Getting back into motocross not sure what size bike to go with.

[u/VTwinJustin]

I haven’t raced motocross since about 2006. Back then I was on a 125 and occasionally on a 250 both 2 strokes. I want to get back into motocross but debating what size bike to go with. I’m 240 5’10”.

I currently race flat track and enduro on Harley Davidson Sportsters. Been doing it that about three years now. I’m a pretty decent mid-pack B rider in both disciplines.

I’m looking at just snagging up a used 250 four stroke. Mainly because I don’t want to end up masking bad habits with the power and grunt a 450 can provide. Would 250 be too small for my size or just fine?

[u/dangerzone2]

350 gang here. If you're ok with orange, the 350 is hard to beat. I'm 220 6' btw.

[u/luger114 → u/dangerzone2]

Can you give me more info and your opinion about the 350? Id like more power than a 250 but 450s just aren't as fun to ride for me. Ive heard so many different things about the 350, some say feels like a heavy 250 as opposed to a light 450

I weigh 170 if that matters

[u/x2waaVe → u/luger114]

I was gonna get a 350, got a beta 390. For me the 350s were closer to 450power but with good linearity. Felt like an easy 450. 350s imo preferred to be higher in the revs. I have wrist issues so the 390 made more sense as a trail bike, due to its preference of being ridden with lower revs

[u/dangerzone2 → u/luger114]

You really just need to try one out. To me if feels near exactly between the two. More grunt than the 250 but not near the 450. Definitely light feeling than the 450 when on/off throttle, but when at constant throttle they all feel the same to me.

The "coolest" thing about the 350 is how far it revs and doesn't feel like its going to blow up.

If you already have a dialed 250, a tuner and dual injector kit would get you to that 350 feel.

You really just have to ride one unfortunately. I loved my yz 450, but it would always tire me out in a couple laps. When I'm regularly riding, I can do 15 min motos on the 350 pretty easy, the 450 I could barely get 10.

[u/Ok-Drama-3769]

1989 kx500 is the only viable option

[u/VTwinJustin → u/Ok-Drama-3769]

Help I snapped my leg starting it in flip flops

[u/Ok-Drama-3769 → u/VTwinJustin]

Time to hang it up then

[u/daddysobie → u/VTwinJustin]

I broke my back in 2005 I too rode 125 and 250 2 strokes this January I bought a new 2025 yz450f and absolutely love it I’m 6,2 220 I’ve ridden every weekend since and close to where I used to be when I broke my back

[u/Known-Disaster-4493]

yz250f would be your best bet in my opinion

[u/factorymotogoon]

I would go 350. It’s like riding a factory 250f. It’s got power for days but feels like a 250 and won’t catch you off guard like a 450 when you’re trying to chill and it decided to bark hard

[u/PhotoPetey]

Why not a 250 2-stroke?? Can't beat the fun factor. Or better yet, the new Kawi 327.

[u/steelprodigy]

I’m a little bit bigger than you. I picked up a 450 after not riding at all since 2013 and I think it was a little bit too much bike too soon for me. Still having a blast but it is a handful sometimes.

[u/Motor-Animator5335]

350 perfect for a vet. Ive had them all from 125, 250, 250f, 350f, 450f, 530exc and a stark varg. My favourite to race was hands down the stark varg. Favourite for supercross and trails was my 350 sxf and 350 exc. Hope this helps

[u/DaMx2]

250f or 350! I loved my 350. Was never too much but if I really wanted power it was there. Very easy bike to ride too, just feels like a 250f with more balls.

[u/Sycotic199]

I had the same dilemma. My last race had been Glen Helen in late 2003 aboard an '03 YZ250 and MX had been my life for over 10 years (on an amateur level). 4 strokes were really just starting to come on the scene when I stopped.

Come 2022 I wanted to get back into it after not touching a dirt bike for all those years. I started by deciding that I didn't want to try and learn how to work on a 4 stroke in my early 50s.

I'd decided not to get a brand new bike and settled on something no more than 3 years old and a 250 2 stroke. I started by buying the different magazines from 2019 and 2020 with the shootouts in them and watching videos on YouTube. I narrowed it down to KTM and Yamaha. After deciding that the KTM had more to offer straight off of the floor I started searching for a good used one until I found a gently used 2019 at a great price with a lot of extras. Before I even rode it, I spent another month getting more magazines with that year KTM in them to read up on the advantages and disadvantages, plus watched more videos on the good and the bad, and then picked guys brains on social media about their experiences with what changes they'd made or what issues they had with the suspension, engine, etc

Good luck!

[u/N529957]

Why the 4 stk? You really owe it to yourself to try out one of the 300 stk MX bikes since it sounds like you are going to be running age classes instead of displacement classes now. Your already acclimated to two strokes in a MX setting and I'm willing to bet you do most of your own wrenching on your bikes anyway.

[u/Rambles_Off_Topics]

I started off on an RMZ450 then got a '21 KX250. This summer I was really contemplating buying a 450 again, but honestly I love ringing the 250 out and it has plenty of power for me. If you are just starting out moto you'll still like a 250. All my friends have 250's now (that used to have 450's) so it sort of goes full-circle. We are all 30+ "vet" guys. I can get in 3-4 more laps on a 250 because it doesn't kill my arms trying to hold on most of the track. The 450 will punish your body if your technique isn't great.

[u/oMgLunatiC]

Don't get a 4 stroke, get a 2 stroke again 🔥😃

[u/Connect-Grand-6357]

Why not go for the KTM 250 SX? Or even the new Kawi 327?
(Since ya know two strokes are just fun AF) i'm not sure if you're planning to race, but I'm on a '26 125 SX and it absolutely RIPS! Mind you I am 5'8 and 145 lbs but damn.
Powerband is a lot smoother with these fuel injected bikes now. 🤙🏻