im 13, and i have a drz 400s and its cool but i want a way lighter bike that has even quicker attributes...my dad and i are looking at a crf 250 r, (206 POUNDS!) but everyone dealership says i need an xr 250...i DONT WANT ONE god...i mean i want something that is able to at least wheelie through gears and might give me some pull when i goose it. is this bike good for me? o and btw, i dont race

Sounds like it would be perfect for you. After riding a 400 going to something like a xr250 would be a major step down and a dissapointment. The CRF250 would be much more fun.

where and how do you ride?

If you are in tight snotty single track, the XR250 response is spot on for 90% of riders.
If you want to Wheelie....look at a two smoke, cheap, plentiful and will still be around here for a while.

No one knows about the honda valve machine, other than normally usually, Honda puts out a pretty respectable product.

HR

Everyone at the dealership wants to get rid of that dinosaur to some sucker. For the love of god do not get an XR250. The only way to make and XR250 competitive in to invent a Time machine and go back to 1985! If they even mention the Xr250 to your Dad again, my advise to you is KICK HIM IN THE NUTS.

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I would offer in tight woods/single track its competitive today. In terms of just plain fun to ride, its hard to beat.
In tight single track the XR250 is in a league of its own, with only a GAS GAS 250/300or maybe a properly set up KTM 200 with it. Add the fact that its aircooled (no radiators to rip off, I know my two boys have WR250f and have 3 of 4 radiators to prove it.)
Gobs of HP means almost nothing in the woods, smooth roll on stuff that you can handle after 30 minutes does.
Bike is bullet proof.
More after market stuff for the XRs than I would say any other bike out there, less the KDX.
Yes the design and the bike was last updated in 96, but its solid, reliable and can race as well as win with the capabilities of the rider.
Dirt Rider not too long ago had a handful of the top off road racers to test a slew of off road machines in tight single track back east....XR250, XR280 moded to the hilt etc etc...Scott summers was one of em.
To a man, their top/fastest lap times were on the XR250.

I wouldnt throw rocks at the XR too quick, sometimes technology is more of a headache than its worth. And you might want to be careful, the guy you "kick" might ride one and take you to school on it!

Better yet, head on over to the XR250 thread and drop your statement there and see how many agree with you!

Talk about a Cat thrown into a Dog show!

Its all good! They are only bikes!

HR

I agree to disagree. Those woods must be so tight I would have to dip myself in butter to get through. The CRF230 is still a better choice. Technology isn't always better and I still wouldn't call the XR250 Bullet proof. I have seen more things break on XR250's and 400's than I can remember. I personally broke a foot peg off on a boulder. You flood that thing there ain't no hot start or e start. As I recall it is Shut off the fuel, dump the bike on its side to drain the carb. Pull in the decompression lever, open the throttle, Kick it 10 times, Turn on the fuel and release the decomp lever and the throttle and it should start first kick. Now that's a drill. Scott summers rode that bike when that's all there was and believe you me it was tricker then than anything you see today as far as one off parts ( stockers now are trick by the same standards). There are those who think differently. I remember when some guys hated the uni trac and monoshock and prefered dual shocks for the same reasons. I know someone who still refused to use inverted forks for enduro for the same reasons. You will alway find those who hate change(I when on the XR thread and right on top---- check this thread out for an example of your typical stubborn rider who refuse to change http://www.thumperta.../o/all/fpart/1) , but a 13 yr old isn't one of them. He will not be happy with "pac man" when he wants "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City". read his words, feel his pain.

Post script

I retract telling him to kick his Dad in the nuts. That's just too far.

go for the 250f if you came off a drz400 it aint going to be a big jump my son jumped from a cr80 to a crf450 and he is riding it like a champ.

Hawaii-Rider,

Thanks for offering the young man some sound advice, that's what TT is for.

In addition to that you went above and beyond by countering the psycho-babble for the young mans sake.

It dosen't take much to figure out that image is everything for some guys.

:usa:You already have a good bike! Do some mods and it will be all you want it to be!

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I just bought a XR650L. Every bike has it's place. I've surfed for years and have a quiver of different boards depending what the waves are like. Bikes are the same way. Even then, can I go kick someone in the nuts just for the hell of it?

It's not the best way to make friends, but go ahead.

The DRZ400 is a much better bike than any XR250 and 400. CRF would be best

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Dang that's a big jump up.

I'm planning on making the same jump.

i want from a dt80 to a aw450 maico and it did not kill me

I need to get myself a CRF 450 then!

CRF250 is the bike for you