what racing tells me about my next bike...

HajiWasAPunk said:

...but because I can afford it...

Click to expand...

No better reason than that. You just hit the key factor that most people should be looking at when the buy a bike. What color are you getting?

easy cause I'd get the blue one or orange one over the red one anyday of the week even if given to me. Why so far the YZF is the most reliable the KTM is getting the same feed back. I think the CRF is probably one of the slowest I personally after spending lots of time on one I'd get a YZF and make it a stroker 280 big bore. Between me and 5 friends and various riders over the past 3 years of moto an trail abuse have yet to kill it yet and she's been alittle negelected in the valve adjustment/shimming area it just got oil changes every ride and clean air fliter.

This bike should have like sized etc in every sense possible from what I read online etc about maintence and it's still running today. It was given to a mechanic friend and the owner went out and bout a '06 CR 125 so he could learn to be more agressive again on the CR500AF. My friend has owned this 250/280 YZF since '01 it's been flipped, cased out countless times on failed jumps by another friend who is like 280lbs+ easy! that poor lil' 250F. So I wouldn't hesitate to by the YZF hell if ya got money to burn on bling why not just get the LE :p

daul exhaust who cares just by an after market one like it's gonna help you out anyways I doubt most of us on here could even tell any difference the comment from most owners is whoopie I don't notice anything or if you got an '05 freshen it up.

:uh:

If the KTM 250SX-F turns out to be as reliable as the YZF, I may be in the market for one in about 2-years...

From what i've read on ktmtalk it's sure pointing that way i know there's been a few reports here n there but it was like when the YZF frist came out people were claiming they had crank failures but I never saw one. I've seen quite a few of the SXF's around here since july.

In my understanding, 125s corner faster because the 250f's weigh more and the extra weight tends to be somewhat high on the bike, meaning you have a higher center of gravity. This is the primary reason I do not want a 4 stroke (well that and I love the 2 stroke hit). I'm 5'4, 145 and I HIGHLY dislike even my bros KX250 2 stroke. The extra weight up high makes it feel like a tank to me.

Don't even begin to think your bike is too old - its an '04. I started racing in June and I'm on a 2002 RM 125. I'm in the top 3 in Open D every week, mid pack in Unlimited C/D and mid to upper pack in C. Many times I beat newer 250f's. I've even passed them on long, steep uphills. However, in a close race, I do have trouble passing a 250f coming out of a corner - followed one for 4 laps and I was never further behind than 10 feet, but never got past him. I'm hoping the Eric Gorr 144 kit with mo better porting will help come springtime :)

One of my buddies is on a 1998 KX 250. On a very tight local track where he is actually at a disadvantage because of the weight of his bike and the low speeds, he still beats me by a good 5-10 seconds. He's just plain better than me regardless of the bike.

TAKE A CLASS!! I cut probably 2 seconds a lap off my times within 2 races of taking a class from a local who finished 8th at Loretta Lynn's this year. Worth every penny to have someone watch and correct . . .

Also, to get you started now, try this email course:

http://www.motocrosstrainingcenter.com/

Or this book:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...103-1864501-3579811?n=507846&s=books&v=glance

Rob

Oh yeah I forgot . . .

In the last race of the season, not many people showed up at the local track. A fast 80 rider on a 2003 YZ85 rode 125 C. The only two other riders at the time in that class were two 2006 KXF250's.

The 80 kid didn't win, but he was about 10 feet behind both of the 250 four strokes at the finish.

A well tuned 80 with an appropriately sized kid on board has a better power to weight ratio than most 125's with average sized riders onboard.

Don't forget, they also allow you to ride much lazier. If you still have the CR, take it to the track every once in awhile. Unless you keep pushing, I bet you'll be suprised how lazy that thumper will let you get.