Honda CRF150R

[clmintie]

Does anyone else on here think the bikes are getting too powerful for the riders?
The Kx85 has all the power a kid needs, why go to 105cc? The same with 125s going to 150, what possible benefit comes from such a move? Bloody 4 strokes and their huge capacities to make them competitive, makes more sense to bring the 4's back to 200 and 350 cc, the world's going mad.....Soon no-one will be able to hang on unless they're built like a brick out house.......

[Ktmboy]

Does anyone else on here think the bikes are getting too powerful for the riders?
The Kx85 has all the power a kid needs, why go to 105cc? The same with 125s going to 150, what possible benefit comes from such a move? Bloody 4 strokes and their huge capacities to make them competitive, makes more sense to bring the 4's back to 200 and 350 cc, the world's going mad.....Soon no-one will be able to hang on unless they're built like a brick out house.......

Well you know I agree. I'm a firm believer that you have to totally dominate a bike before moving up in cc.

There is a reason and its to do with bike skills. Some say "well I started on a 450 4t and I ride ok" but in reality if they had stayed on the 125 2t for longer and totallly monstered it then they would be far better off.

I have a couple of towny mates that have big bore bikes and they have not gone forward in 3 years. I'm gunna set fire to the freakin things(no fire ban at present) soon so the can get back and start again.

Hence Midget, try going back to move forward. You could actually like it.

Gotta learn to ride on an old bike ya (old dutch saying)

[Buddy L]

[QUOTE=clmintie;1129268004]Does anyone else on here think the bikes are getting too powerful for the riders?
Bloody 4 strokes and their huge capacities to make them competitive, makes more sense to bring the 4's back to 200 and 350 ccQUOTE]

Didn't this year and last year, they let the vastly more powerfull 250 2strokes in the same class as the under powered 250 4stroke for MX. and the 4 stroke sill cleaned up. just stiring the spoon

[SpikedPunch]

I think a lot of short riders/girlies can feel a bit like they're being shortchanged/disadvantaged against their taller counterparts on the smaller CC bikes. Of course it's the rider not the bike, but noone wants to feel like they're stuck with the 'little kids bike'.
(In saying that, I love my little kid bike. It's so much fun - Fun being the point I guess?!)

[krad_nz]

I've seen numerous kids on 85cc 2-strokes completely own people on far larger bikes. (including me) Definitely comes down to rider talent.

[Reckless]

Does anyone else on here think the bikes are getting too powerful for the riders?
The Kx85 has all the power a kid needs, why go to 105cc? The same with 125s going to 150, what possible benefit comes from such a move? Bloody 4 strokes and their huge capacities to make them competitive, makes more sense to bring the 4's back to 200 and 350 cc, the world's going mad.....Soon no-one will be able to hang on unless they're built like a brick out house.......

Yeh I agree Climintie but in Ktm's case and with the exc range they quite often use the extra CC's for more torque rather than high revving power so don't be fooled with that one. You might find the 150 more ridable than the 125 depends what they do with it. Same with the 85-105 if they are exc's. But in saying that read below as well.

Well you know I agree. I'm a firm believer that you have to totally dominate a bike before moving up in cc.

There is a reason and its to do with bike skills. Some say "well I started on a 450 4t and I ride ok" but in reality if they had stayed on the 125 2t for longer and totallly monstered it then they would be far better off.

Hence Midget, try going back to move forward. You could actually like it.

Gotta learn to ride on an old bike ya (old dutch saying)

I gotta say I couldn't agree more! Every word a gem KTM boy!!
My move from the Cr250 which at my level of riding just tried to pull my arms off everywhere to the Ktm200exc has helped me hugely as you stated above.

[Midget200]

Yeah don't trust the specs.

I would not advise lowering any bike 100mm, its just about trying to limit the compromises. Often once we have a rider on board they are surprised how a little makes a big difference. But being only slightly taller than a Hobbit does bring up some more difficulty's in getting it all to work good with a minimum amount of compromise. The fact it has no linkage makes it a better candidate for lowering rather than pulling a linkage into a stiffer part of the progression or using one of those dangerous (no relation) lowering links. And in the KTM's a shorter fork spring would be needed in Midgets case as well. So its an added cost regardless and needs to be factored into the cost and the budget. The cheaper option would be an 80cc no doubt but is that the compromise that Midget wishes to make? More than likely the big bummed one would need heavier springs for the 80cc anyway. Thats why I suggest she try Caryn's bike before deciding for herself which path to take, seeing if Caryn's bike is close enough or if it needs more. I have no idea what sort of budget she is on. For some this is a factor, for others it is not.

Hobbit, you cheeky bastard, big bummed hobbit! I may jump off my balcony. I can't believe you said that! I know where there's a KTM200EXC and might go and have a sit and look at that, although I'm sticking with finding Caryn and sitting on hers! It seems the general consensus is the KTM125 EXC so I will look at costs! Yeah we'll see how far we can stretch the budget! I guess lowering could be at least another $1500 on top of the bike, or even more!

I agree with what KTM Boy said about going backwards before going forwards and it will make me a better rider, but I don't know if an 80 will do it! I will definitely try an 85 again!

[REDRIDER]

Hey midge.. any chance you might still grow into you CRF lol...

[Midget200]

Hey midge.. any chance you might still grow into you CRF lol...

Yeah you're a laugh a minute! I might just do that and surprise you all! WEll there was a young kid a couple of weeks ago that did say that. He said his parents told him he was going to grow into his bike and perhaps I'd be doing the same!

[Danger]

Hobbit, you cheeky bastard, big bummed hobbit! I may jump off my balcony. I can't believe you said that!

My apologies but its not as bad as suggesting you should ride a homo chariot, I'll give myself 20 lashes with a knotted shoelace for that one and I'm glad you discounted that idea and in my defense I did say you were taller than a Hobbit and it was you and that trouble maker Reckless that were referring to your big bum. So please step away from the edge of the balcony because you might bounce and hurt yourself.

[oldguy]

my not 5 foot mrs has had every 80 85 except ktm kx and has had a crf250x now owns a 07 crf150r. not much slower than a 250x same type of power bit snappier 1/2 the weight and she loves it as for being unreliable thats bullshit.

if its only getting used on trail rides and out at the sandy pit, it will be fine for her, its how she rides, if she wanted to go racing I would definitely think about a 2t,

with this 2t v 4t have you ever thought about a Diesel powered bike?
haha (sorry just taking the piss)

Just one thing, what is wrong with the 250X have you out grown it, too big, too heavy, maybe try the 230 not sure if they are any lighter worth a look.

[Danger]

with this 2t v 4t have you ever thought about a Diesel powered bike?

$ strokes already run like diesels.

[clmintie]

[QUOTE=Buddy L;1129268043]

Does anyone else on here think the bikes are getting too powerful for the riders?
Bloody 4 strokes and their huge capacities to make them competitive, makes more sense to bring the 4's back to 200 and 350 cc QUOTE]

Didn't this year and last year, they let the vastly more powerful 250 2strokes in the same class as the under powered 250 4stroke for MX. and the 4 stroke sill cleaned up. just stiring the spoon

You missed the point... By increasing the 2ts to match the more powerful 4ts (because a 250f was introduced as a 125 equivalent) they're in danger of making it much harder to get young riders into MX..... All they have done is move the big gap that was between 85 2t and 250 4t back down to between 65s and 105s. Another huge leap in performance to negotiate for the jnrs while the senior riders swoon all over outrageous hp and probably have slower lap times. I feel the 'problem' is being attacked at the wrong end, much simpler to reduce the capacity advantage of the 4ts.

None of this applies to trail riding at the Sandpit though.

[B0000M]

Didn't this year and last year, they let the vastly more powerfull 250 2strokes in the same class as the under powered 250 4stroke for MX. and the 4 stroke sill cleaned up. just stiring the spoon

id say this comes down to rider ability.

as a guy who rides both, and granted im a heavy cunt, im significantly faster around a mx track on a 2stroke 250 than a 4 stroke 250.

that said, a 4 stroke 250 can be quite fun to ride on trails etc.


at the end of the day, if you're a shit rider, youll be shit on anything and of you're a good rider, youll be a good rider on anything, but if you're got a great rider and you want to improve, you want to feel like your bike isnt grunty enough. this will force you to extend yourself and ride faster.

a fast bike will not make you fast if you're not allready

[Reckless]

I agree with what KTM Boy said about going backwards before going forwards and it will make me a better rider, but I don't know if an 80 will do it! I will definitely try an 85 again!

If your out the sandpit one day and I'm there I don't mind you goin for a spin on my 200. Tryin to make it out tomorrow to run her in, if I can get time to put the radiators etc back on, engines done.