Thinking of getting a 125

jaypro55 · Mar 29, 2002

Hey guys. My good friend just got his is new bike today. It's a 99' KTM 125 and it's awesome. He totally loves it and so do I. He and I used to ride the same bikes, XR 200's but now he's moved up. I'm thinking of moving up too, but I don't know if I'll be able to.

Here's the deal. Last July I got this bike. It was my first bike and I assumed at the time that it would get me by for at least a few years, and by then I'd be ready to go off to college anyway. Well I train hard for football and pack on the protein supplements and I've gained about 10 lbs since then and the bike has always been sluggish with me. It just doesn't have the punch I want.

For the last couple months I've been thinking of what I would upgrade too. I like the XR 250s, but they are heavy and difficult to find a somewhat newer model in my price range ($2000 to $3000). I like KDXs, but I'm struggling to find any around here that fit in the range. So after seeing his 125 I'm thinking maybe that's the way to go. I've priced them and been able to find 99' and 00' model years of all makes right in my range.

But the problem I'm wondering is that my main woods aren't real big. They're pretty tight and technical, and don't offer a lot of wide open running space. My friend says he never pulled out of 2nd too much really. But he zipped around so easily on it, and pulled our hills (some of them are quite nasty) like cake.

I guess I'm afraid of the typical 2 stroke blues. I don't want to constantly be working on the engine and replacing the top end. And I don't want to have complications for not being able to wind it out in 5th every day. I want something reliable, like my current bike but with a lot more pop.

Would a 125 be able to satisfy me? I'm about 195 lbs right now and 5'10. If I don't end up getting something new, I think I'm going to ditch the XR 200 anyway. I want to get a car soon since I'll be 16 and I might as well get rid of that to improve the car I get. So I'd appreciate any help guys, THANKS.

Jaybird · Mar 29, 2002

jaypro,
You are for sure a bit big for the XR. You would be very happy with the 125sx but they are very hard work in the type of woods you described.
I think the lack of bottom end is the downside of the sx. If you have conditions that will let you stay up on it, the bike will perform well. But lugging it is mucho tough. Lots of clutch work.
I do find them a bit easier than some 125s on the track though. The power it has is great when you can let the dawg eat.
I am partial to the '99yz125 as well. Rips and has a nice lowend.
125's are great fun!

jaypro55 · Mar 29, 2002

I know they're fun in wide open woods. I never rode one in my woods, but I have in the more open trails a few miles from my house. The problem is I can't get there everyday cause it involves some road riding, which always makes me weary. I like everything about a 125 in the open trail, the power, the speed, the acceleration, the suspension, but in woods like mine, it can't excel. I like the XR250 a lot, even though it isn't the best deal around. I can lug it around greatly in my trails, and last when I go ride with the 125s. It's still up in the air, it'll depend on what I can get.

kx80rider · Mar 29, 2002

Also make sure you keep a plump wallet, 2 strokes are a pian to keep runing. you have to have plintly of sprak pluges, the foul them out every few hrs, the trany oil is 5 bucks a qourt and you have to cange it every 10 hrs or less, and your air filter has to be cleanded daily, and the oil and cleaner is about 4 to 7 bucks a bottle and its easy to get riped off, and on top of that they all ways brake down, and go thro a top end every year, so be prepared!!!!!

tigerowner · Mar 29, 2002

Originally posted by kx80rider
Also make sure you keep a plump wallet, 2 strokes are a pian to keep runing. you have to have plintly of sprak pluges, the foul them out every few hrs, the trany oil is 5 bucks a qourt and you have to cange it every 10 hrs or less, and your air filter has to be cleanded daily, and the oil and cleaner is about 4 to 7 bucks a bottle and its easy to get riped off, and on top of that they all ways brake down, and go thro a top end every year, so be prepared!!!!!

What the heck are you talking about? Two strokes are no harder to take care of than four strokes. If you have the carb jetted right and are using the proper oil ratio in your gas you will NEVER foul a plug unless the plug is bad. Gear oil on 2 strokes does not get contaminated as fast as on a four stroke because it doesn't cycle through the cylnder and get contaminated by the byproducts of combustion. Top ends only take a few hours to rebuild and it is no more painfull than a valve adjustment. If you race you will have to do this more often but regular riding should not require rebuilds more than once a year or longer.

I would go for a KDX or other 200-250 model for the wider power spread unless of course you want to race 125s.

SpeedyManiac · Mar 29, 2002

How about a KTM 200EXC or MXC? These bikes would probably be perfect for you.

ktm125ryder · Mar 29, 2002

jaypro,
i've got a 99 ktm 125exc which is pretty much just an enduro bike. but the bike is awesome! i only weigh 140 lbs. but for the tight woods its perfect! it is sooo light and flickable and has tons of low end power that just chugs you right up any hill. as far as maintnence.....i bout it new in january or '00 and the only thing i've replaced is rear brake pads. and i've ridden it atlest 2-3 times a month if not every weekend. i'm steppin u to a 200 exc though, because i want a little more power for the mountains and dual sports, etc. hope this info helps you!

yzeater · Mar 30, 2002

I made the switch from an XR100 to a CR125 a 9 months ago. I usually ride trails, and the bike is good for me. Some would say that my bike doesn't have very much low end, but in the woods it seems just fine.

jaypro55 · Mar 30, 2002

I think I've made one decision now. If I do end up getting another bike, I know which one I want. I want a KDX, either the 200cc or the 220cc model. I don't really want the XR250 because it's big and heavy, and is easily outperformed by the KDX, which I can find for much cheaper. I don't want a 125 because I am not extremely tiny and for my woods, I just have questions about it and I don't really think it could cut it. So I think I'm going to be looking out for a KDX because it seems to be the best of both worlds, the power of a big bore engine with the quickness and nimbleness of a racing two-stroke. I think it would just do the job best, that is if I can find one for the right price around here.

jaypro55 · Mar 30, 2002

After scooting around a little today on a few 125s, I think they would be able to cut around my house. It wouldn't always be easy but I could surely do it. I was thinking about something else though, what would be wrong with a 250 two stroke. I've never ridden one but from I've heard, they're easier to handle in tight situations than a 125 and more forgiving throttle wise. I figure if I could snag a nice 250 and maybe get a better low-end torque pipe along with a larger rear sprocket, I could make it a great machine for quick acceleration in tight trails. Any opinions?

Jake T · Mar 30, 2002

I think the 125 or the KDX would be better suited for you.
The 250 will be heavier due to the bigger engine and you won't even need the extra power.
I would just go for the 125 or KDX and you'll do just fine

jaypro55 · Mar 30, 2002

You really think the 125 would be fine. From riding today I know how much power the engines have. If I was struggling in the low end department, I could do the same thing I thought about for the 250 and get a bigger rear sprocket to even it out.

Suzuki Joe · Mar 31, 2002

If you like trail riding a lot just lower the shoks then it will be easyer to ride in the trails.

jaypro55 · Mar 31, 2002

Well obviously that will help give it a better feel for the trails, but it wouldn't do much for the low end power of the engine lol. I'm not as concerned with the handling as much as I am with the managebility of the engine in tight situations. But I think after a little practice I could do it fine, and handle the trails way better and faster than I do now.

Suzuki Joe · Mar 31, 2002

If your a real good rider i think you'll do fine in the trails wheather you fix up your bike or not.

KawiRider · Mar 31, 2002

125 are great!

I currently ride a 1998 YZ 125. The only mods I have done to it was a FMF pipe and shorty silencer, woods sprocket ratio, and big 3.2 Clarke tank. This bike rips! I am a faster B-125 rider. This bike is very light in the tight stuff that you can just flip the bike around, its amazing how light it is. When I ride on 250's, the power is great, but you also have a heavier bike. On the 125, if you keep it in the powerband, it is extremely fast! If you don't like the idea of not having much low end, try the 200 EXC by KTM. I have ridden this model and it is also an excellent pick. Before you go and purchase a bike, ride both the YZ 125, and 200 EXC. Hopefully one of these bikes will fit better for you and allow you to handle the bike better.

jaypro55 · Mar 31, 2002

I'm not a great rider, but I'm okay and I learned to keep up with average riders on 125s with my 200 in just a few months. So I should be alright after some time.

Barbaduke · Apr 5, 2002

You should go with the 125. I ride mine in the woods sometimes and its completely stock. In the YZ category the 01' s have les low end than the 99-00's do. So you would be fine on 99 or 00 YZ 125. I havnt ridden any of the others but my friends have Rm's. They're pretty close to mine.(theirs are also 01's)

jaypro55 · Apr 5, 2002

Barba this sounds good. The more low end the better. Either way, I'm hooked on the fun factor of a 125. Nothing acclerates or feels like one of those, at least no four stroke that I've ever ridden. My bike is up for sale now so hopefully something comes up soon.

Barbaduke · Apr 5, 2002

I'm glad I could help you.

chumbucket · Apr 5, 2002

This sounds like a job for superman

Thinking of getting a 125

jaypro55

Jaybird

Apprentice Goon

jaypro55

kx80rider

tigerowner

SpeedyManiac

ktm125ryder

yzeater

jaypro55

jaypro55

Jake T

jaypro55

Suzuki Joe

jaypro55

Suzuki Joe

KawiRider

jaypro55

Barbaduke

jaypro55

Barbaduke

chumbucket

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