A perfect bike is one that fits you, works where you ride and at your speed. It should make you grin when everything is working great, and have readily available parts and service from a dealer you trust when it isn't. Under those guidelines, one rider might be happiest on a KTM 525 and another would be comfortable on a Honda CRF100F. Sorry, but we can't tell you which bike to buy. Only you know how and where you ride, your skill level and your physical traits.
Yet most of the e-mails and letters we receive ask about choices. They start with (choose one): "I've been out of riding for a while..."; "I've been riding a two-stroke and am thinking about a four-stroke..."; "I'm a big guy..."; "I'm an older guy who began riding with my family..."; "I'm a short guy...." You get the idea. The unifying aspect of these letters is the type of riding anticipated: "I ride wooded trails and I want to play at the track once in a while." Finally, they branch out again, asking about choosing a 250cc two-stroke or which size of four-stroke. "What do I do?"
Four-stroke 250
Two-stroke 250
Four-stroke 450