I've got 2 TTR 125 for my boys
Ages 10/13. We race Hare Scrambles and do some serious trail riding with them. Over all I think they are the ideal bike for them. No peaky 2 srtoke power band on them,(I wonder why they would make a 80cc bike soooo peaky, that they're hard for the beginner to ride??)
Boy "A" has a power roll pipe and silencer on it, Boy "B" has a muffler spacer from Power roll, I have a bigger carb for boy "A"'s when he get a little faster on it. The silencer has spacers discs to adjust the power on it.
The only thing I did to the bike was to make a skid plate out of a old sign and with a small angle iron trim @ it and make a 1/4" steel chain guard, (the stock one is crap). Over all the only problems has been starting cold. It's not hard, but annoying.
This size bike is soooooo perfect for kids, much better stuff than the XR 100, I see Suzuki and Kawi are comming out with thiers.
TTR 225 has awide tank, heavy, mushy suspension, like a dual sport, (I thought about getting one) 250 is kinda like the XR. Both are old technology. A mid size good trail riding bike is dificult to find. I bought a KDX 200 and loved it!! ATK 250/260/125 are great rides too.
Good luck
Joe
2001 kdx 200
2000 ATK 125
2 TTR 125 Boy "A"'s and "B"'s