YZ 144 / 167 vs. KTM 200 XC - Enduro

[nurmdog]

Every Mag seems to declare the YZ King of the Lites 2 St and nearly everyone agrees that the KTM 200 XC is King of the smaller trail bikes. Has anyone ridden ( or own ) a YZ 144 or bigger 2 St that they use for Trail / Enduro riding? From what I can tell the bored/stroked YZ is going to put out VERY similar power to the KTM. I realize it has MX suspension but that can be tuned for off road right? Zip Ty Racing has a TON of Yamaha 250 2 ST racers so I would think that suspension would not be an issue. Weight, the claimed weight for the new YZ is 189 and the XC is 220. 31 lbs ( or anything close it ) is a HUGE weight difference :cool: Would the YZ be better with a 18" rear? :think: Any other thoughts? Am I just way off on this one? :bang:

 

[2-Strokes 4-ever]

Rode/raced a 125 in the woods for years. Really enjoy the light weight, flick-ability and the fact you can just throw it around...........get cross rutted or out of shape, easy to put back where you want it. When you add a spark-arrested muffler, and oversized tank, o-ring chain, skid plate, etc, the weight goes up......close to the KTM. The KTM200 is a 125.....with a 200 cylinder.......best of all worlds in my opinion. I'd ride one if my dealer sold them.

 

[robwbright]

I haven't rode a 200 in years (94 KDX 200 was last one I rode). All I can say is that my 144 has approx 20% more HP than stock everywhere - its a pretty amazing motor for a "125".

I prefer MX and ride woods for fun sometimes. I don't have any trouble, but I can imagine that the 200 probably has more low end than the 144 - there's no replacement for displacement.

167? I have no idea.

 

[nurmdog]

I hadn't considered all of goodies / stuff you need that would add weight to the YZ, great point. Max power engines makes a bore stroke 167 kit, anyone know anything about this?
Thanks for the info on the 200, didn't realize it is basically a 125 with 200 cylinder.

 

[mtk]

For trail work you'll be hard pressed to make a bored out YZ into a better bike than the KTM is from the factory. A friend of mine has owned a slew of them and likes them specifically because they've got nearly the power of a 250 (in a woods-friendly state of tune) but the weight of a 125.

 

[Dan Reed]

Woods Conversion?? My son has a bone stock '05 YZ 125, actual weight ready to ride (do the manufacturers think we are stupid ? you can't ride them 'dry') with no gas is 200 lbs. The low end throttle response is amazing compared to any other stock 125! Equal snap to my KDX 200 (243lbs.piped, reeds, etc.) Yes, I know that the KTM 200 makes alot more power on top than KDX! With a flywheel wt. and other std mods it could be a missle in the woods too, even w/out the 144 or 167 kit. I am thinking about converting his to off-road, prob 144cc since the top end is due. But I prefer some "tractor" in my motor......any experience on YZ conv. in woods?

 

[Zerotact]

The '06 KTM 200XC is light. It's the only bike I've owned that I can actually pick it up completely off the ground. Sure, you could try a big bore kit in a YZ125, and a bunch of other stuff, but you'd sink a lot of money into a bike when you can just go buy one alll ready to go.

 

[booneyscb]

done that

My 2004 KTM SX-200 weights 1 pound more than my 2002 Suzuki RM-144. Ride the KTM once and you'll never go back. Had the suspension revalved by Renegade Suspension Service after the first year and really liked the result.

 

[kawicam125]

My son has a bone stock '05 YZ 125, actual weight ready to ride (do the manufacturers think we are stupid ? you can't ride them 'dry') with no gas is 200 lbs.

ive always seen on their spec. that their 189lbs. of course, im on a kx :nod: . the main reason i dont like yz 125's is because their 39.25in. on the seat height!!! ( im 5'4'', and my kx is only 37.2in. :nener: )