4 Stroke or 2 Stroke 125cc?

[Arnas]

So I will be 17 in few weeks and I want to get a new bike, I'v currently been riding a 80cc Supermoto, its 2 stroke and its pretty good but I know want to get a 125cc but its pretty hard since 4 Stroke 125 will be the same as my 80cc 2 stroke on speed and power but I know its more reliable, sounds better and will be a little faster. While a 2 stroke will be much faster but will be less reliable.

It seems like they cancel each other out and the choice is hard.

I'm looking at Yamaha WR125X 4 Stroke and KTM EXC 125 2 Stroke.

What do you think I should buy? And does anyone have a WR125 or KTM 125 here? If so what do you think about it?

[Beehive Bedlam]

Varadero 125.

[Arnas]

[notbike]

According to various websites I just googled (cite your sources hurrdurr ghfjsd ) - That 2t KTM EXC 125 is well above the learner legal limit on power output for CBT/A1 license so it's up to you to decide if the rozzers are gonna pull you for it should you decide to get one. You could get done for (probably gonna get this wrong) "riding otherwise in accordance with a license/insurance"

Anyway, what are you gonna use it for?

If commuting = 4 stroke always

If fucking about = well I guess 2 stroke.

[pdg]

[stevo as b4]

I bet there aren't many tidy, clean and daily useable 125cc 2stroke motards out there now anyway, so I don't think OP has much of a choice.

He might find as the only long shot find a looked after DTX125 that's not been bodged, tuned or wreaked, but then I might get a job as a commercial airline pilot by next week?


I'd just stay away from the new £4k+ Jap 125's as they are a huge fail for depreciation. I might even go Korean or Chinq for a reasonable 125cc if your only keeping it a year or so max?

I always quite liked the Hyosung RX125, the air cooled 4v trailie, as it looked more than reasonably well put together for the price, seems to go better than the 9-10bhp cheapo Chinese models like the Sinnis etc and I'd probably prefer one to a second hand DR125 or XT125R etc too.

[Fladdem]

I've had a play on a KTM EXC 125. Forget that as an everyday machine, about 20MPG, lifted the front wheel off the throttle in third gear, it was actually very reliable. But by that I mean you needed to put the maintenance in, very intensive maintenance schedule, it is a competition machine and most police-mans know this, at least they do around here. I have seen quite a few off-road police patrol bikes. In fact it's so powerful and light that it doesn't even suit the old 33BHP licence restrictions.

The KTM is an awesome machine, but not suitable for road use, it has near enough as makes no difference 40HP.

I repeat, approaching 40HP from a 125cc machine, it is silly quick, but needs constant attention. The service schedule is marked in hours of use, not miles. Hours of use id fine if it is just a toy to come out every other weekend to go to an enduro track, but going to college or whatever costs a fortune.

I think, if I were 17 again, I would have two 125's. A £300 CG125 or something along that line and then something like the Aprilia MX125 or a Husqvarna WRE 125 and sod the police-mans because I would only use it for fun every now and then.

I reckon a DT125X is the best compromise between power/ease of maintenance and legality. My Varadero used to get wiped away by a mate with an RS80 and another with a Derbi Senda 80SM, well, not completely pissed on, but performance was very similar, like you said.

The only issue I have with two stroke 125's, my favourite type of bike in the whole world, is the people that own them. I hate to say it, but I am pre-judging you, the fact you ride an 80CC bike at 16 means you don't care about the law or your licence... How do I know that you care about your bike or just want MOAR POWAH?

It, unfortunately, is people with that mind set that are attracted to 2t 125's. Which then spreads rumours of unreliability, because they can't be bothered to look after them, which pushes the price up on good ones, owned by proper people that care about servicing their bike. Essentially, bikes aren't unreliable, some just require more maintenance than others. It is people that are unreliable.

God, I wish I could rescue 125s from the clutches of poor, daft teenagers.

I'm sorry to say, if I had had the money at the time to buy a smoker 125, I would have been the traditional 125 'crosser rider, tear-arsing around on a battered up DT or something bodging it to work every week, but luckily common sense and the voice of Dad prevailed and I got a Varadero which didn't ever need bodging and didn't encourage riding like a div.
____________________
Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[stevo as b4]

Good points well made above tbh!

While your rescuing old 125's by the boatload though, please can you drop off outside my door:
1, Cagiva supercity
2, Gilera freestyle
3, KTM Sting
4, Benelli Jarno
5, late 90's Fantic Caballero
6, Rieju RR125

And those would do to be getting on with for now!