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99-01 twostrokes
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Posted by: SoFlo---------------------
I'm looking into getting a twostroke, a 125 or 250, any brand, but in the years of 99-01, because those are going for like $2000 through $2500 or so and that's what I can afford. What I wanna know is what power or suspension characteristics those years had, like was there a year of a really peaky powerband with the following year having a more mellow powerband? Any certain year and brand combos I should avoid? I'm looking for a 250 with a sorta easy powerband, no lightswitch stuff.
Posted by: n_w t_ b_kes---------------------
Tell us your hight, weight, age, and experience to see if your better off on a 125 or 250.
Posted by: SoFlo---------------------
17, about 155 pounds, and 6 feet tall, and my experiance is that I know how to ride a dirtbike, but no real experiance. This bike would be like my first real full time bike. A 125 is probably plenty for me, but if I can hang onto a 250 until I really grow into it, I might as well, but the reason I'm asking is because I really don't know.
Posted by: SoFlo---------------------
Also, I'm going to be riding both on and off an MX track, so a little versitility is needed.
Posted by: Kav---------------------
I've had a '01 YZ250 sence it was new, and I love it. I ride a Open desert, woods, supermoto, and a little MX on it. out of all the bieks I've tryed it has the best stock engine IMHO. It's smoth, and friendly, I've hear for a fair ammount of people that the '01 is a hard year to beat. Plus the engine hasn't changed save for porting sence '99 so parts are plentful. Get it re-sprung for your weight, and have fun. BTW I'm 6'3" and 135'ish, so being a light weight on the bike is not a big deal. I had a '99 Honda 250, and while the engle was smoth, it was all bottom-end, and didn't really have much of a top end. I couldn't stand that engine, but that's just me. I've know a few peopel that really loved that year. But I really did like the suspension on that bike.
I can't really speek for the 125's or the other brands. I haven't rode them much.
Posted by: n_w t_ b_kes---------------------
I'm in the same position as you. I have heard 250's are easier to ride than 125's. Anyone back that up?
I'd probably say 125.
Posted by: SoFlo---------------------
Well here's the deal, I need an easy to ride bike to learn on, so a 250 with a smooth powerband but a load of power sounds good to me. But then I hear how everyone loves their 125's and how light and easy to manhandle them it is. So a 2001 YZ250 is something I'll keep my eye out for, I wonder if I can find one for $2200 or less?
Posted by: SoFlo---------------------
Also, is there any harm in going all the way back to like a 1997 model 125 or 250? I know they are outdated by CURRENT standards, but they can still hit doubles and large tables and take me around a track quick right?
Because I see a 1996 CR250R for only $1600, that I can drive and go see. But does a 250 that old (not condition wise, I mean performance wise) compare with todays 125's, I'm preety new to all this. Like can that bike satisfy a beginner like me?
Posted by: bikepilot---------------------
Nothing wrong with older bikes at all. At your level (or that of most people) the bike will not be the limiting factor at all. I was winning 250 B races in MX and HS in 2000 on a 1993 KX250 and the 125 class on a 1997 YZ125. Much of the competition was on newer bikes, but I never felt that the bike was holding me back at all. Even a 10 year old 250 will have more power than a new 125 and a 10 year old 125 will still have more power than you will need. I've done every jump at Budd's Creek on a 1989YZ125
On 250 vs 125. A 250 engine is easier to keep on the pipe (wide powerband) but the bike as a whole is harder to handle (heavier, more power). A 125 will require you to keep the engine reved up and teach you to maintain speed through corners and in the end you will be a much better rider. A 250 will encourage you to be lazy with the engine management and in the corners and rely on the power to get you down the straights quickly. Botom line, if you just want someting to play on, have no or little desire to become a better rider, learn how to turn etc then get the 250, you'll love the power. If you want to really learn how to ride, how to manage and engine effectively, how to corner well etc then get the 125 it will be much more fun and you'll be a better rider for it
Brand preference is very subjective and I would put more emphasis on your local dealer support than the technical differences between brands. If you've got a great honda dealership then get a CR125, if a great yamaha dealership get a YZ125 etc. I've owned all major MX brands except suzuki (I have a suzuki street bike though) and they are very close. My favorite have been honda and kawasaki.
good luck and have fun:thumbup
Posted by: SoFlo---------------------
Dude that was the post I was waiting for. I'm probably going to get an older bike then, I'm just not sure if I want to go the route of being really good on a 125 or being fast and lazy on a 250. If the 125 is more fun, that's probably what I'll get. I should be able to get like a 97 or 98 125cc bike for mid 1000's. Thanks a whole ton man. 
Posted by: bikepilot---------------------
A 125 is much more fun on a MX track for me. As a fairly new rider I would strongly recomend starting out on a 125, at the very least you'll learn more and learn it more quickly. Then you can be fast and lazy on the 250, now you'd probably just be lazy on the 250. As a newish rider and experenced rider I have always has more fun on a 125, expecially in more open terrian.
BTW when I first started riding and up through C class racing my laptimes were always faster at Budds Creek (a wide open mx track on the national circut) on a 125 than a 250. I was just so much faster on the down hills and through the turns that I couldn't make that up ont he straights. Now I've gotten a bit better on a 250 (mid to front of B class) and am about the same overall speed on a 125 as a 250, though I have more fun on the 125. Oddly enough I do like the 250 a little better on a really tigh supercross style track as its just easier to tq out of the corners at low rpm.
have fun
Posted by: n_w t_ b_kes---------------------
That just made my decision more clear also.
Posted by: PEace---------------------
That 96' CR250 you're talking about, go take a look at it...
The 92-96 CR's are incredible bikes... I ride a 94' CR250 and my buddy I ride with is on a 02' CR250. Both bikes have simular mods (pipe, reeds, properly jetted) and both have had the top end changed recently... My bike is actually faster on the straights through ALL gears. He has a better suspension setup (he sports Too-Trick all around) where as I'm on stock that is in need of some revalving.. Anyway.. don't be shy of the mid 90's MX'ers
Posted by: SoFlo---------------------
Alright, I'll defintly be looking into the mid 90's mxers then. The only thing that I have to look at is the condition critical stuff like motor, suspension, and bearings and all. I'm preety excited about all of this, and leaving riding the yamaha blaster. Between the 125 and 250, it will probably depend most on what kind of deal I can get on whatever I find down here. Thanks again everyone.
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