Dirt Bikes

[jello]

I have desided to keep my 400ex and also buy a dirtbike. I have rode dirtbikes before. I want a 125. Should I go with a CR 125 or YZ 125? What are the main differences between the 2?


Thanks
Jello

the cr125 u stick with reliabilty & the yz125 is a yamaha....this is an opinion

[jello]

I have desided on the cr 125 because I love honda, its a little bit shorter(Im short) and did i say its honda. :D I have never owned a 2 stroke before this will be my first one. If I do deside to buy it used (most likely) what should I look for when checking one out. I have always liked the 4 strokes but its time for a 2 stroke.


Thanks
Jello

[250EXking]

i thiink both of those would be good but i would have went with the sx125. jimo

[mxrdr]

ya the sx is very good i alomst got that intstead of my 400 ........but bewtween the honda and yamaha i would take the yamaha its got a good motor and a proven frame it was also lke 1st o 2nd 125 of the year in dirt rider or some dirt bike mag. and the honda has a good frame but a no so goood motor.:( {sory honda} iwould go with the YZ if i were you. buying becous its a honda doesnt mean its the best:devious: :devil:

[kxrider]

cr best suspension stock, slowest bike stock, always can look new iwth new plastice, becuase the frame is not painted


yamaha verry good suspension, very fast, only fasster 125 is ktm, btu one down side, is that the yamaha has painted frame, and paint comes off, so after 1 year or so even with new plastic your frame wont look as good so......when i were lookin for me a new bike i was goin to get honda becuase motor modds are cheaper than suspeion:D

the sx or ktm bike are the fastest ones on the market but the suspension is horrible, i heard this from everyoen i know, and alll the mags.......

id get the cr because of the durability and good suspension, a good rider will always shine through even if they dont have the motor because its not that big of a difference

[kxrider]

Originally posted by freeride132
id get the cr because of the durability and good suspension, a good rider will always shine through even if they dont have the motor because its not that big of a difference

true but there is no such thing as a reliable 2 stroke, if you race, if you ride it hard no tellin wat gona happen,

and Jello there really isnt that much diffrence stock, just becuase the mags. say its slow doesnt mean its a slug, its still respectable, but anyways if you want to race it doesnt matter wat biek you get you will have to get soem modds to hang in there:D

[Flyin#3-1/2]

i'd go with the yz, the cr has good handling and suspension but not the greatest power...the yz has good suspensing good handling and better power than the cr and everybody that i know that's owned a yz (and they beat the hell out of it) has lasted a long time.

Originally posted by kxrider
true but there is no such thing as a reliable 2 stroke, if you race, if you ride it hard no tellin wat gona happen,

and Jello there really isnt that much diffrence stock, just becuase the mags. say its slow doesnt mean its a slug, its still respectable, but anyways if you want to race it doesnt matter wat biek you get you will have to get soem modds to hang in there:D

yup

[derekhonda]

my 2001 crs for sale, never had a problem engine wise, lined it up against my friends yz125 and beat it (granted he needs a rebuild) but most 125s are fairly similar engine wise, i just like the ride of honda alot better not to mention the aluminum frame, if it gets a little messed up, a little mothers will restore it to new. 2400 firm

[kxrider]

an another thing jello i heard from people at tracks that honda didnt perfect the new frame til 2000, so dont get a honda below that year, it you can, i heard that they break so......

[Flip)(stick]

Ack just get a cr250 and be done with it:)

[mxrdr]

i still say the yz , the honda has a good frame and all but its slow people say and the frame needs constant attention. if you could get your hands on SX 125. in my opion its the best 125 out there. and the yamaha is race proven to take beatings and is vey reialbule and very fast. how meny pros do you see wining on honda dirt bikes? comepared to yamaha. or go wit the 250f.i love the four strokes!:D

[micah]

You could also look at the Rm's. Everything that i have heard or read says that the Rm and the YZ are the best 125's you can buy. I think the rm handles a little better then the YZ and the YZ is a little faster then the Rm.

I plan on buying a 125 soon and those will be my main two choices. Probably go with the YZ.

[4wheelboy]

the rm is tallest of them all. the cr i like alot better then the yz it just feels better when riding it:devil:

[yamaha250f]

Honestly the only difference is that the Yamaha is taller and goes faster and the Honda has a lower seat height and goes a lil bit slower but it has a lil better handleing. theres not much difference the Yamah is about 5 mph faster. Thats with YZ and CR 125's if you have a lil extra cash look into a 250f and this goes the same for the new 04 bikes the Yamaha is taller and faster and the Honda is lower and handles better.

[kxrider]

just my opinion, rms feel tall, and yz's feel skinny just me though:D

[micah]

If you are judging the height by seat height the RM isnt the tallest. I just looked up the specs and they are...

Seat Heigh:
Rm- 37.8inches
Cr-37.3inches
Yz-39.1inches

I am looking into buying a 125, but im not a big guy...I was kind of set on the YZ, but with the height being an extra inch and a half I may go with the RM or possibly the CR.

Everyone agrees the CR is slower...but how much slower is it then the YZ or RM?? Could someone describe it by comparing quads? Like a cr is like a 300ex and a yz is a 400ex, or a cr is like a 400ex and a yz is like a z400?

[derekhonda]

cr is like a 400ex stock
yz is like a 400ex with an airfilter

there seriously isnt enough difference to argue about

[I-7]

If it was me getting a new 125 i would get an RM because they are really revvy and are good all around. The CR has good suspension but falls alittle flat on the top. The yz has good power. Kx- i dunno, and the ktm sx has the most power

[Chanman420q]

do the YZ's have powervalves? i know the CR's do

[kxrider]

they all do , and anyone who says they have power bands, there is no such thing as an actuall power band, the power band is where the power kicks in and signs off

[MxDale71]

Ofcourse there is no actual band when talking about the powerband. When people talk about the powerband being peaked out or broad, they are talking about the curve when seen on the dyno.

That being said, the CR 125 and 250 both have peaked out powerbands and are kind of hard to ride. I have a YZ 250F and I absolutely LOVE that bike. It's much easier to ride than the 2-strokes and the 4-strokes are the future of MX. Out of all the 2-strokes, the KTM SX 125 is the best, IMO. It has low end like a 250 (not as much power obviously but a lot of low end for a 2-stroke). My friend Jake has one and he races Open Int. (Int. class 125 and 250 riders) and got 2nd place in his last race. Ofcourse he is a very good rider, but he said that his stock KTM suspension was better than his 02 CR 125's Pro Action suspension, but the handling wasn't as good as the Honda. Either way, he is quite a bit faster on the Katoom. Just remember... the 125 2-strokes are the hardest bikes to ride.

I made the switch from quads to bikes and am riding an 03 Yz 250F, so if any of you guys are considering a switch and have some questions, please feel free to talk to me on AOL. My AIM s/n is MPeteyPabloX

I don't mind really, I love talking motocross, quads, bikes, and anything else related.

[micah]

I was thinking about going with the 250f, but I am not a large guy so the bike would be about 15-20 lbs lighter and easier for me to manage on the ground and in the air.

[TheRedRebel17]

i would wait and se how the crf250f performs... but I am prolly gonna get a 00 Kawasaki KX 125, 00 Yamaha YZ 125, or a Suzuki RM 125...in that order too.

[TheRedRebel17]

hers some pics of the 04 models, if your buying not used
The new KX250F

[FourFiftyFour]

I really like the KTM thumpers! im impressed with the way KTM has put an effort into rider support and makin an awesome race bike.. looks like the "big four" is now a five IMO

[TheRedRebel17]

next
the new crf250f :D

[TheRedRebel17]

CR 250 with the new chassis

[TheRedRebel17]

Suzuki RM250F

[FourFiftyFour]

Orange is better! :p

[86350x]

Well out of your choices right now, I'd get a yz 250f. It will requier less maintenence (top end rebuilds) and will be easier on your wallet in the long run. The yz 125 is seriously a better all around bike, but the honda has the great aluminum frame. Back in the day when I was in highscool still, I picked up an 89 cr125. And it never lett me down. I tottally rebuilt it, and did one top end rebuild since. I don't ride it much anymore since I picked up a 426. But I have nothing but good things to say about the little red bumble bee. Take care of whatever you decide to get, and it will last.

[kxrider]

ya i know there is no such thing as an actual power band, but i actually heard peopel say ' i heard that the new crf250 is goin to have a power band' , lmao i just didnt want anyone to look dumb, lol:D

[hessianmx111]

my stock kx100 took a 400ex with an e series slip on in a drag. my friends cr will take a kfx400 in a long run but the kfx whoops him in a shorter drag. i dunno what that tells you other than that though

[TheRedRebel17]

Just incase you havent noticed...yes, that is a new frame on the CRF250

[TheRedRebel17]

also, i think kara has talked me into a ktm..atleast test ride one beofre I purchase..might wanna check out the SX 125

id just wait and get a crf 250 this fall

[250x#93]

I wanna sx:devil:

[quadridermx]

There are so many different choices, and you really can't go wrong with any of the new bikes.

Best engine... I think the KTM 125 has the best engine. It makes the most horsepower stock, and has the best kind of power.

125 engines are in a lot of ways the same, like some guys have said, but the kind of power they make is different. The KTM and YZ have great low end power for a 125, and good top end power. The CR can be just as fast as the others, but takes a bit more clutching to keep it in the meat of the powerband.

If you plan on woods riding at all, then I personally would not get the Cr125.

Overall, I think the KTM would be a great choice.... if you have the money. They are a little bit more expensive, but are VERY well made. They come with a lot of high-quality parts that you don't see on the big 4 bikes.

Personally, though, I would go with the 250f. The weight difference is noticeable at first, but you get used to it pretty quickly. It is an excellent motocrosser, and the grunt of the 4-stroke engine makes it an excellent woods machine also. The 125's all have a huge jump in horsepower ("powerband") when the revs get up there. If you ride any woods, it'll send ya into a tree in a hurry.

[CHAUNCY]

I got a 2002 ktm 125sx for sale. Over 1500 in mods. Runs great. Want to get 3300 shipped forward air. Pm me if interested :o

[TheRedRebel17]

out of curosity...chaucy, go-t any pics of it? I dont see many ktms out here.

[hondafox440]

I think you people who have no seat time on the bikes need to stop relaying false information that you hear in the moto tabloids. The CR125 actually dynos out with more HP and either YZ125 or YZ250F (dyno sheets are on fmfracing.com). I've owned my CR125 since April 02, and I ride with like 5 YZ125s, and 1 250F. The Yamahas all sign off so quick. The power stops around 10K, and all they do is keep revving from there, not making power. Sure, the CR125 is more of a top end bike and it takes a little more work to get up to speed (ie corner speed and clutching), but if you know what you're doing its just as fast. I got bored riding my friends 03 250F. He has like 1500$ into it, and its so flat and electric. Theres no hit, and its hard to tell where you are in the rev range. The YZ125s make alot more bottom end than the CR, but the CR makes a ton more mid-top end power. Plus the CR suspension and riding position are magic. And they actually have foam in the seats, not wood. As I said in your other topic, I would go for the CR125.

[micah]

Too many choices.

Does anyone know the weight and the seat height of the new suziki and honda 250f four strokes? If the weight is low and the seat height is where the 125 is i might have to really think about getting one.

How bad is the KTm suspension? I have heard they are horrible.

It sounds to me like the best all around 125 is the Rm.

[TheRedRebel17]

the crf250 is 37.3 inches

i know the suspenion isnt teh greatest on the sx but the power comes on early and signs off way late from what i heard.

[TheRedRebel17]

Forgot to say, i will prolly be getting a bike soon, and its looking toward the KTM then the YZ then the KX...What should i look for in a 1999-2001 KTM SX 125? Any big flaws like the 01 raptors...?

[TheRedRebel17]

oh, and KTMs look better than anything IMHO
hers some pics..

[JHF219]

i think you should get the YZF250 bad arse bike !! they are fast and strong !! very reliable also !!

[micah]

I wish that honda was out already so i could pick up a used one...it looks sweet. How is the honda and suzuki 250f's compared to the Yamaha? Anyone know when the Rm250f will come out and the price?

I probably will end up not getting the yamaha because of the seat height. 2 inches seams like a big difference in seat heigh when you arent that tall.

[TheRedRebel17]

Originally posted by micah
I wish that honda was out already so i could pick up a used one...it looks sweet. How is the honda and suzuki 250f's compared to the Yamaha? Anyone know when the Rm250f will come out and the price?

I probably will end up not getting the yamaha because of the seat height. 2 inches seams like a big difference in seat heigh when you arent that tall.

Il tellign ya..atleast check otu the KTM SX....im sold on it, unless a good deal comes up on something else i cant refuse

[TheRedRebel17]

Originally posted by micah
I wish that honda was out already so i could pick up a used one...it looks sweet. How is the honda and suzuki 250f's compared to the Yamaha? Anyone know when the Rm250f will come out and the price?

I probably will end up not getting the yamaha because of the seat height. 2 inches seams like a big difference in seat heigh when you arent that tall.


IF your sold on a four stroke, check out the Kawaaki KX250F ;)

[micah]

I havent ridden a dirt bike in years, so that extra power may be too much for me to start with... plus, i would rather have something with a better suspension and a little less power.

[TheRedRebel17]

It really depends on the track..if its alot of tight sections like a SX you would want a Four stroke...if its wide open MX type i would say a two stroke

[CHAUNCY]

Here is a pic of the KTM rebel. Rg3 suspension, fmf pipe, fmf silencer, hinson clutch basket, graphics, seat,etc....................

[TheRedRebel17]

thats nice..i sure someone would liek to have it

[micah]

How much does that RG3 suspension cost? Thats not the same thing as the RG3 showa suspension that is listed for $5,000 is it?

[TheRedRebel17]

Originally posted by TheRedRebel17
IF your sold on a four stroke, check out the Kawaaki KX250F ;)

just for clarfiction, the Rm250F and the KX250F are the same bikes but with difefrent plastic. But of course..go green:D

[MxDale71]

RedRebel - Whats up dude? The KX and RM aren't the same exact bikes. The motors are pretty much the same but they have different frames and slightly different ergo's. Also, on a wide open track, a 4-strokes broad power band would probably be better, but it really depends on rider preference. I'm glad you decided on the KTM. Great bikes dude.

As for that die hard Honda fan. The YZ 250F actually has the most HP of any 125 class bike. It is also considered the best 125 class bike available by all the mags... you can take that how you want, but just thought I would let you know. Don't get all offended just because a lot of people don't like the Honda Cr's all that much. Everyone has their preferance and it's good that everyone here is saying different things instead of just saying, "Get the Honda, or get the Yamaha." Brand loyalty is bad for the sport, and people recommending many different bikes, is a good thing.

For me personally, I love my Yamaha. I'm a 4-stroke fan and I wanted to race 125's so it was an easy choice for me. At the end of next season I'll probably buy another bike and who knows what it will be. The KTM SX250F is supposed to be released in the U.S. in 2004. It's a sharp lookin bike, but then again, any bike w/ black excel rims and factory stickers looks sharp.

[TheRedRebel17]

Originally posted by MxDale71
RedRebel - Whats up dude? The KX and RM aren't the same exact bikes. The motors are pretty much the same but they have different frames and slightly different ergo's. Also, on a wide open track, a 4-strokes broad power band would probably be better, but it really depends on rider preference. I'm glad you decided on the KTM. Great bikes dude.

From what i can tell form the mags, the RX250F and the KX250F look exactly the same. I am not 100% sure on the ktm, but thats what im aiming for. I dont see many ktms around here, so i might have to stick with the Kx or Rm..im not too sure yet what comes after the SX.:ermm:

[CHAUNCY]

Originally posted by micah
How much does that RG3 suspension cost? Thats not the same thing as the RG3 showa suspension that is listed for $5,000 is it?

RG3 reworked factory shocks to "race level shocks".

[quadracer99]

the Cr has the best frame of the two but worst engine, and the yamaha has the better engine and suspension. i think that the best aftermarket suspension u could get is Kayaba. RG3 is good too.

[MxDale71]

Oh, and I almost forgot... My buddy who has the SX 125 said that his stock KTM suspension was better than his Pro Action suspension on his CR. He said the KTM doesn't handle as good as the Honda but the suspension is better. The KTM's have rubber stops in the forks so that if you bottom out, it won't be such a hard hit, and I don't guess the big four has that in their bikes. They have it on the rear shock but I don't think they do in the forks.

But guys, unlike the quads, the bikes are all pretty close. There isn't any huge power differences, and you seriously can't go wrong w/ any of them. Any bike will last you a long time if you maintain it properly, and all of the bikes are very capable of winning races.

Also, Micah... I have seen guys that flat out haul ***** and they had to have a block next to them when at the gate cause they couldn't touch the ground. How tall are you and how much do you weigh? If you don't mind saying. :p

[250x#93]

I want a bike, but I wanna be able to ride wit my gf once I get one, so I'll keep my quad:devil: I think I'll get her that shirt that says : this ***** doesn't fall off:devil:

[MxDale71]

Kayaba isn't really aftermarket like PEP, TCS, or Elka is in the quad world. The stock suspension on Kawisaki and Yamaha is Kayaba. Honda and I think Suzuki has Showa. But ya, Kayaba suspension is good.

And guys, if yall can race quads, the suspension on a Xr100 will feel good to you. My stock Yamaha suspension feels better than the TCS suspension that was on this 250R that I rode. The owner of that R weighed the same as me and rode at the same level as me, so it was basically set up for me and my stock suspension that I have only made small adjustments to feels better than that TCS suspension. It makes a big difference when your frame can't slam into the ground like they do on quads. I've bottomed out my shocks quite a few times while trying to dial them in and it hasn't felt near as bad as it did on quads.

[micah]

Mxdale,

I am just a tad under 5'6'' and weigh about 135-140 but am pretty strong. I like the yz250f, but the seat height is about 2 inches higher then the other brands and I think it might be better to get the 2 stoke due to the lighter weight.

How much heavier dose the 250f feel compared to the normal 2 stoke 125's? This is a tough choice for me , and the worse part is you really cant test ride anything before you buy it.

If that honda crf250 is equal performance to the yz250f i may have to buck up with the extra money and buy one new. I figure it should be a little bit lighter and a lower seat.

[MxDale71]

Oh *****, do prefer being called a midget or little people? Haha, naw, j/p man. You'd prolly have to lean a little to touch the ground but it wouldn't be all that bad. I'm 6'2" and about 160, so I can put both feet down flat footed and still be able to keep my knees bent just slightly. If you go w/ a 4-stroke, make sure it has the auto decompression. It makes a huge difference not having to mess w/ that little decompression lever. The 4-stroke are harder to start so remember NEVER twist the throttle when tryin to start it. When you do that, you have to pull in the hot start and kick it about 15 times to clear it out. But like I said before, I know what I'm talkin about and have gotten a lot of good tips from all my racin buddies, so if any of you need some help or have some questions, I might be able to answer them for you. Just talk to me on AOL: S/N MPeteyPabloX

I've already helped out a couple people on here.

[micah]

Does the yz250f have the auto decompression? What about the other 250 four strokes?

[MxDale71]

The 03 250F's do have the auto decompression but not the 01's and 02's. I seriously have no idea about the others but I imagine they will. Not having it on the 01 and 02 YZF's held back sales for them a bit and the 03's are going like crazy. Thats pretty much all I see at the tracks... I have yet to see an 01 or 02 model and I go to different tracks about 2 or 3 times a week.

[micah]

I was looking at some used ones in the Cycle trader, would you recommend not buying an 01 and and 02 because of this?

I really like the new Kaw , Suz, and honda 250's...but dont really want to spend $5700 on a new bike, so I may end up with a 02 yz250f or an 02-03 rm,cr, or yz 125

[TheRedRebel17]

Originally posted by micah
I was looking at some used ones in the Cycle trader, would you recommend not buying an 01 and and 02 because of this?

I really like the new Kaw , Suz, and honda 250's...but dont really want to spend $5700 on a new bike, so I may end up with a 02 yz250f or an 02-03 rm,cr, or yz 125

I am in the same boat as your except i dont want a four stroke, and im looking at the SX, andthe KX. I went to the local honda/yamaha shop(their are combined) today and got to sit on some 250s, but unfortuanetly they were out of all the 125s and they didnt have any four stroke race bikes :mad:
The honda i could sit on the bike and balenced flat footed, but the yamaha, i had to stand on my tippytoes for both feet. Oh and im 6"2 at the monuet also. I definately liked the ergonmics of the CR better than the Yamaha. It seemed like the whole bike weight was felt lower than the Yamaha which i liked. There was a 2000 CR 250 used with revalved suspenion i think..not sure who, a PC pipe and silencer and some renthal bars and some other stuff for 3100$. If i woulda have some more experience, i woulda statched that up quick, but i know for sure i would kill myself on a 250 so far.
Oh well, i get on rambleing stages and i cant help it. I hope you found a little bit of that useful:p

[micah]

Im 5'6'' so if you are tiptoeing on the yamaha i definately would be. The rm and cr sit about 1- 1 1/2'' lower then the Yamaha. The four stoke race bikess sit at about the same height as the two stokes. I would probably be set on the rmz250/kx250f or the crf 250 if i could get a great deal on them or find a used one...but i dont want to wait that long.

THe problem i am finding with buying a used two stoke is that there are not enough 03's in the cycle trader, people want too much for them, or it sounds like they have been beat to hell and back.

[TheRedRebel17]

Originally posted by micah
[B]Im 5'6'' so if you are tiptoeing on the yamaha i definately would be. The rm and cr sit about 1- 1 1/2'' lower then the Yamaha. [B]
Micah, you have to take in consideration that the bikes are new, therefore the springs wil be a little bit stiff and it will droop now some as time goes on. You also have to consider that the rag sag wasnt properly adjusted for me. I think you would be fine after awhile on the yamaha, starting with one foot down isnt too much of a big deal.

[250x#93]

Yeah a lot of guys i know that ride 125s are like 5'3" and **** so I wouldn't worry:devil:

[MxDale71]

The 4-strokes w/o the auto decompression are a biatch to start if you don't have the technique down. Even if you do have it down, nobody really wants to take their time and mess w/ that stuff when they stall in the middle of a race and then it takes them forever to get it runnin again. I love the fact that I can just pull in the clutch and kick it. Although I usually have to use the hot start lever to get it started up, but thats normal and there is no technique in that. You just pull that little lever and kick the bike over like usual. The hot start just lets more air into the mixture to lean it out some. Also, if you want to wait for the 04 models, you should be able to find some good 03's. A lot of bike racers buy new bikes every year and sell there old ones that are still in perfectly good shape.

RedRebel - How much do you weigh? I can touch the ground flat footed on both sides on any bike and I only weigh 160. Also, sometimes 250's can be the easiest bikes to start racing on. They do have a lot of power, but they have a lot of bottom end and are easier to ride. 125's are, a lot of times, considered the hardest bikes to learn on. Thats why I went w/ a 4-stroke.

If anyone is interested, Jake has a 02 Cr 125 for sale. Not sure how much he is askin but I can find out for yall. The only reason he is selling is because he bought that KTM.

[TheRedRebel17]

Originally posted by MxDale71
RedRebel - How much do you weigh? I can touch the ground flat footed on both sides on any bike and I only weigh 160. Also, sometimes 250's can be the easiest bikes to start racing on. They do have a lot of power, but they have a lot of bottom end and are easier to ride. 125's are, a lot of times, considered the hardest bikes to learn on. Thats why I went w/ a 4-stroke.

I weigh about 140 so far, but i still have alo of growing to do. :p
I know 250s have alot of torque compared to a 125 where you have to pin at alot of times. I just dont know if i wanna deal with a 250s powerband and everything else yet. i might be going to look at some sx and kxs tommorow..il let ya kow how they rank IMO.

[micah]

mxdale- I probaly wont buy a new one, and if I did i think it would look into the suzuki or honda version. How does the 250f feel in the air. Does if feel almost as light and agile as a 125 two stoke? Sometimes when i read test rides in magazines they will say something like " it jumps great, but it still has that heavy feel of a 4 stoke while in the air" , since you cant test ride anything i figured i would ask how it feels while jumping.

If you pipe and do some other mods to 125's are they a little easier to control the power? I think a 250 would be too much to start out on.

[MxDale71]

It may feel a little heavier than the 125 2-strokes but it's a great jumper. But lets face it... any bike will feel light after coming off of quads. After getting used to bikes, jumping quads feels like jumping a bike w/ someone riding on the back. When you are going to a bike that weighs 160+ pounds less than what you are used to, the 10 pound difference between the 2-stroke and 4-stroke won't matter.

Ya, different head pipes and silencers and reeds can change the power curve. And getting some porting and polishing will help too.

250's may seem like a lot, but you hold the throttle in your hand man. All that extra power just means you can do the jumps in lower gears and I know a lot of people that are decently fast that just got started and they started on 250's. Getting used to teh power just takes a few days of riding figure 8's.

Here's Jakes 02 Cr 125... he's askin $3400...

[Tango]

I have had my 2003 yz 125 for 4 months now and love it. I own a 2002 400ex, and its starting to rust because I ride the bike soo much. I have never ridin the honda, but in the 2003 shoot out the only bike to beat the yz was the four stroke yz and the ktm. The bike has a great power band for a 125, very mild and mid range. If I had to do it over, I would have spent the extra 1000 bucks and got the four stroke. The bike needs a lot of clutch through the burms.