Need help....Go Orange or stay yellow

[RanMan]

I need some advise, so feel ree to throw any honest opinions at me. To tell you a little info first:
1) Height: 6 ft.
2) Weight: 165 lbs.
3) Riding terrain: Southeastern enduro's and harescrambles
4) Age: 36
5) Experience: 24 years street.....1 year dirt.
6) Altitude: Average 800 ft.

I started out on a '84 XR250 then went to my current bike ('01 DRZ250). The DRZ is a great bike and has pulled me up and through anything I had the nerve to try, but is slow and heavy as my skill level increases. I borrowed a '98 KTM250 EXC for a weekend and absoltely loved it. Now I am trying to decide on what to get. I found a dealer with great deals on '02 200 EXC and 300 EXC. I thought I wanted the 250 until I went to look at them today.
The 200 looks to be alot of fun as it is lighter, but the power of the 300 is intersting also. The terrain can vary from tight single track to the open pasture. Can someone please help clear this clogged
brain of mine?

 

[pat567]

personally the choice is up to you both are fine rides the 200 will ask more input from the rider but with rewards and the 300 more bottom end but heavier since you already ride a 4 stroke and your 36yrs how about a exc or mxc 400/450 with a magic button and the after market is full of stuff its heavier than both but in the long run you'll probably be happier

 

[RanMan]

I like the speed, power, and weight of the 2 stroke. The marked down price doesn't hurt either. Those 4strokes are just too expensive. I am not big on aftermarket products either, mainly because once I deal out the money for the bike I can't afford all the extra's. How would the 200 compare to a KDX200 or 220? I have ridden two different ones and was not impressed by the power.

 

[gooby]

RanMan i just got an 02 exc 200 ,i have been riding a kdx 200 .With 400 miles on the exc i can honestly say you will love it,i'm having a blast !!!Sorry i have no input on a 300 this is my first ktm .

 

[ktmboy]

I've ridden both the 200 and the 300. The 200 is very light, and almost as fast as a 250, with very good top end, and likes to be ridden like a 125.
The 300 on the other hand feels like a bored out 250, and likes to be short-shifted-----more of a 4-stroke ride style.
If you are an aggressive rider the 200 will suite you well, but the 300 will allow you to be a little lazier (a lot less shifting) and will be more forgiving of your mistakes. Just my humble opinion!

 

[Monkey Butt]

I had the 200 and now the 450. I loved the light weight and flickablity of the 200. The 200 made me a better rider because I had to be aggressive on it all of the time. It also took a toll on my already beaten and battered 34 year old body. I have since switched to the bigger and heavier 450 and find that it takes much less energy to ride and is much easier on the old body. I like to ride aggressively on tight single track trails and I don't miss the 200. I don't notice the extra weight of the 450, which is what I was afraid of, becasue it has so much low end power and is very easy to control. I've only road one 300 for a brief time and found it to have four stroke like power, but I am sure you would have to be more careful with the throttle than my 450. So what I'm saying here is that it is a late night, I couldn't sleep and all of this rambling is just a bunch of rambling and probably isn't helping one bit.

The only thing I can really tell you is that I didn't notice the extra weight of the bigger KTM near as much as I thought I would and I am only 150# and 5'8". After having the 200 for two years and loving the bike, I did find myself looking for a little more power. In all honesty though it will run right with a 250 for the most part. The only time you notice it lacking in the cc department is on narly hills and wide open top end areas.

I should also add that I owned a DRZ400 for a very brief time. It was the dirt only version, which I converted to dual sport. In my opinion it was a great dual sport bike, but compared to either of the KTM's that I have owned it felt clumsy and awkward in the woods. The components are also made a lot cheaper than the KTM. Everything from the seat cover and graphics all the way up to the handlebars and so on. I don't miss it one little bit (ok, maybe that cushy seat when I'm riding a long enduro).

Neal

 

[RanMan]

Is there any diference in the two as far as maintenance or life of engine goes?
Being that the 200 turns more rpm's, top ends would probably be more often:
for example. Sometimes I hate decisions. Why can't there be one bike and we had no choice but to ride it and not know any better? ;)

 

[tigerowner]

RanMan,

There is no question that this is a tough decision and it really depends on your preferences. Any 200+ 2-stroke will be faster than your current bike. A KDX 200 is a good choice but it needs a pipe. THe KDX 220 is a little mellower and needs more work than the 200 to make it fast. The KTM and Gas Gas 200/300s are also great bikes but they cost lots more. You can send KDX parts to Freddete Racing and have one heck of a bike for less than any KTM. Frankly I would own any of the 200/300s mentioned here but for $3999 the KDX is the deal.

 

[Mojo_Rooster]

I'm 36 yr old 6'2" 215# rider.I can only comment on the 300exc,It's the only one i've ridden.You want to ride it like a 4 stroke it will lug down real low.If you want to rip it will do that also.

I think you have to decide on weather to get the lighter/smaller(200) chassis or the more powerful bigger(250/300)bike.

Flip a coin ;)

 

[azjeff]

don't stress out about this decision. You can't go wrong. I owned a 300exc and my buddy had a 200 exc. I am 6' 1" 210lbs and he is about your weight and size. I have ridden his 200 and it was a blast. With your size go with the 200
Jeff

 

[azjeff]

don't stress out about this decision. You can't go wrong. I owned a 300exc and my buddy had a 200 exc. I am 6' 1" 210lbs and he is about your weight and size. I have ridden his 200 and it was a blast. With your size go with the 200
Jeff :thumb:

 

[agitt73]

im 5 8 at 190# my stock ktm 200 runs circles around the kdx
yes i had a kdx 200 for 2 years

 

[colem]

I say go with the 300 for sure! I had a kdx 220 and I just got a gas gas 300 (similar to the ktm 300 I'm sure) and the 300 is just perfect. I'm not a very big guy, only 5'10" 165 and not very experienced, 16 years old first year seriously riding, and the 300 isnt too much at all. The bike is so smooth and so easy to ride. If you ride in a higher gear the torque will pull you up and out of anything. You can also drop it a gear and scream up anything like any other 2 stroke.

 

[RanMan]

Thanks fellas, the speed of the 300 does sound tempting. I have ridden the 250 and loved it. If the 300 is a 250, but more bottom and faster, then it may the ticket.