Bike for my 18yr old baby girl

[wheelie]

Hi guys, long story short is I am getting a "race" bike for my daughter.
She is 5'3, weights in around 110 and has been on & off dirt bikes her whole life. She started at 4 yrs of age and by 5-6 was racing pee wee harescrambles & local fair motocross's. She grew up on a pw50, xr50, xr 80, etc. and after a absence she has gotten back into riding (most recently on a RM85). She got a liking to a street bike so I got her a good o'le Suz GS450 and rebuilt it over the winter, but the trade off was selling the RM85.
We have been talking lately about her having another shot at racing dirt bikes before her window closes on having a shot at progressing up the ranks. She wants to start training and start racing in the womens class or C class this next spring. (the trade off is no more street bike..lol) which is fine by me!
I want to focus on her and give her the tools to do well. I am even willing to stop racing myself to do the real deal for her.
With all that said...when she had the RM85 she could touch the ground & start it on her own.. YEY. BUT, to race in the series that she will be running the bike/class displacement must be 86cc & above (no 85 cc bikes allowed).
So that knocks out quite a few options. I WISH GASGAS or Husqv or TM had a race bike that wasn't so high off the ground...lol I have a gasgas 200 and think its 2 heavy for her (plus 2 tall).
Looking for what you guys think on a competitive bike 2 or 4stroke above the 85cc limit that would work in the woods, start easy and be able to be flat footed at 5'3.
We are looking at a 2013 CRF150R expert model.The local honda dealer knows us and has worked with Scarlet before when she used to race and is excited at the prospect of helping her out.

Any ideas besides the CRF? any euro models that we are overlooking? need something easy to ride (starts good, light and smooth power)
Thanks



Pic of Scarlet before this yrs Indianapolis Supercross

[jeffs2200]

The crf or a Ktm 105 would be your best options.

[GasGas]

She is big enough to ride a 125/150. This is my daughter riding the the 150 Husky in the picture and she is 5'-2" if we stretch her on the rack first. No seat mods and no suspension mods. The Husky is very light and easy to start.

The husky can easily be dropped an inch in the suspension and maybe another inch in the seat. Run the bars back and low. We ran rm low's.

[AZRickD]

According to Bikez, the seat height on the Husky 125 is 38.8 inches. That's not too high on a MX track. It will drive her (and me) nutz on a tight hare scramble course.

http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/hus...cr125_2012.php

I've ridden the Honda 150R on trails. It is in serious need of a fly wheel weight. It was difficult to get going at the base of even a shallow hill climb. The owner of that bike went to a Service Honda 250. She loves it and when I took it for a ride, it was a blast. Heavy, though.

My daughter, is around 5' and is on a 85 KTM with small wheels and shaved seat. I little bit low for her, technique-wise but when she gets in the rocks, the ability to plant both feet is well worth it.

For your daughter, I'd at least consider a KTM 105 (big wheel kit). My daughter complained of the "twitchiness" of the motor for tight sections so I added a Steahly FWW (7oz is as big as they come for the small KTMs, unfortunately due to the small cover). It helps a bit, not a lot. I also installed a #400 throttle cam.

We have two girls (6th grade trading up to them from KTM65s just this summer). I have a Rekluse Pro for my daughter's bike, but I haven't installed it yet.

Also from Bikez:
A 2004 KTM dry weights at 150 pounds with a seat height of 35.4".

The 2010-ish Honda CRF150Rs are about 183 pounds with a seat height of 32.4 (!!)

[GMP]

I'd stay away from the super minis (105s) and just get a good used 125 and have it lowered if need be. The full size wheels and suspension make a big difference.

[AZRickD]

For the track, a 125 is fine. For technical trail, it is lacking. Young racers have all but abandoned it here in Arizona.

Here is what he said he is looking for his daughter:

Looking for what you guys think on a competitive bike 2 or 4stroke above the 85cc limit that would work in the woods, start easy and be able to be flat footed at 5'3.

He's not describing any 125 MX bike. Look at the KTM105 and the Honda150, both with FWW. A Rekluse isn't a bad idea, either, if your races tend to be more technical.

[wheelie]

thanks for the great feedback guys

Do they only make the KTM 105 in the SX model?

[skid jackson]

I'd give any number of 125's a look. At 5'3" you'll need to lower just about anything. I have an 08 husky 144 and had an 01 husky wr 125. any husky 125 lowered and set up as a 144 w/bottom end grunt would rock. There are plenty of yammie 125's running around the woods of New England. That would be my starting point. they are cheap, small and as low to the ground as you will get. They can also be massaged to work just fine in the woods. A 125 also makes for a better rider.

[wheelie]

ok...I have a 01 YZ 125 (that she has rode), but she is tippy toe with her riding boots and cant get started without the bike almost falling over..lol or has to use a stand on one side. I feel (as some pointed out) that in the woods she will need to be close to flat footed for all issues she may come through around or over..lol

Since some of you have lowered a bike before, could you give me the steps on how you would go about it? Thanks for all the helpin.

[AZRickD]

She alreadly fits a KTM105/Honda150R.

You'll spend an awful lot of time and money trying to turn that 125 into something it was never intended to be.

That motor is not as enduro-friendly as a KTM 105, and that frame can't be lowered enough to give her the foot security you say she needs.

Do they only make the KTM 105 in the SX model?

All of the small KTMs on the http://www.ktm.com/us/mx.html web site are SX models. They made some XC models (in 2008 or so) but the only difference was a kickstand and a skid plate.