Need for a bike between the CRF 230 and CRF 250X

At a lot of the rides I attend, I notice that there are not only women but men riding 230's.  It seems that every 230 I see has an unreal amount of modifications to make it more like an XR 250w/ electric start.  Luckily, I am a tall woman rider, so i can ride a 250x, but the high rpm motor, easily destroyable radiators, and amount of maintenance keep me on the CRF 230, which seems to be strictly a beginner(though very heavy)or slow trail bike (but almost indestructable).  I recently started riding my husband's old XR 250 and absolutely love it-except for the kick start.  When on a group ride, I feel comfortable, but in a race, I am weary to take it out on my own.  It is difficult enough to pick up these heavy machines on a hillside, much less worrying about kick starting it.  Unless I'm in a low spot, I have to put it on the stand or lean it against a tree to start it.  Also, if it floods & gets hot, it takes several kicks to get it going, which takes precious energy away. I know I'm not the only one out there, but with more women riding, an intermediate bike would be great- not only for women, but smaller men, or aging riders (people are riding much longer nowadays!!).  I've made so many mods to the 230, but I can ride the XR 250 so much better.  Please, someone, make a woods bike for us!!  

KTM has several 2 stroke enduro models. They have a 150xc that would be a lot lighter. I'm not sure if they offer electric start on the 150, but they do offer e-start on a wide array of enduro bikes 2 and 4 stroke.  
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Stand in the place where you are, think about direction and wonder why you haven't
North Carolina

It's been a while since I've been on a 2 stroke (KX 80), but don't all of the KTM's still have radiators and are pretty high maintenance?  

Yeah, but I cant think of any lightweight, e-start, modern era bike that is not liquid cooled. You can add radiator braces to help protect them.  
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Stand in the place where you are, think about direction and wonder why you haven't
North Carolina

Kawasaki makes a 220 i believe. Someone correct me if im wrong. but it is a two stroke. I cant rember exactly but it is something like a kdx220.  
Adam
2002 XR 100R
2003 RM 100

just checked its a kdx200  
Adam
2002 XR 100R
2003 RM 100

True, but she wants an air cooled bike.  
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Stand in the place where you are, think about direction and wonder why you haven't
North Carolina

yeah, i bent the radiators pretty bad with both the braces and guards on. I just raced my first enduro this year & would like to do more.  Still not the best rider in the world though-I tend to drop it from time to time  Also, the only way for me to get the bike up in the right direction on a hillside it to drag it around.  I weigh about 125, so I have to use anyway I can to pick it up.  Just so frustrating!!  A bilke with a good suspension, disc brake, aluminum frame would sure be nice  I've even talked with Scott Summers' dad at one of the races-he rides sometimes in the same class as my dad.  He has a tricked out 230!  I've just seen so many people spending tons of money to make this bike into something it is obviously not-there is obviously a need!!  

I think you would have greater control, which hopefully means less laying down and picking up, if you got a lightweight 2stroke KTM enduro. Go to a KTM dealer and check em out. I cant wait to get an XC!  
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Stand in the place where you are, think about direction and wonder why you haven't
North Carolina

Could this be more a problem of rider error instead of bike error? To demolish a radiater on multiple occasions isn't normal. I have only broken one set within a period of 9 years that spanned across 3 different bikes. And this includes hard trail riding and motocross with multiple bad wrecks. So I don't see how radiaters can turn you away from a bike.

If you want a high performance machine then it needs to have high performance parts such as radiaters.

As for kickstarting, 2st are so easy to start you don't need e start, although I believe all KTM XC models come with it. Now the generation of FI is upon us, and the good news is it allows those stubborn 4st to start in 1 kick in almost any situation.

The KTM 150 XC comes in well below 200 pounds, so if the 4st are too heavy you could look at this.

But within a few years the KTM 250xcf and Honda crf250x should be available with FI. And I think both those bikes have e start already. You just might have to hit the gym a little.  

thanks for all the compliments!  Have been hitting the gym, & trying to ride as much as I can.  Didn't quite demolish the radiators, but did bend them. (i was riding someone else's bike that was set up a little tall and I dropped it a few times due to not being able to touch the ground.)  As I said before-looking for something in between a 230 and 250x.  Not looking for a "high performance" machine.  It would be nice if there was an inbetween.  Having ES I think has made riding a lot more accessible to female riders & this is an awesome thing to be able to go riding with the husband & family.  Sorry, not a pro-not a dude either.  Lighten up!

As said before, I'm not the only one trying to modify the 230 into something it is not.  

i don't understand what you want then? a crf250F, like the 230? the crf250X is actually extremely reliable, and low maintenance.

i'm sorry if i came off rudely. but i think a KTM 150 XC might be perfect for you given the circumstances  

what would be perfect is a bike more like a xr 250 w/ electric start, aluminum frame.  my husband is a tech and I would like to keep him from having to pull maintenance on my bike all the time.  Also, I don't keep the bike at the rpm's it really needs to perform correctly.  The old style, air cooled bikes would be awesome.  My dad had 2 250x's and you have to keep the valves adjusted & everything is much more expensive.  There just doesn't seem to be a bike for someone that needs to step up from a beginner bike-especially a female rider.  I'm too tall for the kid's bikes & it is just frustrating.  

a 150 XC isn' a kids bike. its an overbored 125 trails model. its a full sized bike.
Honda had a valve problem for a few years. you might want to take another look at the crf250x or KTM 250xcf. cleaning the air filter and changing the oil are the only maintenance these bikes will need.

but im sorry to tell you there is NO bike yo are looking for. your not going to find one here or anywhere. you would have to fabricate one. bore your 230 to a 250 and put it in a 250 frame.  

that's what i'm saying. there isn't a bike between the crf 230 and crf 250x.  don't want a 2 stroke kick start with radiators.  thanks for the advice though.  would be happy as a clam if i could put an ES on our 1999 XR 250.