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TTR 125 Experience/Advice/Comments?

Archimedes

Archimedes

Fire Watcher
Joined
Aug 26, 2007
Location
Is Everything
Moto(s)
Nearly killed me
Name
Lefty2Guns
I need some advice ASAP from people familiar with this bike. I am looking for a small lightweight dirtbike to chase my son around on his TTR110 for a few years until he grows into it a bigger bike. I'm 6'1"/170, lot of street/track experience, very little dirt riding experience.

Don't need a screamer, don't want a big bike, etc. Love the quality and ride of his 110, so I think I'm sold on a Yamaha over the CRF150F, which is the other possibility.

I can get a good deal on a TTR 125LE, so I'm interested in any comments from owners about its ability to be even basically capable for an adult just tooling around on it.
 
You'll be able to tool around on it, for sure. The suspension is severely limiting. So is the power, actually. But for what you're saying you're wanting it for, it's good. It takes a beating and keeps going, with very easy and infrequent maintenance.

I dunno how much weight the e-start adds. It kicks over so easily that I wouldn't consider it a priority.

You should sit on it; you're the only one who will be able to judge if you'll feel too cramped or not. :)

915.jpg


924.jpg
 
I tool around on ours - bathroom runs etc.... and it gets me there. Opening up the airbox and adding an aftermarket pipe really helps.

If it hasn't been rejetted you'll want to do that too as it is cold blooded (hard to start) and takes a while to warm up.

With the 2 jets swapped out main/pilot (check Thumpertalk for the exact ones.. its been years) it really helps a lot with the starting.

Good little bike
 
I think you will like the crf150f a lot better in stock form. I just picked up a low hour 05 for my son and moved my daughter up to the ttr110. My KX250 was not in working order so I used the 150 on my last solo vacation. It was a hell of a lot more fun that I thought it would be. Me 5' 9" 190+. See it here.....

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=254680
 
CykoKlr said:
I think you will like the crf150f a lot better in stock form. I just picked up a low hour 05 for my son and moved my daughter up to the ttr110. My KX250 was not in working order so I used the 150 on my last solo vacation. It was a hell of a lot more fun that I thought it would be. Me 5' 9" 190+. See it here.....

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=254680
Click to expand...

Those are the bikes I'm debating. The CRF is taller, but also heavier. The TTR would be a better bike for my son to step up to earlier.

The thing that is keeping me from the CRF is the fact that my son's 08 TTR110 just feels so much higher quality than the 05 CRF230 I had. The motor is smoother, the feel of the suspension is better and the overall feel is one of much higher quality. My CRF230 felt like a piece of farm equipment by comparison.
 
Arch,


The CRF150's have had some cam troubles in the past -- all in all -- being an owner of one -- I'd stay away from Honda 4 strokes.

I have a CRF250, a CR250 and a TTR-125L. First off, to be blunt -- the TTR is fun as hell but the suspension is so limiting and the seat height is so low, my 5'9" girlfriend who probably has the same dirt experience as you do, out-grew it. No, she's not out-riding it, but she's so cramped that it's hard for her to stand and all that -- plus when you jump it even a little or hit a big whoop it bottoms out. You're also a lot heavier (thank god!) and as such, I think it'd be too small of a bike for you.

All that said, there *are* options for a TTR to make it more attractive because it is a bulletproof and unbelievably fun bike. I just put some YZ85 forks on my TTR (bolts right up with 2 spacers / washers) and ordered a new rear shock to stiffen up/raise the rear about an inch. Forks can be had for $250 on eBay and the shock was $220 brand new. The next thing I'll do is a big bore kit ($360) which moves it from the unbarable 8hp to about 12-14hp. This takes the stock seat height of 31" and moves it almost to CRF230 category, or about a half inch lower, not to mention the quality of the suspension improves greatly. The power to weight ratio is also better than the CRF230 and the end result is a bike that anyone can enjoy.

You may not "need" more power, but when you're going up even a reasonable incline, you have to wring it out (stock), otherwise it starts to bog down and then just flat out doesn't make it. You can make it if you just keep it open and go for it, but most beginners aren't able to do that and unfortunately the TTR doesn't have the grunt to get-going again.

All in all, if you want a bike for your SON, the TTR is great. If you want a bike for yourself, get a Kawasaki or Yamaha four stroke 250. Get the trail version if you want a little less maintenance, electric start and a less-high strung motor. It won't be too much bike for you, trust me.
 
Archimedes said:
Those are the bikes I'm debating. The CRF is taller, but also heavier. The TTR would be a better bike for my son to step up to earlier.

The thing that is keeping me from the CRF is the fact that my son's 08 TTR110 just feels so much higher quality than the 05 CRF230 I had. The motor is smoother, the feel of the suspension is better and the overall feel is one of much higher quality. My CRF230 felt like a piece of farm equipment by comparison.
Click to expand...


I have only ridden both these bikes stock. So info is limited. My son is 12 years old and 5' 4" about 115 pounds and he is picking this bike up pretty easy. The TTR just felt wayyyyyyyyy smaller and way less power. I put almost 300 mile in one week on the CRF and I thought it was fun. I ride a KX250 and CR250 too.
 
antarius said:
Arch,


The CRF150's have had some cam troubles in the past -- all in all -- being an owner of one -- I'd stay away from Honda 4 strokes.

I have a CRF250, a CR250 and a TTR-125L. First off, to be blunt -- the TTR is fun as hell but the suspension is so limiting and the seat height is so low, my 5'9" girlfriend who probably has the same dirt experience as you do, out-grew it. No, she's not out-riding it, but she's so cramped that it's hard for her to stand and all that -- plus when you jump it even a little or hit a big whoop it bottoms out. You're also a lot heavier (thank god!) and as such, I think it'd be too small of a bike for you.

All that said, there *are* options for a TTR to make it more attractive because it is a bulletproof and unbelievably fun bike. I just put some YZ85 forks on my TTR (bolts right up with 2 spacers / washers) and ordered a new rear shock to stiffen up/raise the rear about an inch. Forks can be had for $250 on eBay and the shock was $220 brand new. The next thing I'll do is a big bore kit ($360) which moves it from the unbarable 8hp to about 12-14hp. This takes the stock seat height of 31" and moves it almost to CRF230 category, or about a half inch lower, not to mention the quality of the suspension improves greatly. The power to weight ratio is also better than the CRF230 and the end result is a bike that anyone can enjoy.

You may not "need" more power, but when you're going up even a reasonable incline, you have to wring it out (stock), otherwise it starts to bog down and then just flat out doesn't make it. You can make it if you just keep it open and go for it, but most beginners aren't able to do that and unfortunately the TTR doesn't have the grunt to get-going again.

All in all, if you want a bike for your SON, the TTR is great. If you want a bike for yourself, get a Kawasaki or Yamaha four stroke 250. Get the trail version if you want a little less maintenance, electric start and a less-high strung motor. It won't be too much bike for you, trust me.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm not really looking for a bike for me, per se, or I'd just get a WR250F. I want something small, light and that he can grow into. That's why I'm thinking of the big wheel TTR. Honestly, I love riding his 110, it's just too small for me. 31-32" seat height is probably good enough for me to just roll around on until he's ready for it. I just need something that is tolerable and can provide a little bit of fun. I don't plan on jumping much or doing any hill climbs with it, so it'll probably be fine. It just might need new springs by the time he's ready for it.
 
CykoKlr said:
I have only ridden both these bikes stock. So info is limited. My son is 12 years old and 5' 4" about 115 pounds and he is picking this bike up pretty easy. The TTR just felt wayyyyyyyyy smaller and way less power. I put almost 300 mile in one week on the CRF and I thought it was fun. I ride a KX250 and CR250 too.
Click to expand...

Did you ride the TTR big wheel or the small wheel? The big wheel appears to be about the same size as the CRF, just slightly lower.
 
Arch,

Definitely get the big wheel if you get a TTR. The regular-sized is just way too small. The big-wheel TTR is still pretty small in comparison with a CRF150 or 230, but it's a heck of a lot lighter. Plus, as I did with mine, if you choose to upgrade the forks you can go with some bigger YZ85 forks for your big-wheeled TTR.
 
Checked them all out this morning. They're all too small for me, even for just cruising around on. Even the 230 feels way too soft and small for me. The only bike that I felt good on was the 250x, but I have no interest in spending that kind of coin. Gonna have to keep my eyes out for a cheap, low hour used 250 of some type.
 
I hate to be the one who said it... but....

I told ya so :)

Keep lookin, you can find a good 250 for 2k or less. Hell, I have one for sale right now (03 CR250R)
 
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