Advice needed, bike choice

[jimmy 2006]

Some advice please..... i have settled on the fact that i want to go back to a 2 smoker. new or second hand???

i have found a 250exc 2006 model brand new, they want $9000 for it.

also new kx250 2008 $9500

kx250 06 $6500 with 30hrs

Rm250 2007 $8500 with 20hrs on it

Cr250 2004 $5000 with bugger all hours (apparently)

yz250 2007 $9000 with 25hrs

so many nice bikes i can't make up my mind!! arhhhhhh!


so the question is, the 250exc is my pick of the bunch at the moment, do people think that it is worthwhile spending the xtra money and going new?
9g for a brand new KTM seems bloody good to me.

I have ridden them all now, and like the KTM a hell of alot. but 9grand? a lot of money.......

[Pierce]

Kato's are more expensive bikes but they come tricked out factory so you do pay an excess for it.

Personally I've heard nothing but horror stories about green bikes so personally i'd steer clear of the kwaka's (i'm sure someone will say otherwise here).

I'd go honda but that's cos i'm strickly a honda man haha. If I was giving advise I'd be inclined to ask: How much do you want to spend? Remember that you'll really need to do a top end on it once you've bought it if it's second hand so you know the history. The newer the better if you ask me. I'd probably go Honda or Yamaha as they're both good reliable brands and parts are cheap enough and readily available.

Just my 2c's

[Ktmboy]

My 2 cents worth - Firstly if you can afford it buy new.
That narrows it down to two choices.
- Ktm 250 Exc- Great enduro/ X country bike and well spec'd. Still very capable of doing the odd moto x/scramble. Very versatile.
- KX250 - If you do more moto x than enduro/trail ride/ X country then this is way more suitable. You can always fit a fly wheel to give it more bottom end for trail riding(Chop has one and it works well). Proven engine.

If you buy a bike with 30-40 hours then you are probably up for chain/sprocket/tyres/freshen up on the top end etc etc. So theres a grand gone already.

[jimmy 2006]

mainly ride cross country, trail rides and novice MX.

i want a newer bike, 06-08. and anything that i look at that is second hand looks raped under $6500. KTMBOY, your right about an extra grand to get a second hand bike up to good condition. kx250 second hand for 8000 then spend the grand giving it some TLC, i might as well bought new from the beginning......??

[jimmy 2006]

KTM (rolls royce) or Honda (toyota) Hmmmm......

$9000 for a new 250exc 06, is this a good price???

[Reckless]

Just to jump in on Jimmys thread I'm in a similar situation. I have the cr250 which I have regeared, added a fly wheel weight. New rear spring and Danger has done the front forks more for my style. So have settled it and made it as good as you can get for doing both the forest work and the MX track stuff. I have sold my sons Cr125 so the 250 can go go my eldest boy (or we can ride each others).
Which leaves me in Jimmys situation do I get the 200 or 250 EXC?? From what I have seen they look a little soft for Ardmore and Harrisville or do I get a 250sx, KX250 or Cr250 and take the edge off it a bit for the cross country stuff as I have done with the 01 CR250.
I wouldn't mind changing to Ktm as I would like to support the only make that looks like its sticking with 2 smokers. Only difference with me is I'm in the 03-04 bracket (having to maintain 3 bikes). I'm still leaning towards the 200exc as it has lots of power and the light 125 frame would be good for the trails etc but I quite like the jumps etc at kimis and Ardmore as well?? I'm a bit worried the 200 exc won't handle my 90kg?

Although my Cr has been bullett proof! Oh the dilemma!

[jimmy 2006]

Reckless, i rode the 250exc at ardmore last night. what a mint bike.
the suspension was fine. no hesitation on any of the jumps. no bottoming out. you should really have a ride on one. they are so so slim, it makes cornering a joy compared to my rmz. you can get right over the front wheel so much easier. i have also been looking at the 200exc, but after riding them both, the 250's are the ones for me.

[Ktmboy]

Yeah, I'm 90 kg on a very good day(very very good) and have just got rid of my 200exc. Yes, their suspension is designed for around the 75-80kg mark (Same as kdx 200),
Bloody good little bike and I think I did well over 250hrs and no bottom end rebuild.
Great for the trails, gncc, enduro etc but really struggled with any sort of jump with my fat arse on it. So if you do like to jump then I'd be heading the 250 direction with a fly wheel. Does the extra weight on your CR work OK.

Jimmy, I didn't realise the KTM 250 was an 06 model. New, but still 2 years old if you know what I mean.

[Danger]

I would offer $7500 for the RM250! No hesitation from those choices. It has the handling, the motor, the suspension (with setup but they all need something) for everything that you want to do. I think the 08 KX250 still has the antiquated bladder forks and a high back end, unchanged from earlier years. The RM has twin chamber forks and will turn inside anything.
The YZ would be the other option but the handling is not as sharp for our forest trail rides and it looks a bit pricey.
The KTM's are not worth the extra money in my opinion and the 250EXC is a bit boring. A 200 or 300 would be a better choice depending on what you like in a bike and how you like to ride. A fast zippy keeping you busy 200 which is fun or a lazy torque producing 300 with gobs of power. The 250 is neither.
The CR is getting a bit old in the tooth and has jetting issues (actually not sure on that model, the 05-07 does) and I'm not a fan of the foot peg to handlebar relationship or the frame and the handlebar buzz.
Just my opinions, not everyone will agree lol before all you fans start jumping down my throat defending your bike choices.

How tall are you and what do you weigh?

[mxracer_nz]

I would offer $7500 for the RM250! No hesitation from those choices. It has the handling, the motor, the suspension (with setup but they all need something) for everything that you want to do. I think the 08 KX250 still has the antiquated bladder forks, unchanged from earlier years. The RM has twin chamber forks.
The YZ would be the other option but the handling is not as sharp for our forest trail rides and it looks a bit pricey.
The KTM's are not worth the extra money in my opinion and the 250EXC is a bit boring.

more like $6500.maybe 7 if its fully mint. The guys dreaming at 8500. I agree the Rm`s the best though, i wouldnt pay anymore than 7K MAX for a used bike they`re not worth more than that, see if scott has any left over new 07`s iam sure they`ve sold them for like 8500 new

[Danger]

Yeah for example I paid $7000.00 for my 05 RM250 which was mint and had done 30 hours and came with both stock pipe and silencer and a complete Bills unit.

[scott411]

pm sent, i have a couple of options for ya,

[Danger]

pm sent, i have a couple of options for ya,

Be careful that Scott doesn't try to talk you into one of those new linkage front end bikes that I saw in his shop the other day. I've ridden one and the suspension felt a little wooden! Mind you, you will have plenty of money left over for some go fast goodies and some stickers! And perhaps a softer seat. And if you ever get lost out on a trail ride (quite probable) you will have plenty of fuel to burn to keep you warm at night. If you like the Honda frame, handle bar buzz and jetting and the Kawasaki forks, you'll like this J/K.

[jimmy 2006]

How tall are you and what do you weigh?[/QUOTE]

just under 6ft and about 85kg.....

sounds like an RM might be a goer, shit... i thought i had decided on the
250exc.

[Reckless]

Great for the trails, gncc, enduro etc but really struggled with any sort of jump with my fat arse on it. So if you do like to jump then I'd be heading the 250 direction with a fly wheel. Does the extra weight on your CR work OK.

Yep Fly wheel weight is brilliant. I thought when I installed my first one it would rob some power but it simply makes it spin up a bit slower its the most underrated mod you can do to a 2smoker. I think Ktm have twigged to this and have weighted fly wheels as standard (but I'm not to sure).
I think my CR is the best I can get it as a compromise type bike, many who ride it are very surprised by the tractability down low. You can do anything to a 2 stroke!! This 4 stroke mania is just geared to give the manufacturers and suppliers more maintenance work. Cuts out all the guys like me! Good commercial decision for Honda, Kawasaki and their dealers but not good for us blokes with 2 kids that have bikes as well as me! It was bought in on pollution reasons now we are getting tracks threatened for noise pollution. Go Figure?

Didn't mean to steal your thread Jimmy and thanks to all for your opinions! I might now just mod another CR or go for a 250sx. My present CR is more than enough for me and was actually looking at steeping back in Horse power, Big cc doesn't necessarily mean fast, which is why I was considering the 200exc. It maybe would have given another option in our stable of bikes for us to swap.
P.S. I'm 92kg + gear =97kg so 200exc probably is out.

Thanks Jimmy and all, keep the comments coming!