CRF 100 for girlfriend; opinions on model

[squidwell]

For those that have owned one I'm interested in your opinion of this bike, I'm looking to pick one up used for my girlfriend so we can trail ride together and want to know others experiences with this model. I have owned many Hondas over the years so I trust the brand I've just never had the opportunity to ride or look at the 100 closely. Your feedback is appreciated...Thanks everyone

[PlanetMinis.com]

[Luckystar64]

Hi-- If you search this section, you'll read that I got an '02 XR80 for my GF this past X-mas. It was a fun little bike, and I grabbed it up for $500 w/title. Not a bad deal?

Well-- after a few rides, I decided that a TTR125 could be had for about $900. I sold the XR for $625, and grabbed an '05 Estart TTR125 for $950. With a roller cam, more displacement, better suspension and geometry-- don't forget about electric start, it just made more sense. I put a BBR chain guide on it for her, and it's good to go. I imagine that she'll ride it for a couple years-- then I'll move her up to a KLX140. I should be able to get what I paid for the TTR back in a couple years when I sell it. One other plus is that she liked the blue alot better than the red Honda. That actually saved me from forking over more dough on plastics and graphics for the XR. I'd go the same route-- the TTR is just a better, and more modern bike. The linkage on every XR80 I looked at had at least 3/4 of an inch of slop. This TTR is tight in comparison. Good luck, and happy riding.

[LongMooie]

you might want to look at a 150f the 100s are pretty small i looked at just about every bike for my girlfriend and it came down to crf150F or a klx140 or a crf150R
the klx was a really nice bike but a little small in the end we went with the 150R cos i only ride MX tracks and didnt wanna mess with doing a fork and shock conversion on the 150f

[Luckystar64]

The 150F is a great bike-- my own weapons of choice (I have two, and a 150R as well) in the pit bike wars, but it's almost as heavy as a full size bike, and it doesn't like tight situations. Even I have a problem plowing it around tight tracks. The TTR on the other hand is super light-- it feels about the same as an XR100. Since you're doing trails-- the TTR or the KLX140 (alot more chips though!) would be my pick for you. If the price were the same-- I'd have taken the 140 b/c you get disc brakes. A decent 140 would be at least $1200 used, and in stock form it's no faster than the TTR125. You might do as well with a DRZ/KLX125. They can be had for the same money as a TTR.

The 150R would be a stretch for an inexperienced female to trail ride on. It handles well, and has great suspension, but it can be finicky to start, and the power delivery could be dangerous. It would be a fun trail bike for us to ride, but it might scare your girl out of wanting to ride at all. Just my opinion. --L*64

[motoxracer943]

I agree with lucky star about the 150f. It's a full blown race bike. Was made to race with 85cc two strokes and it's a fast bike for the size/wheel base. May be to much bike for your girlfriend. Now I do not know your girlfriends riding experience but I take it that you asking a question about which bike right for her she has little experience. Forgive me if I'm wrong. I the the 150f may be dangerous because if she gets a little whiskey throttle going, all that power will make it worse. I used to have a ttr and I have used it to teach alot of girls to ride and alot of guys who wanted to get there street bike license. It's a great starter bike for anyone. I like the 100 as well. Almost identical bikes. Power is similar and both bikes weigh about the same. If ur getting a good deal on a 100 go for it. U won't be disappointed. It also depends on your girlfriends height and weight too.

My ttr was not electric start. It was a 2001. And real dirt bikes are kick start! Lol sorry all u ktm fans. Rather have a sister in a whore house then a brother with electric start. Hahaha I'm just kidding lazy ppl. Lol.

[731Chopper]

I agree with lucky star about the 150f. It's a full blown race bike. Was made to race with 85cc two strokes and it's a fast bike for the size/wheel base. May be to much bike for your girlfriend. Now I do not know your girlfriends riding experience but I take it that you asking a question about which bike right for her she has little experience. Forgive me if I'm wrong. I the the 150f may be dangerous because if she gets a little whiskey throttle going, all that power will make it worse. I used to have a ttr and I have used it to teach alot of girls to ride and alot of guys who wanted to get there street bike license. It's a great starter bike for anyone. I like the 100 as well. Almost identical bikes. Power is similar and both bikes weigh about the same. If ur getting a good deal on a 100 go for it. U won't be disappointed. It also depends on your girlfriends height and weight too.

My ttr was not electric start. It was a 2001. And real dirt bikes are kick start! Lol sorry all u ktm fans. Rather have a sister in a whore house then a brother with electric start. Hahaha I'm just kidding lazy ppl. Lol.

You're mistaking the 150f for the 150r. The 150f is a trail bike while the 150r is the race bike.

[motoxracer943]

Yes u r right. 150r is the superminis bike n the 150f is the "XR" style bike. My fault. They didn't have a 150 when I raced superminis. Lol. Honda didn't even have an 85 yet. I had a cr80 built to a cr109 lol.

[squidwell]

thanks for the tips fellas my girlfriend really likes the blue one she said so we are looking into the ttr 125 the electric start definitely is a bonus for both of us.

[Luckystar64]

Great. I ride ours here and there-- it's a fun and light little bike. The stock drum brakes work really well too. Even with the Estart. you'll want to rejet to a 17.5/110-112. It makes starting easier. You have to let the thing warm up for awhile before you ride it. It's super cold blooded. A BBR chain guide is a must as well. The bike loves to throw the chain and damage cases.

You'll want to pull the linkage apart and grease all the bushings in there. When you get a bike. Post some pics once you get it. ---L*64

[squidwell]

Thanks L*64 Funny u say chain guide thats the first thing Duane @ BBR told me today when I spoke with him asking his opinion of these bikes and seeing if he had anything in his stable along the ttr lines that he was willing to part with. Great tip on the jetting as well, I plan on going through the bike completely before my girl has the chance to put very many miles on it...we are looking at an 04 in the morning that is local and if we pull the trigger a little ride on sunday will be in order...I'd take her tomorrow except it the supercross race here in seattle and we have tix...priorities ya know, besides gotta route on our homegrown superhero RV.

[Luckystar64]

Sounds like a plan. When you do get the chain guide on there-- it'll rub on the chain, and slow/stop the rear wheel. You have to take it up and down the street a couple times to let the chain carve it's way into the delrin part of the guide. I have no idea why they made it like that, but that's what ya gotta do. After that-- it works great.

I may have to try a CRF150F (linkageless) shifter, b/c my GF is a bigger girl, and she has a problem shifting the bike with boots on. The 150F or BBR shifter should add an inch of room allowing her to shift in her boots. When I sell the bike-- I'll switch back to the stock shifter. Let us know if ya get it. --L*64

[squidwell]

We picked up the ttr 125 on saturday and went for our first ride together on sunday, my girlfriend was a little nervous at first since it had been a while since she had rode and before this outing it was a z 50 so yes size did matter, haha...I must say I am so proud of how well she did, I kept to the easier terrain so she could get the feel of it without being afraid and she caught on just like i hoped she would...for the time that we rode that day she only stalled the motor twice, once going up an incline in loose gravel which I then told her what to do and she got going again without any issues at all...I don't think she really needed my help at all, it was merely the support that gave her the confidence and away she went...I can't wait for our next ride...I'll post some pics soon...

[731Chopper]

Thats awesome.

[motoxracer943]

Glad u are happy with ur choice. Post pics

[Luckystar64]

Good deal! --L*64

[Walsh]

There is a guy selling chain guides on ebay. Fisher designs. He is making them for the TTR and XR. I have a BBR chain guide and a Fisher guide and the quality is just as good as the BBR. They are a bit cheaper than the BBR also.

[squidwell]

Thanks for the tip Walsh, however I live close to the BBR factory and know/ride with the owners.

Here are a couple pics of her bike:

[Luckystar64]

Looks like new, and you got her the L model. Nice! I'm looking to get numbers for our bike. They need to be 5 inch. I'm looking for a cool font. Any ideas?

The Fisher chain guides don't look bad, but I went with the BBR because if I need parts, I can always get ahold of them. --L*64

[motoxracer943]

Looks very good. It's very clean