125-200cc best model year for the 165 kit

Thinking of getting the 125 and putting the 165 kit on it. I assume the 2013 WR/CR125 is a good eversion of the 125. But trying to keep this project cheap, how old can you go on the 125 before it starts to feel a bit heavier, slower, not that good handling compared to the 2013 model?

2000 model or thereabouts - was when they came out with the motor that hasn't changed much since and the frame is more or less the same up to 09 - when new frame came out
Id get 09 on if you can but I liked my 08 - it felt slightly bigger

Thanks. Did the bike lose weight with the new frame?

I have a 2002 with the 165 kit. Best bike I have ever owned. My buddy has a 2012 165, motors feel the same but his bike feels a bit smaller to me. Maybe just bar and peg setup as I have taller bars and fastway pegs in low position. The older chassis handles great, havnt spent enough time on newer bike to say if its any better but you will not be disappointed either way.

Yes the 2009 chasis update was lighter.

Thanks. very helpful. Bearing in mind I have a TE310 and want total contrast...are you saying the 2000 to 2004 bikes feel heavier than the 05-08 bikes as well as the 09 and up bikes?

I weighed my 08 and 09 at the same time and there was no real difference

Kelly - I don't think the older cylinders are as good - the 2004s went really hard yes but that was possibly an ignition thing - different CDI
(I remember Walt discussing this ignition at some point years ago)
Ive had few older 06 and 08 cylinders and a FBF 125 and they weren't as strong as the '13 cylinder IMO -
I thought older cylinders (7 transfer port) were smoother but I now think that was just the WR ignition/flywheel

If you go 165 is doesn't really make much difference anyway

Ok, another ? on the same topic. Didn't some early models have true WR trannys? Looking for one of these myself........

I am not sure on the 2002 but the 01 and earlier all had a wider ratio 6 speed than the later models. It is a nice improvement for the 165 as you just don't need the tight gear spacing. I think the WR's from 2002 have the wider ratios. Anything after that is all the closer ratio 6 speed.

I tend to like the pre-09 cylinders because I think they are a little better on the bottom/early mid, everything else being the same. The 09 and later cylinders probably have a bit more top end. But the differences are small enough to where you probably won't really notice a difference if all else is identical. I have run so many iterations of both that at this point I don't have a "real" preference. I can tell you that either one used in a 177 is amazingly fast. So much that I think the 177 should really be used with a FWW or the WR ignition. It has enough extra that it has lost some of that ease of riding that most of us love about the 165. Throttle control is definitely a must with a 177 and the CR ignition. Just an FYI. The extra stroke of the 177 has increased the scavenging efficiency so much that it is just explosive from the upper mid to top which is definitely higher than the 165. Sorry for the high jack of the topic.

I found the 08 cr motor to have more "bite" than the 04 in stock trim. Ergonomics wise, I couldn't see much of a difference personally. But I would agree the 04's are slimmer and carry fuel lower. Always loved the newer husky style though.

Funny rockdancer you think the '08 felt bigger. I have the complete opposite feeling, my bike feels a little bit to short/cramped up compared to an '09. I dunno, 6' and ride standing almost always.

All useful, as I would hope that the 177 is not necessarily clearly better, just different. To have the easiet bike possible to ride is the aim here, so a 165 looks like it will be just fine.

Did the frames become black with the redesign in 2009? Reason I ask is this: http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/husqvarna-125-2009-model/1061853503

The 09 and 10 had the white frame. I think they went black in '11.

So the bike in my link is the new frame version?

Bizarre...the owner said it was the old one!

2011 was white too.