200 riders, how big/heavy are you?

[GMP]

I want to decide this week on a new bike. I'd like to try a 200 but I'm wondering if I'm just too big for it at 185-190 lbs. I've ridden a couple older ones briefly but not enough to draw a conclusion, plus it was a long time ago. What do you guys think?

[stainlesscycle]

i rode mine for 2 years at 190lbs. you will be on the pipe... it's not as bad as a 125 when you come off the pipe, but being in the right gear helps bunches.

[kendunn]

I have a 300, 250, and 200. I am a pretty big guy, at least 30 pounds on you. Let me just say the little 200 is an amazing bike. It does have limitations and depending on what you ride it may/may not be right. The motor is powerful, it hits like crazy but still has a bit of torque. It begs to be ridden WFO and you can actually do it, holding it open much more than the 300 or even the 250. This is great in fast, roost-brake slide-roost trails, bad for technical hills. If you find yourself always on the pipe with the 250, the 200 will be great. It has the power of a Japanese 250 2t and the handling of a 125. Just don't expect to roll on the throttle on take off up the hills using the torque of the motor like you do a 250 or especially a 300.

[skid jackson]

I weigh around 190 and my husky cr 144 had no problem getting me around New England. E gorr did the top end and I did have him set it up for more bottom and mid. As mentioned above there was a penalty if you blew it on a technical climb getting going again. I did most of my riding off the pipe. At 190 I would not worry about it pulling you around. Its most wether it fits your riding style. I don't know anything about the 200 but I bet you could mod it for the bottom end your looking for. But the beuty of my buds ktm 200 is the smooth bottom end.

[GMP]

I'm keepping my 250 at least for awhile so its not a replacement. I'd ride that in the real technical stuff. I'm thinking the 200 would be more for racing, and when its real slick. Like a 250F without the 4-stroke hassles. I've eliminated the 300, don't need or want that. 200 or another 250.

[husley]

200 rider weight. Had a 200, plenty of power for me.

[stainlesscycle]

yes, as mentioned, you will not grunt up hills, you'd be zinging up them...

[gguyracer]

My son rides a 2011 200 six day. He is an A rider weighing around
180lbs. We race in the southeast were tight techinal trail is normal
everyday riding. He loves the 200 it doesn't hit quite as hard as the 250
but seems to pull almost as good. You do need to keep the revs up
as it makes its power up high but it does still have pulling power in the
low range too. It is just a good all around bike.

[Rick]

Glen,

I am 5'11, 190lbs and without gear, and I am getting close to the big 50! Of course I really like the 200, At one time or another I have rode all of the GasGas 2 stroke line up. I have a chance to ride a 300 when ever my buddy and I get together for a ride. We very seldom switch bikes, he likes his electric motor in the 300 (lazy), and I like ride more aggresive....so the 200 works for me. By buddy is not a racer, however he has game and can wick it up when he choses. I myself have backed off on racing the last few years, but when I was racing cross country style events the 200 was right at home on the tight courses. When the courses opened up and there was longer hill climbs, or desert events it was a little harder to run with the 450's, which was the most common bike in my class.

I have never rode back on the east coast, and from what I've seen and heard about the terrain is much different than out west here. You guys have endless rock gardens, the tree's appear to be much tighter than out here and it looks like you have some elevation changes. IMHO, I think that 200 seems like a great bike for that type of terrain, meaning you can lug it around all day, or you can scream it when needed but have more down low when you need it on the rough stuff.

It is not a 250, so clutch works is required in some cases to loft the front wheel. I have not ridden a newer 200, so I have no idea what they are like, but I'd love to for a seat in the pants test with my old 99 200. The motor is the same, frame is different and so is the suspension.

I am always talking about wanting to get a newer bike. I have tossed around the idea of getting a "newer" YZ125 and converting it to a woods type machine, oversized tank, fly wheel weight, gearing, skid plate, suspension...you know the drill, but I am not sure if I'd be happy with the results..........In the mean time, I'll just keep my old 200

[GMP]

Well, whats making me think 200 is that I raced two HS races this year, thats it. I'm a 53 yr old B SSR. I took a 7th in an A/B combined race and a 2nd two weeks ago in my class. I've been training a lot harder this year so I was happy with the results, but honestly at 53 I don't know how many more years I can push a 250 hard enough for 2 + hrs. Being my kids and a friend of their's are getting into it now, I have an opportunity to do more HS racing next year. I'm thinking maybe I can ride the 200 harder longer, and I'd love to get my A card before I have to hang it up as far as racing. Then I'd get a 300 like the rest of the old dudes.