Good trail bike?

[Matrix]

I'm kinda.in the mood for bike now. I want a street one but I haven't ridden a two Wheeler in quite some time so dirt would be a good starting point.

Anyhow, I do a lot of trail riding and I've been thinking about a Honda cr125 to buy. I'm a big fan of Honda and since my 250r, I've been a big fan of two strokes. I can handle my 250r in the woods well but my 200x is easier. How are two stroke bikes compared to four stroke bikes in the woods?

Also what are some good Honda trail bikes? I've been liking KTM recently but is KTM any better? I've never worked on anything but a Honda so would it be difficult to transition to another brand like KTM?

Lastly I would rather have a small bike. Something in the 125-200 range for a two stroke and a little bit bigger if its a four stroke. I know KTM has a 300 four stroke and that would be about as big as I would like.

Thanks, Chris

[just ben]

a 125 mx bike is IMO not a great trail bike. You really have to stay on the pipe to get any power out of them

[Tri-Z 250]

I tend to agree here in that 125cc 2strokes like to be rev'ed and kept on top of the powerband. Don't get me wrong I enjoy a 125 on an MX track or gravel pit rides, dry trails sure. Sloppy muddy harescramble...no thanks the 125 is out for me. The advantage of the 250f fourstroke is the ablity to ride without clutch work. The 4strokers can be lugged around and rev to the moon all in 1gear. Shifting is less and control is hightened with less wheel spin...making you a better faster rider. KTM makes a 300cc 2stroke that vet harescramble/MX guys love, and swear it's the bike to have. More bottom than the 250, same size, and more forgiving on the wallet than any 4stroke rebuild.

[beets442]

The two stroke is going to give you the torque right off the bat so climbing steep hills and ruff terrain is a little easier.
Now if you are going to be riding in a pack and just cruising around the four is better.
Four strokes these days have come a long way. I just rode a CRF150R with ALL the goodys and it was about all I could handle.
I'm 5'6-170lbs.
It was a nice lite bike, easy to handle.
Goods luck!

[ezmoney1979]

I have heard nothing but good things about the KTM200EXC. Supposed to be a great woods/trail bike. You should look into them.

[ColtonGG33]

You should look in to a xr 200r or a xr200 their 4 strokes and they run great

[Matrix]

Awesome info guys! I'm looking at the ktm 200 right now, just to look at it. I love how easy it is to work on two strokes so I'm thinking about that right now. I'll look into a Honda cr150f or the xr200. I love my Honda's but ktm seems like a fancy bike lol.

I think for what I want to do a two stroke will be okay but the only way I can find out is to get one, thanks guys.

[250rRoostmaster]

I ride a 2001 YZ250 with a rekluse clutch and freaking love it, lugs like a 4 stroke and rips like a 2 stroke. Best of both worlds. KTM's are sweet if you have the cash and like spending a ton on parts when they need replacing. Very good bikes tho. IMO i would get a 99 or newer yamaha yz250 or a 2009 or newer KTM for trail riding. Both big years for those bikes as they both underwent major changes in those years.

[oldskool83]

I road alot of bikes before 3wheelers, YZ125s are no good for offroad. They have bottem end, dont care what year I had a 95, my buddy had a 01 said the same thing, bored after 30 mins. I however loved CR125's, I owned a 97, It was like best in class in 96 or 97 i forget but it was awsome, It felt like a kdx200 almost. I owned a KDX175, fun bike but prob too old for you, was a 1981. Had way better usable power then the YZ125 and was old as dirt. KX250, had a 1993, basicly motors and bike are the same 1991+ Cheap bikes, tons of power never needed to shift outta 3rd gear it seemed. for the tight stuff it was kinda much but for more open cross country stuff loved it. 1990 YZ250, basicly the same as the KX250, great motor never felt flat down low. TT600 (yamahas answer to XR600) heavy as a turb, torqy as anything, not many parts for too tall. 1985 Rm125, just too old, now the fastest, was a down grade from the 1990's 125s, would take it over a yz125 anyday.

XR200's, not the fastest but one of the funnest bikes after some mods like rebuild and longer shocks from earlier models year bikes. (stay way from RVFC dual carb motors, motor parts hard to find) nothing like any 2 stroke but fun as crap

[250rRoostmaster]

125's can be great trail bikes, they are very nimble and light, yes you have to stay on the pipe but that doesn't mean they are un-ridable by any means. 2 guys in my group ride 125's and they haul the friggen mail on them. They do have there limitations as stated but are still good bike IMO. A 250 2 stroke or 300 is they way to go in the trails if you want a smoker tho because they can lug much better. That's funny about you liking CR's and not YZ's because i'm the other way around!! LOL. I used to ride a 93' cr250 and liked it but as soon as i got the 01' YZ, i completely forgot about the CR! To each there own i guess haha. Happy trailing