Posts
14
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
USA
Hey Vital.
Need some help with choosing.
About me: 30 years old, elite bicycle racer and use to race in my younger years. 80's Supermini, School Boy and C-B-Caught running money races and bumped to A class racer until I was 20 and Quit.
2 years ago I bought a ktm EXC-F. I'm ready to move on because I'm basically a professional practice rider and have no need for that bike anymore with my desired use.
I'm between a 2017 KTM 250sx, 150sx and a 2017 YZ250x. Leaning KTM. I'm not looking at used bikes at all as I don't have any interest in buying a possible issue or having something occur because I didn't know it existed...so no need to weigh in on that option.
My issue is that I read on other posts that people say pick the KTM hands down. but then I see people gripe about the carb, the reeds being stuck open, the Clutch slave leaking(have this issue on my ktm), air forks sticking in cold weather.
I also really like that KTM is developing 2 strokes still and the price really isn't that much more than a YZ250X thats over a decade old.
The YZ is the old war horse and is trusty as ever, but just not sure if I want to support Yamaha for only kinda updating the YZ.
Am I going to be putting 7K into a KTM only to be pissed off every couple weeks with a new issue?
Weigh in Please. I feel I've read alot of the posts that are out there and no one has given a "6 month" update on their 17 KTM.
Thanks everyone
Need some help with choosing.
About me: 30 years old, elite bicycle racer and use to race in my younger years. 80's Supermini, School Boy and C-B-Caught running money races and bumped to A class racer until I was 20 and Quit.
2 years ago I bought a ktm EXC-F. I'm ready to move on because I'm basically a professional practice rider and have no need for that bike anymore with my desired use.
I'm between a 2017 KTM 250sx, 150sx and a 2017 YZ250x. Leaning KTM. I'm not looking at used bikes at all as I don't have any interest in buying a possible issue or having something occur because I didn't know it existed...so no need to weigh in on that option.
My issue is that I read on other posts that people say pick the KTM hands down. but then I see people gripe about the carb, the reeds being stuck open, the Clutch slave leaking(have this issue on my ktm), air forks sticking in cold weather.
I also really like that KTM is developing 2 strokes still and the price really isn't that much more than a YZ250X thats over a decade old.
The YZ is the old war horse and is trusty as ever, but just not sure if I want to support Yamaha for only kinda updating the YZ.
Am I going to be putting 7K into a KTM only to be pissed off every couple weeks with a new issue?
Weigh in Please. I feel I've read alot of the posts that are out there and no one has given a "6 month" update on their 17 KTM.
Thanks everyone
TX300
Done
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
That is first good 2-stroke that doesn't shake and have good power curve for anyone. Others are more on/off type 2-strokes.
The husk/ktm chassis is good, but like other bikes that are updated regularly there are some niggling issues mainly the air forks and shock need some sorting out.
overall it is better than the yz but marginally, its motor is stronger for sure and the chassis is sharper.
if i was buying NEW, i would choose KTM HUSKY, for a few reasons, one they are actively investing in the 2 stroke design, whilst yamaha has just hit the copy button as demand from dealers is still high enough to justify keeping it.
2nd the KTM is more advanced, comes with premium parts (like vforce etc) that you would otherwise be paying to add to the yz.
3rd its new. again its not a reheated 2002 bike. I have a 03 yz250 and my dad has a 17 yz250. literally almost NO difference.
YZ, its a very good bike. the fact that the existing model is fairly unchanged speaks volumes as to how good it was, BUT its showing its age and the only department its better than the ktm is suspension. with that being said i wouldnt buy a new one, only cuz you can buy a 2006 and its the same but half the price.
Build quality is second to none.
For an advanced rider who wants the bike only for motocross, the TC250 would be more suiting.
I had a 2010 YZ250 that was just awesome, should have never got rid of it.
I owned one of each but the TM (and plan to fix that in a not so long future because i just turned 50... Been drooling on the craftsmanship for years, plus it's not everybody's bike)
Currently on a 17TC 250.
Yes she drove me nuts for some time to get it running correctly but now it's fixed and it's an awesome bike.
I'm a slow Vet C, practice wonder
.
AER are in my modest opinion as good if not better than the KYB on the Yamie,
Rode last WE in 40F temp and no issues with the forks.
I put a stiffer spring on the shock and today don't even feel the need for a revalve
I had 13 250SX that I converted into a 300 with full Ohlins TTX setup and never had an issue with it either
I got many YZ and the were rock solid too.
I ended up with the TC because I could not get the YZ significantly cheaper (and it's pretty much the same bike I bought in 2006), and I see too much Orange these days!
You're getting a lot of quality components on the KT/Husqy for more than the $ difference with the YZ
Pro's: Engine,weight (lack of), traction, stability (first smoker feeling so "planted"), AER are top, Air filter maintenance is a breeze, Hydro clutch can be beat. PV allows a lot of adjustability in the power delivery.
Con's : bolts sizes all over the place, the Mikuni was a pain to jet..., it's a 2 stroke, so you're on some sort of Dinosaur
Maybe that might help you on your pick YZ or KTM
Pit Row
As a yz and sx owner, my advice is the sx for sure.
For the absolute fastest motor, I'd go KTM/Husky but you can negate that difference with $600 in a FMF/PC and VForce on the YZ.
23hrs on mine. Leaned the clip, 450 main. Runs good. No issues at all. Buddy has a new husky 250 with more hours and hasn't had any problems either.
filters are cheaper than early rebuilds
Thing is smooth, rideable for long periods of time and a shitload of fun.
Ktm's are flash but not worth the extra coin it would of cost me. (Plus my yamaha dealer is abit friendlier than the local ktm dealer)
Think of the people that were considering buying an 08 CRF450 but didn't want to buy a 6 year old bike so they got the 09 CRF450 instead.
There is a reason they still make them...because people buy them. Also, if you have to justify anything financially related to motocross get a different sport. Nothing in MX should ever be justified lol
Eric Gorr knows how to make these go.
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