H@lp Me "BUY" A Honda 125 or 250

Well, I've only ridden a couple of times when I was younger (6 years Ago) & once recently. I loved it! I always wanted a Dirt Bike & Never Got One for a few reasons...Well, I know how to ride a Street Bike and comfy w/Honda CBR 600. I was going to buy one but my Mom & GF will "NOT" allow me to get one.

That being said, I'm back into looking for a Dirt Bike to chill with.

I've researched it and some say a 250 or 125. I'm leaning towards a Honda as I rode a CRF 230 and liked it...

What do you guys suggest as I'm a Newb with this. I'd like to ride it Once a Month. I'd like it to be easy maintenance and reliable. I will NOT be going hard on it but more of weekend fun.

Let me know what you guys think. What is good for a beginner Bike.

I'm 5'7
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are you going to be ridding desert or track?

 

Ive got a 2002 YZ250f Yamaha with a racing transmission and a extra rim with a paddle i could sell you for $2k obo my brother is 5'7 and has the same bike and it was perfect riding for him. and they are really quick

 

^ I appreciate the offer but I'm really ANAL on buying USED things. So I'm going to be hunting for a HONDA thats well maintained. I will NOT be tracking this and want to ride Trails or Deserts.
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If its your first time riding, i'd look into a 250 two stroke to be honest. 125s are just too small and after a while you'd be hitting yourself for not buying a 250.

 

well if your a trail/desert guy go with the 250. but if you want a real bike get a crf450. also your budget is going to be a big factor.

 

Hey i have an 03 CR250 and all i can say is that it has a shit ton of power... almost too much. That being said i have been riding since i was 12 and the best time ive had on a dirt bike was on a yamaha yz 125. If you want to learn how to ride a 2t 125 will teach you everything you need to know. They are extremely light and agile but still have enough power to do stuff. If you are into trail riding it will teach you how to carry momentum and how to shift and if you are into high speed desert riding you'll learn how to manuever and brake. You may hate it at first (especially since you came off of a 4t) but once you get used to it you will have loads of fun. Just remember to stay on the pipe! The only reason i went with a 250 was because i got it for a great deal and i wanted a little extra power. If you want to learn how to ride go with a 2t 125.

Long live two smokes!!!
braaaaaaaaaaap!!!

 

^ See how its Hard to Decide. I read Pros and Con replies for both.


I want to learn how to ride well. Thats important to me.

I was looking in the CR 125 and yeah, people say its under powered. I'm worried the 250 is too much power. Should I just get the 230?

P.S - I'd Stay Away from the 450's like I stay Away from the 1K CC Bikes. I don't need all that Power as it will only get me into trouble.
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Don't go with a 230, i never hear or see people riding them at the track. I'd say just go with a 250 to be honest.

 

the 250's do have a ton of power more than youll need but you can get use to it ....you just need to give it time. I use to ride a cr 500 when i was younger which as any rider would know it ridiculously fast but as time went on i learn to adjust to how the bike rides. i wouldnt get the 230 i would buy the 250 just my opinion though

 

^ So thats what I'm thinking.. How does a well maintained One Owner 2002 CRF 250 @ $1600 Sound? Garage kept, Adult Owner (Family Man), and all Maintenance done.

Will this bike be easy for me to take care of? I don't want to be forking over a ton of $$$ to shops. I'd love to learn to do everything myself as I've done with the TACO.


THANKS EVERYONE for the HELP & INSIGHT
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Very well said. Go with the 125 2T please. They are perfect for beginners and you wont outgrow the power for a long time. I deffinetely recomend a yz/kx/rm/KTM(sx/xc) over the honda simply for the better powervalve design (honda uses a cable, rest use linkage).

EDIT: here is a great forum: http://www.thumpertalk.com/

 

thats a pretty good price but ask the owner if you can go over there and test ride it a little alot times bikes can look perfect and solid but once they get to rolling they can be have some issues just really do your homework your gonna be able to learn on any bike you may fall once and a while but that the name of the game

 

if your talking about a 250 2 stroke than hell yea a yz250f 4 stroke is really = to a 125 2 stroke
so if i was you i would go with a 250 2 stroke you can never kill a 2 stroke ive had mine for 14 plus years been under water 4 times no problems...you can rebuild a 2 stroke in minutes
half the moving parts as a 4 stroke = half the trouble
2 stroke balls to the wall

 

my yzf has never had a single problem but i do agree two strokes are way easier to take car of but i have taken my YZ250F to the dunes and have beaten more 2 stroke 250 than i can count because of the two stroke power band and ya i am in the 125 class technically the only ones i can beat are 450f

 

but i was talking about a 250 two stroke

 

If it's a 2002 im assuming it's a cr250. 2 stroke. I'm no expert but i've been doing some research cause I was thinking of buying a bike too. I'm looking for a Honda crf250 4 stroke which I believe they started making these 4 strokers in 2004. I know some info but maybe some more experienced riders can tell you the advantages/disadvantages of 2 stroke vs 4 stroke. My budget is to stay around 2000+/-. Be cautious though cause most of the ones I find around this price have a "lost title", which could mean a headache at the dmv. I've learned alot from reading posts at http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/

Good luck.

 

2 strokes will be much easier to maintain and cheaper. I highly recommend a yamaha 2T over anything else. The Crf 250 a 4T will be = to a 125 2T and the early models of the honda crf 250 four strokes had problems if i remember correctly. Honestly learn how to ride on a 2 stroke 125 you will have loads of fun on one especially since you are only going to ride once a month. 2 strokes are so much easier to work on, maintain, and upgrade than a 4 stroke.

If you are a (under 170) lighter person you will also enjoy the agility and light weight of a 125, but if you are heavier you may be better off with the 250 in the long run.

 

^ Wow thanks for the site guys. I'm going to read more before I buy and I'm going to go with the 125 and learn the bike. I'll sell it later to get a 250 if needed.

I'm glad I posted because I see both sides and I just need to find what fits me.

I'll read more and decide if I need to go 250.
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I know you said honda, what about a kdx200 2stroke?