[sneaky98gt]

Thanks for the help guys. This is exactly what I was hoping for.

One question left unanswered: how's the reliability of the e-start? I've seen a few complaints in old threads about some of the earlier e-start models, but it looked like something that could be fixed with some shimming or something. I haven't seen anything like the complaints about KTM e-starts, so that's definitely a good thing.

Originally Posted by (F5)

Real easy to start a 200. Heck my 300 is pretty easy except the occasional stuck on side of hill. But that's hardly a common occurrence.

You're right. It's not that common, and usually not that hard. But when you're stalled out on a steep, off camber hill (downhill to your left, uphill to your right), and you can't reach your left foot to the ground, and even if you could, you can't kick it with your right foot since the ground gets in the way....

E-start is a LIFESAVER in a situation like that.

Originally Posted by hadfield4wd

At 5?10? seat height shouldn?t be a problem. You don?t need to ?flat foot? on both sides. When my son first started on a dirt bike he was 5?4 on a full size RM125.

Agreed, and being able to flat foot it isn't a requirement. But, being able reach the ground with some part of your foot with at least some amount of strength, without having to move your body so far that you lose your balance, is certainly helpful. Like if I'm on a steep, technical hill climb, and desperately trying to keep momentum, being able to throw a quick "dab" out to help make a course correction can help a lot. Versus on a bigger bike, I could still probably make that "dab" happen, but I'd have to shift my body weight so much that I'd almost certainly lose my balance and fall.

Originally Posted by RBrider

I'm the same height & weight as you, but 45 yrs older. OTOH, I've got about 45 more yrs of experience.

I have a plated '06 KTM EXC 450 & like it a lot, especially the reliable E start. But finally decided I needed a light weight , good handling woods bike. I found a '01 GG XC 200 and love that bike. IMO, it does everything that I want it to do well. I ride it mainly in WNC, but have done weekend rides in Kentucky, Michigan & Florida. It doesn't seem to care if it's hilly like WNC or Ky or flat & swampy, it just does a great job.

I still use the 450 as a dual sport ride.

No put down of your Honda intended, but a well tuned, older, 200 or 250 GG will out perform it in just about in way you could think of.

Sure, the E start is a bonus, but kick starting a well tuned GG is not a problem.

RB

If you find yourself up here and looking for a riding partner, let me know. Most of my time is spent in NC (Brown, Brushy Mountain).

And no need to worry about putting down the Honda! Haha. Because of the low seat height, E-start, very mellow power, and overall small size, I don't think there's a better bike on the planet for someone to learn how to ride offroad on. With just a tiny bit of investment into the suspension, it really is an excellent entry level bike.

And then, after learning the basics, it's still a great bike to really start to learn more advanced skills on. Because it's so underpowered, and because even a fully reworked suspension is still only 3/4 the size of a proper suspension, you're practically forced to become very proficient with the clutch, and carry more momentum into corners / hills, and be smarter when it comes to picking lines. In the end, I 100% believe that spending a couple years on this bike has made me a MUCH better rider than I would be if I would have started out on some sort of full size, 50 horsepower enduro bike.

But, all of that said, I ABSOLUTELY recognize that it has it's limitations. I used to be one of those guys that said it could do anything that any other bike out there could do. Then, I raced it a few times, including in an extreme enduro, and I realized that no matter how easy it might be to ride, it's not capable of doing the things a proper enduro bike can do.

So that's why I'm here, looking for something to replace it. Something to address it's deficiencies, without giving up too many of the things that make it an extremely easy bike to ride.

Originally Posted by pscook

http://www.gasgasrider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=23088

^ This bike right here ^ Exactly what you want (need? ).

I have ridden an older KTM 200, and it was peaky and twitchy compared to my (dearly departed) 2011 EC300. Comparing the CRF230F to either the KTM 200 or a GG250/300 is comparing apples to elephants.

The 2011 GG chassis was allegedly the Premiere" configuration, but the earlier versions don't feel that much different (to me). My 2001 300 was pretty similar to my 2011 300, except the engine had different characteristics (E start on the 2011 and flywheel as well as carb and pipe were different between the two).

Riding my new-to-me Husqvarna WR125 (with the 165 kit) feels so similar to the 2011 GG, that I would say that yes, the pre-2012 GG250/300 chassis is similar to a 125 in ergonomics, and it's pretty similar to the early KTM 200. So regardless as far as sizing, there is nothing really between them.

But buy the 2015 250 posted above. You will NOT go wrong or have buyer's remorse.

That's good to hear confirmation that pre-2012 GGs are at least similar in size to the small-frame KTM 200s. While I haven't ever ridden one of those KTMs, I have sat on them a few times, and it's definitely a size that I think would work well for me in the woods.

I saw that bike, and I'm keeping it in the back of my mind. But, I'm also actively talking with a member about another one that's posted for sale. Will keep y'all updated on what pans out.