IS a 250 too big? for a 5'5 person

[Ryan12833]

My buddy is still thinking about getting a 250, it is his first "real" bike. He is looking at 125's and 250's. He is pretty set on spending no more than $2000 on a bike and he wants it too last him a while. He is looking for a bike from 2000-2003. These are the years in his price range. He himself is 5'5 and 130 pounds. He likes the power on my kdx220 which is fairly modded with a VF2 reed cage, new top end, and an fmf pipe and silencer. These are pretty much the only engine mods besides opening the air box a bit more. So basically he is not sure if a 250 would be much more power than that. Basically he will be racing in our trails against me and my other friend on his 400ex. My bike is pretty quick and i have the suspension set up with kx forks so my buddy is trying to get a bike that will work well for him. As far as our trails there is a bit of mud, alot of straights a touch of sand, a few hills, 2 steep hills a good amout of turns and whoops. The track is a single track and we do time trials. It is just short of a 1 mile woods track. he has found a few bikes he likes but he really wants a yamaha but is open to anything. He found a few bikes but he is not sure which he should even look at. these are some of his top choices.

2001 yz 250: excellent condition, adult owned, never raced, new brakes front & rear, new graphics, ready to ride, $1850

2002 kx250:excellent cond, new top end, clutch, flywheel weight, tires, chain sprockets, Renthal bars, Acerbis hand guards, vet owned, well maintained, $2250

2000 rm250: EC, lots of extras, trades considered, $2000 B/O

2004 kx125:
mint, Wiesco top end, Renthal sprockets & chain, Tag bars, well maint, $2400

2003 yz250: EC, adult riden, $2500

I know there is only 1 125 on the list but that is because there are not many around us right now in our year and price range. Should he wait for another 125 or do any of these bikes seem like a good deal?

Also cant he just make a 250 a little easier to ride with a fly wheel weight?? thanks for any advice.

 

[JoshG]

If he isnt racing I would definately go for the 250. The 125 dont have the bottom end power for woods riding.

 

[robwbright]

You can ride a 125 in the woods - I do it all the time - but it's not ideal, by any means.

I know that my bro's 250 had a lot more power than his KDX 200.

My concern would not be for his height - 125s and 250s are about the same size - I'm 5'4" and I can ride either, but I prefer the 125 because of the lower weight.

Has he considered a 250 4 stroke? Either the low tech XR type or the high tech 250f type?

Why doesn't he just get a KDX?

 

[Ryan12833]

we found a 2003 yz250 for $2500, the guy said it is in excellent shape, he said he rode it about 10 times a year with his son but is selling it because he is getting old. He said the only thing wrong is a dent in the pipe. It is bone stock but im not sure if it is worth $2500. Would this be a good woods bike or was there anything bad with the 2003 yz's?

 

[Poptart]

i like the first one. or the last, but yes, definetly go with yamaha.