In the 125 class horsepower is of the utmost importance. More power is always a good thing in the tiddler class. So I believe the 250F is clearly at an advantage over the 125 despite being heavier. (Yeah, I know, peak numbers are about the same but the 250F is a lot easier to ride.) I think the lack of sales will kill the 125 before the EPA does.
In the 250 class not many people can really use any more power than a 250 2 stroke produces. So any increase that a 450F might have is negated because most guys don't even use the power they have. Especially in the lower amateur ranks. In the 250 class quality matters more than sheer quantity of power. It just depends on what you want and your riding style for which bike is best for you in this class. Look at the top national riders. A lot of guys are swapping back and forth which would indicate that as fast as they are, they don't even know for sure which is best. I don't think the 250 is going away anytime soon.
After owning many 250s and two 250Fs I bought a YZ450F and hated it. It had too much power and weight. I just couldn't come to terms with it for many reasons. I wanted a replacement for a 250 2 stroke and what I got was a replacement for a 500 2 stroke. I quickly returned to a YZ250 and love it. It just fits me. There is a big gap between a 250F and a 450F. I would just love to see a 350 4 stroke. That would be a replacement for a 250 ring ding.
One thing that is for sure, The thing that will kill all dirt bikes is NOISE. The NOISE of a 4 stroke is beyond ridiculous. I was riding at a local arena the other day and I couldn't even hear a 2 stroke right in front of my face over a 4 stroke clear over on the other side of the arena. I don't get it. the biggest thing the public hates about dirt bikes is NOISE and look what everyone has done. Here we are trying to figure out how to reduce exhaust emissions when our biggest problem is NOISE emissions. NOISE is our biggest killer. The sad part is, look how easy it is to make a bike quieter. All you have to do is put a bigger/heavier muffler on and they can be XR200 quiet. So what if everyone has to lose 5 HP and gain 5 lbs. It's better than not riding at all. Being a bike lover I don't mind a little NOISE but this is just pathetic. I just can't believe that the bike makers and aftermarkets continue to produce loud bikes. Don't they realize no place to ride = no bike sales= no aftermarket sales. Yet people are waiting in line to buy a $750 100+ decibel carbon fiber exhaust. I don't get it. (sorry for getting off on a tangent)
In the 250 class not many people can really use any more power than a 250 2 stroke produces. So any increase that a 450F might have is negated because most guys don't even use the power they have. Especially in the lower amateur ranks. In the 250 class quality matters more than sheer quantity of power. It just depends on what you want and your riding style for which bike is best for you in this class. Look at the top national riders. A lot of guys are swapping back and forth which would indicate that as fast as they are, they don't even know for sure which is best. I don't think the 250 is going away anytime soon.
After owning many 250s and two 250Fs I bought a YZ450F and hated it. It had too much power and weight. I just couldn't come to terms with it for many reasons. I wanted a replacement for a 250 2 stroke and what I got was a replacement for a 500 2 stroke. I quickly returned to a YZ250 and love it. It just fits me. There is a big gap between a 250F and a 450F. I would just love to see a 350 4 stroke. That would be a replacement for a 250 ring ding.
One thing that is for sure, The thing that will kill all dirt bikes is NOISE. The NOISE of a 4 stroke is beyond ridiculous. I was riding at a local arena the other day and I couldn't even hear a 2 stroke right in front of my face over a 4 stroke clear over on the other side of the arena. I don't get it. the biggest thing the public hates about dirt bikes is NOISE and look what everyone has done. Here we are trying to figure out how to reduce exhaust emissions when our biggest problem is NOISE emissions. NOISE is our biggest killer. The sad part is, look how easy it is to make a bike quieter. All you have to do is put a bigger/heavier muffler on and they can be XR200 quiet. So what if everyone has to lose 5 HP and gain 5 lbs. It's better than not riding at all. Being a bike lover I don't mind a little NOISE but this is just pathetic. I just can't believe that the bike makers and aftermarkets continue to produce loud bikes. Don't they realize no place to ride = no bike sales= no aftermarket sales. Yet people are waiting in line to buy a $750 100+ decibel carbon fiber exhaust. I don't get it. (sorry for getting off on a tangent)