What bike coming from a 2007 KTM 200 XC-W?

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Nikes

New member
I am currently riding a 2007 KTM 200 XC-W. I love the bike coming from my previous ride a 2004 Honda CRF-250X. I am looking to sell the KTM and get another 2 stroke. I don't race. I ride for recreation/exercise and ride mostly single track or rocky trails. I enjoy the challenge of trying to get through difficult trail sections, going over large logs and up ledges. I am 5'7", 155 lbs.

Part of me thinks I want to go for a 2011 Six Days 125 because it will be light and easy to handle. Part of me thinks a 2012- 200 or 250 might be the right bike and easier to ride than the 125. With the 200 Gas Gas sharing a frame with the 250 (not a 125 frame like the KTM) is the 200 a good option? If I can get a good deal on a 2011 250 is it worth the extra $$$ for a 2012?

I am also looking for a durable bike. I work a lot and in my free time I want to ride, not wrench. I am a marginal mechanic at best.

Thanks for your input.
 
Honestly if you can get a real good deal on the 11 I "think" I'd go for it but it would have to be a REAL good deal. I think the 12's look better and hear and read the suspension is better. The 12's are a little taller too so that may fit you a little better also. I'm 5'7" myself and miss my 2010 GG ergo's. Both bikes IMO will leave your free time open for riding and not wrenching. GG builds awesome bikes made to be ridden so I wouldn't worry about having to spend your time working on either year. I think I'm going with the 12 or 13 myself but it's mostly, well all based on looks :D. Have you sampled a GG? Oh.... sorry I would get a 250 in either year. I have a 2008 Husky WB165 so the 200 with the 250/300 weight woldn't be an option for me now. I have read they (GG200) do feel/ride lighter but haven't had the please of riding one myself.
 
Since you are pretty short I would go with an 11 model. They will be a good bit heavier than your KTM though. I would just get the 250 or 300 since the 200 weighs just as much.
 
At 5'7" and 155 I would go with any leftover 2010/11 200 or 250, they are built for smaller guys and you will love it. Don't be afraid of the 250 being overwhelming, they are silky smooth and ride very light. A 200 would be ideal but you might have a hard time finding a leftover.
 
How tall is your KTM? Probably taller than an '11 GG and close to a '12 so why worry about it unless your looking for a shorter bike. I'm only 5'9" and have gotten used to the extra height of my '12. The stability is awesome and will be in another league from a KTM200.
 
I'm only 175cm and can easily ride the 2010 Gasser, all the Yamahas and Newer Bergs as well. I would personally take a newer model for the increased peg clearance over the 2011. Thats unless of course if you can get a 2011 for a stellar price. Both are great bikes, but feedback and word on the street is that the 2012s are even just a bit better.
 
My concern isn't the height of the bike. More the added weight of the larger frame on the 200 and 250. I like the idea of the lighter 125, but it seems like most don't when compared to the larger displacements. Is the problem with the 125 that you always have to be on the throttle?
 
Nikes said:
My concern isn't the height of the bike. More the added weight of the larger frame on the 200 and 250. I like the idea of the lighter 125, but it seems like most don't when compared to the larger displacements. Is the problem with the 125 that you always have to be on the throttle?
Click to expand...

Nikes,
Yes. Not much bottom end power on the 125 but if you want a 2011 125 Six Days we have a demo that we repo'ed from a dealer who went out of business. Who is your local dealer? I can work it out with him to sell it to you for $5000.
I think the 200 would be better for your riding as you described it. I also think you will find that our 200 has smoother power than the orange one and will be easier to ride in the conditions you like. I will have a 2012 200 here to ride in a couple of weeks if you are any where near Tennessee.
Clay
 
I just came off an 08 KTM 200xc and am now on an 11 250 six days. Even though the 200 is physically lighter than the 250 the 250 handles better and feels just as light if not lighter on the trail. The bottom end power of the 250 is amazing although I did get the RB head and carb mods right from the get go so I couldn't tell you how it is bone stock. It feels like the center of gravity is higher on the KTMs in my opinion and I've been riding orange since the late 90's. Totally happy with the Gasser. I'm 5'11" by the way. Good luck!
 
ktm vs gg

I was a long time ktm fan (20 years) i always rode 125's and 200's. That was the tradition every year i purchased a new bike. Now my last 2night bikes have been gg. The gg handle so much better. The problem now is i cant seem 2 wanna sell either my 2010 or my 2011! They are really phenomenal bikes if i were u i would pick up a 250. I believe its a much better all around bike. I am sure Jakobi wouldnt mind helping you with the jetting. Anyway good luck with your choice and keep us posted on what you decide!
 
I was in the market for a 2012 200R myself this year, but due to delays in shipping and availability of the 200 to Australia I ended up converting my 2010 Race model from a 300 to a 250. I can tell you so far its been everything that I was looking for. The 300 was great too, but just had much more power than I could 'use' for most of my riding. It wasn't a beast or too much to handle.
 
I am not being cheeky but why would you go from a 300 to a 250? I am always looking for more power down low...perhaps I am just a crappy rider and can't understand. I do however see a big following in the 250 over the 300.

TO ME...the 300 seems easier to ride sitting down or in lazy mode however when you want to get some you can get ALL of what you need just shift quicker than the 250.

Again I am not trying to be a smart guy I am just trying to understand what the advantage of the 250 over the 300...especially for the same weight.
 
I just prefer the zippier motor of the 250 and the fact that it's a bit less tiring to ride at the end of a race or long day in the saddle.
 
Try riding a 500 two stroke on a moto x track and you will soon find out , you can actuall feel the energy draining from your body by the second lol
I have a 300 myself but i can see the reason to get a 250 , when you are tired you are more likely to make mistakes on the 300 and you should last longer on the smaller motor before you tire .
It has been said in the uk that the 200 is the smart mans choice :D , but im just greedy and wanted the extra torque ;)
 
forgiven said:
I am not being cheeky but why would you go from a 300 to a 250? I am always looking for more power down low...perhaps I am just a crappy rider and can't understand. I do however see a big following in the 250 over the 300.

TO ME...the 300 seems easier to ride sitting down or in lazy mode however when you want to get some you can get ALL of what you need just shift quicker than the 250.

Again I am not trying to be a smart guy I am just trying to understand what the advantage of the 250 over the 300...especially for the same weight.
Click to expand...

Its a legitimate question and I agree with what you are saying entirely. TO ME... the 300 is easier to ride sitting down and being lazy, it offers everything the 250 does just earlier in the rev range.

But.. I don't want to be lazy and I don't want to sit down. I don't want to change before the bike is screaming. I ride for the fun factor and the fun factor comes from pushing a bike towards its limits. I want to keep busy and feel like I'm really riding the bike. The 250 will still lug down as well as the 300 does as well. Its all purely based on riding style. Why would you buy a 300 with the extra power down low when the 250 does it all while feeling lighter, revving faster, and vibrating less, and making just as much power up top?

Have a look at the graph in this thread: http://www.gasgasrider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12838
You can see the only real difference is that you need to carry a few more rpm for the same power output.
 
Jakobi said:
Its a legitimate question and I agree with what you are saying entirely. TO ME... the 300 is easier to ride sitting down and being lazy, it offers everything the 250 does just earlier in the rev range.

But.. I don't want to be lazy and I don't want to sit down. I don't want to change before the bike is screaming. I ride for the fun factor and the fun factor comes from pushing a bike towards its limits. I want to keep busy and feel like I'm really riding the bike. The 250 will still lug down as well as the 300 does as well. Its all purely based on riding style. Why would you buy a 300 with the extra power down low when the 250 does it all while feeling lighter, revving faster, and vibrating less, and making just as much power up top?

Have a look at the graph in this thread: http://www.gasgasrider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12838
You can see the only real difference is that you need to carry a few more rpm for the same power output.
Click to expand...
Did you draw the ec 300 line in with a crayon:p
 
For the type of riding you described, I would say the 200.

I have a EC250, had a DE300 and my son has a EC200.

If I were riding strickly singletrack and gnarly terrain, the 200 would be my first choice. The lighter feel and flickability along with tame useable power delivery make it a great bike for the tough stuff.

But, if you already have the KTM200 I am not sure making the switch to the Gasser 200 would yeild a huge difference. I owned 2 KTM 200's years ago and they feel even more flickable than the Gasser. The Gasser does feel more planted and has a smoother power delivery.

All of my gassers have been trouble free and are very reliable.
 
forgiven said:
I am not being cheeky but why would you go from a 300 to a 250? I am always looking for more power down low...perhaps I am just a crappy rider and can't understand. I do however see a big following in the 250 over the 300.

TO ME...the 300 seems easier to ride sitting down or in lazy mode however when you want to get some you can get ALL of what you need just shift quicker than the 250.

Again I am not trying to be a smart guy I am just trying to understand what the advantage of the 250 over the 300...especially for the same weight.
Click to expand...
I'm currently riding a 300. Now that son-in-law is back from overseas(i've had his ec250 for 6 months), we might trade bikes. My 300 is nicer, and has more upgrades, but I'm actually faster in the tight/twisties with the 250(...and have more fun).
 
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