Advice on next bike (Hare Scrambles)

 I am 37, 5'5, and my weight is between 175-185lbs depending on
activity (no it's not all fat.. I'm short and thick).  My last bike
was a 98 RM125, sold it in 2001 due to financial situations.  Rode
mostly motocross and occasionally some woods and frequented here
often.

Anyway, I've recovered from my financial setbacks, remarried, etc
(yeah it took that long), and want to get back into racing (and
shape), but this time would like to focus on woods riding and hare
scrambles.

I've never participated in a hare scramble or enduro but common sense
tells me I want a bike with a broader power band, larger tank, and
different suspension.  I prefer two strokes, so I was thinking a
KTM200 or something like that, but this is where I really need some
opinions.  If you don't want to get into the opinion wars you can
email me instead (vic20ow...@yahoo.com). My first impulse is to just
buy a YZ250 or something, but I think there are some better choices
out there for this type of racing.

I am not completely sure that I would not like to try enduro racing
also, but I don't know how much of that there is in near my area
(tampa, florida)... I know there are a bunch of hare scrambles at
croom, brooksville, ocala, etc.  I am not completely clear on the
differences between a hare scramble and an enduro race.. other than I
know that an enduro race is based on timed checkpoints and I believe a
hare scramble is an all out race, much much shorter, (and maybe better
for me to start with).

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

It's nice to be back.

Thanks
-tom

 
I'd have absolutely no problem choosing a 200 at your size and weight
(I'm the same although 5'7")... KTM or GAS GAS. Those things really
rock. I've ridden a friends bone stock KTM several times and am always
impressed. My normal ride has been KTM300 for the last 10 years (I'm
on my second one). I like the larger motor for do-anything with one
bike ability. But for strictly racing, I might well choose a 200. I'm
confident I would be faster on it. I would expect to have to do quite
a bit to a MX bike (like YZ) to make it as woods capable as the 200 is
out of the box, but I could be wrong about that.

Many people also rave about the KTM 200 with the Clay head mod...  and
Langston pv setting.

dsc

 

Thanks, in looking for a used bike, have there been any major changes
in the past 8 years for the KTMs, or any specific years I should
avoid?  For example, the difference between the pre 96 MX bikes -vs-
96 and up.. the older MX bikes were heavy and wide compared to the
newer thin and light 96 and later.  If another milestone has passed I
don't want to get caught buying something significantly dated.

Thanks again

 
Obviously the 98 model year brought a lot of changes... link-less
suspension for one and lighter weight for another. I have a 98 300 and
it was a good bike. I've also got an 06 300... an even better bike
(with the possible exception of the usd forks, see below). I have a
buddy with a strong 97 model... but heavier, taller (both bad for me)
and dated. The link-less suspension has been continually refined since
then and I am not up on all the changes. The weight was dropped again
in 06 I believe and the engines have had some tweaking in the last few
years as well. I believe with the 200 in particular and all KTMs in
general that the newer you can get... the better. There was a frame
change on most if not all the models around 06? as well resulting in
better handling and I believe another in 08 as well as further weight
reduction.Some of the larger bikes got the e-button in 08... IIRC and
the starter has been somewhat problematic. The carbs are probably a
lot better now as well although you could retro a new carb to an older
bike. If you are considering a KTM... you need to join KTMTalk. You
can do that for free as long as you don't have an anonymous internet
provider. You will find out everything you want/need to know there.
Somewhere in the early 2000s they went to the fat bars... a good thing
in my opinion. The one strong point of some of the 98 and 99 models
was the WP50 forks... some of the best you can get for woods once
tweaked a little. They added the juice clutch in 99 on most models...
which is a great thing. I just bought an 06 last fall because it fit
my price range. I would love to have gotten an 08. Many of the older
bikes will suffer the occasional kick starter pawl failure. I
attribute this in part to people starting the bike in gear with a
notched clutch basket putting additional stress on the pawl. I put 2
in my 98 over about 8 years use. I'm not sure if the newer bikes have
a stronger pawl or not. There is a pin pressed into part of the power
valve gear assembly on the 250+ bikes that some have had fall out.
People have taken to welding it in place to prevent that. My 98 has
never had this problem and to date my 06 hasn't either. But when I'm
in there... I will weld it. The 200s and smaller bikes are a different
design and I don't believe exhibit this problem.

 In article


The KTM 200's are pretty unique--lightweight, good power. If you can
find a good deal on a YZ250, I would consider that too. Of all the
Japanese 2 stroke mxer's, it's probably the easiest to adapt to cc &
hare scrambles. Generally in D36 you see mostly orange and blue at the
amateur races.

--
Charles
'99 YZ250