You really learn how to upshift and downshift when you ride a 125 2-stroke through the words and uphills through scrambles or whatever else you throw at it. Fun as anything
@@CharlesDeitz-ej9ht That's the fun of a 125, right? You don't feel intimidated or scared of the bike, so you're always banging gears up and down to keep it screaming..! If you're the lazy type that hates shifting and wants to just twist the throttle, sure, a 4-stroke is nice for that, but damn... Nothing like a 125 2-stroke pinned wide-open... 😁👍
a 125 is fine if money is no worries, my kids get what I can afford and they went from 85 to 250 two strokes. they did just fine and loved the power of the 250
I was like 125 suck My 80 hit way harder with 250 power the sport was affordable 125 wasted alot of time and money rebuilding 125 and blowing it up repeating the process over and over
I went from a crf125f trail bike to a yz250f, definitely a big jump. It took me almost a year to even be comfortable riding and have any fun. 125 would’ve been a great option.
Im 46 and a newbie to motorcycles and I bought a yz250f at first and I sold it. I bought a YZ125 to replace it For me as a beginner and the amount I actually ride the 125 is plenty of bike to get me in trouble really quick. Besides something about a 2stroke sound, its just right
@@robbgnarly I bought a 2013 YZ125 when I was 47, after 30 years of not owning a dirtbike. It was great to get back into the sport! Since I was doing mostly single-track riding, I sold it and bought a 2021 YZ125X, and it's been so much better than the YZ125..! It's easier to get on the pipe and stay on it, and for a 125, it's got a surprising amount of low-end torque and low RPM tractoring. If you get the chance to try an X model (125 or 250), give that a try!
My 99 cr125 that I bought brand new. I learned so much about clutch control and power control. We rode on hilly area. My next bike was a yz400 loved that bike it just cruised up everything lol
Agreed. My 14 started using my ktm 250 four stroke. It's a bit too much for him at the track. He is very strong but the weight and height is a bit much. However he was doubling the first time on the bike.
i feel like if your goal is to get better and have fun and your up for a challenge, 125 2 stroke should be your main bike in your arsenal honestly bigger bore bikes create lazy habits, i went from a 450 to a 125 and i never had more fun and never been faster/smoother
My dad bought me a 450 at 14 said I’m not buying you anymore bikes 😂 Definitely whiskey throttled more than once 😂 but it worked out mostly race desert so getting used to a 450 from a young age helped 😂
Kyle I totally agree with you , skipping a step can lead to regretful things. I knew this amazing super mini rider. He was fast. Many felt that he moved up to a 250f too soon. Now he drives wheelchair . He took his injuries with grace and resilience and he still came to the races even years later. Amazing spirit and an amazing young man . Im sure he finds sucess and joy in life. but I somtimes wonder what could have been just waiting a year or so to grow into the bigger more powerful bike. Joe
Totally agree. Over the years I went from an 80 2-stroke, to 125 2-stroke, to 250 2-stroke, and finally now a 450 4-stroke. Each step was an important part of the progression. Skipping steps can scare people with more power than they're ready for and ultimately hurt their skill progression. Especially jumping from 80 to 250 (2-stroke) is a huge leap. Another commenter mentioned cost... I think it's a legit reason to skip steps, just be careful. 80 2-stroke to 250 2-stroke would be crazy; but to 250 4-stroke seems fine to me if you don't have $$ to get a different bike every year or two.
When I get back on a dirt only bike I'm actually looking into a 125, cheaper rebuilds, 6 speed trans ultra-light weight, easier to work on than a 4 stroke, and can be built and upgraded to pretty damn good power later on down the road! What's not to like about a 125? Nothing period.
I went from a yz 80 to a 426. Now I ride a 250f. Kind of worked out get. Made me understand power isn’t everything. It is fun, but, at least for me, not faster.
I went from a 50 to a 125 four stroke to a ktm 200xc then I went 15 years without riding, got back on a yz 125 and in 6 months moved up to a yz400f. I don’t think there is any specific set of bikes for anyone
My sisters 23 xc125 did foul plugs until we switched to a BR7EIX. Probably wouldn’t want to race with that plug but has been perfect on the trails. Also went down a tooth on the front sprocket to give here a little bit more bottom end for the slow stuff.
I'm 6'2" 230 pounds and I ride a 23 ktm 125xc for single track riding and harescrambles in Eastern Pennsylvania. You really have to stay in the power and work the clutch bc of our weight and lack of bottom end. I came off a ktm 500 where I could just ride lazy but the 125 is way more fun in the woods for me. You just have to pay attention more to lines and what gear your in bc it lacks the grunt of 300 or bigger 4 stroke.
I'm 49 years old and I still live ride 125 two-strokes wide open everywhere all the time
Duuude! I'm 51 and on a 2021 YZ125X..! Wide opened and grinning all the way! 😁😁😁
You really learn how to upshift and downshift when you ride a 125 2-stroke through the words and uphills through scrambles or whatever else you throw at it. Fun as anything
@@CharlesDeitz-ej9ht That's the fun of a 125, right? You don't feel intimidated or scared of the bike, so you're always banging gears up and down to keep it screaming..! If you're the lazy type that hates shifting and wants to just twist the throttle, sure, a 4-stroke is nice for that, but damn... Nothing like a 125 2-stroke pinned wide-open... 😁👍
@@BigJobe21 300 2T is the lazy mans bike.
a 125 is fine if money is no worries, my kids get what I can afford and they went from 85 to 250 two strokes. they did just fine and loved the power of the 250
250s are nice!
I was like 125 suck My 80 hit way harder with 250 power the sport was affordable 125 wasted alot of time and money rebuilding 125 and blowing it up repeating the process over and over
Great advice on the 125 agreed, sorry to hear about the four stroke 250!! stick with two smokes
I went from a crf125f trail bike to a yz250f, definitely a big jump. It took me almost a year to even be comfortable riding and have any fun. 125 would’ve been a great option.
Everyone should go from a 80cc two stroke to at least a 490cc two stroke or even a 500cc two stroke 🎉🎉
Starting from the bottom and working your way up is the way to go absolutely 👍
Im 46 and a newbie to motorcycles and I bought a yz250f at first and I sold it. I bought a YZ125 to replace it For me as a beginner and the amount I actually ride the 125 is plenty of bike to get me in trouble really quick. Besides something about a 2stroke sound, its just right
@@robbgnarly I bought a 2013 YZ125 when I was 47, after 30 years of not owning a dirtbike. It was great to get back into the sport! Since I was doing mostly single-track riding, I sold it and bought a 2021 YZ125X, and it's been so much better than the YZ125..! It's easier to get on the pipe and stay on it, and for a 125, it's got a surprising amount of low-end torque and low RPM tractoring. If you get the chance to try an X model (125 or 250), give that a try!
My 99 cr125 that I bought brand new. I learned so much about clutch control and power control. We rode on hilly area. My next bike was a yz400 loved that bike it just cruised up everything lol
Agreed. My 14 started using my ktm 250 four stroke. It's a bit too much for him at the track. He is very strong but the weight and height is a bit much. However he was doubling the first time on the bike.
Getting a cr250 at 14 years old was badass.
i feel like if your goal is to get better and have fun and your up for a challenge, 125 2 stroke should be your main bike in your arsenal honestly
bigger bore bikes create lazy habits, i went from a 450 to a 125 and i never had more fun and never been faster/smoother
Great point. Riding a 22’ 125xc at 39, light handling, easy maintenance, awesome trail machine, grins for days, don’t sleep on a 125.
Had a 04 crf280r as a 15
Year old. Went to a 04 cr125 when I was 23 and it changed my riding forever
My dad bought me a 450 at 14 said I’m not buying you anymore bikes 😂
Definitely whiskey throttled more than once 😂 but it worked out mostly race desert so getting used to a 450 from a young age helped 😂
Kyle I totally agree with you , skipping a step can lead to regretful things. I knew this amazing super mini rider. He was fast. Many felt that he moved up to a 250f too soon. Now he drives wheelchair . He took his injuries with grace and resilience and he still came to the races even years later. Amazing spirit and an amazing young man . Im sure he finds sucess and joy in life. but I somtimes wonder what could have been just waiting a year or so to grow into the bigger more powerful bike. Joe
I built a 125x for Moab and rocked it. Was riding an xr650r. Weight matters.
Totally agree. Over the years I went from an 80 2-stroke, to 125 2-stroke, to 250 2-stroke, and finally now a 450 4-stroke. Each step was an important part of the progression. Skipping steps can scare people with more power than they're ready for and ultimately hurt their skill progression. Especially jumping from 80 to 250 (2-stroke) is a huge leap.
Another commenter mentioned cost... I think it's a legit reason to skip steps, just be careful. 80 2-stroke to 250 2-stroke would be crazy; but to 250 4-stroke seems fine to me if you don't have $$ to get a different bike every year or two.
When I get back on a dirt only bike I'm actually looking into a 125, cheaper rebuilds, 6 speed trans ultra-light weight, easier to work on than a 4 stroke, and can be built and upgraded to pretty damn good power later on down the road! What's not to like about a 125? Nothing period.
Yes after 250, 350 and 450 im going back to 125. Simply that because weight is everything and 125 you can easily manipulate and even tilt it
I went from a yz 80 to a 426. Now I ride a 250f. Kind of worked out get. Made me understand power isn’t everything. It is fun, but, at least for me, not faster.
there’s a difference between you being faster vs the bike being faster
I went from a 50 to a 125 four stroke to a ktm 200xc then I went 15 years without riding, got back on a yz 125 and in 6 months moved up to a yz400f. I don’t think there is any specific set of bikes for anyone
I only had 250's the first was a 1972
Remember my days on the ol 125 childhood memories you can really wring those things out and get higher top speed than a 250
i went from xr100 to rm250 when i was 15
you could do a yz250fx to ride with your boys, 2025 is getting great reviews.
I put myself in the hospital and after a year of physical therapy I went back to a 125 as a trainer bike. I was riding a 250f and 300xcw before that.
Yay dirt bikes
My nephew would get along great with your son! He dreams moto. Though he won't touch a KTM lol their family are Yamaha snobs.
So many people don’t realize how good they have it here in the comments !!
GO BUY A 500 2 STROKE KYLE
I did
Do a gpx 300 2-stroke build and giveaway. I'm ok with mine I bought plus I was on a budget
Do you recommend the 125xc over a 125sx? My son is about to move up from an 85sx. He rides some single track with me but he mostly rides moto.
I asked to early in the video, you pretty much answered later in the video. Thanks Kyle!
I understood that the TBI motor was released in 2024? Are you sure that’s not a TPI motor that is in the 2023 models…?
Can you tell me about that tattoo on your left arm?
What about for woods riding? Asking bc I’ve heard they’re more likely to foul plugs.
The klx 230 is a great bike for the woods. Fuel injected and nice power.
150 XCW or TE150
My sisters 23 xc125 did foul plugs until we switched to a BR7EIX. Probably wouldn’t want to race with that plug but has been perfect on the trails. Also went down a tooth on the front sprocket to give here a little bit more bottom end for the slow stuff.
Put a new clutch and pressure plate etc
Would the 125 2T work for a adult too, someone around the 220pound weight?
I’d say get a 250 2T
I'm 6'2" 230 pounds and I ride a 23 ktm 125xc for single track riding and harescrambles in Eastern Pennsylvania. You really have to stay in the power and work the clutch bc of our weight and lack of bottom end. I came off a ktm 500 where I could just ride lazy but the 125 is way more fun in the woods for me. You just have to pay attention more to lines and what gear your in bc it lacks the grunt of 300 or bigger 4 stroke.
Don't skip the 500 two stroke
if you can go fast on a 125, you can go fast on anything !!!!
125 to 250f is a downgrade man! (I'm kidding, but seriously, id personally be mad if you did that to me)