18 250f: orange or blue ?

I love our blue 250f's! We have recently bought a new FE 450 and everyone just assumes I am going to buy a KTM 250 to match. I don't plan on it YET. The YZF is an awesome platform, the bottom and mid is SO GOOD. The engine and suspension are so good on the YZF its hard to beat IMO, add the tuning capabilities and its almost a lock.... I am very curious to see the 19 YZ250F, only a few months out I hope!!!

I would ask how you like to ride, if you are more of a bottom end guy go blue, if you like revving to the moon go orange....

sgrimmxdad wrote:

I love our blue 250f's! We have recently bought a new FE 450 and everyone just assumes I am going to buy a KTM 250 to match. I don't plan on it YET. The YZF is an awesome platform, the bottom and mid is SO GOOD. The engine and suspension are so good on the YZF its hard to beat IMO, add the tuning capabilities and its almost a lock.... I am very curious to see the 19 YZ250F, only a few months out I hope!!!

I would ask how you like to ride, if you are more of a bottom end guy go blue, if you like revving to the moon go orange....

Let's say I can rev bikes since I come from a 125 but I instinctively tend to short shift when the bike has more torque.
What about ergos ? How tall are you ?

My son is 5 10' he likes the triangle on both bikes. He rode an 18 YZ450F and said he liked it about as much as the KTM.

I have the two bikes set up as close as possible, bars, grips, tires, and levers etc....





We have over 170 hours on his 15 YZ250F after getting the TPS problem figured out, even had the oil plug vibrate out at the track after I didn't tighten good enough. I can attest to their reliability, things are darn near bullet proof!

sgrimmxdad wrote:

My son is 5 10' he likes the triangle on both bikes. He rode an 18 YZ450F and said he liked it about as much as the KTM.

I have the two bikes set up as close as possible, bars, grips, tires, and levers etc....





We have over 170 hours on his 15 YZ250F after getting the TPS problem figured out, even had the oil plug vibrate out at the track after I didn't tighten good enough. I can attest to their reliability, things are darn near bullet proof!

my son's drain plug came out on his 16 yz250f as well...spoke to another guy who had it happen on his yz250f....new crush washers and a touch of loctite every time now...crazy cause ive never had that happen on any bikes before then hear multiple stories of it happening on same bike...

Can you try and ride them before purchase? They are 2 completely different bikes.

Yamaha is all bottom end that is more like your 350.

KTM ergos will feel the same and comfortable but you gott rev it.

Yamaha suspension is way better out of the box. But you already know what you’re getting into with KTMs.

It’s a coin toss. Do you have many aftermarket parts that you will carry over from the 350?

sgrimmxdad wrote:

My son is 5 10' he likes the triangle on both bikes. He rode an 18 YZ450F and said he liked it about as much as the KTM.

I have the two bikes set up as close as possible, bars, grips, tires, and levers etc....





We have over 170 hours on his 15 YZ250F after getting the TPS problem figured out, even had the oil plug vibrate out at the track after I didn't tighten good enough. I can attest to their reliability, things are darn near bullet proof!

Nice! How many top and bottom ends have you done in the 15 Yamaha?

I know Yami and KTM have made small changes in the motor department since I last rode them back to back (15 yz vs 16 ktm), but I remember thinking the KTM was like a cheater bike stock compared to my tuned Yamaha.

I just went from a 15 yz250f to an 18 350sxf, while I can’t give an accurate critic of the stock suspension quiet yet, the feel of the chassis, the cornering, lightness, and over maneuveability of the bike over the Yamaha was hands down more impressive. The ergos of the KTM just make sense, the Yamaha has weird places/ways you grip the bike and can feel quiet wide even with mods made (I had a cut down subframe, cycra plastic kit, etc).

I loved my Yam though, my issues with the companys customer service and all my manufactorer issues aside, it was a great bike. The only real thing I battled with consistently was a super weak front brake. I went to a larger rotar, replaced master cyclinders, different pads, steel braided line, etc. and that thing couldn’t lock up on wet grass. In contrast, you probably already know about the KTM brakes.

I’m definitely not kicking myself for the switch in brand.

Also went from a 2016 YZ250F to a 2018 350SXF.

They are both good in different ways.

The Yamaha has better straight line stability, better suspension, great motor for a 250F.

The KTM hits inside ruts and just corners much better, feels narrow, has estart, ect.

Both are excellent bikes. I would honestly probably take a Yamaha 250F over the KTM 250F because the suspension and motor are just awesome.

Sach157 wrote:

Hi guys

So I'm about to pull the trigger on a left over 18 250f
I just don't know if I should get the KTM or the Yami.
31 year old week-end warrior, no races, just fun. 10 years experience, level is what you would call an intermediate in the US I guess. 5 foot 6, 155 pounds.

Having had a 16 350 sxf I know the platform quit well, rode it for 50 hours aprox.
I know the 250 sxf won't obviously perform as good as the 350 but chassis wise the only point where the KTM is inferior to the Yamaha is suspension. The AER 48 fork is good but not quit as comfortable as the Kayaba SSS units.
I know the motor will pull strongly and it will turn on a dime.

On the other hand, the Yamaha is very reliable (had a 17 yz125), the suspension are amazing out of the box.
Motor is according to tests also amazing from bottom to mid.
What about overrev?
I also read that the blue bike is wide between knees and doesn't suit smaller riders very well.

Price is the same for both bikes, around 7500 euros here in France.
I guess I can't go wrong with either bike but I intend keeping it at least 2 years so some piece of advice would be appreciated.

Since you seem to have common sense and are not blinded by color. Either bike would be great for what you describe and you pretty much have all the info you need. Ktm will have electric start and Yamaha will have the suspension and reliability.

I would say for you it would come down to the dealer and who treated you better cause you really cant go wrong with either bike.

Psssssst....

You should be able to Husky for the same price as the Katoom.

Flip109 wrote:

Nice! How many top and bottom ends have you done in the 15 Yamaha?

Just had it freshened at a little over 170, complete overhaul. This will be the 2nd crank and 4th piston!

I quite like the blue bikes. They're both good machines though. I personally prefer the feeling of an aluminium frame though.

Thanks for your contributions.
Decided to go blue. Seems to be a good bike ! Dealer is also better !

Blue