What to get next?

[Furyos J]

i ride 2smoker 250, and they are great. The guys i ride with are all on much more pricey and heavy crf450 or yzf450 etc big bore 4 strokes, but i have never felt left behind or underpowered (mine has a bit of porting work done tho), the plus side is very light weight, if you are good with tools they are easy as to do rings and piston and a small maintanance list, easy to kick start, and i have money left over for other hobbies(my classic v8 and roadbike) The negative would be the on/off power chews rear tyres and chews premix gas

[LankyBastard]

Thanks for all the advice, i must say i'm def thinking getting a 2 stroke! Whats the best 200 - 300 2 stroke? The KTM's?

[barty5]

HONDA CRF250X= GUTLESS!! id get a ktm anyday over a honda! (ever tried to start a crf250r after a small off??? goodluck!!)

I had the 09 250 EXC-F from new to 130+ hours, gave me NO issues at all, did not need rings, not even close, had good valve clearances every check. very reliable, strong and powerfull!! e-start is very convenient on the long trails, tricky hill climbs, and river crossing mishaps etc!! ignore people who say the maintenance is excesive, oil changes are done by u. very easy.... The buy price is all relative (KTM=ready to race) I just bought and vin'd a '09 450 EXC, put some motard rims on and blat to work daily.... I have dirt rims and tyres in the shed for the weekends...

not had any problem starting either of the crfs we have have you ever worked on and priced up parts for a KTM i have not pretty even at trade compare to jappers.

[motor_mayhem]

HONDA CRF250X= GUTLESS!! id get a ktm anyday over a honda! (ever tried to start a crf250r after a small off??? goodluck!!)

I had the 09 250 EXC-F from new to 130+ hours, gave me NO issues at all, did not need rings, not even close, had good valve clearances every check. very reliable, strong and powerfull!! e-start is very convenient on the long trails, tricky hill climbs, and river crossing mishaps etc!! ignore people who say the maintenance is excesive, oil changes are done by u. very easy.... The buy price is all relative (KTM=ready to race) I just bought and vin'd a '09 450 EXC, put some motard rims on and blat to work daily.... I have dirt rims and tyres in the shed for the weekends...

I would imagine the power difference between CRF250X, WR250R and 250EXCF to be noticable but pretty minimal really. The only numbers I could find on the google machine said the 250X was quicker than the EXC which I doubt. EXCF's are not as quick/powerful as SXF/RMZ/CRF/YZF. They're not designed to be either. They're built for different purposes.

On your "ready to race" theory - how many people who own off road bikes actually race them? Just because race features are available doesn't mean they will be any value to you so why pay extra money for them?

If you have a starting problem with any late model bike the problem will overwhelmingly with your starting method or how your bike is set up rather than the design of the bike itself.

Agree that electric start is easier, and KTM have a much smarter design on their airbox than on most bikes. But it isn't much fun push starting your mate's sxf because the battery doesn't hold charge either.

FTR I currently have an 08 CRF 450 and an 05 525 EXC. Second Honda and second KTM I've owned.

[george formby]

I've been looking at KDX 200's lately, a bit long in the tooth but heaps about & cheap as chips. Fun trail bikes too.

[LankyBastard]

I've been looking at KDX 200's lately, a bit long in the tooth but heaps about & cheap as chips. Fun trail bikes too.

Yeah I was looking at them too, also looking at RM250's, KTM 200, 250 and 300exc's.

Hmmm decisions decisions.....

[morg_nz]

I would imagine the power difference between CRF250X, WR250R and 250EXCF to be noticable but pretty minimal really. The only numbers I could find on the google machine said the 250X was quicker than the EXC which I doubt. EXCF's are not as quick/powerful as SXF/RMZ/CRF/YZF. They're not designed to be either. They're built for different purposes.

On your "ready to race" theory - how many people who own off road bikes actually race them? Just because race features are available doesn't mean they will be any value to you so why pay extra money for them?

If you have a starting problem with any late model bike the problem will overwhelmingly with your starting method or how your bike is set up rather than the design of the bike itself.

Agree that electric start is easier, and KTM have a much smarter design on their airbox than on most bikes. But it isn't much fun push starting your mate's sxf because the battery doesn't hold charge either.

FTR I currently have an 08 CRF 450 and an 05 525 EXC. Second Honda and second KTM I've owned.

i'd go a step further with the ready to race though motor mayhem - what features on a ktm are actually different to a jap bike? White power suspension and a hydraulic clutch. if you take out the hydraulic clutch, then there really isn't anything less 'ready to race' about a jap bike - they all have excellent suspension, which is designed for joe blogs to be able to use without a factory suspension mechanic - so i dont think theres anything different at all.

in fact i might even go so far to say - with their 4t's at least, that they could potentially have less ready to race bikes than the japs as they don't have massive engineering departments and r&d facilities like the jap companies do

ktm owners might go on about brembo brakes, but i've never had a problem stopping on my honda - well no more than staying upright but i dont think any manufacturer has solved that one lol!

[ktm84mxc]

Here are my views- 2t's are generally 10/15 kg's lighter then an equiv 4t.
200 vrs 300 depends on rider size & ability eg under 70kg's go a 200
any modern 2t will giv u what you want KTM, GasGas, Husky, yz250.
get an enduro model as the set up is more geared to cross country riding
a mx bike can be made woods friendly it just takes time & money
If a cash buyer YOU have the upper hand HAGGLE for a deal.

[LankyBastard]

Here are my views- 2t's are generally 10/15 kg's lighter then an equiv 4t.
200 vrs 300 depends on rider size & ability eg under 70kg's go a 200
any modern 2t will giv u what you want KTM, GasGas, Husky, yz250.
get an enduro model as the set up is more geared to cross country riding
a mx bike can be made woods friendly it just takes time & money
If a cash buyer YOU have the upper hand HAGGLE for a deal.

Ok, so any recomendations for which of these would be a top pick? Price, best dealers etc?

[ktm84mxc]

I love my KTM's but they are not every ones choice a GasGas is equally as good, Husky a little more hard core same for YZ/RM
Dealers most will buy from the lowest priced supplier, even if it means driving outa town. Parts & accessories/servicing find some 1 you trust/like & build a history with them it all helps.
Most bikers r a fickle lot & will choose on price rather than loyalty till they need it eg warranty/servicing issues arise.
The bike get 1 with a known service history, a dealer is covered by the consumer guarantees act, TradeME/private sales are not itz buyer beware.

[LankyBastard]

Couple of ideas;

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-383360695.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-378920645.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-382142617.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-321123583.htm

[george formby]

That GAS GAS looks sminky, something different & well regarded.

[barty5]

That GAS GAS looks sminky, something different & well regarded.

as long as you have lots a gaffa tape to put it back together and can work out which jap bike the borrowed the parts from when its time to replace them.

[Bradz]

as long as you have lots a gaffa tape to put it back together and can work out which jap bike the borrowed the parts from when its time to replace them.

Hmmm theres no Gaffa holding mine together, value for money the Gasser gets my very unbiased vote, second vote goes to the 06 Ktm.

[Reckless]

The difference I've found with my Ktm200exc is that you can make it what you like with the adjustable power valve etc. It will deliver power just how you want it to! On the 200 you can turn it as per the conditions in about 1 min on any particular ride. Dual curve ignition to if you buy the $25 after market switch!
Same with the 300 with their different coloured springs for power valve delivery etc (although I don't think its a 1 min change on them) ???

I change my ring every 50 hours and Piston every 100 hrs but Danger got 400 hours out of his 200exc piston and he rides and tunes much faster than me! Gearbox Oil change every 20hours by the book but do mine at 10-15ish!

Barty hates Ktm and if there was a jap brand in the market that fitted the bill I'd def be in for a look but their ain't, their loss for not making 2smokers! Ktm's gain. I did hear the 300exc is the biggest selling dirt bike in the world! But who knows????

My decision came down to power to weight, agility and the fact I could still do all the maintenance and didn't have to risk a valve train drama!

So it was the 200 for good low down torgue (the thing lugs really well) and still the wang for Mx tracks or the 300 for the lecky start and enduro-ness of it! (The 200 and 125 share the same frame and the 250 and 300 the next size).

I came of an MX based 01cr250 (really good bike) but The 125 size frame in the 08 200exc and reading this on the smaller bike won the day for me and I still love it! yes I'm 90kg all up with gear so I spent the $900 on new springs and valving etc but that should be a given if you want your bike set up correctly! I won't trade it till direct injection or something comes in!

I'm actually a kawasaki man and Rupes Kx250 I liked better than even Steves new ktm350 I rode a few weeks ago! A four stroke will still climb slippery or sandy shit better than a smoker thats for sure!

OH btw remember ktm do a major revision every 3 or so years so the 05-07 are a bracket and the 08 on, are another, so suss this out for your model? Thats why I went for the 08 ova the 07, completely different bike!!

Got sick of the anti Ktm rubbish on here so I haven't been posting for a while, I only posted because your lookin at my particular bike model ish, and why I made my decision to buy it, so take it or leave it! Just my 2c??