New to the Forum, want a new Bike

Hi all, wanted to start off by saying cool forum. Well i've been off bikes for a few years, but recently had my intrest resparked. Used to have an old 83 CR 80 that I raced years ago, also had a CR 125 which was an '84. Well I was thinking about getting a quad, but had the opportunity to ride a friends '03 KTM 200sx, nice bike, not setup for me ,, seemed kinda jittery and rough, but fun, changed my mind to 2 wheel bikes. Well Ive been browsing this forum and although the 4-stroke seems highly regarded and might be a better all around bike, they seem a bit pricey, plus I've only had experience with 2-stroke and never had faults with them, noise and power is cool, plus they are cheaper. So Im kinda in the hunt for a 250, 2 stroke. It seems like the bikes nowadays are regarded as very similar, one not being dominant over others, so basically my question is which one should I get. I would Like to get a bike that has a fairly plush suspension, that doesnt bottom. I hate getting too much feedback from every little thing on the trail. I rode an old RM 125 once that seemed nice(plush suspension), but never had enough ride time to determine if it was better. Im 25 years old, 5'10 160lbs good physical shape, never ridden 250's but dont try and scare me away from them cuz I want more power than a 125 fo sure. I probably wont be riding MX track anymore, just trails, and we have some awesome dunes to play in. Would consider other options to an MX bike, but I really like the racing technology. So Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, or Suzuki? please help!
P.S Im Married, and the wife isnt keen on this, but you only live once right. Plus im not selling my fishing boat for nothin. :rotfl:

Just curious to why you pick Yamaha, and Kawasaki over the others? 2,000 American right? I was thinking about buying new, but looking at the websites they look to be over 7 grand for either, thats pretty steep in my opinion. If I can get a good bike thats a few years old, and still in good shape I think I will go that route and save myself a few thousand. What year of bike should I be looking for, you mentioned 98 was '98 a good year for both, any years that I should be wary of in Kawasaki and Yamaha? thats still a 6 year old bike already, I guess if its just a fun bike for me, it doesnt have to be showroom flawless, im just picky. About what kinda prices would I be looking at Canadian $$ for a '98. This is a little off topic, but I remember when I got my '84 CR125 used 900 bucks Canadian...LOL and it was in awesome shape. I bought the CR80 for 600 bucks.. from the same guy! Yeah, now that i think about it more,, i'll definately go used, i think I'd like to spend between 2-4 thousand Canadian, I know that will be easier to swing than 7000 plus to the wife. :laugh: I was gonna get a quad, my buddy just bought a brand new 700 sportsman EFI but the more I thought about it, why the hell do I need a 12 000 dollar quad, when I could buy a bike and have more fun.

Well I looked around at site on the net in my area. Found some for sale. Ill list the adds, see what you think.
Kawasaki's for sale

1)2000 Kawasaki KX250, new top end, new ford seals, $3500obo
2) 94 KX250, v/g cond, FMF fatty, spare parts, $2500
3) 96 Kawasaki KX250 , n/rear tire & brakes, never raced, exc cond, $3300
4) 96 Kawasaki KX250, new rear tire, chain & sprockets, FMF pipe, Renthal bars, $3200 obo
5)97 Kawasaki KX250 , $3000 obo.
6)97 Kawasaki KX250, FMF exhaust, one industries graphics, pro taper handle bars, renthal bars, exc cond, $3500 obo
7) 98 Kawasaki KX250, brand new black plastic, Renthal bars, runs & looks exc, $3000
8) 98 Kawasaki KX250, black plastic & org, Procircuit pipe & silencer, Boyse & Reeds & valve, Racetech front susp., $3200 obo.
9) 99 Kawasaki KX250, new engine, chain, sprockets, all factory Kawasaki parts, $3700 obo.
10) 99 Kawasaki KX250, new high perf engine, 320cc, all the best parts, Pro Circuit pipes, Renthal bars, must sell, $4200 obo
Yamaha's
1) 2001 Yamaha YZ250, like new, hardly ridden, paddle tire, approx 50hrs, $4500 obo
2) 2002 Yamaha YZF250, v/gd cond, clean & quick, $5250 obo. Must sell ASAP
3)94 Yamaha YZ250, white, good shape, runs strong, $2700 obo
4) 99 Yamaha YZ250 , skin plastic, Excel rims, Renthal bars, low hrs, mint, $4300 obo
Suzuki[/B]
1)2000 Suzuki RM 250, exc cond, $3500 obo
2)93 RM 250, Procircit exhaust, too trick suspension, factory effects graphics kit, new top end, new chain, sprockets & tires, lots of power, can pull catwalk in 5th gear, $3000 obo
3) 98 Suzuki RM 250, great bike, 99 graphics race tech susp, fx effect seat, o-ring chain, $3500.
4)99 RM250 , FMF gold pipe, MSR bars, seat cover, 'N' style graphics, barely used, awesome cond, $4500 obo
5) 99 Suzuki RM250 , low hrs, never raised, exc cond, $3650.
6)99 Suzuki RM250, new tires, chain, sprockets, exc. cond, $4000 obo.
Honda[/B]
1)2000 Honda CR250 w/FMF gold series pipe, 1 industries gel seat, b/n top & bottom engine rebuilt, $3700 obo, must sell
2)2000 Honda CR250 , great bike in good cond, new handlebar & bushguards, well maintained, never raced, $4000
3) 2003 Honda CR250, V force read block, black plastic kit, c/w helmet, boots, gloves, googles, ha sorig plastic, $5500obo
4) 99 Honda CR250R, many custom parts, pipes, silencers, plastics etc, exc cond, blk/silver, low hrs, never raced, $4200 obo

Sorry this is so long, but my brain is getting frazzld looking at adds, hardly any of these adds included pictures, so I'd have to probably view in person or request pictures. I dont have time to look at all these bikes, nor do I really want too. I was thinking #7& #8 Kawasakis sounded like a decent deal for 3000each. What do you guys think, should a guy be wary of the bikes that dont have OEM plastic? A black bike would look pretty cool..lol Hondas seem too expensive now. Whats Race tech Suspension :think:

btw where the hell are people paying 7 grand for a new bike? you can get a new 450f here for 6 and a new 250 for like 4900
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Anywhere in Canada most likely, our dollar isnt worth as much. check out any Canadian manufacturer sites (honda) or (kawasaki), or any other sites, just put a .ca in the web address you will see the MRSP in Canadian $$ if you dont believe me.

I do believe a 99 125 .09 over would eat an 84 cr125 for a snack...check out the 125s and the four stroke 250s...!I wouldn't have said that, but you said not to! lol
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you're right I said not too, and I agree technology is better, and I still wouldnt want a 125.
BTW the wife doesnt want me to get a bike still. :bang:

blah blah, im not afraid of a bike, and I tire of reading the posts that turn people away from what they want.

if i was your wife, I wouldnt want you buying a 250 either, ESP as a "gettin back into it" bike!
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Im married, not 50, no offense to the 50 year olds... Im 25 years old, not a cripple, not to mention a natural at 2 wheel riding. Lots of guys on here seem pretty timid, its a bike get over it. Anyways my wife will probably win the battle anyways, and I will probably end up with something different anyways eg. A holiday trailer bleah!, but the early 90's Idea sounds alright,, maybe I'll just buy an old one to rip around on, for as little money as possible. Anyways,, I dont mean to be an ass, but Im tired of reading the you'll die on a 250cc bike crapola, its BS. Thanxs