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anyone raced a 125 offroad?
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Posted by: Nevada Sixx---------------------
hey, what do you guys think about a 2006 yz125 in a hare/enduro race for a beginner level rider? I know to add hand guards and i'd gear it down a little,,
thanks.
sean.
Posted by: 2-Strokes 4-ever---------------------
I think 125's are a ton of fun in the woods, and you can't go wrong with the YZ. However, there aren't many riders out there who will agree. If you plan on doing some racing eventually, look into your areas "bike size" classes. I rode HS when we had a 125 class, and a 200 class........now they're combined, putting a 125 at a disadvantage. You see........a KTM 200 is a 125 thru and thru, with a 200 cylinder.
Posted by: xcracer725---------------------
I just bought a brand new 06 yz125 and am going to race it at the GNCC's and some local. All im doing to it is fat bars, stabilizer and handgaurds...well eventually pipe and some other mods.
Posted by: johne4---------------------
I used to race 125s in the so-cal desert many moons ago. Did pretty well too! pretty much had to keep the trottle pinned at all times. Did alot of top end's , and had a blast. Enjoy!
Posted by: jsned---------------------
Here in District 17 2 or 3 of the fastest guys are on 125 Huskys. A couple on KTM200 and then Fredette on his 220.
Ryan Moss kicks butt in Enduros on a KTM200.
Posted by: FlyinRyan---------------------
Thanks Jsned.
I raced enduros and HS on a 125 for years on KX's and YZ's. The YZ's worked real well, only had to put on the standard guards and stuff, never did any motor mods or gearing changes. There are some good things that a beginner will learn riding a 125 in the woods: Throttle and clutch control, how to pick good lines and how to attack sections. The 125 doesn't have the power of the big bikes so you learn to be smooth and keep the power going imo. As Jsned stated I race the 200 as it has more grunt for some of the rough enduros, but if KTM didn't make the 200 I'd be back on a 125 I think. The only problem with the 125's are that they have to be ridden all day, can't get lazy and try to lug it around. Well you can try to lug them but they don't like it as where a 250 can be lugged around once you get tired.
I think it would be a good choice, but you just have to look at your style of riding. Do you like to ride a bike hard all day, or do you like to lug a bike around? I'd try to answer that question to myself and then pick a cc size to match that.
Posted by: Detonator---------------------
*9 oz Steahly Flywheel makes more useful power delivery (finds traction way better) and is less stall-prone. 9 0z is perfect for your bike...don't go heavier.
*O-ring chain will make your life easier.
*Gearing change. I went to 1 tooth less on the front sprocket to tighten up the gearing for woods. Most of the race will be in 2nd and 3rd gear (not to mention 2nd gear starts), so whatever works best for those two should be your guideline.
*You'll spend more time in the 1/4 to 1/2 throttle range than you do on the track, so make sure your pilot, air screw, and needle are crisp.
*Boyesen Power reeds when your stockers get tired...dual stage helped throttle response down low.
*If it's tight woods, run mini bars or a woods bend...stock mx bars can be wide.
The big advantage of a 125 in the woods is handling, light weight, and less fatigue in the last quarter of the race. That's going to require some suspension work or at least some fiddling. I had mine revalved front and rear, and it was a huge improvement in the nasty stuff. For starters, you can run lighter oil in the forks. I found that I ran a quicker rebound (less damping) in the rear to compensate for all the trail nasties (rocks, roots, ruts) to get the tire biting instead of hopping. In the front, I ran less compression damping (maybe 4-5 clicks) to help with arm pump and steering control (less prone to washing out in greasy stuff). For rocky races, I left the rear alone, but ran 17 pounds of air pressure. In the front, I softened the compression damping another 3 clicks, and put 17 pounds there, too.
Other than that, a good hydration system, intelligently packed tool kit, install some grab straps front and rear, and ask other racers what tire pressure they're running before hitting the starting line.
Posted by: Zenith---------------------
I mainly do MX, but have done a few harescrambles and enduros on my 125s at B level in the open class. I don't really see that you're at that much of a disadvantage. Maybe on the odd long straight or big hill, but all-in-all the disadvantage is nothing like the one you'd have in a MX race against bigger bikes. And riding is about having fun, I'm not that bothered if somebody pulls half a second on a straight on me because of more cc...
I just stuck on handguards, lights and a number plate on mine. Couldn't really make gearing changes or anything because I'm always back to MX the next week. Bear in mind of course that if you lower the gearing you'll lose more speed on the straights, which is the only time you'll feel under speed on a 125 imho.
Posted by: Jon K.---------------------
I see you are in north Mississippi. Will you be doing SERA events?
I ran a 125 in SERA events for several years, and did pretty well. And I am a bigger than average guy. When I was going fast on the 125, I weighed maybe 190 or so.
I ran an '89 kx125 box stock, absolutely no modifications. Well, handgaurds of course, and an approved spark arrestor.
To go fast on a 125, you have to scream it. Put it in hyperdrive. I found that the "attack mode" that was required put me in a very competitive frame of mind, and actually enhanced my performance. When we were "on" we were hooked up and really cooking. Great fun. "Don't get in my way!!" sort of stuff.
If you are going to cruise around, the 125 is probably a poor choice.
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