Hi guys,
My son-in-law Jason is looking to get a modern, but not new, trail/enduro bike, maybe 2000 - 2005 for occasional family trail rides. Chad and I ride the small bore 125 and 200 EXC KTMs and maybe that is what Jason will end up with. My question is what other makes and models should we be considering? I do feel we want to stick with a 2 stroke.
Thanks
Paul
Paul,
Though not near the bike the KTM is, the Kawasaki KDX 200 or 220 is an economical decent woods ride. Lots of lowend and a lot of them around. If he can spend the extra money the KTM 200 is hard to beat. We love the new 150 XC that we have been riding but it is a brand new model.
Larry P
I like my '99 YZ125. The '96-'04 YZ125 is by far the best of the 125 MX bikes and it makes a fantastic woods/play bike too. They are reliable, parts are cheap and they can be bought for very low prices since all the serious MX guys want four strokes. The '05-'10 aluminum frame bike is even better but they are harder to find a good deal.
There really are no bad bikes from any brand from the early '90s up, but the YZ125 won MXAs bike of the year and every magazine 125 shootout for about 10 years in a row.
If I could not find a YZ125 I agree with Larry on the KDX200/220 and KTM200. If I had my choice of new bikes it would be one of those KTM150s like Larry has.
Brian
'72 Berkshire
Paul, I would like to say that I really enjoy my 2002 Honda CRF 200. I bought it new in 2004, and it was my first new 4 stroke motorcycle. I chose the CRF 200 over the new model, the CRF 230 which has ONLY electric start. I am sort of old school, and need that old kick starter on the side. If I were to choose a moderm 2 stroke motorcycle, it would likely be the KTM 150 or KTM 200. Joe
As mentioned, the KDX is a great play bike with decent power that you wont get bored with it too quickly. They can be had cheap. I just picked up a super clean '03, original 50 year old owner, bought it to ride with his kids and lost interest. I paid 1200.
Kurt
Brian,
We will sell you one of these 150's when the season is over. Would even entertain certain vintage trades.:D
Larry P
Paul, I have had a "08" Husqvarna TE 250 4 Stroke for 2 years now and love it. Fuel injection promises no carb issues, fantastic components all around, kick and electric start. The only thing I had done to it was lower it 2" overall as I have a 28" inseam and couldn't touch the ground. Overall, the bike starts and runs effortless, can be a cow trailer or full blown racer and is 50 state legal! Doesn't get any better than that! Good luck on the choice as there are many great choices now and most dealers have a ton of "09's" left on the floor so there are some great deals out there;)
Paul I have Honda CRF450X its a 2006 the bike has a Rekluse clutch and its a great bike.
If I had to do it over again I would like a 250cc because the 450 is a lot of motor and you can get in trouble with it.
The Honda is bullet proof as long as you change the fluids motor and trans every other time you use it , Never a problem.
Larry
Quotequote:Originally posted by acemoto
The Honda is bullet proof as long as you change the fluids motor and trans every other time you use it , Never a problem.
Larry
WOW, That's a lot of oil changes.
Thanks for the advice.
Personally I prefer the KTM 200, but I don't want our search to overlook another really great machine just because I am "slightly" biased :)
Paul
Paul we're all biased one way or the other. I took out my Yamaha XT200 the other day and did some street/woods riding with her following a little maintenance, great machines. A buddy just picked up a 2004 TTR225 for very short ($500) money, another great bike although with a battery and electric start increases the curb weight slightly.
1973 Penton Six Day
1973 Penton Jackpiner
1982 Yamaha XT200
1982 Yamaha XJ650J Maxim
1984 Husqvarna 400WR
1987 Yamaha YZ490
2005 Honda CRF450R
KDX220 is great. I have a 1998 with about 800 - 1200 miles. Pretty much bullet proof and I will probably get a lot of flack but just as capable in the right hands as a KTM. Not near as expensive in maintenance as modern 4 strokes. KDX220 has more torque than a 200 but both are very good and worth considering. CRF230 is a play bike and would probably be "outgrown" soon.
Not much of a 4 stoke guy, I have heard that the modern thumpers need to have topend rebuilds pretty often, like 25-30 hours any truth to that? My son's first big bike was a Honda XR 200, have to say that it sure was a nice bike it really held up good. when I bought it It needed a topend and it was a bit pricey.. about 800 bucks but that was complete with valves, new timing chain and sprockets.. fresh bore and piston etc.. It was a pleasure to ride in the woods.. but I think I would want just a bit more....
Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)74'
250 hare scrambler (project bike)
The KDX is a decent bike and again, fairly ecenomical to maintain although their carbs are a little difficult to set up properly. The problem with modern thumpers is valve train wear which on my Honda was an easy fix, titanium and stainless valves. Oil changes are still every 15 hours with HP4 semi-synthetic, once a season on the old four strokes.
1973 Penton Six Day
1973 Penton Jackpiner
1982 Yamaha XT200
1982 Yamaha XJ650J Maxim
1984 Husqvarna 400WR
1987 Yamaha YZ490
2005 Honda CRF450R
Paul,
i didn't see it mentioned but don't overlook the GasGas EC200,
a very close 2nd to the KTM and many may say even a better choice,
hope this helps,
regards,
Mike Gallagher, NJ.
Hi Kip Kern After reading the article about a good bike for cow trailing, and hearing you said you lowered the bike 2"inches. Could you tell me if i could lower a 08 xt 250 yamaha? I to am inseam empaired. don howard
Quotequote:Originally posted by don howard
Hi Kip Kern After reading the article about a good bike for cow trailing, and hearing you said you lowered the bike 2"inches. Could you tell me if i could lower a 08 xt 250 yamaha? I to am inseam empaired. don howard
You might be able to trim the seat foam down but I think it may require a good suspension shop to lower the forks and shock.
Britt Boyette
76 400 MC5 (project)
77 250 MC5 (uberproject)
77 Husky WR250
75 Can Am (future flat tracker)
76 RM370
75 Hodaka Road Toad
83 YZ250
Too much of a good thing?
Don, My suspension was removed, torn down and internal dampers were installed. While there, Hall's Husqvarna revalved my suspension and it is amazing. I went from 12" of travel to 10" but I can't tell the difference as I am used to 4"! I won't buy another modern machine unless I have it lowered 2", now, I can touch the ground with both feet and do not crash as easily as I used to. Mentally and physically, it is fantastic for me! Any bike can be lowered like mine, it cost around $300 and was worth every penny![:p]
No one has mentioned the Husky 125. Husky may be the last to make a 125 two-stroke with lights also. It looks like a nice machine. Its on their website. By the way, now that I am healing up from work(after a loooong recovery), I am back in the saddle again. I load up my DP bike, a Suzki DR650 and go do DP rides with other riders here in TX. In addition to the popular KTM 450/530s, I am seeing more and more of the Husky TEs. To me, they seem to fit the niche between the KTM and bikes like the DR650. One may be in my future before the Democrat VAT tax hits...
Kip, if I pick one up, I may contact you in your role as the POG Husky TE xpert. They do come with some admission control things that I understand hurt performance pretty badly. I havent ridden one yet but am looking forward to it.
Mark
No problem, the TE's are fantastic! I had the original Map on my bike for about 1 1/2 years then I had it remapped to a more aggressive low and mid and love the bike even more. Nice thing about fuel injection, you can change it to suit your riding ability anytime. Maintenance wise, I change the oil about 4 times a year, adjusted the valves 1 time in 2 years, that's it! The 2 stroke 125 is a cool ride, Husky also makes a dual purpose 125 but it is only available in Europe:( The key thing with any brand, have a great dealer that you can work with and trust, not one who is just interested in selling units. I drive 4 hours one way to Hall's in Ill, as I trust them (ISDE riders and AA Enduro riders) they are awesome during and after the sale! 50 state legal and a fun ride is what I was looking for. Check out "Thumpertalk" Husky 4 Stroke for a ton of owners and info. Sorry, I got carried away! Go Penton![:p]
I'm going to speak up on behalf of the little KDX200 Kaws, Paul. A couple of years ago a customer of mine asked if I wanted to buy his son's, which had been left behind when the boy moved out, and was cluttering up his shed.
At first I declined, but his asking price was so low that I thought, what the heck. Besides, I remembered that guys running the green bikes in our tough and challenging Ohio Hare Scrambles always seemed to go really well.
Although this particular KDX is an older model (a '93!), it is a super little bike. It is stock except for a pipe, is light, has very plush suspension, and is ridiculoulsy easy to ride. Friendliest dirt bike I've ever known. AA riders could certainly find fault with 'em, but for the rest of us mortals, they run super.
There are tons of KDX's out there, cheap. They're bulletproof, parts are readily available and inexpensive (just call up Jeff Fredette), and last but not least, Dane Leimbach's touch is evident in every aspect of the bikes. They work!
Yeah, don't forget the Penton influence on the KDX series. Jack, Dane, Carl and others played a big part in the development of the KDX, so there's definitely a real POG link to the green mo-sheens!
Jeff DeBell
Thanks Kip for the advice on lowering the bike. Will look into a good suspension shop see if they can lower it. thanks again Don Howard
Quotequote:Originally posted by Mark P
No one has mentioned the Husky 125. Husky may be the last to make a 125 two-stroke with lights also. It looks like a nice machine. Its on their website.
The WR125 and the new 2010 model TE250 share the same frame. The TE wins out however because it is street legal.:D
Britt Boyette
76 400 MC5 (project)
77 250 MC5 (uberproject)
77 Husky WR250
75 Can Am (future flat tracker)
76 RM370
75 Hodaka Road Toad
83 YZ250
Too much of a good thing?
Britt
Does the 2010 TE310 have the same frame as the WR125 and TE250? That would be great!:D
Quotequote:Originally posted by kip kern
Britt
Does the 2010 TE310 have the same frame as the WR125 and TE250? That would be great!:D
If it's the TE250 with a big bore kit on it then yes. I haven't got a chance to see a 310 up close so I don't know for sure. A good minute looking at them at a dealer would clear that up as the 125/250f frame looks very different from the 450/510 frame.
Britt Boyette
76 400 MC5 (project)
77 250 MC5 (uberproject)
77 Husky WR250
75 Can Am (future flat tracker)
76 RM370
75 Hodaka Road Toad
83 YZ250
Too much of a good thing?
Britt
I would hate to trade my Husky, I have never ridden a bike that turns as good as my "08" TE250. The frame is perfect, Husky moved the rider forward and up towards the tank. Simply think about it and the bike will turn![:p] I do like the 390 Husaberg though, a friend has one and it goes through the woods like a flash![:0]
If you'd like to go for a ride some weekend, Jason is more than welcome to try out my KDX 220. I can ride my IT175. I think the KDX is a great bike for casual riding, and for all the riding I do these days you can't beat it.
Bob
+1 for the KDX.
Pete Petrick
175 Jackpiner
Slow but Good
Just received latest issue of Moto Retro Illustrated. There is a profile interview with Kenny Roberts at his homestead out in CA. He has a barn full of older bikes and one of them is a KDX. (There is a picture of it) He said in the interview that bikes that get pushed there dont often leave so maybe Kenny would part with it. That would be cool to have a bike owned by KR!
Paul,
Haven't heard whether you and Jason found a bike,
I can recommend the 1986 IT 200, as a matter of fact there is one on
ebay now in your neighborhood, (mercer) for a reasonable price,
get a bill of sale and you can get it plated, see ebay item
160424551284
even has a right side drive, and it IS two stroke.
-don
Thanks to everyone for their input. As you can imagine we are a bit partial to orange around here, but I wanted to make sure that we had our eyes totally open as to what machines would suit Jason, that is why is asked for the much appreciated input from you folks.
After watching the usual listing for used bikes, we finally found what sounded like a nice bike for a fair price and spoke with the seller Saturday night. We traveled to Columbus, Ohio on Sunday and picked up a very nice 2003 KTM 200 EXC. To say that Jason is happy would be an understatement. For me, I am just as happy as could be to have another son-in-law to ride with.
I am glad Jason ended up with a 200, Chad has a 200 KTM EXC and son-in-law Dave has a 250 4 stroke Yamaha, the old man in the bunch rides a 125 EXC and has a built in excuse for when the kids smoke him off......my bike is smaller....:)
Thanks
Paul