Enduro 250F options?

[quallman1234]

Looking for a 250F enduro bike. Pretty convinced on a 4-stroke 250 with e-start. Well over kicking shit over.
As being a short ass i have to be careful kicking on odd angles as i have tendancy to fall on my ass.
Not really interested in 2-stroke enduro bikes anymore. Only had 2 strokes before, want a change. 200EXC is a great bike blah blah.

Suggestions help needed. I do a fair amount of riding so i don't want something maintenance super heavy. But you can't aviod it. Unless its a XR250!
I've looked at the following and concluded some postives and negatives....
First of all my Budget is around 6k, rather not go over.

KTM250EXC - Great bike, but expensive, and for 6k, i'm looking at high hours or old age. Perhaps a little heavier on maintenance?
WR250F - Great bike, a little weighty? and perhaps underpowered. But reasonably easy to get a bit more power out of them. Only read great things about the maintenance, and confidence boosting riding. Problem being is none really around at the moment at a good price. 07 only + due to alloy frame. I missed out on a 09 with low hours for 6k in my region!
CRF250X - Heard bad bad things about CRF heads, know a couple what has dropped valves. Possibly slightly better bike than the WR.

Now it gets interesting!

TXC250 - Looks like its got good gear on it. Brembo's etc But worried about parts.

Any one got good suggestions?

[pete-blen]

how about a 310cc
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dirt-bikes/auction-590547191.htm

[gwynfryn]

Stay with the 2 smokers and don't stall. Every time you ride a 250f you will be thinking about it self destructing. If you have to have e-start what about a 300exc failing that i would go a wr450 or rmx450. 200 exc's are great though - blah blah.

[quallman1234]

Stay with the 2 smokers and don't stall. Every time you ride a 250f you will be thinking about it self destructing. If you have to have e-start what about a 300exc failing that i would go a wr450 or rmx450. 200 exc's are great though - blah blah.

WR250F's seem to have a pretty damn good rep. Just like the YZF250's. I guess it seems like its that or a 450. I wanna be able to throw something around. I dont see my self throwing a 450 around. I'm like 5"6'. I have a KDX200.
Which i feel i can out ride. Plus its a bit fucked. We also have a DRZ400. Which i loved the low down power and traction, didn't mind the weight so badly.

[cooneyr]

Looking for a 250F enduro bike. Pretty convinced on a 4-stroke 250 with e-start. .....

First of all my Budget is around 6k, rather not go over.

KTM250EXC - Great bike, but expensive, and for 6k, i'm looking at high hours or old age. Perhaps a little heavier on maintenance?
WR250F - Great bike, a little weighty? and perhaps underpowered. But reasonably easy to get a bit more power out of them. Only read great things about the maintenance, and confidence boosting riding. Problem being is none really around at the moment at a good price. 07 only + due to alloy frame. I missed out on a 09 with low hours for 6k in my region!
......

Why only 250? 450 enduros (not crossers) can be ridden gently or tear your arms if you so desire. (just seen your post about 5'6" - don't be put off a 450 they can be ridden tamely).

I've a 05 450 EXC (old RFS motor - EXC's changed motors in 08). Picked it up with 40 something hours on the clock for under $6 about 3 years back.

WR250R is another bike to consider - not dissimilar to the EXC i.e. similar maintenance. Don't be put off by maintenance. You'd be surprised hour few hours you put on the engine doing a trail ride. I do oil in mine every 15 hours (book says 10 but that for racing - oil comes out looking like new) and valve check ever 30 hours. Pretty easy to maintain. Valves are just starting to move a bit now at 170 hours. Expect that will need to change around 200 hours. Stick in a set of stainless Kiblewhites and I've read of 900 hours on an RFS engine (fingers and toes crossed).

The pre 07 250 EXCF are just small bore 400/450/525 machines so are a bit porky for a 250. Never reviewed well but there are 300 kits available for them. 08 and on review better. Actually a 400 EXC may fit the bill well. They are considered to be much more linear power delivery than the 450 - not so hard hitting. Lots of guys in the States rave about them as woods bike - kinda like the 4T of the 200EXC 2T.

Cheers R

[Tony.OK]

I just picked up an 06 Wr250f with low kms, not what your looking at age wise but its a pearler to ride. As much power as my old xr400 but without the torque. Plenty of power for my weight, 85kg, if ya ride it like a 125 2t its great fun.
Have just fitted a 269 big bore kit (got it for a price i couldnt pass up) so will report back once I've ridden it.
Got the bike after lots of reading about reliability, once the free mods are done the hp is much the same as the yzf. Easy as to ride and can only assume the alloy frame model can only be better still.

[quallman1234]

I just picked up an 06 Wr250f with low kms, not what your looking at age wise but its a pearler to ride. As much power as my old xr400 but without the torque. Plenty of power for my weight, 85kg, if ya ride it like a 125 2t its great fun.
Have just fitted a 269 big bore kit (got it for a price i couldnt pass up) so will report back once I've ridden it.
Got the bike after lots of reading about reliability, once the free mods are done the hp is much the same as the yzf. Easy as to ride and can only assume the alloy frame model can only be better still.

Yeah def keen on a WR250F. Even tempted on a WR450F. Cant make my mind up.
Have fun they sound like great bikes. Still waiting for a decently priced one.
They also hold there value awesomely

[nzspokes]

I have a KDX200.
Which i feel i can out ride. Plus its a bit fucked.

What mods have you done to the KDX? Any tuning?

[Stapez]

My only concern with a wr250f would the the parts cost. The parts for a Yamaha cost more than ktm parts(personal experience) and I think either of the bikes your discussing would be great. I would be looking at all of them but going for the one in the best condition, rather than relying on an hour meter that you are unsure when it was installed.

I've had Hondas(cr250), yamahas(wr250f,yz450f) and Ktms (250exc and now 350 exc-f) the build quality of Ktms and yamahas are the best.

[crfchick]

A little out of the price range but have you thought about: http://dirtaction.com.au/2013-ktm-freeride/
Already one of Aussie's top selling bikes (so they say!)

[F5 Dave]

Clearly a 450 is a bad idea for a light chap. Don't like my mates one, but he is bigger than me so copes better.
If I had to buy foul stroke it would be a WR but they don't excite me. My EC200 GG was so much better than my KDX & easier to start + easy to lower and they come up cheap as. But shit loads more fun than the proxy diesel. YZ250f went better but TALL and stalls easy.+ more likely to go pop.

[vr4king]

Well im super short and super light(under 60kgs)

Currently ride a crf250,BUT a mate of mine had a 08 ktm450 enduro bike that I just LOVED to ride, it was a real pleasure on the trail,He then went to the 350 and to be honest id rather the 450 it was so much more user friendly and comfortable and when needed the power was there on tap.