2022 crf250r vs ktm 150sx

brandontobia773
Alright guys I have a dilemma, I have a 21 ktm 150sx which is a blast to ride, have a bunch of power mods but still the stock suspension, just now got the chance to buy full A kit KYB forks for just 2500… or buy a 22 crf 250r and trade in the 150 for 2500 more… i love the 150 but it kind of gets old always have to ride it so hard and can’t really take a break compared to a 250f where it’s alittle easier, B class skill as well, anyways what would you guys do? Would you rather have A kit on a 150 or the new Honda 250? Is the A Kit stuff really that impressive?Thanks!
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wrc777
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wrc777 12/31/2021 7:58pm
12/31/2021 7:58pm
I have both these bikes in my garage at the moment. I imagine you will ride a 250 faster than a 150. You are probably going to need revalve and springs for the 250r. The suspension setting can be harsh, and I get a lot of deflection on rocks and roots but it doesn’t work that great in sand either which should favor a stiff setup. You might get away with stock suspension on the blue or green bikes. To me the ktm 150 suspension is stiffer and more plush than the Honda. Adding A kit would just make it that much better, but it won’t help your engine any. It may allow you to carry more speed on rougher parts of the track though and that would make up for some of the power difference.
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kage173
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kage173 12/31/2021 8:51pm
12/31/2021 8:51pm
Natural reaction, if you're racing, is roll the 250f. But Man I've seen some kids though that moved up from 125 to the 150 and they just know the bike so well they get every last ounce out of that thing. But they have to push so hard
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CarlinoJoeVideo
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CarlinoJoeVideo 12/31/2021 9:11pm
12/31/2021 9:11pm
I have a 150 with cone valve forks and had a 2020 CRF250 together at the same time.

Honda is no doubt faster and I think stock showa suspension is still better than my cone valve setting.

So racing, for sure go with Honda.
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brandontobia773 12/31/2021 9:38pm
12/31/2021 9:38pm
Well thank you guys! I’m going with the Honda!
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kiwifan
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kiwifan 12/31/2021 10:08pm
12/31/2021 10:08pm
wrc777 wrote:
I have both these bikes in my garage at the moment. I imagine you will ride a 250 faster than a 150. You are probably going...
I have both these bikes in my garage at the moment. I imagine you will ride a 250 faster than a 150. You are probably going to need revalve and springs for the 250r. The suspension setting can be harsh, and I get a lot of deflection on rocks and roots but it doesn’t work that great in sand either which should favor a stiff setup. You might get away with stock suspension on the blue or green bikes. To me the ktm 150 suspension is stiffer and more plush than the Honda. Adding A kit would just make it that much better, but it won’t help your engine any. It may allow you to carry more speed on rougher parts of the track though and that would make up for some of the power difference.
power difference???
MxKing809
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MxKing809 1/1/2022 12:42am
1/1/2022 12:42am
Dude, literally in the same kinda dilemma you are now.

Mid 30’s Vet A/B - have been on 450’s exclusively since… ‘06

Last year (2020: early pandemic) got a wild hair and bought a leftover ‘19 150. Brought it home and parked it alongside my ‘18 CRF450. It only took me riding both 1 time together to make me realize that I should sell the 450. Those bikes are too much, I can’t push for 5 laps on one with my current fitness and beer gut… so why do that to myself?

I’ve been riding the 150 ever since, and with an ACL tear + surgery, and moving into a new build house… I’m just cresting 30 hours on the 150.

Fuck… what a fun bike. Ear to ear grin…. But I TOTALLY know what you mean OP. You can’t roll a few corners and catch your breath, you can’t lug a corner because your arms are pumped….. nope, you need to work like Jeffrey fucking Herlings to keep speed and turns laps. It’s either packing dirt rolling a section, or fucking CrossFit.

I would love a bike that allowed a bit more flexibility in that area, and have thought about a new gen CRF250 or waiting for a ‘23 KTM350. I know for sure that I won’t slip back into a 450, this will definitely be a 250/350 purchase.

Has anyone done a switch from a 450 to a 125/150 and then bumped back up to a 250/350?
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AJ565
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AJ565 1/1/2022 6:19am
1/1/2022 6:19am
MxKing809 wrote:
Dude, literally in the same kinda dilemma you are now. Mid 30’s Vet A/B - have been on 450’s exclusively since… ‘06 Last year (2020: early...
Dude, literally in the same kinda dilemma you are now.

Mid 30’s Vet A/B - have been on 450’s exclusively since… ‘06

Last year (2020: early pandemic) got a wild hair and bought a leftover ‘19 150. Brought it home and parked it alongside my ‘18 CRF450. It only took me riding both 1 time together to make me realize that I should sell the 450. Those bikes are too much, I can’t push for 5 laps on one with my current fitness and beer gut… so why do that to myself?

I’ve been riding the 150 ever since, and with an ACL tear + surgery, and moving into a new build house… I’m just cresting 30 hours on the 150.

Fuck… what a fun bike. Ear to ear grin…. But I TOTALLY know what you mean OP. You can’t roll a few corners and catch your breath, you can’t lug a corner because your arms are pumped….. nope, you need to work like Jeffrey fucking Herlings to keep speed and turns laps. It’s either packing dirt rolling a section, or fucking CrossFit.

I would love a bike that allowed a bit more flexibility in that area, and have thought about a new gen CRF250 or waiting for a ‘23 KTM350. I know for sure that I won’t slip back into a 450, this will definitely be a 250/350 purchase.

Has anyone done a switch from a 450 to a 125/150 and then bumped back up to a 250/350?
I have a 250sx and being a 2 stroke it’s a lot of work to go fast. I picked up a new 350 a few months ago and it’s exactly what you described you’re looking for. You can ride it hard like a 2 stroke and it rewards you and when you get tired it will let you lug it and still be fast. I’m faster on the 350 and went from being able to push hard for 10-15 mins to being able to push the 350 harder/faster for 20-30 minutes with the bike being the only change in my fitness program.
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Mx451
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Mx451 1/1/2022 6:19am
1/1/2022 6:19am
MxKing809 wrote:
Dude, literally in the same kinda dilemma you are now. Mid 30’s Vet A/B - have been on 450’s exclusively since… ‘06 Last year (2020: early...
Dude, literally in the same kinda dilemma you are now.

Mid 30’s Vet A/B - have been on 450’s exclusively since… ‘06

Last year (2020: early pandemic) got a wild hair and bought a leftover ‘19 150. Brought it home and parked it alongside my ‘18 CRF450. It only took me riding both 1 time together to make me realize that I should sell the 450. Those bikes are too much, I can’t push for 5 laps on one with my current fitness and beer gut… so why do that to myself?

I’ve been riding the 150 ever since, and with an ACL tear + surgery, and moving into a new build house… I’m just cresting 30 hours on the 150.

Fuck… what a fun bike. Ear to ear grin…. But I TOTALLY know what you mean OP. You can’t roll a few corners and catch your breath, you can’t lug a corner because your arms are pumped….. nope, you need to work like Jeffrey fucking Herlings to keep speed and turns laps. It’s either packing dirt rolling a section, or fucking CrossFit.

I would love a bike that allowed a bit more flexibility in that area, and have thought about a new gen CRF250 or waiting for a ‘23 KTM350. I know for sure that I won’t slip back into a 450, this will definitely be a 250/350 purchase.

Has anyone done a switch from a 450 to a 125/150 and then bumped back up to a 250/350?
I did that switch. Went from a 2017 Kx450 to a 2019 Yz125 to a 2019 Yz250f. No doubt the 125 was the most fun ive ever had but i found I'm a competitive SOB and decided i needed more power. Todays 250fs are so easy to ride i think it would be exactly what you are looking for. Full disclosure I did sell the 250f and am now on a Tc250. I did ride a Yz250f not too long ago and i really still like it. Im vet A and 43 years old.
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wrc777
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wrc777 1/1/2022 7:55am
1/1/2022 7:55am
wrc777 wrote:
I have both these bikes in my garage at the moment. I imagine you will ride a 250 faster than a 150. You are probably going...
I have both these bikes in my garage at the moment. I imagine you will ride a 250 faster than a 150. You are probably going to need revalve and springs for the 250r. The suspension setting can be harsh, and I get a lot of deflection on rocks and roots but it doesn’t work that great in sand either which should favor a stiff setup. You might get away with stock suspension on the blue or green bikes. To me the ktm 150 suspension is stiffer and more plush than the Honda. Adding A kit would just make it that much better, but it won’t help your engine any. It may allow you to carry more speed on rougher parts of the track though and that would make up for some of the power difference.
kiwifan wrote:
power difference???
Hard to compare them since one is a hard hitting two stroke and one is a smooth 4 stroke. They are about as different as two bikes can be from that perspective. 150 is twist and hang on when it gets on the pipe. 250 feels kind of dead in comparison but has way more bottom end of you get stuck in the wrong gear. The Honda does shift a lot smoother.
Polish Power
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Polish Power 1/1/2022 8:52am
1/1/2022 8:52am Edited Date/Time 1/1/2022 8:56am
wrc777 wrote:
Hard to compare them since one is a hard hitting two stroke and one is a smooth 4 stroke. They are about as different as two...
Hard to compare them since one is a hard hitting two stroke and one is a smooth 4 stroke. They are about as different as two bikes can be from that perspective. 150 is twist and hang on when it gets on the pipe. 250 feels kind of dead in comparison but has way more bottom end of you get stuck in the wrong gear. The Honda does shift a lot smoother.
This describes it the best. I have no experience with either bike that the OP is inquiring about, but I went through a similar situation. The past few years, I owned a 15 250sx and 19 kx450. Never been a 2 stroke guy, but figured I would give the 250sx a try. I bought it used from a friend and rode it for a few seasons along side my 19 kx450. It was a struggle riding the 250, but eventually I figured it out. The struggle was getting use to the power delivery/hit, constantly shifting and slipping the clutch. Once you retrain yourself, its great fun and very rewarding. I got to a point though that I realized i much prefer the hit of a 4 stroke as opposed to the hard hitting 250 smoker. I decided to replace it with a new yz250f this past year. It was a great move as I prefer the 4 stroke power delivery. I like having 2 different bikes because it switches things up. I will miss the 2 stroke for winter riding in the woods. With all that said, i would love to try a newer ktm/husky or new yz250 for my next bike. Each style/cc of bike has its place. For me, a 2 stroke wouldnt be my main bike, but would get ridden at certain tracks and types of riding that favor a 2 stroke.

You have to figure out for yourself, what style of power you prefer and if your not sure, give the 150 a try just like I gave the 250 smoker a try. You wont know exactly what you prefer until you put a decent amount of time on a bike. Both bikes will require you to shift a lot and use the clutch more. The 250f will be more forgiving.
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fredmotokx 1/1/2022 9:10am
1/1/2022 9:10am Edited Date/Time 1/1/2022 9:15am
I had a 2021 KTM 150sx this season, got pretty bored quick of it for the different reasons stated above. Bought a 22 250R and got around 10 hours on it.

The 250R is way easier to handle, way less shifting and I can ride it one or two laps more every moto because of how easy it is to drive. I also feel more confident riding the 4 strokes power curve.

If I had to do it all over again, I would have got a 250 4 stroke (Honda KTM YAM) in the first place. Also note I am not the best rider out there, just a beginner who just enjoys MX and has no will to race.
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brandontobia773 1/1/2022 12:01pm
1/1/2022 12:01pm
I stopped riding for a little bit and then got the 150 and it has definitely helped get the skill and fundamentals back since you have to ride them hard to get speed! But after a while you kind of want to take it easy haha
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