will probably get the itch for a big bike soon. Good luck.

 

[matte1014]

So the 230's (CRF and TTR) are pretty much the same except for the price tag and color?

 

[FruDaddy]

IMO Yes, both have e start, and the blue ones have a kick lever, but otherwise, I see no significant difference.

 

[FruDaddy]

While they are not designed for aggressive riding, they are very reliable, and have a broad smooth powerband. Basically, these bikes are designed for the casual rider/beginner. When compared to the performance of an MX bike, or the WR/CRFX bikes, then there is no comparison. To say that they suck would need to be based on the intent of the rider, and is clearly an opinion. I have seen a TTR125 ridden quite hard, and while it cannot keep pace with my KX250, under certain circumstances, I would actually prefer to ride the TTR. I have also entertained the option of purchasing a TTR230 for my wife, who is not nearly aggressive enough to ride an MX machine. I am also considering the purchase of a TTR125 for my daughter to ride around on.
I did recently see a kid riding a TTR230 on a local MX track absolutely ripping the place up. He was clearing a 40ft double without missing a beat. When I realized that if was a TTR, I was in shock.