CRF250R or CR125R???

[250r'en +TCB]

My friends trying to decide between the two. they are both 03 I think for with in a $100 price difference(the're both used). They are both in good clean shape too. I personaly think he should get the 125r. My argument for that is that is 2 strokes won't be around much longer. A 2 stroke is WAY better for bikes I believe. I have ridden a cr125r and a yamaha 250(4stroke). I like two stokes way more just because of how fast the climb the speedometer. He is open to all sugestions, because he can't decide. I told him about this forum and he wanted inputs. Help him out!

[rm125zr440]

Gotta say go with the 125 if he is set on one of those 2 bikes. Even though it doesnt have as strong of an engine you cant go wrong with a 2stroke, and if he has money to do some mods he can get alot more bang for the buck with a 2-stroke

[TrikeKid]

I'd get the CRF. Easier to ride and much more competative race wise.

[hrc85250r]

haha, competitive my *****, isnt 03' the year they changed the motor design for the 125's, or was that 04'? either way in 03' the four strokes werent quite as developed as they are now, also they share basically the same chassis as the 125 if i am correct....both put out about the same hp, and they are both easy to ride...2 strokes are just as easy to ride, you just cant be quite as dumb of a rider to punch it on a 2 stroke than a 4 stroke...2 strokes are easier to rebuild and work on, more fun to work on, less weight and cheaper to hop-up....get the 125....way more fun. remember 4 strokes are like tampons, every pussy has one!

[yater]

What's he doing with the bike? I guess it doesn't really matter--The 250f is better for just about everything. You still can't beat the handling of the 125s but the 250f isn't far behind. It's a MUCH more versatile bike too. The 125 SUCKS as a trail bike. Anyone who says otherwise doesn't ride. The 250f can make a KILLER woods bike, harescramble/enduro racer, MX bike....you name it. There is still some concern with the crf's valves. Yamaha's 5 titanium valves seem to hold up better than honda's do at this point. Otherwise, the honda is a blast to ride

[TrikeKid]

So every pro 125 class racer and the top 250 guys are pussies?

[yater]

? I don't get what you're saying? clarify?

[rm125zr440]

What's he doing with the bike? I guess it doesn't really matter--The 250f is better for just about everything. You still can't beat the handling of the 125s but the 250f isn't far behind. It's a MUCH more versatile bike too. The 125 SUCKS as a trail bike. Anyone who says otherwise doesn't ride. The 250f can make a KILLER woods bike, harescramble/enduro racer, MX bike....you name it. There is still some concern with the crf's valves. Yamaha's 5 titanium valves seem to hold up better than honda's do at this point. Otherwise, the honda is a blast to ride


I've been riding my 02 rm125 as mainly a trail bike for the last three years and i can go anywhere do anything my buddies 250s can. Before this bike i had an 86 rm125 for about 2 years and never had a problem riding trails with that bike which was all i did. So if your saying i dont know what i'm talking about and cant ride then good for you but a 125 can do very well in the woods if you know how to ride and get the most out of the bike which maybe you dont?

[yater]

I grew up riding dirtbikes. My first "big bike" was a yz125 and I rode it in the woods for 5 years. After moving to a kdx200 and a dr350 (I have both), I can safely say that a 125 sucks in the woods. I don't know where you ride but It's a PITA where I ride. We have BIG rocks and lots of elevation changes. I've seen GREAT MX riders bring their 125s out for the enduro loops and get owned by their own bikes. It's not uncommon to go through a clutch in a weekend on the 125s (BTW..believe me, I got "the most" out of my 125). The big problem is ZERO power down low and a big rush up high. It just doesn't work in the technical stuff. If you haven't ridden a well-set-up woods bike, do yourself a favor and try it.

[hrc85250r]

well, you guys must suck....you can ride a 125 everywhere easily. duh. except water.

[yater]

Ok. Give a group of enduro guys a choice between a 125 and ANY decent woods bike...100% of the time they will pick the OTHER bike...250 4stroke, 250 2stroke, drz, kdx, anything is better for trailriding than a 125 2stroke. I think that you are probably kids and will take what you can get right now, which is understandable, but don't try to tell me or anyone else who rides that a 125 is a good choice for a trail bike. Like I said, I abused my 125 in the woods for years and I would never CHOOSE to keep a 125 as a trail bike.
It's obvious to me that neither of you know much about dirtbikes...why not just keep your mouth shut and let those of us "in the know" try to help?

[TrikeKid]

Yater knows what he's talking about, we have my cousin in law's CR250 set up for woods(flywheel weight, ported, piped, lowered etc) and it still sucks in the tight stuff compared to our fourstrokes, and thats a 250, I dont wana know how bad he'd be on a 125, now in more open stuff he can fly. The problem with the 125 is that you have to ride the hell out of it to be goin fast, even 200's let you lug around a little and not have to do as much work in the woods.

[hrc85250r]

dont forget you guys, this kid is looking to have fun and do all kinds of things, probly icluding sand dirt, mud trails, wide open fields and have a blast....four storkes arent that exciting and 2 strokes are way easier to maintain by yourself....the 2 strokes power is also way more fun.... and remember he isnt building a race bike.

[rm125zr440]

Well if he was looking for an enduro bike why would he have 2 motocross bikes in mind? Since he is probably looking for a good all-around bike a 125 will probably do him damn well (unless he is a bigger guy which we may not all be taking into consideration) I know a 125 isnt going to excel in the tight woods like yater the 125 hater keeps talking about but if thats what he wants to ride maybe he should be considering other bikes. i also remember reading in an issue of dirtbike about 5 years ago (shows how long i've been in love with biking) they built up a 2000 or 2001 yz125 for woods riding and did very little mods to it and said it was a blast of a bike to ride that did very well. and like hrc said a 2 stroke will probably last the kid longer because he will be able to maintain it and not be scared of valves and timing chains.

[yater]

Since re-reading the original post, I've decided that there's just not enough information to answer the question effectively. Things like maintenance budget, skill level, intended use, etc will come into play. To me it just seems like he wants a play/trailbike. I would have to say the 250 4stroke is more versatile and can be damn good at just about everything. If the kid can ride, a 250 2stroke can do everything and can be built as a HELL of a woods bike....just ask all the gncc guys. If budget is a concern, go 2stroke. Consider the kdx200 as well as the older (early to mid 90s) cr250. Those steel framed cr250s were the hot ticket for woods racing in their day. For the beginner/intermediate trail rider, the xr250, dr350, kdx200, are all rock solid and can be had for $1500+/- . The kdx has serious potential

[NOS_350X]

I have a 98 yz125 with lots of engine work to it (cant even ride it without having the throttle pinned or it will bog) bike to bike it cant compete with the thumpers. The 10 pound diffrence (i think its 10 pounds) you cant even notice in the bikes. Those 250f's are the bikes that can go anywhere and do anything Every horse on that bike through every gear is going to the ground and pushing you forward, 125 nothing but tire spin.

[250r'en +TCB]

he wants the bike for mostly woods riding and some open field riding too. Like I said, I'd be 2-stroke'n!!!!!!!!

[OldSchoolin86]

he wants the bike for mostly woods riding and some open field riding too. Like I said, I'd be 2-stroke'n!!!!!!!!If your gonna be in the woods wouldn't you want more power and a smoother delivery?

[yater]

Just get him a 2stroke mx bike and let him have at it. I guess that's the only way to appreciate a purpose-built bike

[rm125zr440]

what type of trails are in these woods? IIf they are fairly open and more flowing an mx bike will be wicked in them but if they are really tight and rocky, rooty, mucky then he should probably be considering a different bike than a small-bore mxer or i hate to say it be considering the crf and doing some mods to make it more trail friendly.

[MTS]

I will say that IF he gets the CRF250 to Listin carfully to the valves, ask him if they have been adjusted and how many hours are on the bike, if he says they havent been adjusted STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM IT!!!!, they are bad for wrecking the seats and valves if they are not adjusted freakuently, becuse there turnin so many RPMS they literally mash the valve seats if they start gettin loose.....just a word of caution..lol

[250r'en +TCB]

The woods trails around here are a mix. There are the wide open, flat railroad beds, which are more like a dirt road than a trail. But there's also the hardcore rocky trails. Me and my dad call those trails "rim wreckers" !!! Funny but true...
Anyway he will stay away from those trails with a dirtbike, duh! He dosn't have a death wish guys!!!

[rm125zr440]

Sounds like he would prob have more fun on a 125 there. The 4-stroke would be easier to ride but what fun is that? I suggest 125 for sure

[yater]

It sounds like most of you have never ridden a "new" 250 4stroke. By "new", I mean the lightweight pancake piston race bikes. They DON'T behave like the typical low-reving 4strokes that you are all describing. They rev at 13,000+ rpm and have the same top-end power that you would associate with a 2stroke. Several have said that the 4stroke is easier to ride....that's because it makes USABLE power--the 125 is all wheelspin. These 4strokes are a blast to ride and will out-do the 125 ANYWHERE.

That said, I would rather own a 2stroke simply because I'm scared of the valve and maintenance nightmares associated with the new 4strokes. Yamaha seems to have them pretty well dialed in but I wouldn't sink that kind of money into any of the other makes.

[rm125zr440]

I've ridden a buddies 03 crf450 a number of times and ya that thing puts out crazy power that doesnt seem to end and have witnessed multiple newer 250 4-strokes and ya they are a fast powerful bike for sure. But they are also not that trail friendly either with their light flywheels that makes the bike feel like it will stall then you give it gas and your trying to hold on to the damn tihng. The biggest problem i still have with them is like you are saying yater, the valves. 2 out of 3 people i know that have taken there 4stroke to the dunes have came back and after a crash sand gets sucked up the exhaust and runes the whole exhaust side of the valve train and a big bill. so since this is obviously a younger less experienced rider/ mechanic it would be a better idea for him to have a simpler engine to learn to work on as well. And riding a 125 you learn to use the power their not to fight the power so you will become a better rider faster than an overly powerful bike

[hrc85250r]

125 125 125 125 125 125

[Kintore]

he wants the bike for mostly woods riding and some open field riding too. Like I said, I'd be 2-stroke'n!!!!!!!!

I prefer a 4 stroke in the woods and open field. You can pin her then :)

But its all up to your buddy.

[250r'en +TCB]

here's my friends plan. he is leaning more towards a 125, however he said it really comes down to whatever one he finds a good deal on first. I showed him this thread too.
I reminded him once agian though, he's better off to get a 125, that way he can TRY and keep up with me!!! :cool:

[rm125zr440]

He should try to take a 125 and a 250 4stroke for a ride and see what one he likes more, He also doesnt have to go with honda, any brand of bike will be good for a long time if maintained well

[250r'en +TCB]

true he could just not get a honda, then agian he could just not get anything....
Catch my drift lol, ride red or die......

[RideRed250R]

iam currently racing MX again and ride a 03 YZ450F, i have to say i have ridden twostrokes and fourstrokes and in the 125 class there is no comparson to the CRF or YZF in the 125 class... its over,,,, the CRF and YZF put out about 8 more horses then a yz or cr or rm or whatever and only weigh alittle more... they also have torque were twostrokes dream of torque... in the 250-450 class 2 strokes have a slight gain... the twostrokes do weigh alot lighter then the 450's even tho its not that much more its more noticable then the CRF/YZF 250's... but as long as you know your 450 and can bang the gears and handle and muscle the bike around it will lead the pack... i say 250 and he will love the darn bike!
adam

[rm125zr440]

8 horsepower? who are you trying to kid here, yes they do put out more torque at lower rpms but there never has been an 8 horsepower difference between the 4 and 2 strokes unless you are comparing a works 250f to a stock 125 than maybe

[hrc85250r]

i agree with rm125zr440..that is horse$#!T...they all put out within a couple horses...that is why they race together!...also the 2 strokes are a lot easier to start hot...or at least i have noticed.....