tm 144 or ec 200!! help!!

eddy field1

eddy field1

New member
arr need some help im 16 and mainly race 3 hour hare and hounds. i currently have a ec 125 and like it but want a bit more power and a newer bike if im honest. dealers are not a problem as my local shop is both a gasser and tm dealer. so ye im stuck between a tm144 and ec 200 and would like to hear some opinions thanks !
 
Tm's gonna be faster, lighter and more high strung.
Gasser more torque possibly better turning and engine wise longer lived.
 
If it was me, I see a a YZ 125 w/ a 144 kit for a young guy like you! They handle great, can be set up for harescramble very quickly, large tank to go the distance, plenty of after market support, and out of all the 125's the YZ has the most grunt and a 144 kit would put it over the top. The cost to operate overall would be much less than the TM and GasGas when you factor in the price of a new bike and a race seasons worth of parts. More than likely get more out of it when you were done then the TM or GasGas.

Just my .02
 
I can't see a Yamaha 144 being less to buy and operate for a year. The Yamaha 144 lists for over $9500. A Yamaha 125 could be converted but would end up costing about the same as a left over GasGas ec200. Upkeep on the 200 would be much less than either of the blue 144s (top end would last much, much longer, clutches last for years).
 
Depending on which class you ride.. A, B, C, AA. The EC 200 would be the best choice for anybody who is a B, or C rider simply because it's very forgiving of mistakes, where the tiddlers are not. An A or AA rider can make a tiddler really go, but you really really have to keep the momentum up and the engine singing. I guess I don't have to tell you that, since you have a 125, but if you're riding a 200 class, or are riding against 250F's, the 200 is really the only logical choice. The 144 TM would only be a good choice if it's significantly less money than the 200 (with the aforementioned guidelines).
 
I have had both the TM and the EC200 and if you want my opinion then here goes......The TM125EN is a fantastic allrounder which is every bit as quick as the 42HP which is quoted by TM, it can be trail ridden without fouling plugs or you can ring its neck off all day long, it is light, handles like a dream and with the liquid cooled bottom end should give good service apart from the short piston life due to the graphite coating ( every 80 litres petrol = piston ) although I did read somewhere that a guy rode one in the ISDE and didnt change a thing for the entire 6 days ! I would make sure that the 144 is factory built rather than a kitted 125 as they should have a different crank and stroke. The EC200 is not a popular seller and is hard to get information / parts / settings and specs etc, however it is an awesome bike with unbelievable steering, great suspension / handling but the engine just isnt responsive enough ( read underpowered EC200 on this site ), for a 3 hour pony I would grab the TM, for everything elso my choice would be an EC250.

Good luck
 
Geoff, you make me want a TM 144! 42HP!! Holy cow.

I have owned the EC200, it doesn't have anywhere near 42 HP. In fact, stone stock it made 31HP (at the wheel), on the dyno in my sponsors shop. He was not happy with that, as the KTM 200 he had on the dyno made 33HP (at the wheel) stone stock. So he fiddled with the timing, milled the head, and cut an inch out of the header section of the exhaust pipe. After those mods it made 36 horsepower. It was certainly not underpowered after that. Just ask Rick (the bike is his now). I believe the RB Designs squish band mod and good jetting would be all that is needed to bring an EC200 to perfection for any racer outside of the AA class, then, it's just a preference thing.
 
thanks for the advice look like the tm's the hot favourite at the moment just for the light revey'ness also i will admit the bling factor haha. Got a test day for both bikes next week so will see how im feeling after that.
i would like the 200 for the grunt as i recently did a extreme enduro and the 200 would probley be better for this type of thing. Also i do like gassers as they are quite small helps me get my feet on the floor haha. if it helps for anyone im pretty sure im clubman rider not 100% as i have only just moved into the adult class just done a race in this class and came 5th but there wasn't many riders(got a pic in TMX as well very happy :))
 
Hey, the TM might be very nice and plenty fast for a 125 but 42HP....come on be real here:rolleyes: Those TM guys have been inhaling way to much 2 stroke fumes;) Even if it did the power band would be an on/off switch and pretty much unrideable.

Your riding 3 hours of nasty sh*t, get the Gasser. TM bling may be nice but I'm guessing even in Europe parts will still be a bit harder to get and more costly than a GG as well. JMHO
 
Interesting thread ... I'm sort of looking into the same thing ....
I picked up an 08 husky cr 125 on a lark .... squeaked the top end and sent it out to E Gorr for a 144 kit. Had mine set up for more bottom to mid than top end. Don't know if I will get it back before the weather shuts things down. My other ride is a GG 300 which I think is more than I need. Have been looking into a 200 of some sort. Basically have narrowed it down to the gasser. Like you said nice small tight bike with plenty of grunt good for the nasty stuff. In a way I'm hoping the 144 will float my boat so I can be done with bike shopping and just ride. If it don't then it's on to the 200. wouldn't mind some seat time on an 09 to 10 200 though. btw ... isn't husky coming out with a factory 144 for 2010??
 
im in the market for a new bike. itll be a 200 2 stroke.
either a gasgas200 with 33 hours on it, or a ktm200.
which would you guys pick?
 
I have not ridden the TM144, but very few people have. I am a former tm125e owner and have ridden a Yamaha yz145. I have also ridden the GG and KTM 200. As faar as handling goes, nothing beats a TM in my opinion. If you were asking about a 250 or 300, I would suggest the GG. But for the smaller bikes, I think TM is the cream of the crop. Personally, I have seen lots of guys go to big bore kits to get more hp/torque. I my opinion, I would rather mill the head to get more compression and run racee gas fo more HP. Personally I prefer OEM parts over aftermarket overbore. For what it is worth, the TM125 has given the 250f's a challenge and the 144 is said to be faster. I have passed many bigger bikes coming out of corners and on the straights.
 
I have ridden an older tm 144,, as one of my club guys raced them for years,, He had great sucess racing them.. in fact he went to the crf250x and barely could get the honda to finish a race without eating valves.. He has been on many bikes and the one to hold up best to his "style of riding" which we call it severe abuse in the club was the tm and GG.. He was going to be a dealer for GG at one point and ran a loaner in a race and liked it.. but a nearby dealer snapped up the franchise for the area,, which they did nothing with.. He now runs a newer KTM and does have many issues.. also a small accessary shop.. He is thinking about going back to TM when the economy turns..
 
noobi said:
theres a few 06s around. but the ktms hold there value so finding a new era ktm 200 for the same as that gg would be nearly impossible
its this bike
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dirt-bikes/auction-254052981.htm
Click to expand...

That's a nice looking little Gasser with the current frame and plastics. Looks to be in great shape. KTM's in the 07-09 range would be the ones to get if you were to go KTM but that Gasser is sweet and a solid bike. Plus you don't get lost in the sea of orange which is kind of nice IMO.
 
what is $5000 nz dollars translated into US $$??

$5k US would be too much for that bike in my neighborhood.....

I'd go for the gasser for a 200 but thats just becasue they seem to fit me better.
 
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