We get some version of this question at the counter almost every day: "which bike should I get?" The honest answer depends on two things — how much time you've actually spent on a dirt bike, and where you're planning to ride it. Our fleet spans a 2020 Honda CRF250F to a 2023 KTM 300SX, and those two bikes have almost nothing in common on the trail. Here's the model-by-model breakdown we'd give you in person.
The Honda four-strokes: CRF250F and CRF125F
The 2020 Honda CRF250F and 2021 Honda CRF125F are both four-stroke trail bikes. Power comes on smoothly and predictably — twist the throttle and the bike responds in a straight line, without the sudden hit a two-stroke delivers. There's no powerband to manage and no need to keep the engine spinning in a narrow RPM range to get anything out of it.
That predictability is why these two are the right call for beginners and for returning riders who haven't been on a bike in years. The CRF125F is the smaller of the two — lighter, lower seat height, easier to pick up if you drop it, which you will, at least once. We put youth riders and true first-timers on it. The CRF250F carries adult riders comfortably while keeping that same forgiving delivery.
The two-strokes: KTM 300SX and GASGAS EX250
The 2023 KTM 300SX and 2023 GASGAS EX250 are both two-stroke bikes, and they ride nothing like the Hondas. Two-strokes are lighter per cc, and the power comes in a narrower band — quiet down low, then a real surge as the RPM climbs. You manage that surge with the clutch and throttle together. Get it right and the bike goes exactly where you point it with almost no effort. Get it wrong and you'll loop out or stall, usually on a climb.
The 300SX is the most aggressive bike in our fleet — the largest displacement of our two-strokes and the most raw power delivery, the bike experienced riders ask for by name. The GASGAS EX250 is lighter and slightly less peaky, which makes it a genuinely fun bike on tighter, more technical trails where you need the front end light and responsive rather than planted.
We don't put first-time riders on either one — a two-stroke's power delivery punishes hesitation, and Apple Valley isn't the place to learn that the hard way.
The middle ground: Husqvarna TC250
The 2023 Husqvarna TC250 sits between those two groups. It's still a two-stroke with that same narrow-band power delivery, so you're still managing clutch and throttle together and still need seat time to get smooth on it. But its suspension and chassis are tuned in a way we've found more forgiving on rough terrain than the 300SX, without dulling the performance.
We'd point an intermediate rider here before handing them the 300SX — someone who's outgrown the Hondas and understands clutch work but isn't ready for the KTM's harder-edged power. It's a slightly more forgiving way to get two-stroke experience while building toward the more aggressive bikes in the fleet.
Matching the bike to the trail
Skill level is half the decision. Where you're actually riding is the other half.
Headed to Sand Hollow? You're dealing with deep sand, sharp elevation changes, and technical rock. That terrain rewards a bike you can move around underneath you — light, responsive, with power you can meter out in short bursts to climb a dune face without bogging down. That favors the two-strokes, specifically the GASGAS or the Husqvarna if you're not yet at 300SX level.
Riding our beginner-friendly terrain instead — flatter trails, wider paths, fewer surprises — the CRF250F or CRF125F is the better tool. There's no reason to fight a peaky two-stroke on terrain that doesn't demand it. Save that bike for the day you're ready for Sand Hollow or Gooseberry Mesa.
Our actual decision framework
- Never ridden off-road, or it's been years: Honda CRF125F or CRF250F, on beginner-friendly terrain.
- Comfortable with clutch and throttle control, want to start learning two-stroke power: Husqvarna TC250.
- Experienced rider who wants a nimble bike for technical, tight trails: GASGAS EX250.
- Experienced rider who wants the most aggressive power in the fleet: KTM 300SX.
If you're between two of these, tell us that when you book, or call us at (385) 236-8086 and we'll talk it through before you show up. We'd rather spend five minutes matching you to the right bike than watch you white-knuckle a 300SX on your first ride of the day. Pricing depends on the bike and how long you're out — see current pricing for exact numbers across the fleet, and check our full fleet before you decide.
