KTM 125/200 2t
By TMX Archives on 24th May 11
125 two strokes have a special talent. There is no bike on the planet more fun to ride than a small-bore two-stroke. The kind of bike that requires full commitment and aggression to get the most out of them, but when ridden well make you feel like youre the fastest man alive.
There is no bike on the planet more fun to ride than a small-bore two-stroke. The kind of bike that requires full commitment and aggression to get the most out of them, but when ridden well make you feel like you're the fastest man alive.
The small-bore KTMs are no exception to this rule and I had more fun aboard the 200 than on any other bike.
It's an oversized 125, not a downsized 250 and has to be ridden hard. The new chassis has made these already super-
light bikes handle very well and they love to be kept singing.
The 125 makes impressive power, but unlike its bigger brothers there is still a denable power-band.
This can make things a little difcult when riding more technical sections, where the extra torque of a bigger engine can make a big difference.
Kudos to KTM - the jetting was spot on and never missed a beat. The suspension was good, soaking up hits surprisingly well.
As has been the case for the last few years, the ergonomics remain spot on, the clutch light and brakes very good.
There is a little downside to the hero-factor of these two bikes. They perform very well, but as a rider you have to be putting in 90-100% effort at all times.
There is no rest, the bike has to be in the powerband or it doesn't go anywhere and most of the time they will struggle to compete with the ease of use of modern four-strokes.
The lightness of the bikes means they tend to skip around a fair bit and can become hard to keep on the gas and compared to the equivalent four-strokes they are not really a match.
They are true racers' bikes and will respond well for the younger/smaller rider.
Specification:
