'11 150sx V. '06-'10 YZ 144

[Stusmoke]

This topic comes up at regular intervals. The time has come for me to make an informed decision on my next bike.

A dealer near me has an '11 150sx in stock. Full engine rebuild, other than that its essentially bone stock. $5990

On the otherhand I can find a second hand YZ125 somewhere for around 3.5 grand depending on the model. I'll spend the money I save on sending my engine away to eric gore for a 144 kit aswell as replacing bits and pieces where needed. Throw on a new pipe down the track and some reeds and it will be close if not better than the KTM in terms of performance.

Now why did I start this thread? I'm after opinions from people who have ridden these bikes. Doesn't have to be the exact model. If you've ridden an '11 through '13 KTM 150sx and/or an '06 through '13 Yz125/144 please post up your opinions.

I might also note that I am mainly concerned with the handling characteristics of the bikes but I am also interested in the powerband and power.

Lets not turn this into another blue and orange war guys, throw your experiences and opinions out there with respect and accuracy.

Cheers

[motoxr377]

Well,

The 150SX seems like a great package.  Lots of goodies (hydraulic clutch) standard, yet I haven't ridden one.  I can however vouch that my TMR ported YZ125 is stupid fast for a 125.  I couldn't imagine it as a 144.

My $0.02.

[gpnewhouse7]

My experiences are based on a 2011 KTM 150sx and a 2006 YZ 125.

The KTM I rode was box stock and was fast as hell (in the higher rpms) and had brilliant handling. The YZ had okay handling with a ton of bottom end grunt but the YZ had a few mods such as Vforce and full dep pipe.

I'd also like to add that I personally would rather ride a bike that was designed like that than one that was modified to be like that.

The KTM is a brilliant bike but I suppose a 144 YZ would be too.

[scotty dog]

I have ridden a '10 150 SX and it was pretty awesome, had to rev the crap out of it but that's the norm, handled well too. Haven't ridden a YZ since my 90 125though,

[Sheriff]

I have compared the 11 150sx with fmf exhaust and sxs head, eg yz144 with fmf exhaust and vforce and a home made stroker YZ144 on the track and dyno.

The big winner was the stroker yz. It had more power everywhere. The SX came second at peak, 2hp less than the stroker, but 1 more than the eg YZ. However, the eg bike had more bottom-mid and more overrev than the sx, so it depends what kind of powerband you prefer.

I prefer the ergos, suspension and handling of the yz. The KTM has powerful brakes, but all the yz needs to catch up is a galfer braided hose.

[beaner]

I've ridden a stock 06 YZ 125 and an Eric Gorr YZ 144. I had only my RM 125 to compare it to at the time. I didn't like the way it handled, or the power. It's not that either were bad, but I thought my RM handled better, and preferred the power with more hit. Even though my RM seemed faster, It wasn't. I couldn't pull away from either.  The 144 bike could not pull away from my 04 125 with SST pipe. I think the YZ would make a good woods bike. My buddy has had his since 06 and it's been a great bike.

[chump6784]

Dirt Action magazine did a lites shootout in 2010 and included the KTM 150 and GYTR 144. They basically said that the KTM had the better motor but the yamaha handled better.

I believe KTM updated the chassis in for 2011 so the handling may be better, i know MXA use 2011 as when the KTM 250sx overtook the YZ250 in terms of everything other than suspension.

After owning a KTM for a couple of months i dont know if i could go back to jap bikes. The little things that KTM do really add up to the finish of the bike. A revalve and respring and you are good to go