OK guys, opinions please: replacement for the CR125

[Reckless]

Hi all,
Thought I'd just get some ideas of you guys.

My son of 18 has a 01' CR125 I bought him. Well he's doing well but really doesn't like the 125. revs to high etc etc. He's quite frequently going on about the WR250 he rode breifly out at Woodhill one day. So much easier to ride, he says. And he likes the woodhill forest stuff rather then Harrisvile or Ardmore.

But here's my predicament. I don't wanna get a 4 stroke as I can maintain a 2smoker and with 3 MX bikes. I can't afford for some one else to do it.

So what do I get him. He likes goin fast. And is doing quite well at the learning curve. Love to get him a CR250F or KX250F but they are a bit to expensive and there goes the 4 stroke thing again. And the early ones where a bitch to start.
I think he'd out learn and out ride a KDX pretty quick. And want something a little faster. and i wanna get him something a bit more performance orientated. Personal preference only, please don't get offended KDX owners!

So was thinkin KTM200exec. Seem to be good on the trails. right budget. but what are they like to ride.
like this. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=123466397

Is it more like a 250 4 stroke or more like his 125 or more like my CR250.
I was actually thinkin of getting another Cr250 and gearing, fly wheel weight, tuning etc like mine. But he's not that keen on having a go on mine cause of all the power.

4 grand is about the budget. If it was 6 -8 we'd have no problem.

if you have one Opinions please! or any other suggestions on alternative bikes.

[Danger]

Can't beat the KTM200 mate, but yeah, might struggle to find one with the dollars you have to offer. Should have mine togeather sometime soon and he could take it for a ride, but little point if you can't afford one.
Actually just looked at the one you linked too and thats the same year as mine and I love my 200. Doubt you will get a better bike than that for the money for what you want it for. And I know someone that can make these things out handle anything in the trees.

[scott411]

i have yet to see anyone 'outride a kdx200' but the EXC is a good choice, gearboxes can be a bit weak when pushed really hard so stay away from ex race ones, both will be much easier to ride than a 125, also a gasgas 200 is probebly the pic of the bunch in my opinion, but th eparts are the worse to get, so its a catch 22 in that respect,

[GR81]

*cough* my RM250 *cough*

[Reckless]

Thanks for the feedback guys. We have to sell the CR125 first. So I was just testing the water.

Might take you up on the offer of a ride on the 200 Danger.

Scott I take your point, you are correct and I am a kwaka man so better go have a look at KDX as well. Its just the KTM is so much more trendy to him, with its inverted forks and more modern plastics.
The only reason we are on Honda's at the mo is that in the 01 year I went for the ali frame. My young fella has a KX85 S/W.

Oh well no alturnatives suggested so I'll get on with selling the CR and once thats done get looking at KTM and KDX. Unless I come across a real cheap 250F somewhere, but still hesitant about going 4 stroke.

Thanks Guys!

[cheese]

Honnestly Rick you should try riding my CR. The 02 onwards years are a completely different bike and he will get used to the power. Come to Kimmies on Sunday.

[rijekaz]

With a budget of 4k I'd probably go two stroke if you can stretch it a bit this looks like a good deal.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dirt-bikes/auction-123987477.htm?key=164167

[crazyxr250rider]

YZ250WR 2T be great bike for him but good luck finding one...

[FlangMasterJ]

KTM 250SXF :yes:

[Reckless]

Honnestly Rick you should try riding my CR. The 02 onwards years are a completely different bike and he will get used to the power. Come to Kimmies on Sunday.

I feel the same way about my CR. My mate that races went for a ride and was really surprised how it tractered from down low and wasn't reevy at all. With the mods Danger has done, his suspension lessons and the spring I got from the usa, 5.2kg, thats correct for my weight at 90kg. I feel its a really good bike. I can change the race sag 5mm for MX or cross country and really feel the difference, its great. I have read that the 01 manual power valve model was better than the early electronic ones at smooth power delivery. But who knows. We should swap one day to compare!

But a 250 2smoker is still to grunty for my boy. He needs something he can feel as if he's giving it heaps not always at 1/2-3/4 throttle like me, cause its got so much wick it gives you the shits.

[cheese]

Bah tell him to get some balls.

But any of the 200cc 2 smokers would be where I'd put my money. still easy to fix and good value for money. Just no Alloy frame which is 90% of the reason I got a honda.

[Reckless]

Bah tell him to get some balls.

But any of the 200cc 2 smokers would be where I'd put my money. still easy to fix and good value for money. Just no Alloy frame which is 90% of the reason I got a honda.

Hes got plenty of balls thats for sure. Raced in top 5 in karting for quite some time. We did 42 club and national meetings one year. But I don't want him staight on a 50 horse, 250 its no good for his learning curve.

[FlangMasterJ]

Hes got plenty of balls thats for sure. Raced in top 5 in karting for quite some time. We did 42 club and national meetings one year. But I don't want him staight on a 50 horse, 250 its no good for his learning curve.

A 250 four stroke sounds like the logical choice then.

[Reckless]

250 4 stroke for him yep I agree! But They start a 6 grand and most of all I have to take it to the shop for valves, tuning and stuff.
With a 2smoker I do it all myself as I have 20 years karting in the 125 gearbox class, then cadets and the junior 125 max classes with my boys, behind me. So I can strip, measure and fix a 2smoker no sweat.

As far as our bikes go its a no brainer with my 13 year old a 85 S/W is the only choice really and me I'm can no where near out ride my CR250. And its a not to bad alrounder. But The 125 is a slightly different kettle of fish. Which is why I'm looking at alternatives and asking for all you guys experiance and input.

[Wellyman]

Reckless. Try out Dangers 200, in my opinion it may be a bit peaky. so your welcome to have a quick blat on my gasser and see what you think of it. its of torquey and isnt really peaky in my opinion.
WM

[Reckless]

ye I'll do that when the time comes.
If its a bit pecky I thought gearing and a fly wheel weight might cure that like with my CR.
Shit I wonder how a fly wheel weight would go on his 125. Probably still have to clutch alot it in the deep sand and out of slower technical terrain turns. Which is why we want to change bikes.

[Reckless]

Reckless. Try out Dangers 200, in my opinion it may be a bit peaky. so your welcome to have a quick blat on my gasser and see what you think of it. its of torquey and isnt really peaky in my opinion.
WM

Also proves you can tune a 2smoker to do anything, if there is a will to do so. Funny they pushed in the four strokes for green gas emission reasons. Now they are here, all the tracks are in the shit becuase of the noise they emit. Should stuck with 2smokers more power per cc than anything!!

[Danger]

No its not peaky. Smooth, torquey and linear power from bottom to top. Its in the straight taper needle I use in the carb. The stock triple taper needles can make them hard to ride for the less skilled, but the needle change is cheap. And the 200 does not need a flywheel weight. There is nothing more nimble in the tight trees than my 200.

[Reckless]

I did a google search on them last night before you posted this Danger and read exactly the same thing. I might just have to head for the KTM just because of your extensive knowledge of them buddy. I know someone that can do a good job the suspenders.

OH and for purly selfish reasons it might be a great bike to have in the stable for when hes not coming out and the ride suits the KTM more. I might enjoy that ! :devil2:

[Danger]

Yeah the KTM200 would be a better bike for you on many rides Reckless.

[Reckless]

Shit we might be better off havin the 01 CR250 for Ardmore and Harrisville and the 02 KTM for Woodhill and the Mr Motorcycles type rides. 2 x $4k earlier bikes might be better than 1 x $8000 bike. Mind you a new CR450F probably would do it all. But better??? Who knows?

how to justify the above to the Missus! Oh I forgot I'm buying the KTM for Ben???

haha here's me with a budget and I'm contemplating riding 2 MX bikes. As well as having the Z1R and would like another sport bike.:bleh:

"Champain tastes, beer income"

PS I meant to spell it with the "pain" bit!

[Danger]

Your CR would be better in a lot of Woodhills tracks than a CRF. And the KTM would be better again on some tracks. The CRF might be better on whoops, more stable, but good bike setup brings them close. But guys struggle in the tight on CRF's and many stop for frequent rests.
And I rode the KTM200 at a race meet at Ardmore a couple of years ago, showed up thinking it was just a practice day but it was a race day. Got there late and had no practice, used the first race as my practice. Ended up taking home a trophy for 2nd overall for the day on the 200 in Vets and I wasn't even trying. It was over Xmas and guns like Tony Cooksley were not there or were racing another class I guess. But beat plenty of big bores. Raced there another time on the RM250, it wasn't fully setup and I just went out to do some testing at the time and I didn't do nearly as well. Most people would go better on a smaller bike.
The KTM200 would be alot better than the CR or the CRF in Riverhead and slippery conditions, and remember it has 6 gears.

[B0000M]

does the CR have a aftermarket pipe? that made a hell of a difference to my 125, also low end reeds help a bit too

[clmintie]

It would take a bit of messing around, but I had a '89 KDX200 motor in a '91 KX125 frame. Best damn bike I ever rode.....Wish I hadn't sold it when the kids came along.. I would love to find it and compare it to my new KDX. It was really easy conversion to do, I might do another one day....

[Rupe]

I have a gasgas ec200, it has a 125cc frame (standard) so it's nice and light.
Ohlins rear shock + wp front, hydro clutch, nissen brakes etc. I fanced a ktm, but this came up and was way cheaper, rode it and brought it.

People say that it's hard to get parts, but I haven't found this. Dirt action services in Christchurch ship any little part you can think of the next day. And the prices are the same or cheaper than jap bikes. If you get really stuck get it from the states.

A couple of people say they are peaky, but I not found this to be true. I have rode my mates kdx200 alot, and they are both the same down low. But when the terrain opens up, the gasser is a lot quicker from mid to top end power.

I'm ridding this weekend if you want I'll let you know where so you could have a go for yourselves.

Thats my 2c worth, good luck

[Buddy L]

your boy is 18 right, what does he do? no work still at school.
i say leave him on the 125 and when he can ride it properly and has a job then get another bike, i had my cr125 (02) modle, for 2 years so far the best bike i have ever owned. was getting realy fast and learned alot more (breaking and clutching) on it then i would have on a 4 stroke.

[rijekaz]

your boy is 18 right, what does he do? no work still at school.
i say leave him on the 125 and when he can ride it properly and has a job then get another bike, i had my cr125 (02) modle, for 2 years so far the best bike i have ever owned. was getting realy fast and learned alot more (breaking and clutching) on it then i would have on a 4 stroke.

Don't disagree with you but 125 mx bikes aren't the best for trail riding, especially stock and if that's all he's doing well it kinda makes sense to me to change.

Still you can't beat those 125's for sheer fun value, you can make mods like exhaust and reed which will broaden the powerband although they don't come cheap.

[dammad1]

Hey reckless, theres some good comments on here but here's my two cents:

The KDX's are great bikes but you will find the limits of the standard suspension quickly when you start pushing it hard so some work on this is a must.

The KTM EXC200 is a better bike off the shelf but may be a little harder to find a good one for the right price.

He's 18 so he's not really a kid anymore so he should be able to adapt to a 250 2t mxer with a few mods to tame it down.

But personally I think if you are going to do mainly trail riding rather than mx then you cant go to wrong with one of the european 2t's as thats exactly what they are made for, they dont have the huge hit of the older mxers just smooth tractable power.

[Reckless]

All good constructive valid comments guys.
Thanks for your time! Its not that I didn't know what I was doing. But just wanted to cover all the bases so I didn't think after a purchase, damn I shoulda though of that bike!

Firstly Buddy
I take your point and this is exactly how I thought when I bought the CR125. But from your posts you are quite into MX racing and if this was the case with him, I'd agree with you. Me an my youngest love the MX tracks but he doesn't very much. So the CR125 is probably the worst type of bike for his kind of riding. He's a good rider for his experiance its just the bike is wrong and I can see that he would enjoy riding more on something else.

The 125 has got a bills pipe on and I'm quite good with tuning so is running good. And becuase of its age I've bloody near redone everything, All Linkage bearings, swing arm, chain, sprockets, front forks, piston, rings, brakes, the bloody lot.

I agree with Dammad comments on the KDX. So it looks like becuase KTM have stuck with the 2stroke theme, they therefore get the business. And I wonder with all the major manufacturers getting out of 2smokers if KTM will gain a much larger market share. The Gas gas is probasbly a bit exotic. And at fearless 18, he's always the one that comes back dirtyest with the most damage, so there's that to consider.

So after a group evaluation looks like the KTM gets the vote. I'll polish up the CR this weekend and get it on T/me.

[Buddy L]

had my CR215 on trade me for 1 day and then it was gone.
sold it for 3 grand