Need input as it has been 10 years since I have ridden. I had a 1986 honda 250r that I ran in the woods, mud, and jumped. I loved the bike. Is there a better 4 wheeler that is close to the style of the 250r I should be looking at ( cannondale, banshee, other? )? Need some help.

zach

 

I am in a similar position to you and hunting for a TRX250R. It is a great overall bike and still holds it's own against the newer bikes extremely well. It is still my first choice, especially considering how $$$$ the top 4-stroke quads are now.

 

I am not trying to bash anyone's machine or memories. My personal opinion is I do not like the 250R. Especially in the woods. The two strokes that I have ridden are either off or on in the power. There is nothing or the the machine flat out comes unglued. The newer 4-strokes will run with them easily and they have lowend torque instead of feathering the clutch so much. You also will not have to rebuild the motor as often with a 4-stroke. This is just my opinion and good luck finding what you want and have fun when you get it.

Matt

 

thanks for the input.

 

Miteer a stock 250r is actually very mellow.Almost electric like.No hit at all.

 

It's all personal preference. Two strokes have proven themselves in the woods time and time again, Bill Ballance rode and won on one until the rules changed. To this day, I still have not rode a quad that compares to the geometry of a 250R. What Mitteer is speaking of as being either on or off the power is called "riding the pipe", and can be cured somewhat by matching the type of riding you do with your pipe, port work and gearing. A powervalve is an option too.

 

I agree you can set the powerband wherever you want. A simple change of the pipe really effects the powerband. Although even though i own one, i must admit, for woods i might look into like a 450R they are a little easier to ride in woods, because of the greater torque. But for dunes or more open terrain i absolutlely love my 250R. It will hang with the newer 4-strokes, and in some cases romp all over them.

 

Yeah, the R can be a little more difficult than necessary to operate in the woods. You can foul those plugs pretty easily if your in tight trails. But, in my opinion the R is still the best quad....so if you really want one just change the sprockets and you can make it work. The reason I love the R is because although it may not have the most power, it only weighs 328 pounds ---- its all about the power to weight ratio.

 

The 250R is a great bike and is a great MX'r and depending on the riders skillset could be used for anything. If you want to ride woods I would go with today's fourstrokes as they are more forgiving in the gearing department with the tourque. I know that if I screw up on my raptor and am supposed to be in second but I'm still in fourth because a unexpected tree jumped out at me, I can still hit the gas and the bike will react and not stall.

 

i have an 86r with mods and all i do is change the front sprocket around for the general type of riding that day. the 14 for open stuff and wheelies(dont know why ),the 13 for quick rev with some speed sections,the 12 for an insane out of control type rip(instant power....like NOW!!!) and i almost never touch the clutch!! unless in trouble on a hill (rare), using the stock carb(jetted RIGHT) with an all around port(mid) with higher compression yields an awesome torque package that can run 1 spark plug for YEARS !! and as you know ...the handling is top notch! JMHO [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]