Gonna sell the KTM pretty soon...

Got questions? We got answers....
Post Reply
KDXrider1989
Member
Posts: 643
Joined: 09:05 pm Sep 07 2010
Country:
Location: Houston, TX

Gonna sell the KTM pretty soon...

Post by KDXrider1989 »

And I'm thinking about getting a 2003 RM 125 or a 2002 YZ 125, which one would y'all prefer? I've heard many good reviews about the YZ, but i havn't heard many reviews of the RM but the ones that I did hear about were really good. Parts for the YZ seem a bit cheaper and everything is still being made, the RM has the big stuff discontinued (swingarm, frame, rear shock) but some of the small stuff are cheaper than the YZ. The YZ is in great shape and has an FMF exhaust and probably a few other stuff, the RM looks to be stock but is very clean as well with brand new tires. The YZ is $1200 and 200 miles away, the RM is $700 and about 50 miles away. Both run and have fresh top ends, but the RM has a bad main bearing(s). Which one would yall choose if you were gonna get one of them?
User avatar
Julien D
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 5858
Joined: 07:53 pm Nov 07 2008
Country: USA
Contact:

Post by Julien D »

assuming they are both in good condition, I'd choose the YZ. If you can do the bottom end yourself, the RM is a good deal though. Kinda tough to buy a bike that's 200 miles away. You have to go that far just to check it out, and it could need more than the seller indicates...
User avatar
rbates9
Supporting Member II
Supporting Member II
Posts: 3164
Joined: 06:07 pm Apr 27 2010
Country:
Location: UPSTATE New York

Post by rbates9 »

Seems to me you may be on the wrong forum.
User avatar
Julien D
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 5858
Joined: 07:53 pm Nov 07 2008
Country: USA
Contact:

Post by Julien D »

^ true.
Image
gregp
Member
Posts: 498
Joined: 03:44 pm Jul 30 2009
Country:

Post by gregp »

My experience with later model RM125's has not been very good. Shattered clutch baskets and broken power valve parts seem to be the norm for those things. The RM does have great low end power, though, for a 125 MX bike. The YZ's have been consistently rated as the best 125 MX bike since 1998 or so.
I would get the YZ. Their biggest issue seems to be that the blue plastic gets white stress marks when bent. I could live with that.
2004 Dual Sported KDX200
1999 Ninja 250 (Daughter's)
1996 DR 650 (stock, mostly street use)
User avatar
zomby woof
Supporting Member I
Supporting Member I
Posts: 295
Joined: 11:42 am Oct 22 2009
Country:
Location: SW Ontario

Post by zomby woof »

I've ridden both. The YZ has better low end power, but the RM is (for me) the faster bike. I've been racing a late model RM 125 for the last 5 years with no problems whatsoever. The YZ aftermarket is probably better, but there's not much for any 125 these days.

Woods = YZ
MX = RM
Ontario, Canada
Brian
Supporting Member II
Supporting Member II
Posts: 323
Joined: 08:31 pm Aug 26 2009
Country:
Location: Brush Prairie Washington

Post by Brian »

We had a 2001 RM 125. I don't know if it is different from the 03 or not. It was a very good handling bike. It would turn razor sharp and the engine would wind to the moon.

It had a few flaws though. The clutch was not very good. It would drag no matter how you adjusted it. It was so bad that you had to rev the engine up before you put it in gear or it would stall.

It also had no bottom end power. You could rev it all day but it had no low end, even compared to other 125's.

My son only weighed about 135 pounds so he didn't have trouble in the woods but sometimes other riders would complain if they were behind him cause it was always spinning the wheel and throwing mud/rocks.
KX 250, KDX 220, KDX 220, KDX 200, CR 80

I don't believe in a society where the thrill of living is traded for the safety of existance---Nick Inatsch
Post Reply