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In search of the right bike...
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Posted by: bike chick---------------------
A little background info...I'm female, 5'4" and weight around 125-130 lbs. I've been riding for 3 years now and ride mostly mx and I currently ride a '00 yz125. I don't really have a problem making the 125 go, it's just that I think there may be a bike out there better suited to my riding style. I'll sometimes ride a '99 YZ400 and I love the way it handles and rides. The problem with the 400 is that, 1) it's way too tall for me...I can barely touch the ground with 1 foot, 2) it's got way more power than I like/need, and 3) I can't even get the thing to burp if I try and start it. I think a 4-stroke would be a better choice for me because I hate keeping the 125 revved to the moon to make it go anywhere and I really like the engine braking on the 400. That, and there are some days when I just want to go and putt around and "play" rather than keeping the 2-stroke wound all the time so it doesn't foul a plug! I thought about a 250F, but, again, the hard starting issue comes up. And, I still think that the 250F is a little more "high performance" than what I'm looking for. I want some that's a little mellow/milder, yet, something that could be modified to get more power if I wanted it. I have raced a couple of times in the women's class, which, is an open class, so, cc's aren't a big issue. I've mentioned to some friends that I'm searching for a bike with the qualities I've mentioned and a lot of them have suggested an XR 400 (and putting the A-loop seat/tank kit on it). They said that with my weight (seeing how I'm so light), the suspension would be just fine for the little jumping I do and yet, I would be able to "lug" it around the track if I wanted to, and I could hop it up to get more power out of it if I wanted/needed more power. Would the XR be the best choice for my riding and what I'm looking for in a bike? Or, is there another bike that would be a better choice?
Posted by: truespode---------------------
My personal choice would be a KTM400 or KTM450 with the e-start. Even without the e-start the KTM RFS's are very easy to start in comparison to the YZ450, the XR400 and the CR450F (IMO).
Ivan
Posted by: sfc crash---------------------
don't feel bad about the "kicking a 4 stroke" with no luck. ttr guy and i have both fought my DFA 426 trying to start it, wheew! the suspension thing, touching the ground is no biggie. i had the same prob with my 426, jeremy wilkey of mx tech(see his suspension forum)can lower your suspension for you. i like to lug and play also and find the big 4 strokes fit this bill well. there are several "big" 4 stroke that can be raced and lugged and, here's the good part, have the magic button(electric start) the drz 400 is nice, a little heavy for moto's but has much hop up potential. ktm makes a whole line of e start thumpers that will easily race mx and be a good play bike. yamy makes the ttr 250 with e start, but even tho i'm a yamy guy, i'd look into the ktms. the ktms are fairly light, powerfull and you can have the suspension lowerd for you at about 200$ (i think, just lowering without all the other mods). i'd go orange, i don't think you'll be disapointed. the xr 400 is ok, but it has old tech, i don't think you'd be happy with trying to mx that old heavy thing. good luck.
Posted by: biglou---------------------
A couple things come to mind-You can have the suspension lowered on a YZF, giving you better stand-over height and more leverage when starting. Not to mention lower center of gravity for turning. Another option would be a kTm with the E-start. There is a thread raging right now in the kTm forum about the new 250 4-stroke. Motohead00 has a picture of his in his gallery with a SX seat and tank on it. It looks killer! Then there's always the 400. EXC/MXC with E-start, SX is kick only. I'm not sure about lowering the suspension on a kTM since it is a linkless rear suspension, but I'm sure it can be done. With the magic button, though, that may not be an issue.
Posted by: whyzee---------------------
Have you ridden a 2 stroke 250? Brand doesn’t matter, but that might be the choice for continuing w/ MX They are a little more forgiving in the low rpm as the bottom end power is more manageable than your 125. As you open the bike up you will find an abundance of available power. The other nice thing about the 250 2 stroke is the weight, 195# for a 125 and 215# for a 250, these are averages. An XR400R is 257#, that’s a big difference form the 125. Good luck, I know someone will come through with more and better info.
Posted by: mackay---------------------
Just my 2 cent on it but if the XR400's weight is ok for you, you want upgrade possibilities and if the "magic button" e start interests you how about a DRZ400 (KLX400), not sure about the seat heigh though. I dont have one, never ridden one but the comments posted on this site and in the Mag's I have read seem to shine favorably on them.
Posted by: mackay---------------------
Wow 4 posts at the same time!!!
Posted by: whyzee---------------------
FYI, this site can provide all kinds of specification information on bikes from 00 to 02. <HERE> 
Posted by: MXP1MP---------------------
I can't decide either an like yourself we're almost the same height i'm 5'5". I also ride a 125 right now but i'm debating on getting a 250F but for some reason compared to my YZ the F feels like its bigger. I find the kick start lever position awkward but with more time it would be easier. A 250 2 stroke might be too much but I'd suggest the CR by virtue of its smooth power band and plush suspension I really liked the '02. I also really really like my friends '01 RM 125. It was plush easier to ride/jump and keep on the pipe vs my YZ did I mention it was plush 
I liked the light shifting wasn't too keen on the clutch but only cause I wasn't used to it. But what I liked the most was how light it felt! It felt like I was ridding more like a 100 it made my YZ feel heavy. I also like that it turns on or off the gas I didn't notice any head shake nothing more than what my YZ all ready does. I was all gun ho about getting a '03 250F untill I rode the RM I was able to hit obstactles on the RM cause of how light it feels and how responsive it is on a strange bike after a few laps that still give me fitz on my YZ i've raced all year. Got to ask yourself some important questons whats more important to you about a bike. Is it handling? Is it plush or stiff suspension? Good brakes? Best motor A.) Most powerful? B.) Easiest to ride. Definetly get what you want all the bikes are about the same anymore in motor performance or can be easily modified they all have thier own traits and the only real differences anymore is in handling/suspension/braking performance and the way they feel. You can't pick a bad ride they are all competetive on the amatuer level. I can't make up my mind on wanting a '03 CR 125 or RM 125.
Posted by: tigerowner---------------------
It sounds like you don't neccasarily need more power but you like the power delivery of a four stroke but you are worried about the starting. How about the 03 WR 250 with the free mods and magic button. You can do the height adjustments that Lou mentioned above
Posted by: los36---------------------
How about a 2-stroke KTM mxc? Like a 200 or 250. the engine is bigger, but will feel only a bit faster and ALOT smoother and easier to ride. Plus, you could take off all of the off-road stuff to drop a few pounds when you want to race it. Just an idea
Posted by: Optik---------------------
The new 200 sx might be what your looking for. More low end than a 125 but you should feel right at home on it because it shares a chasis with a 125.
Posted by: bsmith---------------------
I'm with truspode 
The KTM 400SX sounds like a good choice, My EXC 520 starts really easy with the old fashioned kicker thingy so for a few extra pounds you can have the MXC with electric start and still be less weight then the XR 400.
Posted by: bike chick---------------------
bsmith and truespode...can you compare the power of the KTM 400 to any other mx bike(s) (YZ400/426, C'Dale 400/440, etc.)? Also, what's the throttle response like and can you "lug" the bike? Thanks for all the input and replies! I definately have some thinking to do.
Posted by: truespode---------------------
I've only ridden the KTM520, WR426, YZ426 and CR450. The CR450 and KTM both have very smooth power bands and both can be lugged very easily. The 426 has more of a hit but all of them can be lugged very easily.
I lug my YZ250F without a problem when riding with my wife who rides a DRZ250 (usually just putts around in 1st).
Ivan
Posted by: bsmith---------------------
Sorry, I can't help much here 
, my experience is off the track.
I've ridden with a couple YZ400's and YZ426 and they seem to have a big hit that would In my opinion make them a little harder to control, especially on the trial. My bike has very smooth power and great throttle response. I feel it lugs around OK, the SX model would probably be a shade worse at lugging.
I should be riding with a C-dale E440 in the next few weeks, I'll let you know the comparision. I do beleive though they are a tad taller then the average bike.
Their is a good write up on the 450 in the KTM forum comparing the differences with the 520, it could be helpful
One other bike to think about is the Honda CRF 450. If you liked the YZ 400 you probably would be disapointed with the power of the XR400, so you might consdier the CRF 450
Posted by: flyfishdoc---------------------
If you dont want to completely rule out 2 strokes there is the KTM 200sx... thats what my dad's looking at right now
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