I was going to get a Honda CR250... but then at the last moment I started checking out the RM and YZ250. I got the 06 YZ250 and love it.
I have to say, the motor is amazing. I have decent amount of practice on it so far and then went and entered a race. I pulled the hole shot in the first race and held the lead to the finish. On the second heat I grabed the hole shot again and held the lead untill the second to the last lap when I high sided over a jump.
I was very surprised to pull two hole shots back to back against 450's and all. And when I was up front (in race mode state of mind) I couldnt believe how aggressive that machine is. It is willing and able, actually in all parts of the track (straights, corners and all) its faster than the rider, thats what I liked about it. Not once did it feel like the machine was holding me back, but instead I was holding back the machine!
By the way... I rode a friends new Cr250... even though the bike is very nice and well suspended, it lacks majorly in the motor department. All the things that make the YZ's motor so great is missing from the CR's.