The old 250 vs 450 debate

[Arven]

Hi guys (and gals?),

I have ridden my KX450 for a couple of years now and it has been awesome on the trails and fun in the MX track. I have just started a bit of 'Novice' racing at ardmore and Ken Fel's farm etc, and am hooked!

However my mate switched from his RMZ450 to the 240 and swears by it! However after the short ride i had on his bike i wasn't convinced.. It felt the same, only with less grunt and i had to change gears twice as much....

However if were getting into racing and start getting better, we might change to the 250 class. I wont be able to do this on my 450 and will have to go into the Pro Open class with all the big boys!!

I usually ride Trails but haven't been to a trail ride in a month or so due to MX Racing. I enjoy both. So will likely do a bit of everything....

Any suggestions? It looks like I'm forced to get a 250 if i want to race with my mates!

Cheers...

[Pierce]

I've riden both but probably more so like yourself (ride mine all the time and the odd blast on mate's 450's). You'd really need a good few weeks getting use to the smaller bike to see the differences in the two. You'd find the 250 heaps more nimble. I've heard of loads of chaps moving from 450's down to the smaller 250F's.

How bout having two bikes? haha I've got the 250F and 250 smoker. Definately an expensive way of doing things but the best of both worlds. The smoker is for sale but will no doubt end up keeping it

[telliman]

im stewing over wheather to get a new 250 stroker or a 250f,
i dont know wat to do either!

[Pierce]

im stewing over wheather to get a new 250 stroker or a 250f,
i dont know wat to do either!

Tis a hard decision aye Go for the popular rideable 250F and lose the power or stick to the lightweight smoker and get mad arm pump haha

[CRF119]

I went from my CR125 to the CRF450 and i like the 450 because its just dam fast and its pushing me further. When i get on a 125 now its fun but just lacks that bite the the 450 has, same with the 250fs. For racing i think the 250f class would be better to start with.

[scott411]

i had my first motocross ride in a year yesterday, i rode our RMZ250 and the new injected RMZ450,
i am keeping the 250F, it was way more fun to ride and did not tire me out as much, you have to be fitter to ride the 450 fast, and i felt i was much more in control at speed on the 250F

[Arven]

Yeah? You rode the new 450 injected? That was going to be my choice before i had this dilemma... When they finally are all fixed up and released to NZ that is!!

Argh. I think i will just go for the KX250. Get used to less power, and gain speed around the corners... I Guess it will also be better for doing whips and tricks mid air! Or i could just go on a diet to save the same sort of weight savings! :P Aren't they just 8kg's difference? But i guess its where the weight is. The 250 has a lower center of gravity etc...

I have had a few 2strokes and have had some bad experiences with them. so am definitely going 4 stroke.

[scott411]

yeah i do get some perks in my job, no idea when the production bikes will be here,

the biggest difference is moving mass, the 250f has a lighter crank and flywheel etc so it makes the bike feel a lot lighter, yes a 250F is alot lighter to flick around,

[Henk]

Most guys will be faster on the 250s. If not at the begining of the day then definitely at the end of the day when you aren't worn out from hanging onto it.
There are exceptions but the fast fit guys probably wouldn't be asking the question in the first place. For trails around auckland (Woodhill and Riverhead) the smaller bike is definitely the one to have, I'm still faster on some trails on my wifes KDX than I am on my TM250 or 400EXC.

[cheese]

What about the 350s are they going to happen?

[Atomic]

MMMaawhhhhhhaaaaahhahahahahaha

I thought 250s were gay mike! Coming over to the cool side are ya!?

[jimmy 2006]

if the 350's do happen, it might just be my next bike.

[avgas]

my mate lurved his 425 after riding what he called the "gutless" heap 250.
Only issue he had was 1st was way too long on the big bike

[Arven]

Didnt take you long to find this thread Lance! dont you do any work?!?

[4stroke]

i rode a 07 crf250, took a lil to get used to it, but started to realise how fast i was going, cos they dont make as much noise, or have the initial punch of the 450, i found that once you got going and stayed up in the revs it was alot of fun to ride, i'd be tempeted to by one next time, if i get back under a 100 kgs tho