KDX to KTM 200 or 250

[KDXKID]

Hi all,need some advice as to which bike to move on too.Am late 30's 5'7 and 86kgs.Use bike for trails only and a squirt down beach and river now and then.Have a 95 KDX with FMF pipe and boyseen reeds at present.Wish to stay with the 2 smokers.Not a pro rider but can hang on to the KDX allright.Looking at a 200 or 250 EXC around 03-05.Your thoughts please.
cheers.(and yes will have to change my name....ha ha )

[Danger]

'05 onwards KTM200EXC.

[crazyxr250rider]

'05 onwards KTM200EXC.

yep they're all pretty good even the 97 I re-built (250) was in pretty good nick inside considerin it did 3/4's of a trail ride with no premix before it siezed the big end.

[KDXKID]

leaning towards the 200. soundz like a real fun bike to ride.

[Crisis management]

The 200 is a great bike althought the 300 feels stronger all over so may be worth a comparison. Be prepared for spending some cash on suspension as the 200 is sprung for a 70kg rider and you may need to replace springs to get the suspension working well for your weight.
Having said all that, they are a neat bike and a light year ahead of the kawasaki in handling, braking and suspension, it's money well spent!

[NordieBoy]

KDX200 won the South Island Cross Country Champs 0-200cc class.

[cheese]

Yeah but its not teh bike its the rider!

anyway the KX is great, but a 1995 bike in new trim. KTM is much better IMO. Get a 250 if you are finding the KDX's power a bit lacking. @00 will probable be the go though/

[KDXKID]

went and had a look at a 03 250EXC today.about same height and weight as KDX.
KTM Guy said 200 might be lacking a bit top end after KDX if looking for a bit more top end and be a bit pipey compared to KDX.
No one seems to have ridden a 200 i talk too.
On a tricky woody section of a trail could you just put the 250 in 2nd and just lug its way through nicely?Or is this where the 200 would shine ??.
same on a big hill , 250 or 200.
guessing there is not much in these two bikes,which beast is easier to tame you think??
oh ...the 300 sounds awesome but too much for this cowboy !!!!
cheers.

[Danger]

Guy said 200 might be lacking a bit top end after KDX if looking for a bit more top end.

That guys talking shirt!

[KDXKID]

funny that i thought 200EXC would shirt all over KDX.
can you explain some more .......cheers

[dammad1]

funny that i thought 200EXC would shirt all over KDX.
can you explain some more .......cheers

Actually horse power figures for the two are quite similar with the KTM being slightly ahead, I wouldn't go for the 200exc if you hope to get a huge power increase.

[Danger]

I come from an MX back ground, I've raced a TT600 and YZ250's through my serious MX days and these days I have an RM250 and an 02 KTM200EXC. The KTM is my bike of choice, I use it for everything, trail riding and some MX (less and less cause the races are too short and I get bored going around and around). In B grade MX I've been into the first corner in 3rd place (on a sand track uphill start too) against all manner of bikes including 450F's and finished 2nd at the end of the race, even won a trophy at Ardmore MX when I just showed up out of the blue for a practice not realising it was a race day.
I use this bike in rutty slippery slimmy root infested Riverhead forest, on rocky terrain, fast trailrides like Dessert Storm but mostly in the sand of Woodhill forest. This bike has plenty of power for me. Sure the RM has a little more power in real soft sand in the summer but for most rides I prefer the KTM. It can be torqued over technical terrain or ridden like a MX bike over faster terrain. It has a small chassis and is easy to manhandle over just about anything. Nothing is quicker through the trees.
Can't think of anything else I would rather ride.

[Reckless]

From the experienced above (Danger) to the less experienced under ME!!!!
Power to weight needs thinking about here! My 200exc has a 125 size frame but still has very good torque. I only use second or even 3rd over logs and very slow stand up stuff. Never in first unless I'm doing something wrong and have to pop it down another gear to rethink or restart. And never have to clutch it to keep it going. So the 200 torque is very good. I can't see the 200 being out paced anywhere on any trail except perhaps a gravel road section or a long open paddock when flat out in top, then you'd catch him on the tracks again anyway. Perhaps a fraction less than the Cr250 in all out grunt but over all a quicker bike for x country. Might be different in the hands of B0000M or the likes but if Danger rides it over his RM250 I'd go with the fact that's quicker all round because of its frame size but still plenty of power. Its a very nimble bike that can grunt like a bigger bike and scream like a 125 if you want. You only need what you can use. With the CR250 it had too much for my type of riding and frankly the extra and how it was delivered got in the way and made me slower.
I haven't previously answered this thread as I haven't ridden the 250 or the 300 and I didn't want to wank on without having ridden the other bikes. I just decided after the CR250 I'd take a step backwards in CC's and frame size to improve my skills. The more I ride it the more I like it, I'm 100 kg with my gear on and its all I could need. I haven't been riding MX for as long as most of the guys here and I haven't ridden the 250 or 300. But compared to the CR250 I'm light years faster through the trees and I like it enough to pass it on to my boy and get an 08 200exc "hopefully".

just my 2c!!

[KDXKID]

i see an 05 up to 4000.Also an 06 with no bids that he wants 6500 for.what year would be a good option you think ??? thanks.......

[KDXKID]

cheers reckless,no what you mean ,had a CR125 years ago and could get away with anything with that.200 seems to fit into this catagorey too.the 250's seem to be a lot more expensive too.200 firmly back at top of list thanks.(for now)