I have been trying to get rid of bikes this year and will be down to 2 soon. With the other 12 gone I need to fill a gap between my KTM690R and DRZ125. I have about $1500 to spend, and am torn between getting another bike or just using the cash to dial in the suspension on my 690. After a long love/hate relationship with my CRF450R I'm thinking it might be time to bring a 2 stroke back in the garage.

The bike will be solely for riding single track with connecting trails. I'm 6'5" ~210lbs and I'm not looking to win any races on whatever bike I end up getting but will need enough oomph to pull me through the boulders. Bike definately must be green sticker so 2002 or older it seems. Having lights and/or a big tank would be a plus, but that wouldn't be a deal breaker.

There has always been a place in my heart for a 2002 cr250 or even the earlier cr500's, but I wonder if I might be happier with something like a kdx200 or a ktm200? I know most will say that I am too big for those, but I have had some of the best times on my little DRZ125, I just need fullsize (18/21) wheels and a little more power.

With that info, what are my best options?

look around try a 125 they are funn or get a 250 2t what ever you like

ktm 300 would be best if you can find one and a 125 is a lot harder to ride slow than a 250 , the 250 has power everywhere but on the 125 you have to keep it in the powerband, i think a kdx or ktm 200 would haul you around fine though

I've yet to see a 300 in my $1500 price range, otherwise it would be at the top of my list. I just got rid of a 98 KX125 that I had picked up cheap, although it was tons of fun on jeep trails where I could easily keep my speed up, it was definately not happy lugging me around on the slow stuff. That being said, I will say that a 200 will be my minimum.

EXC 200+ is really you only option if they go for under $1,500 in your area. I think they also make an EXC250. All the other 2t trail bikes (kdx, wr, rmx, etc) are outdated. There is also the option of converting a 250 mx bike into a trail bike with a fly wheel weight, different sprocket sizes, and a big fuel tank.

Ok, there is a simple answer to this simple question.....

KDX200 or 220... or 1998-2000 200exc....

http://sfbay.craigsl...2005324380.html
http://losangeles.cr...2009211691.html

There are quite a few KX5's out there for that. They are extremely fun on the trail.

TheLetterJ said:

All good bikes you listed there. If you can have fun on a DRZ125 then you will have a ball on a TT-R250. 2006 model with 50 miles picked it up for $1,300.

josmoloco said:

Yes, if you want a two stroke you CANNOT beat a KDX for value in this price range. You could always pick up a clapped out 250 mxer and convert for trail use but I am sure the KDX will cost less overall. Avoid 125s since you're over 200 lbs.

02-03 CR 250, great handling, good motor, add some bark busters and ride.

A 99-01 yz250 2stroke can be found for 1500 dollars or less pretty easily.  Any brand of 250 2stroke mxer can be found in your price range as well.  If technology and new stuff doesn't matter too much to you, you might look for a yamaha 94-97 wr250 2stroke or one of the old rmx's.  They both have lights, big tanks, and kickstands.  There is nothing wrong with the kdx, but they are sprung much softer than any of these other bikes and you are big.  You can find ktm's for 1500 but stay away from anything before 1998 because they are tougher to find parts for.  One of my friends has a 95 300exc and while it is a good bike, it's not the easiest to find parts for.

mikeythefokker said:

plus one

just keep in mind that a $1500 bike is just that. unless you find a killer deal. you will need to throw some money at it if you plan to be miles from the truck with it. for oyur own piece of mind that is.
i would throw a new top end in it, and oyu will probobly want some good tires.

I am still wondering if there is enough difference in tranny ratios etc. to make it worth searching for a 200exc instead of starting with a much more common MX'er? I am certain that I want a 2t so I can rule out ttr's and xr's. They are great trail bikes, but after owning several xr's, I am looking for something even lighter with more punch... a trials bike wouldn't be too far fetched, but I've never seen one (that was built in the last 20 years) in the $1500 range...
Hmm... that may be a good way to describe what I'd be looking for, what rides most similar to a trials bike while not actually being a trials bike?

I've ridden a fair amount of technical terrain on a borrowed 03 cr250 and it handles well, the power was manageable (really kinda overkill) but even with 13/52 gearing I was having to work the clutch more than I'd like to.

All of the shortcomings of any of my options can be overcome given enough $$$, but i'd rather start with something that only needs minor changes to make it work well.

TheLetterJ said:

Everything you've said in this thread screams "KDX".

TheLetterJ said:

If the KDX is too vanilla then a GasGas Pampera 270 may delight instead. Also look for RMX250, YZ250WR, KDX of course, GasGas EC200/250/300, or a Husqvarna WR 125/250. However, I don`t believe you can touch the euro bikes with 1500 hence the KDX.

The close ratio transmission in a MX bike is not ideal for highly technical trail work. A rekluse will fix that though too. just busted your budget again.

I didn`t mention the KTM due to price.

Thanks for the input everyone! This thread pretty much confirmed what I had been thinking, just wanted to be certain that I wasn't missing the mark or forgetting a good option. Now the craigslist surfing begins! I've got other bikes to ride, so I will definately hold out for a well taken care of scoot:thumbsup:.

You got a 690, so I'm guessing HP isn't an issue.

I like the CR250's 2000-2001 with the mechanical power valve, IIRC 2002 on has the electronic valves, and it's harder to adjust.  Even with a Gnarly pipe and a de-tuned powervalve, CR's have LOTs of wheel spin.  I love the CR on the track and in the wide open desert(great in the sand).

KTM200, Pure bliss, and the KTM 2 strokes sell for less than same year Jap bikes.  I had a 2003 KTM 200SX, I bought for $1500 with a new top end.  It was 6 speed, more grunt than a 125 and it was a really manageable trail bike.  It also had twin chamber front forks, I was 40 lbs heavier than the suspension was set for and it was really plush with no bottoming on a small double.  If I see another young one for a good price this winter, I'll drop for it.  If I could only have one smoker, it would be a KTM 200, even over a KTM300.  If I need More HP(smooth trail power) and a plate, I'll ride the 525EXC(only reason over a KTM300 is MPG when riding longer loops)

A little cheaper, a 2000 YZ250, oh ya.  Just over $1000, add a 13+oz flyweight, and have fun.

You said also to connect trails, so you'll get a plate?  With a plate, don't skip looking at a KTM 400/450/525 MXC/EXC, 2000 - 2002, some will fall in your budget, and I think spending a little bit more on a KTM 400 would be worth it.  I just passed on a 2001 KTM 400MXC for $1600, it was a young bike, but the kick stand and kick start vibbed off, he would flex in price so I left.  A guy 30 minutes later bought it.  I made a mistake on that one, even though I really want the EXC tranny.

I have seen some 2004 250SX's for $1500, and the 2 strokes I've had, the KTM bottom ends last a long time vs a CR.

Lots discount the 2 smoker 125, for me, I can point a 125, nail the throttle and handle a tough section, the power isn't as fierce as a 250, and I can work my line, and worry less on throttle and clutch control.  125's are a blast.  For me, the 125's burn down a piston faster than a 250, so slightly higher maintenance than a 250, and KTM pistons cost more than one for a CR or YZ.

I say skip the KDX, go modern, like your 690(I'm jealous)

Let us know what shakes out

Rock on

Vector12 said:

In recent years I've been trying not to buy bikes without plates (I've already had/have a plated: xr50r, xr200r, xr250l, crf450r, and now the 690) but I think for what I want to do with this one it won't be worth the extra $$$.
By "connecting trails" I meant longer stretches (10-20 miles) of fire roads between the tough stuff, so I wouldn't want a bike that tops out at 30mph because I had to gear it down so far, or a real trials bike that wouldn't allow me to "relax" through the easy sections (not to mention their lack of fuel capacity.)

At this point everything is pointing to the ktm200, but if I find the right deal on a kdx200, I may jump. Being that the bike will be 2002 or older (for the green sticker) are there any particularly good/bad years for either of these bikes?

95-06 KDX200 and 97-05 KDX220 = same bikes.

TheLetterJ said:

Either bike is a good choice. They are both great bikes, but they are also very different from each other.

The KTM 200 is much more competiton-oriented than the KDX. The KTM 200 has the quick-revving, hard-hitting top-end of a very healthy 125, with the low-end torque of a 250 two-stroke. Keep in mind, it's no KDX, the pumpkin has a much more aggressive, competition-oriented power curve. It's a sweet power plant for aggressive riders, because it's snappy, free-revving, tractable, torquey, and pulls over a very long spread. If you're looking for a KDX-like, mild-mannered trail bike, though, you'll be disappointed. It's not very happy putt-putting around the campsite, it wants to be ridden. I've had two of them, and they are among the best woods/mountain trail bikes you could ever hope to buy, if you like to be aggressive and go fast. The powervalve adjustment has a limited effect in making the hit smoother or more abrupt, but it won't change the basic characteristics of the power curve. Just think of the 200 as a mini-250 with some extra top-end scream.

The KDX, on the other hand, in stock form, is Clark Kent to the KTM's Superman. It's mellow, friendly, and will never intimidate you. It's cushy and comfortable, and is perfectly happy to cruise around at sight-seeing speeds all day long. But it also goes fast quite well when the desire strikes you, it just takes a little more work than the KTM to do it. A well-setup KDX200 can show it's rear fender to many more powerful bikes in the twisty nasty woods. And therein lies the rub. A stock KDX is rather poorly set up from the factory. It is jetted very poorly, the suspension is unbalanced, and it has a very corked-up exhaust system. But simple jetting changes, stiffer fork springs to balance the suspension, an opened-up air box, and an aftermarket exhaust system will transform the bike into a friendly-yet-deceptively-fast trail/race bike. For less money than the stock KTM200.

The KDX is a bit heavier than the KTM, but not so much that it's unpleasant to ride. The brakes aren't quite as powerful as the KTMs either, but they are still good, and supremely controlable.

The KTM has a reputation for very high build quality and has many excellent parts, such as a hydraulic clutch, stock forged piston (the KDX 220 OEM piston is known to be flawed and short-lived), excellent Brembo brakes, etc.

You would be happy with either bike. The KDX is a more mellow ride, while the KTM can be busy and hyper-feeling at times. But they are both excellent off road mounts.