best pre75 250

[E74]

I was always of the beleif that you could race a 'B' model Yamaha in "Vintage" class, is this still the case?

[Nathan S]

With respect Nathan, we've discussed the parts availability situation before and the supposed inavailability of parts for Euro bikes is a furphy. The parts availability for most Euros bikes is far better than for Japanese equivalents.

 
Yeah, I know - what I was trying to get at, without typing out 500 words, is that the parts are there for the Euros but you probably won't find them at the local wrecker/on the shelf covered in dust at the local dealer, and therefore you'll often have to pay real money for them.

I've been speaking to Jim about his adventures collecting CZ bits - and it seems that EVERYTHING is available, but you've got to get them from overseas or interstate, and because you're buying new parts and/or paying freight, they'll hit your hip pocket relatively hard.

E74, yes, a YZ-B is eligible for pre-75, although many don't consider it to be cricket. They're quite probably the best of the pre-75 bikes, but are an expensive way to get looked down upon...   

[holeshot buddy]

geez firko thats what i was going to say
you hit the nail on the head
theres a nice vr cappra on ebay at the moment
check montesa post in forum
they are super light and super fast

[E74]

OK, I will buy a YZ250A then, has anyone here got one up for grabs...

[vandy010]

i believe the YZ "B" is pre 75 legal but only when the suspension travel has been shortened to suit pre 75 requirements. and then they handle like a bucket of pu$$, apparently

i'd go for the MX250 and fit an early DT100/125/175 feul tank as they damn near bolt straight on, are cheap and easy to find and are heaps slimmer than the MX bulbous one thus changing the overall feel of the bike from trailbike porker to comfy mx'er.
and,
reliablity plus!

[Rossvickicampbell]

the "B" still handles well with the suspension limited but certainly recent price indications have shown well over $5K for even a 250 so maybe give that a miss?

cheers

Rossco

[micks]

frostype 400 what side of 16 are you? you may have to wait a bit before you hit the pre 75 track on a 250 two stroke.maybe look at a 125 two stroke 1st.

[frostype400]

Hi Micks the reason i want a 250 is because im not small and the 125 probably isnt powerfull enough i ride a pe400 with my feet flat on the ground and shocks on the highest setting last time i weighed myself nearly 80 kilo's so i figure i meet the height and weight requirements of a 250 and i dont want something ill grow out of only just started growing and im size 14 in runners 13 in work boots do you still reckon im better on a 125? thanks Michael.

[VMX247]

Michael with that shoe size like my own son, you'll be able to stop any TM400 in its track.

Seriously take the 250 piece of cake for ya. 
Don't know/see much about the MX 250 though,here in the West.
Your crew/club over there may allow them for pre 75 class.

[frostype400]

hi vmx 247 i think i will be fine on a 250 not afraid to jump on a 400 either every one is telling me to steer clear of the tm400 though thanks Michael.

[Nathan S]

....nearly 80 kilo's ....

No comment on your height, but less than 80kgs makes you a light-weight in the VMX world!

Have you raced before? Are you a good racer?
I've owned lots of 250/open class trail/enduro bikes, and am comfortable on them - but around an MX track, I'm easily faster on a 125.
And I'm more like 95kgs with my riding gear.

[frostype400]

Hi Nathan no i havent raced before i started riding when i was eight started riding the pe400 when i was 14-15 so im not to bad but i havent had much experience on a mxer but i want something that will last me and has heaps of grunt dad is advising me to go a tm250 but im not worrried pre75 bikes arent cheap and most people have advised me towards a 250 and i think i would prefer a 250 but i spose i could race 125 but im not sure i want to thanks Michael.

[Nathan S]

OK, how does this sound:
I got my DT250 when I was 14. Rode it a LOT, and even convinced myself that I was pretty good on it - everytime I went to a riding park, I'd regularly blow away plenty of the weekened warriors on their moderns.
A few years later, I got a modern 125 and rode it until I was actually pretty good on it in the bush (but knew I was ordinary on a MX track).

Much more recently, I went out and bought myself a couple of 'proper' VMX bikes: A YZ250G and a YZ125D. Rode both around at a mate's farm, and figured that I had the 250s measure and that the 125 would just be a bit of fun.

When I actually fronted up to a race meet with them, the 250 beat me half to death (and I was always finishing at the back of the field), while the 125 was fun right to the end of the race and I was finishing mid-pack.
I've been racing semi-regularly for about 3 years now, and I now know that I lap faster on a 125 than on my 250.

What happens on a race track in a real race is quite different than any sort of rec riding - even play racing.
Don't go thinking that racing a 125 will be boring - for me, the pressures, the fitness and the concentration needed while racing mean that I can't race a 250 properly. The lower powered 125 requires a fair bit less concentration to ride, giving me more time to race (if that makes sense).
Similarly, on my 125s, I can often place pretty well in the 250 races - so I suspect that the above is true for lots of people, and not just me.

I'm not trying to talk you out of the 250, just making sure that you go in with your eyes open, and not simply follow the age-old mantra that says "If you're big, then you need a 250".

[frostype400]

Hi nathan i understand exactly what your saying i dont not like 125's ive talked about this for a while with a few others and i just feel the 250 is best for me not because im just big enough to ride it but because thats where i want to race and i would like to have a go of 125's and 400's for me its not about winning its about having fun and you can have as much fun on a 125 250 or 400 but im not to worried if i am at the back of the pack on a 250 i dont think that will happen but if it does its not going to worry me thanks for your input and i dont believe there is anything wrong with 125's but i want to ride a 250 but im only 16 and i can always get more bikes and i might decide yeah im better off on a 125 or 400 but at the moment im not trying to get a 250 so i can go out and try to smash everybody i just want to have fun same as when i will be doing vinduro next year on the pe400 i only have the pe400 because i was lucky dad would never sell it because how good of a bike it is but i would have as much fun on the pe250 or pe175 if they were available to me thanks any way i would like to try 125 and 400 in the future anyway thanks Michael.

[JC]

Michael,

Getting back to yr original criteria (cheap but competitive) I'd go w MX/DT250 or TM/TS250 (as has been suggested) - probably in that order. Either way you can start w the trailbike version & work from there (as has also been suggested). And parts are plentiful, esp for the Yams.

Seems to me the MX/DT has the better (much faster) engine &  slightly better geometry/handling but they're about 10lbs heavier too.

The MX engine hauls, & if yr used to PE400 power my guess is you'd be disappointed in TM/TS 250 power.

The suggestion above to fit the smaller DT175 tank to to the DT/MX is a very good one. A smaller TM/TS125 tank for the TS/TM250 also makes good sense. If you can, move the seat forward also when you fit the smaller tank. Both these bikes have loong tanks that make for a rear-ward seating position which contributes significantly to their less-than-precise steering (ie front-end wash-out).

Use YSS PD valve in the forks & decent shocks & you should have a decent reliable & competitive VMXer reasonably cheaply.