[adams]

Just got a copy of Australian Dirt Bike magazine where it had a write up of the 150R vs KTM85, and they said it lacks top end, that the KTM ate it on longer uphill sections of the track. Everywhere alse the Honda got the nod, but longer uphills is where i thought the 4 stroke would shine, with the 2 stroke running out of legs??? They think it`s not as good as all the hype suggests, is this true? or would jetting it properly turn it around, as i know on my 450x the JD kit and opening the airbox made it a new bike. It was Chad Reeds 14yr old cousin who did the test , and he`s a gun rider who knows his stuff. They also said a few teeth less on the rear sprocket would help.

[stuart]

Hi Adams, I read that too on the weekend. I'm looking to get one of these setup for Trail next year for my boy (currently on the CRF100F), but i was a bit stumped by this review. It mentions a pipe etc will help, but i thought it would be pretty good out of the box?

[crfsonly]

ihaven't read the article so i can't speak to their comments directly but i will tell you the u.s. version from the factory is a jetting mess and the stock exhaust is good but not great. our 150r is currently set up with the white brothers carb kit and the drd exhaust and it flat hauls. there's much more low-end, mid-range, and top-end. i don't doubt that the ktm85 rips up top...the problem is all 80/85 two-strokes are all about the top end...i use to joke that my son's cr80 didn't come with a throttle just an on/off switch. the real value, besides overall horsepower of the four-stroke, is the near-linear power delivery. this makes the power usable by all riders from beginner to pro.

ken

[adams]

OK thanks guys, just trying to get all the info i can as i plan on getting one for my son next year.

[joegencon]

Hi adams my son races NETRA which is trailriding he races in the big wheel class and we just got the CRF150RB. He came out of a CRF100F and wow what a difference. This bike is awesome and has amazing power. I've changed the pilot jet to a 45 and plan on changing the main to a 138 otherwise the bike is stock. He has put about 15 hours on it so far all NE trailriding and he doesn't want me to change anything. He is a very aggressive rider and here in NE we have some of the worse terrain in the country. That being said this bike stock other than rejetting rips like nothing it's size. They say it is set up for MX but the bike seems to be perfect for Trailriding plenty of low end grunt and not to fast in 1st for the nasty stuff.

[adams]

Thanks Joe, thats what i wanted to hear as my son will be mainly on trails.