i have a q for any of you 250f pilots, especially if have raced/ own and race a 400/426/450 also.
my local track has 2 series this summer. a spring and summer sat night sx series. i am thinking bout racing my dad's 99rm125 in the spring series (125 C class) and then going back to my four-honey for the summer series (250 c) like i have the last couple seasons, (only 250c)
i have never raced 125 class. but notice that most pros go thru 125's to get to 250 class. there must be sumthing to learn there. is there something to benefit from going back to smaller bike for a series, that i could carry over to 250 class later in year that i might not learn if i stick to 250 class all year? the 125 class is way more competative at the local track, so i know my results wouldn't be so high, but i wanna get better and wanna know if this is the way to do it?
and if anybody knows how, could you please post this over in the yz450f forum, too.
thanks.
racer36 (or racer 107 if i ride my dad's bike )

You learn good techniques on a 125cc-if you don't your gunna be on the ground most of the time! I think fourstrokes in general are more forgiving if you make a mistake in a corner the noise also frightens little children so you have to break them easy on a 125!!!

i realize that i wouldn't stand a chance against the baby blue thumper brigade, but i have a 125 at my disposal, so i figured i'd check it out.
besdies if you gotta be a better rider for a 125 2-smoke, maybe that will carry over to the thumper in other races.
i just wanted a take on whether a change in class would be advantageous from some guys who might have raced both. i'm a mid-pack 250 C rider, so i figure i'd prob. be a back of the pack 125 C rider. ???
racer36

Absolutely you will have much to learn running with the 125ers. First 125's don't have the raw power that 250's have so you can not get lazy. You'll learn to carry more corner speed, you have to stay in the right gear with 125's and learn to ride on the pipe better, you'll learn how to get the power to the ground for drive to jumps or out of corners or of the line. 125's are down on power and you'll learn ways to use every drop of it to run up front unlike a 250 or 450 thumper where you can get lazy and make the difference up on power. If you spend some time racing 125's and it'll make you a much better 250 rider.

I raced a 250 2-stroke for a year. Loved the bike! I traded it for a street bike. Then I raced a 426. The bike seemed a little more stable (weight, not as snappy). I now have a 250F. I love this bike the most. I have realized that there is more that I could do on a bike, ability wise. On the lighter bike I am learning more about riding the bike instead of holding on to the bike. I hope that makes sense. You may surprise yourself as to how fast you are on a lighter bike. You'll have more control, since your used to a heavier bike. My technique has soared since I have been on this bike. You will learn more than you realize once you start riding the 125 thus, you'll end up faster on the big bore big.

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He is so right. I have raced a 450 1 time and it made me kinda lazy when i had to get back on my 250F. I made TONS of mistakes racing my 250F from treing to use nothing but the raw power. don't get me wrong the 250F has lots of power but just not 450 power. So wait till you master the 125 class then jump to the 250 class.