250f now? or wait?

[DUDEONAYZ125]

so i found out there is about a 5 inch difference in seat height on my cr85 to a crf250r. am i tall enough to buy a 250f and just ride it stock with nothing except moving the forks up in the clamps? i am 5'4''

[DUDEONAYZ125]

come on guys it has 33 views i want to know if i am tall enough.

[Drew778]

If you feel to big or feel like your maxing out your 80 go for it.

[crfjedi393]

I believe you're tall enough. Have you ridden one?

[DUDEONAYZ125]

no i havent ridden one but could i just ride it rite off the bat?

[xrrider1230]

if I where you I would wait until your at least 5'6 cuz if you ride it your goin to stop and not be able to put your feet down, and besides going from a cr 85 to a crf 250 is a big jump especialy for someone who's 5'4 when I was your size I was riding a kx 100 and it was perfect. So your just going to get pissed off riding a 250f cuz your not big enough, and I know from experience its agrevating riding a bike to big, so yes I would wait.

[Synyster06Gates]

At about 5'7'' I moved up to my CR125 from my YZ80. It was pretty difficult at first just go get on the big bike and kick it over, let alone try and get my feet down to stop. Maybe a lowering link until you feel comfortable to try it out? 5'' doesn't sound like too much until you try and swing your leg over the seat...

[VAL]

Go to the shop, throw your leg over one. If you feel like you can hold it up when stopped, and are able to kick start the bike, then get it. If you have trouble, then wait. Nothing worse than falling down every time you stop. Especially if you fall on your friends and knock them over as well.
Don’t lower the forks. First off, the clamps won’t allow too much lowering. Second it will change the geometry of the bike and your handling will be affected.

[MXtras]

Good advice so far.

Go to the shops and sit on the various bikes. You do not need to be able to touch the ground with both feet, nor do you need to be able to touch with your foot flat on the ground. You just need to be able to start the bike and get on it.

I know Vickery Motorsports in Aurora (about 1.25 hours from you) hosts Ride Days where they will let you ride a brand new bike of your choice. Fey Meyers might do the same. Call 'em up and find out when they are doing their next ride day - this way you can ride a variety of bikes and find one you are comfortable on. They might even have a ride day scheduled at Berthoud which is just down the road from you, right?

FWIW - When I switched from 80's to the the big bikes, I could barely touch the ground on my 125 or my dad's 250. I had to find a hill to re-mount and start. I had to have blocks on the starting line. This is when I learned that not crashing has numerous benefits!

Scott

[DUDEONAYZ125]

thanks guys! ill go to tri city or vickery or fay meyers soon but i got to wait for the leg to heal. i was able to swing my leg over my friends 450. and xrridder i am more like 5'6'' i can almost flatfoot the same guys 150r bigwheel with both feet so i think im big enough. and mxtras are the ride days ounce a year or pretty often? also i would like to know who thinks the best used 250f would be about reliability.....i heard the yz's have soft clutches and the 04 and 05 crf's blow up a lot? i was planing on 05 and newer

[MXtras]

Originally Posted by DUDEONAYZ125

..mxtras are the ride days ounce a year or pretty often?

Well - when I raced for Vickery back in the olden days, the ride days were once a year when the new bikes came out, but times have changed. I know they still do 'em, I just don't know how often. Call 'em up!

Scott

[DUDEONAYZ125]

Originally Posted by MXtras

Well - when I raced for Vickery back in the olden days, the ride days were once a year when the new bikes came out, but times have changed. I know they still do 'em, I just don't know how often. Call 'em up!

Scott

ok and do you know about the yz/crf reliability at the track and a couple trails a year? also do all year yzf's have bad clutches? do the crf's blow up very easily?

[pjg351]

My 13 year old son races on a 85 and a 250f, he's about 5' 4". The only time he needs to touch the ground is at the start gate, tiptoes are good enough.

[crfjedi393]

There is always the possibility of using starting blocks for a race. And natural terrain is seldom level where you are inclined to ride a dirt bike so you can usually find a good place to get a foot on the ground. I'm barely 5'7" myself. You can do it.

[DUDEONAYZ125]

Originally Posted by pjg351

My 13 year old son races on a 85 and a 250f, he's about 5' 4". The only time he needs to touch the ground is at the start gate, tiptoes are good enough.

Originally Posted by crfjedi393

There is always the possibility of using starting blocks for a race. And natural terrain is seldom level where you are inclined to ride a dirt bike so you can usually find a good place to get a foot on the ground. I'm barely 5'7" myself. You can do it.

pjg thanks thats one of the answers i needed! what about crashing? pjg how hard is it for your son to start it after laying it over? jedi what size starting blocks are there? finally im tall enough for a big bike!

[DUDEONAYZ125]

and do you really have to change the ringson a 250f every 15 hours?!?!?!!?

[crfjedi393]

You can use whatever you want for starting blocks. I see lots of 2X4's nailed together. Also quite a few 4X4's. People often nail a leather strap to them so they are easier to carry around. Some people only use one and keep one foot on the peg while others use two. Your choice.
As for the rings, I only change them when I change the piston.

[DUDEONAYZ125]

Originally Posted by crfjedi393

You can use whatever you want for starting blocks. I see lots of 2X4's nailed together. Also quite a few 4X4's. People often nail a leather strap to them so they are easier to carry around. Some people only use one and keep one foot on the peg while others use two. Your choice.
As for the rings, I only change them when I change the piston.

how often do you change your piston?

[DUDEONAYZ125]

also what is the yearly maintenance cost on a250f?

[crfjedi393]

I'm on my second piston and I ride often.
And I haven't kept track of the annual maintenance cost. I know it varies.