Bike weight

Froggy76
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AU
7/28/2018 5:18pm
Hi all,

Wondering at what level do you really notice bike weight.
Is a 10kg difference massive or 5 kg....

I have the feeling that my current CRF250R is too heavy for me, feels like the bike is holding me back for some reason.
I can t really describe it.
May be I am kidding myself and getting a lighter 125 will not change a thing.
At the end of the day, the weight difference between a new YZ125 or ktm compared to my crf is only 10kg only so not massine.
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swtwtwtw
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Apple Valley, CA US
7/28/2018 6:21pm
It depends on the bike. I ride a 2018 yz450f; I came off of a 2017 FC250 that is 23 lbs lighter. On the track, I notice zero difference in weight.
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JBecker 72
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VA US
7/28/2018 6:24pm
I know I’ve said this a few times here, but whenever I ride my buddies RMZ450, I absolutely can not tell that it’s the heaviest 450. Until I go to lift it on the stand that is. On track and in the air it feels amazing and very flickable.

People often get wrapped up in having the lowest number on the scale. That really doesn’t seem to matter any in my experience. Most likely it’s a setup issue, and not weight.

My .02
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BobPA
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PA US
7/28/2018 6:34pm
swtwtwtw wrote:
It depends on the bike. I ride a 2018 yz450f; I came off of a 2017 FC250 that is 23 lbs lighter. On the track, I...
It depends on the bike. I ride a 2018 yz450f; I came off of a 2017 FC250 that is 23 lbs lighter. On the track, I notice zero difference in weight.
Don’t you know? According to vital, scale weights do not matter....

If you cannot tell the difference between a 250f and a 450 on the track...Something must be wrong, regardless of brands.
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barnett468
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Wildomar, CA US
7/28/2018 8:35pm Edited Date/Time 7/28/2018 8:35pm
10kg is a big difference and very noticeable to many riders. 10 lb is a noticeable difference as well. I hope to get my yz250 down to at least 205 lbs.
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The Shop

MPJC
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7/28/2018 8:44pm
I certainly notice a difference in weight between my 2013 350 and my 2016 250. Not sure what the actual difference is. I also notice quite a difference between my KTM 250 and a KTM 450 even though the actual difference is very small. The reciprocating mass makes more of a difference than the scale weight. A 125 is light on the scale and has very little reciprocating mass, and thus feels feathery.
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make1go
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BF
7/28/2018 9:33pm
yes the factories try to get the bikes as light as the rules allow.
and the fact there is a rule means.....nothing?.....
as some here would have you think....

light bikes are so much better to ride..
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MX558
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US
7/28/2018 10:38pm
Crank inertia is the biggest factor when I was roadracing 1000 cc bike only worried about 10 lbs more than a 600 but I felt 50 pounds heavier on the track if there's spelling issues I'm doing talking text LOL
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Froggy76
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7/29/2018 12:15am
thanks to everybody that replied. the difference between a 125 and my 250 four stroke is actually 13kg.I really need to get my hands on a 125 and go for a ride to see if it s worth me spending money for something that may be a placebo effect.
funny thing isn t it, you can go for a test ride when you buy a new car but not a dirt bike..

another thing i need to change on my bike is the throttle tube and grip. I can t keep the throttle open for too long, really hurts my wrist. Think i am going to go with a 1/4 turn throttle and a bigger reel.
I tried changing the angle of the throttle but still not good and husting.
Any cons to those larger reel? does it make the throttle a lot more responsive?
jaredkeller96
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Huntersville, NC US
7/29/2018 7:49am
Froggy76 wrote:
thanks to everybody that replied. the difference between a 125 and my 250 four stroke is actually 13kg.I really need to get my hands on a...
thanks to everybody that replied. the difference between a 125 and my 250 four stroke is actually 13kg.I really need to get my hands on a 125 and go for a ride to see if it s worth me spending money for something that may be a placebo effect.
funny thing isn t it, you can go for a test ride when you buy a new car but not a dirt bike..

another thing i need to change on my bike is the throttle tube and grip. I can t keep the throttle open for too long, really hurts my wrist. Think i am going to go with a 1/4 turn throttle and a bigger reel.
I tried changing the angle of the throttle but still not good and husting.
Any cons to those larger reel? does it make the throttle a lot more responsive?
Yes call g2 ergos, I got a full jimmy twister setup and it was amazing. I did a mellow Cam for the woods, but there is a lot of options
ML512
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7/29/2018 7:57am
For me, I’ve noticed weight isn’t as big of a difference on jumpy, flowing hard packed tracks but I feel a big difference in softer materials and sand when you’re hanging direction and slamming into stuff more abruptly. Basically tracks where it takes more muscle and body movement to get around, the lesser weight stands out to me in these situations.
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7/29/2018 7:58am
i recently went from a 2016 RMZ-250 to a 2018 ktm 150xc-w , not the same type of bike at all, but i can say you fell the 20pounds difference, especially after a 1h30 harescramble race.
LungButter
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Yellow Pine, ID US
7/29/2018 8:04am
I think weight changes the handling some for sure.

At one point I had 2 450s, one set up for Moto, one for offroad. The only difference was all the protection and bolt on stuff the offroad one had... Big skid plate, radiator guards, big tank with dry break system, shark fin, hand guards, heavy duty wheels and spokes, bib mousse etc. I don't know what the weight difference was, but I know the one without all the extra weight bolted on handled and cornered better.

That's my anecdotal take on it.
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BMSOBx2
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Antioch, CA US
7/29/2018 3:51pm
All depends on where the weight is. Down low or up high. Sprung or unsprung.
kb228
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Mansfield, OH US
7/29/2018 4:01pm
I dont notice between dirtbikes while riding.
Jrewing
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7/29/2018 6:51pm
swtwtwtw wrote:
It depends on the bike. I ride a 2018 yz450f; I came off of a 2017 FC250 that is 23 lbs lighter. On the track, I...
It depends on the bike. I ride a 2018 yz450f; I came off of a 2017 FC250 that is 23 lbs lighter. On the track, I notice zero difference in weight.
BobPA wrote:
Don’t you know? According to vital, scale weights do not matter.... If you cannot tell the difference between a 250f and a 450 on the track...Something...
Don’t you know? According to vital, scale weights do not matter....

If you cannot tell the difference between a 250f and a 450 on the track...Something must be wrong, regardless of brands.
I know hey! Just got my 125 going and the corner speed difference is amazing.
barnett468
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7/29/2018 6:56pm
BMSOBx2 wrote:
All depends on where the weight is. Down low or up high. Sprung or unsprung.
Actually that is incorrect because it depends on other things as well.
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Monk
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7/29/2018 9:27pm
Offroad, weight makes quite a bit of difference, especially if the courses are tight and twisting... Moving a 240lb motorcycle through the trees is alot harder then moving a 220lb bike through the trees. Add in mudholes, hills, logs and such (or anywhere you have to get off and push/pull/drag) and every pound starts to count. On a MX track I notice the weight less so...
7/30/2018 7:14am
swtwtwtw wrote:
It depends on the bike. I ride a 2018 yz450f; I came off of a 2017 FC250 that is 23 lbs lighter. On the track, I...
It depends on the bike. I ride a 2018 yz450f; I came off of a 2017 FC250 that is 23 lbs lighter. On the track, I notice zero difference in weight.
I came off the same bike to a 2018 CRF450R and it doesn’t feel heavier. Maybe even lighter at times.
lumpy790
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York, SC US
7/30/2018 7:23am
Less weight is like adding more horsepower..... less weight = more horsepower percentage.

Wear Weight is located can affect handling.
MassMoto
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Hudson, MA US
7/30/2018 8:19am
I notice that my CR250 feels a lot lighter when I'm riding it, but doesn't handle nearly as well as my YZ250F which is lighter by 10 pounds. I think it comes down to rider preference and suspension.
jsmi33966
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Port Isabel, TX US
7/30/2018 8:53am
From my 300sx to a 450 I notice it most when the bike gets a little bent out of shape. If the track is smooth and fast I think its no difference. Just on principal I don't want a fat cow race bike. I want it light and fast not a comfortable e start pig. If you want that get a TTR.
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TJMX947
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Indian Trail, NC US
7/30/2018 9:03am
ML512 wrote:
For me, I’ve noticed weight isn’t as big of a difference on jumpy, flowing hard packed tracks but I feel a big difference in softer materials...
For me, I’ve noticed weight isn’t as big of a difference on jumpy, flowing hard packed tracks but I feel a big difference in softer materials and sand when you’re hanging direction and slamming into stuff more abruptly. Basically tracks where it takes more muscle and body movement to get around, the lesser weight stands out to me in these situations.
I 100% agree with ML.

Also for me the inertia of the bigger bike has a huge affect on handling. Back in the day a YZ250F and 250T both weighed around the same, however the two stroke felt so much lighter on the track.
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seth505
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7/30/2018 9:11am
ML512 wrote:
For me, I’ve noticed weight isn’t as big of a difference on jumpy, flowing hard packed tracks but I feel a big difference in softer materials...
For me, I’ve noticed weight isn’t as big of a difference on jumpy, flowing hard packed tracks but I feel a big difference in softer materials and sand when you’re hanging direction and slamming into stuff more abruptly. Basically tracks where it takes more muscle and body movement to get around, the lesser weight stands out to me in these situations.
TJMX947 wrote:
I 100% agree with ML. Also for me the inertia of the bigger bike has a huge affect on handling. Back in the day a YZ250F...
I 100% agree with ML.

Also for me the inertia of the bigger bike has a huge affect on handling. Back in the day a YZ250F and 250T both weighed around the same, however the two stroke felt so much lighter on the track.
Agreed, I'm usually on a 2smoke 250 (or 125) and I tried a buddies yz450f at Cahuilla and it felt like a tank. It actually tracked super good when the track got bumpy but it just wanted to go straight.
7/30/2018 9:25am Edited Date/Time 7/30/2018 9:27am
There is a considerable difference between at-rest weight and in-motion weight. A four stroke will always feel heavier than a 2 stroke when riding it because of all the rotating mass involved in a four stroke motor. 2 strokes feel lighter because there isn't as much rotating mass in the motor. They also happen to have fewer internal parts, which makes them fundamentally lighter.

You can lower the in-motion weight by using a lighter crank, flywheel and clutch basket but that comes at the expense of durability. We typically run heavier clutch baskets and/or flywheels (or flywheel weights) on off-road bikes to keep them from stalling, but it does make them "feel" heavier when in motion.

This is why the Alta feels like a giant pig at-rest but super light when in motion. No rotating mass to contribute to the sensation of weight. Think about it that way and you can address weight differently. For example titanium bolt kits and such aren't going to make a huge difference when you actually ride the bike. Some four strokes have a slightly higher center mass, which also contributes to this sensation, which is why all bikes feel different even though they have comparably similar at-rest weights.
Froggy76
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AU
7/30/2018 2:16pm
Thanks for all the advice.
Good to hear that it s not only in my head and the little voice saying to and speak with my wallet, get a 125 is real ?
mark_swart
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Chapin, SC US
7/31/2018 11:59pm
You know when you really feel the weight? When you get closer to the point of no return in a mishap. The heavier the bike, the slimmer your chances of getting it back in line.
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#434
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DE
8/1/2018 1:49am
mark_swart wrote:
You know when you really feel the weight? When you get closer to the point of no return in a mishap. The heavier the bike, the...
You know when you really feel the weight? When you get closer to the point of no return in a mishap. The heavier the bike, the slimmer your chances of getting it back in line.
I fully agree! Had a 125 and could get away with almost anything on the track. Landing sideways, feet off the pegs, hand off the bar.. no problem. Switched to a 450 and crashed making the slightest mistakes. The weight and especially the inertia of that bike just make it unforgiving. Took the fun out of riding for me.
Timo_2824
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Wichita, KS US
8/1/2018 5:43am
My WR250F weights 270 lbs full of fuel, I still moto with it. The major difference I feel is the front end feels heavy, on my KX250 I could hydroplane across this little bay on Keystone lake WFO no problem. I tried it with this bike right after I got it and ended up ripping the shroud mounts off the radiators... Riding in deep sand, whoops, or hard pack doesn't really feel a whole lot different other than the front wheel takes a bit more to get up over obstacles. On the mishap commit, my KX250 threw me off more than this bike. If I cased a jump or landed sideways, I would Endo or get swamping back and forth and highside on the kx. This Yamaha chassis seems to soakup these mistakes better.
Froggy76
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AU
8/4/2018 1:02am
On the topic of throttles, is there a standard throttle assembly that limits travel/twist.
I have a look at the g2 and motion pro but at $300 aud, it s a bit more than I want to spend considering I wil be selling the bike.
All the above have interchangeable reels, I would be happy with a reduce travel and no option for adding or removing the reels if the price is quite significantly cheaper.
Any recommendation would be appreciated.
make1go
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8/4/2018 3:16am
Jrewing wrote:
I know hey! Just got my 125 going and the corner speed difference is amazing.
yes 100%, I had a kx125 up until a few months ago, i didnt ride it that much (was mostly doing enduro) but i couldnt find braking points, i just kept getting later and later. (hadnt riden a 125 in 12 years).
was fun and annoying at the same time..

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