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Still sounds like a fault as many don't have that issue
Maybe need a map update
Well gang, after 4 motos of racing on Sunday I can verify something about this bike that I know many are curious about.
If you want to know if the bike is just downright AWESOME you sir ARE correct.
I went to Kingsville for Round 2 of MoState MX, and I rode Saturday practice because I was a little worried my gearing choice might not play well. The two tracks I've been riding the most are super unrealistic gauges on gearing thats applicable for racing. It took me one session on Saturday with the track in chewed up form that made me feel concrete about my gearing. I even took a 14 tooth front to the track but never put it on because I didn't think there was a way to improve the delivery at all. 13-52 it was for race day.
What I did not have figured out until halfway through the race day was bike temp on the line, and I've heard people talk about the TBI bikes "cutting out" on the line. It happened to me, I felt like I had the bike thoroughly warmed up but when I put it in gear and the card went sideways, as I held the throttle wide open the revs felt like they would peak then drop off. I know how to warm a bike up, but just like the TPI bikes they have to be really warm. Going to the line for the 2nd motos I made sure this wasn't an issue. My launches improved in the second motos - though they weren't perfect, which is operator error and I will be fixing this before I race again.
I raced 450 A and +25. Both dominated by 450's. Once we got off the line and onto the track, the ability to maneuver the bike was so glaringly obvious an advantage over the four strokes. There was another racer on a 22 Husq TC 250, and he was suffering from wheelspin in places I was not. Kody's really quick, and an aggressive rider. His rear wheel was just not tracking as well as mine - and while I have great throttle control I could see places he was struggling that I was not with wheelspin. Nowhere was his bike faster than mine. I'm calling this a blend of bike and my skill, though I had to lean less on my steady throttle hand because of the easy to pilot TBI delivery. Against the 450's I was at no disadvantage once the bikes were rolling. Brett Greenley won the motos on a Honda 450, as he was expected to do, and he was the only rider on the course able to use the 450 power to go faster than I was on my 250. In my opinion, this shows the usability of 450 power is for guys that make AMA Fast 40's, and for everyone else the weight and tank-esque handling is such a disadvantage against a lightweight bike that goes exactly where you want it to.
I went 2-2 in 450 A with some laps lead, and 1-1 in +25. I had to make passes in every moto, and on an extremely rough track that blended whooped out mulch and concrete hardpack.
Here are my settings with completely stock suspension:
Fork:
170 PSI
10 compression
12 rebound
Shock:
1.5 h/s
12 l/s
12 reb
Isn't the stock gearing 14/49? Going to a 13/52 is the equivalent of a 14/56 if you kept the 14 countersprocket on. You're saying the 23 250sx needs the equivalent of a 7 tooth larger rear sprocket to make the power delivery you like??? That seems fuckin crazy to me tbh. Im picturing MXA saying "just add 7 teeth to the back sprocket but since nobody makes a 56 rear, just use a 14/52 instead"
14-51 is stock. A 4.0 gearing ratio is the rule of thumb in AX/SX. To use it outdoors is very common if you’re a 3rd gear cornering guy.
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The mxa article said 14/49, not the first time they've been incorrect.
2022 is 14/49 so it sounds like they had to go up two teeth to keep it comparable.
I have a 2023 I bought new sitting in my garage. It came with a 14-49. I put a 51T on the back last week and love it.
I have the current map(104). The 250 and 300 share map and is part of the problem. The 250 and 300 never shared jetting or ran the same jetting.
And it absolutely is a common problem, unfortunately half the owners think spooge is normal and fouling plugs because they don’t ride “hard enough”. If it were a 4T this would be totally unacceptable but since it’s a two stroke is being brushed off as a owner problem which it’s not.
Spend 20 minutes and scroll through the FB group
my sx was delivered with 14/49
The manual says 14/49 too.
KTM often change things mid production,including valving
Just went in the garage and looked, my rear was also stock with a 49. I apologize guys, I was thinking of the 250F gearing.
I still stand behind my gearing choice.
Keep my YZ250 or get a 250 SX?
Keep the YZ.
I've had every sx 250 since 2007. This is the first one I don't like. I bought a YZ 250 this year. Not as fast stock as the previous gen. sx 250. but man the suspension is good. I'm having some stuff done to the motor now, so when it's done, it will be planty fast for me.
Thanks for the input. Looks like I'll keep riding it.
What don't you like about the new 250 SX?
Notice how PWC 2 strokes aren't listed here? Not sure if anyone remembers the DI seadoos
Has any one tried a 14/48T with the 2024 updated maps yet?
Just picked up a TC250 with ECU/mapping updates and am coming off of 125’s and 250Fs (and the couch). This things feeling like a 450 without engine breaking and 10 lbs shaved off of it to me. Lol….
5’5” Vet. B/C 160 lb. Its surprisingly linear and much more aggressive than I was expecting based on last years complaints. I ws hoping it would be a lot more manageable than the last carb’d 250 2t I used to own. It’s more linear through the mid transition but this things definitely pulling much stronger (every where but peak hp) than I expected … It’s a ripper!
I’ll let you know if the 48 softens it too much; or just makes it a little smoother. (Fingers crossed)
Sounds like my 250xc. Nice and smooth until it gets into the power than then feels like it doesn't have a flywheel. Just instant snap.
Pit Row
I eventually got use to the stock 14/49 instead of going to the 48 for outdoor MX. However, now that winter has arrived and I’m slowing down in the corners and or riding mostly arena tracks when the rain is pouring. So I am thinking of moving the rear up to a 50 or 51 actually. If I go with a 14/51 then I will only have to stock 51’s because my TC125 runs 13/51 also. 🤔
25 300 SX comes with 14/47! Going to put a 48 on it.
Yea that tripped me out, just picked up a 25 tc300 and rode it Saturday at my usually track. I run a 14/50 on my 24 and just assumed that stock was still 49 and I was blown away at the difference One tooth made as I was riding the entire track one gear lower, but still the same speed and hitting the same same jumps just one gear down. I saw this thread today and walked out to the garage and sure enough It’s a 47 back there which really explains what I was feeling. I’m gonna switch to a 49 I like to be in third sooner.
Yes I want to get further away from neutral! 🤕
Haha I identify with this comment!
Supposedly, they had to do it for European emissions reasons
TBI?
Exactly! This is especially true if you have a bad set of knees. Slipping into neutral on a tricky corner can be a disaster if your knee is already as loose as mine. 🤡
A tooth up can feel a bit herky jerky on some bikes; but getting cross ways with neutral mid race can get mighty annoying.
I bounced back and forth between 14-50 and 14-51 on my 24 250SX. Later in the season I favored 14-50. That might change completely next season. I installed the TSP ERM, medium compression head, powervalve cover, and Bill's pipe. Unfortunately it is winter and I will have to wait a while to get out for a rip.
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