Magazine Picks on Best 2006 250F

Combat767 · Nov 9, 2005

I currently subscribe to only one dirt magazine, but I am curious as to what bike each Magazine(Set of test riders) chose as their favorite. I know each bike may be suited better for some, but to keep this simple, what are the picks of the magazines.

RacerX (250F) - Posted on their web site
1. Kawasaki
2. KTM
3. Honda
4. Yamaha
5. Suzuki

Transworld (250F)
1. Honda
2. Kawasaki
3. KTM
4. Yamaha
5. Suzuki

Cycle News ???
MXA ???
DirtRider ???
Others???

Thanks!

Combat767 · Nov 9, 2005

Magazine Picks On Best 2006 450F

I posted this for the 250F's first, but would like the same information on the 450's as well.

RacerX (450F)
1. Kawasaki
2. Yamaha
3. Honda
4. Suzuki
5. KTM

Cycle News ???
Transworld MX ???
MXA ???
DirtRider ???
Others???

Thanks!

Okiewan · Nov 9, 2005

The the "wrong bike" thread in this forum.

cnielse5 · Nov 9, 2005

Not to steal you thread or any thing but I am curious to see what the magazines 250 2 stroke shoot out winners were.

I have the dirt rider mag and they picked the YZ 250 if I remember right.

Okiewan · Nov 9, 2005

Transworld, 250 2-T's:

1. YZ
2. RM
3. KX
4. CR
5. KTM SX

Patman · Nov 9, 2005

Many of the magazines I've picked up recently seem to be really stoked about the Kawasaki & KTM more than any of the others.

Rich Rohrich · Nov 9, 2005

Patman said:
Many of the magazines I've picked up recently seem to be really stoked about the Kawasaki & KTM more than any of the others.

That's because they won't own them after a full season of racing. ;)

Senior KX Rider · Nov 9, 2005

Don't pay much attention to the mags and how they rate bikes but I'm thinkin about adding another red bike to the stable. Got a ride on an 06 CRF 250 and I think it would fit in the garage. :aj: That bike handles better than any 250F I have ever ridden

Patman · Nov 9, 2005

Rich Rohrich said:
That's because they won't own them after a full season of racing. ;)

LOL! Ain't that the truth! :laugh:
Maybe it should have some fine print that says "This is our pick if we didn't have to pay for the bike and parts and didn't have to maintain it. If you are not like us then buy a Honda!"

380EXCman · Nov 9, 2005

If you are not like us then buy a Honda!"

Uh Huh. OK! ;)

Based on my experience and regarding reliability and maintenance I would rank them this way.

Yamaha
KTM
Honda
Kawazuki (no experience with the new Kawasaki)

Same order for 250’s and 450’s.

That however is not the order I would buy them in. I would never buy a 250F. As for the 450's?

Yamaha (5-speed) A way smart move! Awsome valve train.
Honda (5-speed)
KTM (Love the WP suspension, no 5-speed)
Kawasaki or Suzuki (Tied)

Rich Rohrich · Nov 9, 2005

No question that the Yamahas are the reliability leaders, and the KawaZuki 250F abortion isn't fit to own if you pay for your own parts or if you'd rather ride then wrench.

KawieKX125 · Nov 9, 2005

My KXF has been pretty reliable I think. In 2 years the only thing that has broken was a siezed crank a month ago...not too bad. I did valves 9 months ago or so with a really good 5 angle valve job so hopefully that will make the valves last.

Rich Rohrich · Nov 9, 2005

KawieKX125 said:
My KXF has been pretty reliable I think.

Didn't you have multiple cam bearing seizures?

Aaron_Silidker said:
Thankfully, the caps are so freaking soft when both of mine siezed, I used 800 grit to smooth the bearing bores out and they have been fine since.

Aaron_Silidker said:
Mine just siezed again today! Jeesus this annoying, I am gonna split the cases and clean the oil screens.

Yeah, that sounds like the gold standard in reliability. ;)

biglou · Nov 10, 2005

I don't think the blue '06 450 is out yet.

john3_16 · Nov 10, 2005

People are very sensative when it comes to quality and reliability...Nobody likes the idea that they spent $6,000 on a excellent performing (when it runs) piece of junk.

If a magazine says their bike is the best then love to repeat the good things the mag says about their bike......If mags say the Honda has the superior build quality/ease of maintenance/fit and finish they retract and say the mags don't know anything....Bottom line they only want to believe the mag when it says something favorable about their bike...
I was at the international motorcycle show last weekend and had the chance to inspect several brands back to back....The Yamaha's and Honda's looked excellent from a quality standpoint...Everything flows and each part looks as though it was designed with the entire bike in mind.

By contrast the RM80, RM125, and RM250 look like antiques...Engine castings, frame design, and fit and finish appeared to be several steps below the Yamaha/Honda/Kawasaki....

J.B.426 · Nov 10, 2005

Almost every mag always says the Hondas have the best "fit and finish". While it is good, I think now that I compare my 06 YZ250 with my 04 CRF450, the Yamaha is much better in this regard. The rear fender on the CRF is crooked and has been since day one. Others have said the same thing. The seat on the Honda does not fit as well as the Yamaha, the rear portion flares up a little. The mudflap on the Yamaha is a better design and material. The rear axle on the Honda had the threads stripped when torqued to Honda's spec.

Just a few observations. This Yamaha is the best put together, quality bike I've seen.

Combat767 · Nov 10, 2005

Not sure what you mean by wrong bike, but you can move this thread to where you think it should be? I'm hoping the thread will be a living thread (Living Document) and grow as information becomes available.

Thanks!

Combat767 · Nov 10, 2005

Thanks for the input so far! I look at the magazines as a smorgasbord of consumer information, and back that up with what I gather from DirtRider.net, and the crew I ride with. If several magazines lean towards one bike as a better choice, than the odds are it most likely will be. It has served me well over the years, and I love to read and hear about the latest bikes and the technology that goes into them..

Thanks!

JustinC · Nov 10, 2005

KawieKX125 said:
My KXF has been pretty reliable I think. In 2 years the only thing that has broken was a siezed crank a month ago...not too bad. I did valves 9 months ago or so with a really good 5 angle valve job so hopefully that will make the valves last.

only a seized crank, new valves and a valve job? doesnt sound too reliable to me.

karterron · Nov 10, 2005

JustinC said:
only a seized crank, new valves and a valve job? doesnt sound too reliable to me.

Not bad at all for a 4 stroke. What he describes is really not much different than what you would to a 2 stroke over 2 going on 3 seasons. I always did a top end on my 2 strokes every year and a crank every 2 to 3 depending upon the number of hours on the bike.

If your thinking a race bike should have nothing happen over 2 seasons, well you may be expecting too much out of any of them. You can't get that out of a 2 stroke or 4 stroke if you are racing and following Mfr recommendations on maint intervals.

marcusgunby · Nov 10, 2005

When honda went for lightness in a big way a few years ago they downgraded on quality IMO, some of the fastners etc isnt as good as the older models.

J.B.426 · Nov 10, 2005

marcusgunby said:
When honda went for lightness in a big way a few years ago they downgraded on quality IMO, some of the fastners etc isnt as good as the older models.

I think you have a good point there.

JustinC · Nov 10, 2005

karterron said:
Not bad at all for a 4 stroke. What he describes is really not much different than what you would to a 2 stroke over 2 going on 3 seasons. I always did a top end on my 2 strokes every year and a crank every 2 to 3 depending upon the number of hours on the bike.

If your thinking a race bike should have nothing happen over 2 seasons, well you may be expecting too much out of any of them. You can't get that out of a 2 stroke or 4 stroke if you are racing and following Mfr recommendations on maint intervals.

i had an 02 yzf 250 that i bought used in 03, i didn't even know how many hours were on it when i bought it. i rode it two more years at least 2-3 times a week. the only thing that i ever needed to do to the engine was a minor valve adjustment once, it still ran as strong as the day i bought it when i traded it in.

Okiewan · Nov 10, 2005

marcusgunby said:
When honda went for lightness in a big way a few years ago they downgraded on quality IMO, some of the fastners etc isnt as good as the older models.

What is a "few years ago" ??
I've had Honda's of pretty much every year since 2001.. haven't seen any fall-off in quality? Are you guys talking about when it went aluminum?

marcusgunby · Nov 10, 2005

No okie actually 2002 -they downsized bolts like the seat ones, stuff like the ones holding the rad scoopes etc seem a little softer now(since about 2004?) as well??

Its not a big thing ,and they dont snap like older kx bolts did, but the bikes dont feel as substantial(well there not , they are lighter) as they used to, its just people have a percieved quality thing with crs that i dont 100% agree with, im not saying they are junk but they are not some premium over the others IMO.Its very like VW in europe, they are branded as high quality products above others like ford etc, in reality consumer testing has shown they are near the bottom in actual reliability.

Ive heard of many crf 250s need shimming at 5-10 hour intervals, now rich will tell me how bad my kxf is, but i dont hear of kxf riders doing this, just crf ones, thats not quality IMO.

Magazine Picks on Best 2006 250F

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