Best Year KTM 250/300 2-Stroke?

Sideways91
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Dayton, NV US
4/17/2024 11:47am
My 14 250sx was kind of a piece of shit. That thing would blur your vision it vibrated so bad. Friends had a 12 and 13...

My 14 250sx was kind of a piece of shit. That thing would blur your vision it vibrated so bad. Friends had a 12 and 13 and were very similar, they didn’t feel any faster than mine. The 03 I rode was definitely faster than all of them, and a death machine at high speed in the desert 

2003 300 would rattle your fillings loose and was an absolute rocket ship

Sideways91
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4/17/2024 11:50am
spimx wrote:

13-16 with the 300 kit is too much vibration bad forks. Very light Very fast too much problems due to vibration 

What? The closed chamber forks are the best forks WP ever produced for consumer bikes. 
 

300 kits, meh, no thanks. 

I'm assuming he's talking about the 4cs and not the CCs. there was a lot of weird overlap over those years between the KTM "brands" and model divisions. 

toomanykaws
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Henderson, NV US
4/17/2024 11:56am

I have a 14. And a 19.  Lot guys cried they needed the balance shaft engine.  The 14 doesn’t vibrate much to me.   The older engine does have more extremely low rpm torque and response.   Have cy heads on both.  

3
flipper1
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Your Moms House, HI US
4/17/2024 2:40pm

Thanks for all the responses guys. I have a 2021 250SX and a 2020 250 XC TPI that are available for deals from friends. Trying to decide between the 2. I'd be putting new suspension on both so don't mind what comes stock.

The Shop

Hcallz5
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UT US
4/17/2024 5:33pm

17-19 are awful. You should sell me one cheap! Woohoo

1
Fourth_Floor
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Saint Marys, PA US
4/17/2024 6:58pm

I have a 2012 250SX that I found on marketplace last year that I couldn't pass up.  Seller said it is bored out and cylinder was ported and polished.  First KTM 2-stroke I've owned.  Fixed it all up and got it running how I want it and this thing is FAST and sounds downright scary!!!!!  Vibrates like a son of a bitch but you don't really notice it while riding until you park it and see a new bolt that is missing.

3
StillSmokin
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Edmond, OK US
4/17/2024 8:27pm
flipper1 wrote:
Thanks for all the responses guys. I have a 2021 250SX and a 2020 250 XC TPI that are available for deals from friends. Trying to...

Thanks for all the responses guys. I have a 2021 250SX and a 2020 250 XC TPI that are available for deals from friends. Trying to decide between the 2. I'd be putting new suspension on both so don't mind what comes stock.

2021 and live happily ever after.

3
1
429 Sterling
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Boston, MA US
4/17/2024 9:07pm
I have a 2012 250SX that I found on marketplace last year that I couldn't pass up.  Seller said it is bored out and cylinder was...

I have a 2012 250SX that I found on marketplace last year that I couldn't pass up.  Seller said it is bored out and cylinder was ported and polished.  First KTM 2-stroke I've owned.  Fixed it all up and got it running how I want it and this thing is FAST and sounds downright scary!!!!!  Vibrates like a son of a bitch but you don't really notice it while riding until you park it and see a new bolt that is missing.

I also have a 2012 250sx. I’ve accepted the fact that I’m going to lose a bolt every time I start the thing.

2
1
bluesmoke
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Lakeworth, TX US
4/18/2024 8:59am
flipper1 wrote:
What’s your guys’ opinion on the best frame and engine setup for the KTM 250 or 300 2 stroke? Haven't ridden the new FI versions but...

What’s your guys’ opinion on the best frame and engine setup for the KTM 250 or 300 2 stroke?

Haven't ridden the new FI versions but have read good things on here.

Curious your thoughts on what year they got everything “right” in your opinion. Frame, engine, etc.

Thanks!

My 2019 300xc is a damn fine bike, IMHO of course. However, I did  swap the mikuni for a keihin 😑. Otherwise it has been trouble free and plenty of power for me. I have owned new, a 2013 250sx and a 2016 250xc. The 250xc was a great bike other than the forks.

1
tugspeedman
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Monroe, WA US
4/13/2025 3:13am

Never doubt the 2023 KTM 300 XC.

I love my 2024 KTM 300 XC-w, but my 2023 KTM 300XC is the fastest 300 ever made. Stock is was pumping 57 horse, add the TSP head and  two stroke performance ERM toon, and its a rocket ship. The 2023 KTM 300 XC-W was around 47HP due to the woods tune they put in it, nothing like the XC. I have ridden most KTM 300's there is no beating the TBI 250/300's. I had my 2020 300 XC swapped to TBI and S3 high comp head with a get ECU, and my 23 XC eats it by a lot, a true desert racer. For the woods my 24 300 XC-W has it all, of course it does have a about 10k in suspension and other trick parts.

2
1
JMX82
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Hyllykallio FI
4/13/2025 3:58am

I have over 200 hours on my 2016 250SX and it vibrates less than the last generation aluminum frame CR250's. I have added some shim washers to motor mounting points and swingarm pivot point which reduces the vibrations. The biggest issue with the bike is that it's bit hard to shift under heavy load. The motor on the other hand is absolutely bulletproofIMG20240918181228

1
AJ565
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San Antonio, TX US
4/13/2025 6:03am
Broseph wrote:
Butt dyno says so. And it’s confirmed by dyno charts like this. Modified older 300s still can’t touch the TBI up top.  Are you running the...

Butt dyno says so. And it’s confirmed by dyno charts like this. Modified older 300s still can’t touch the TBI up top. 

Are you running the stock pipe on your ‘23?

I’m not trying to say your ‘23 didn’t make less power than your older bikes on the dyno. Just saying that’s not normal.

 

studworx wrote:
You keep posting a products dyno chart that overlays dyno runs done years ago and they are trying to sell a product. Them overlaying old runs...

You keep posting a products dyno chart that overlays dyno runs done years ago and they are trying to sell a product. Them overlaying old runs is proof they had 0 interest in actual comparison and would rather try push a product. 
 

Their dyno run claims the stock number is what KTM claimed the bike made to the CRANK. Impressive for them to get that number, to the wheel, stock. Lol

Heres an HP dyno of an old 300 kit on a 250sx. It means nothing lol  you have to have a direct comparison on that day in same conditions  

I know it’s an older thread that’s been bumped, but the 17-19 bikes made 47hp stock, 49hp with a PC pipe and long silencer with MXA’s jetting. KTM changed something in 2020 and didn’t tell anyone and the bikes hp was bumped to 50hp stock. 

Here’s the dyno from the same shop you posted of my 2018 with the PC pipe and silencer, race gas, and the jetting I have posted in the tech section.

IMG 3248 1
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