My buddy has a 03 125SX and i have a 04 CR125, so i have loads of hours on both. KTM has some better components like hydraulic clutch, better clutch and brake levers, better chain and sprokets etc. It has a smaller feel to it then the honda, and the motor is way funner. The seat feels really hard and the different suspension feels weird to me but that could be just cause i'm so used to the honda and anything would feel different. So it's got some goods and bads but if i did it again i'd do KTM cause the motor is that much better. As for reliability, they tend to use better parts so theoretically they should have better reliability.