KTM 250 sx or KTM 300 sx

I had a 300 and have ridden my buddy’s 250. They are very similar the main difference is the 300 hits harder off idle but falls flat before the 250. The 250 has more of a traditional 250 stroke power output. Boggy off idol and then hits harder in the midrange and will pull harder on top all the way to the rev limiter. The 300 is easier to ride IMO and the differences aren’t huge between the two but are noticeable. The thing I disliked the most about my 300 was its initial tip in to the corner I felt like I was wrestling a bull to get it to lay over. The suspension also felt harsh to me. I have a yz450 now because my kids are starting to race (4 and 5) and when I raced the 300 in the vet class I’d get yarded on the start. Not so much with the 450. The 300 was such a fun bike and plan on getting another one for a second bike. If you’re not gonna race all the time the 300 is super fun and playful. 

The 300 is 10/10.

I had a 23 300sx and now have a 25 250sx, the 250 is the most fun 2 stroke I have ever ridden. For me the power of the 300 just doesn't suit a motocross track. The 250 just feels so much more fun and racey and can be ridden aggressively. If you like to torque a bike around and ride in the low to mid rpm the 300 might be the better choice. If you like to twist the throttle and want the most fun then go the 250. 

My ‘21 TC250 with the 300 cylinder, ProCircuit porting, head mod, PC pipe and shorty with red PV spring turned full out is perfect, a lot of smooth power with great over rev. 

I haven’t ridden the new KTM 300 but I’ve always preferred he rev out of a 250 over a 300

The stock mapping on the 300 is a quick/ hard, low to mid hit, then signs off early, you learn to short shift and not over rev the bike…gearing was 14-49 when they first came out, I settled on 14-50 to use 3rd more…my 25 came with 14-46 gearing…strange rear gearing, I immediately went to a 50 rear. I have a remap from WMR KTM shop in Florida….the most power/ MX map is eye opening….bottom, mid, and top end pull for as long as you hold it open….all on pump gas 93 octane….what I like about the 300”s is map#2 is mellower for when I ride hare scrambles and Gncc events….I can lug 3rd gear in just about any situation…I had a 2018 250SX and loved that bike as well, have not ridden a newer generation 250….I have about 200hrs on the 300SX”s…. Probably the best overall bikes I have ever owned…IMO…

Rode both back to back. 24 250 xc and 25 300 xc.

I understand both are the offroad variants but I echo the same as others.  The 300 likes being rode in stock form down low to mid and the 250 likes mid to top.  Overall power was pretty even to be honest they just do it differently.  If you short shift and like that off idle punch 300.  If you want to rip the throttle 250.  The 250 can be short shifted and lugged aswell but the 300 is a brute.

For me the 250 was much easier to maneuver and make quick turns.  Its a more exciting ride aswell with the fast reving nature.

Overall for me i like the 250 for a do all bike but would be happy with either one.  

Ill be honest I would not over think it, id get whatever you get the best deal on.  They are both sweet rides.

I haven’t ridden a new 250. But I agree the stock 300 signs off early. But that is fixed with a pipe and silencer. Much more revable and still a fat midrange.i used the fmf fatty and ti shorty on my 23. The pro circuit factory and their Kevlar shorty on my 25. Both provided the same result. Very fun bike, handles like my MTB 

Before my 300s I rode a mixture of Austrian 350s and 450s. I love the new 300s. 

So interesting to have same perception but different as well. Perhaps because I only was able to demo in fairly tight trails, I preferred the 300xc. Super curious would it would feel like on a moto track. Maybe I would share the same opinion on liking the 250 more. 

I ride 99% moto but my 300sx actually made me enjoy a little bit of bush riding, I really believe that is where the 300 motor shines. On a moto track, 250 all day long.

A lot of good advice from those above.

But, give thought to how You have been riding your 4 strokes.

If you're a revver / especially if having been on 250Fs, a 250 2t might be better for you.

If you have been 'torqueing around', like many of us Older Riders  ( though, you are but a baby at 58 ..... 😁 ) do / did on 450s,  a 300 might be a better fit for you.

And, as I often say now, there's the 350 Beta 2t to give thought to. 

Follow up question for those who have ridden both: is the low end power of the 300 good enough to outweigh the fun-factor of the 250?  

I ride moto and race off-road. The 300 seems like a real advantage off-road, but I do like the light and revvy nature of a 250 on the track. 

I’ve had lots of 250’s Austrian and Japanese and several 300’s too over the years.  I too found the 250’s to be more fun in the carb era.  But with Tbi, the 300 ticks the boxes better for me.  I’d say my 300sx is about as strong as my 22’ 250sx, and a 250 Tbi feels weak. The 300 can be the best of both, playful when you want, and a serious tool for going fast when that is needed. It’s the first bike in a long list of bikes I’ve had that I’ve kept for three years and over 200 hours now and I have no plans of selling 

Had a 450 for 15 years.  Got a 24 300sx and love it.  However, it really benefits from having the ecu remapped and its critical to have the throttle position sensor adjusted perfectly. Highly recommend a TSP (Two Stroke Performance) ERM.  Pricey, but comes with your choice of tune (map) to download and all the diagnostic tools you need.  Completely changed the motor and made it a super fun bike.  Also, I don't get arm pump like a 4 stroke. 

I have both. Really depends on your preference. The 250 is a little more work to ride: more clutch and shifting but its a lot more fun. The 300 is easy to go fast on but isn't quite as much fun. If you are a bigger guy, or someone coming from a 450, or looking to race against 450s, the 300 is the best choice.  If you are more aggressive and like a more playful bike, the 250 is hard to beat.  For me I left the 300 stock, it doesn't need much. My 250sx got a pipe, PV cover, head insert, and ECU flash because the newer TBI 250 is more mellow than the previous carb versions.

For me no.  Now im 175 to 170 ish without gear but that 250xc has crawled me up some pretty slow hills in 4th gear without even a hiccup.  Its pretty wild, the modern 2 stroke is like cheating.

Id like to add i must have gotten one of the good ones.  There is nothing mellow about the 250 tbi in that green map.  Came off of 2 yz's and have no idea what anyone is talking about.

Yeah I agree, maybe I got a good one aswell but I really don't get the people who say the 250 tbi is mellow. I think the powerband is just more filled in than other 250 2 strokes so maybe makes it feel mellow.

I had a 22 yz250 and my 25 250sx is every bit as strong as that just way more rideable. It has alot more off the bottom and up top so the mid hit just doesn't feel as noticeable. 

I really dont feel like the extra bottom end of the 300 makes it worth it over the fun of the 250. When the 300sx first come out all the reviews were saying they were torque monsters and as good as 450's off the bottom. I was very very disappointed in that side of the 300, my 350sxf has way more bottom end than the 300sx.

I have a 300 and have rode the 250, they are both good and you can probably find a leftover 250 for a significantly better deal and that would be enough to sway me that direction.

There is an area in the revs this thing just has a different sound and is pulling like a freight train, its not in the top of the revs either its more in the mid and you can tell by the sound where it wants to be. We raced a US Sprint on a fast grass track a few weeks ago and it may have been the most fun I've had on this bike just screaming it through the fields and flat corners.

All vital MX users and posters take note of this thread. This is how a thread on a motocross form is supposed to go. Great content and no BS arguing.  
 

I think a person really needs to deep dive what kind of rider one is....a revver or lugger.  I'm in my early 50's and have had a few 450's over the years and only liked a couple of the early carb models.  Modern 450's are just too damn powerful for me, hence why I always have returned to 250f's for moto and woods.

I currently own a '24 250xc TBI.  I have ridden a '23 300xc a ton and find it really hard to get along with it for how i like to ride.  Offroad, whenever I try and ride it on the pipe I swear it wants to kill me....whats the fun in that?  The 250 can lug just fine, has a sweet clutch to help with that, great mid-range and rips up top all while never feeling like it wants to hurt me.  When new, I did feel I wanted a little more bottom/mid from the 250.  I added the TSP mid-compression head and ERM tuner and map.  Nice improvement.

I currently own this KTM, a '23 yz125 and a '24 yz250f and seem to always look for a reason to take the KTM.    Aside from suspension being too soft for some motocross tracks, the bike is just so fun everywhere.

...and then you ruined with this post. Nice work.

250

My tm300 was incredible to ride and race. Engine so usable. Leave it in 3rd feather the clutch and grab big handfuls. It was linear and smooth and revved high still.

Yes.  When I rode the 300 off road coming out of corners I would twist like I was on the 250 and the next corner would be there before I could get stopped lol.

250, with a flywheel weight, till you can ride yourself back into shape.

Don't mistake the 25 or 26 KTM to the 23/24 Models! They Ride much much better! My 250 with PV Cover, KTM factory Pipe and HGS silencer is a really fast and ridable 250. No need for a 300 or an old carburated 250 for MX. Coming from a lot of 250s and 300s in the past, but this thing is the best engine right now. Playful, powerful and fun to ride, Love it!

I have 6 hours on my 25’ 300sx. Biggest complaint is it falls on its face. I have a pipe on the way, hoping that extends 3rd longer. I also rode a yz250 back to back and was pretty bummed to see it’s basically just as fast 🤦🏼‍♂️. Idk I would just get whatever ones cheaper. Can’t go wrong

Bang on, Ive had 7 of the 250sx (carb) and one 300sx (TBI). I do wish you could get a 250sx with a carb and e-start for people with no ACL's and jacked meniscus...