Advice: '16 KTM 250sx or '16 YZ250 2 stroke

Dirtysmile56
Profile picture for user Dirtysmile56
Posts
2252
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Bend, OR, USA
Dirtysmile56
Edited Date/Time 5/23/2016 11:21am
I've got an itchy trigger finger and want to pull the trigger on a new 2 smoke.(can't find any decent used) I am torn between the two bikes. I know I can't go wrong with the Yamaha especially the suspension and handling. I need to at least give serious consideration to go for the super trick KTM and support the company that never gave up on the beloved 2 stroke. I want to hear you guys opinions.... I want to ride whatever bike I get bone stock.....If that helps. They are both exactly the same price essentially. Thanks in advance.
|
colintrax
Profile picture for user colintrax
Posts
4695
Joined
8/25/2015
Location
Taylorsville, GA, USA
colintrax 5/3/2016 5:07pm
5/3/2016 5:07pm
Wait for the 2017 KTM
mx621
Profile picture for user mx621
Posts
310
Joined
12/8/2014
Location
USA
mx621 5/3/2016 5:12pm
5/3/2016 5:12pm
What Colin said
usafwx
Profile picture for user usafwx
Posts
1495
Joined
7/19/2012
Location
Trussville, AL, USA
usafwx 5/3/2016 5:19pm
5/3/2016 5:19pm
Dirtysmile56 wrote:
Big changes ?
AER forks, which are night and day better than the 4CS (trust me I bought a 16 150SX and sold it soon there later because of the suspension). I'm a yamaha guy so I would vote the tried and true YZ but it is long in tooth and the KTM looks sooooooo sick and fit and finish is second to none along with the bike is super light, etc. Best of luck in your purchasing, super exciting.

The Shop

See All »
tempura
Profile picture for user tempura
Posts
2075
Joined
5/18/2015
Location
JP
tempura 5/3/2016 5:23pm
5/3/2016 5:23pm
Wait for the 17 KTM. And I ride a YZ, by the way.
colintrax
Profile picture for user colintrax
Posts
4695
Joined
8/25/2015
Location
Taylorsville, GA, USA
colintrax 5/3/2016 5:28pm
5/3/2016 5:28pm
Dirtysmile56 wrote:
Big changes ?
New frame, motor, suspension. Don't know exact specifics, but better (air) forks, more HP, lighter, and better handling.
pete24
Profile picture for user pete24
Posts
2733
Joined
10/20/2011
Location
Marlborough, MA, USA
pete24 5/3/2016 5:39pm
5/3/2016 5:39pm
its a dirt bike its going to break everything breaks, price the parts you will be shocked at what ktm parts cost, then buy the yz like i did, and dont base it on how good of a rider you are, im pretty sure Roxanne won the last two sx races on an outdated pos, and he is slightly better than u
dedi684
Profile picture for user dedi684
Posts
1389
Joined
8/21/2009
Location
Ravena, NY, USA
dedi684 5/3/2016 6:13pm
5/3/2016 6:13pm
Had a 15 250 sx and bought a 16 yz instead. Ktm great brakes steers great clutch is awesome. Overall fit and finish on the ktm im not impressed. Jetting was horrendous as well. Jusy my opinion.
Johnny Ringo
Profile picture for user Johnny Ringo
Posts
8217
Joined
1/11/2016
Location
Tombstone, AZ, USA
Johnny Ringo 5/3/2016 6:21pm
5/3/2016 6:21pm
YZ250F

Thank me later
seth505
Profile picture for user seth505
Posts
10222
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
SD, CA, USA
seth505 5/3/2016 6:28pm
5/3/2016 6:28pm
Johnny Ringo wrote:
YZ250F

Thank me later
Worst post of the day! Ha

Both bikes are great, yz if you aren't even going to revalve suspension but I like my ktm better than yz I had.
Pirate421
Profile picture for user Pirate421
Posts
1826
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
USA
Pirate421 5/3/2016 6:42pm
5/3/2016 6:42pm Edited Date/Time 5/3/2016 6:44pm
I had an '11 YZ250 and a '14 250sx and I kept the 250sx. I loved the Yamaha but chose the ktm because I'm a little taller and it seemed to fit me better. Also the maintnenance was easier for me with the ktm because there is so much room around the engine and frame to work. Pretty trivial I guess but I just liked the ktm better. I would vote to ride both and just pick the one you like better not what all us yahoos say is better for us. Also I haven't had any trouble getting parts for my bike I use vertex pistons and the only things that I replace are wear items like chains, sprockets, guides, tires brake pads. Most of those parts are aftermarket but the oem parts I do but don't seem to be much more expensive than my Yamaha.
nascarnate326
Profile picture for user nascarnate326
Posts
3008
Joined
11/3/2014
Location
Charlotte, MI, USA
nascarnate326 5/3/2016 7:04pm
5/3/2016 7:04pm
If waiting for a 17 is not an option...get the YZ. Its tried and true..everyone knows everything about it. After market is huge for the bike. Yes it looks a bit dated but it does pretty much everything well.

Getting a 17 KTM may be difficult as its going to be a popular bike produced in limited quantities.
Joko
Profile picture for user Joko
Posts
1555
Joined
1/2/2011
Location
Haddam, CT, USA
Joko 5/3/2016 7:16pm
5/3/2016 7:16pm
Any info on the 2017 YZ250's surface yet?
colintrax
Profile picture for user colintrax
Posts
4695
Joined
8/25/2015
Location
Taylorsville, GA, USA
colintrax 5/3/2016 7:19pm
5/3/2016 7:19pm
Joko wrote:
Any info on the 2017 YZ250's surface yet?
BNG and new tires.
usafwx
Profile picture for user usafwx
Posts
1495
Joined
7/19/2012
Location
Trussville, AL, USA
usafwx 5/3/2016 7:30pm
5/3/2016 7:30pm
Joko wrote:
Any info on the 2017 YZ250's surface yet?
colintrax wrote:
BNG and new tires.
Yep, I'll put money on it.
Aceofspades 5/3/2016 7:33pm
5/3/2016 7:33pm
New bike in my very near future as well, and the same dilemma for me. I'm actually leaning toward a yz even though the prices are similar, because the yz has almost 20 years worth of parts availability both oem and aftermarket. As cool as a new-technology ktm would be, the yz is still plenty good enough if the reviews are to be believed. I'm leaning toward a yz250X though, because it seems to be even better than the mx version.
ledger
Profile picture for user ledger
Posts
3669
Joined
1/17/2013
Location
USA
ledger 5/3/2016 8:10pm
5/3/2016 8:10pm
Joko wrote:
Any info on the 2017 YZ250's surface yet?
colintrax wrote:
BNG and new tires.
usafwx wrote:
Yep, I'll put money on it.
X2, and Yamahaul may go all out and shock the world with a 270 rotor. I would like to see KTM go back to the orange frame cause I'm buying my first orange two stroke when the 17's hit the floor. At 54 year's old, I figure it's time to start working on the ole bucket list and pay my dues to my childhood hero, The Man Roger DeCoster.

Pit Row

See All »
kiwifan
Profile picture for user kiwifan
Posts
9862
Joined
10/31/2009
Location
USA
kiwifan 5/3/2016 8:33pm
5/3/2016 8:33pm
if you are wanting to buy one now then go for the YZ
BobPA
Profile picture for user BobPA
Posts
8343
Joined
10/31/2013
Location
USA
BobPA 5/3/2016 8:46pm
5/3/2016 8:46pm
Ride them both and see what you like. But if you can wait for the 17's the KTM will be a no brainer.
shanes
Profile picture for user shanes
Posts
578
Joined
3/4/2014
Location
AD
shanes 5/3/2016 9:01pm
5/3/2016 9:01pm
get yourself a 2016 TM 250 / 300 TM usa have them , every that has has risen mine cant believe how good the engine and handling is , best build quality on the market and you will stand out at the track as no one else will have one

Pete The Fisherman 5/3/2016 9:27pm
5/3/2016 9:27pm
shanes wrote:
get yourself a 2016 TM 250 / 300 TM usa have them , every that has has risen mine cant believe how good the engine and...
get yourself a 2016 TM 250 / 300 TM usa have them , every that has has risen mine cant believe how good the engine and handling is , best build quality on the market and you will stand out at the track as no one else will have one

Good luck reselling it in a few years. Been down that road before.
shanes
Profile picture for user shanes
Posts
578
Joined
3/4/2014
Location
AD
shanes 5/3/2016 9:48pm
5/3/2016 9:48pm
Pete The Fisherman wrote:
Good luck reselling it in a few years. Been down that road before.
being a 2 stroke you don't have to as very cheap to rebuild yourself and when its to old buy a new one leave this as a spare and for mates to ride :-}}

when your thinking about selling a bike before you have even brought it i this you maybe picked the wrong hobby or sport , have you looked at secondhand 2 stroke prices ? some selling 10 year old bikes for more than they paid for them new
racerhansen
Profile picture for user racerhansen
Posts
799
Joined
12/6/2010
Location
Aarhus, DK
racerhansen 5/3/2016 10:02pm
5/3/2016 10:02pm
shanes wrote:
get yourself a 2016 TM 250 / 300 TM usa have them , every that has has risen mine cant believe how good the engine and...
get yourself a 2016 TM 250 / 300 TM usa have them , every that has has risen mine cant believe how good the engine and handling is , best build quality on the market and you will stand out at the track as no one else will have one

Spare parts for these bikes are crazy expensive and barely any aftermarket parts available. They ride great though
cwtoyota
Profile picture for user cwtoyota
Posts
2424
Joined
3/11/2013
Location
Tacoma, WA, USA
cwtoyota 5/3/2016 10:06pm
5/3/2016 10:06pm
pete24 wrote:
its a dirt bike its going to break everything breaks, price the parts you will be shocked at what ktm parts cost, then buy the yz...
its a dirt bike its going to break everything breaks, price the parts you will be shocked at what ktm parts cost, then buy the yz like i did, and dont base it on how good of a rider you are, im pretty sure Roxanne won the last two sx races on an outdated pos, and he is slightly better than u
Both bikes can be razor sharp in the corners, or plenty stable. Both handle awesome.
The KTM makes a bunch of power stock, the YZ needs the head milled and some jetting.
Yamaha has superior suspension. It's not even close.
KTM's front brake is spectacular. The YZ needs a 270mm rotor to be on par.

KTM parts are far more expensive.
I bought the bike with better suspension and upgraded the brake, head, jetting and put my number on it.
If either bike is too slow, make it a 300cc engine and you can holeshot the 450 class.
Pete The Fisherman 5/3/2016 10:07pm
5/3/2016 10:07pm Edited Date/Time 5/3/2016 10:08pm
Pete The Fisherman wrote:
Good luck reselling it in a few years. Been down that road before.
shanes wrote:
being a 2 stroke you don't have to as very cheap to rebuild yourself and when its to old buy a new one leave this as...
being a 2 stroke you don't have to as very cheap to rebuild yourself and when its to old buy a new one leave this as a spare and for mates to ride :-}}

when your thinking about selling a bike before you have even brought it i this you maybe picked the wrong hobby or sport , have you looked at secondhand 2 stroke prices ? some selling 10 year old bikes for more than they paid for them new
I meant tm bikes are very hard to sell in the us, not bikes in general. But thanks for the history lesson.
Motofinne
Profile picture for user Motofinne
Posts
11649
Joined
1/4/2014
Location
FI
Motofinne 5/3/2016 10:56pm
5/3/2016 10:56pm
Wait for the 2017 KTM and buy that!
Jrewing
Profile picture for user Jrewing
Posts
2863
Joined
1/4/2014
Location
AU
Jrewing 5/4/2016 1:10am
5/4/2016 1:10am
shanes wrote:
get yourself a 2016 TM 250 / 300 TM usa have them , every that has has risen mine cant believe how good the engine and...
get yourself a 2016 TM 250 / 300 TM usa have them , every that has has risen mine cant believe how good the engine and handling is , best build quality on the market and you will stand out at the track as no one else will have one

What he said.
GNCC Lapper 5/4/2016 2:26am
5/4/2016 2:26am
Dirtysmile56 wrote:
Big changes ?
colintrax wrote:
New frame, motor, suspension. Don't know exact specifics, but better (air) forks, more HP, lighter, and better handling.
I've had YZ's and loved them, and currently have a KTM 300 which is awesome, but I ain't buyin nothing with air forks! They'll be gone in a few years.
nascarnate326
Profile picture for user nascarnate326
Posts
3008
Joined
11/3/2014
Location
Charlotte, MI, USA
nascarnate326 5/4/2016 4:06am
5/4/2016 4:06am
Dirtysmile56 wrote:
Big changes ?
colintrax wrote:
New frame, motor, suspension. Don't know exact specifics, but better (air) forks, more HP, lighter, and better handling.
GNCC Lapper wrote:
I've had YZ's and loved them, and currently have a KTM 300 which is awesome, but I ain't buyin nothing with air forks! They'll be gone...
I've had YZ's and loved them, and currently have a KTM 300 which is awesome, but I ain't buyin nothing with air forks! They'll be gone in a few years.
Suspension is 99% why I am on a yz250.

SSS just works. I can add power with reeds, fuel, head work etc. having suspension that works out of the box is real nice!

Post a reply to: Advice: '16 KTM 250sx or '16 YZ250 2 stroke