2013 250sx

Sipes #412
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Tacoma, WA US
7/15/2016 8:57am
I'm looking into getting a 2013 250sx. I just want to know if they are good solid bikes like my yz's have been in the past. I've read up on them a little and some people say they are hard to shift sometimes under a load. I just want to know the good and bad. I loved my yz's but I kinda want to switch it up a little bit.
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7/15/2016 9:28am
I've had a few SX 250s over the years, they have all been great bikes. Never had any shifting problems with it or any gearbox issues for that matter.
KTMsc
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Roseville, CA US
7/15/2016 9:48am
My 2013 250 SX was a very good bike.
Once I installed the Ohlins cartridge's in the forks the suspension was good.
No issues with shifting, the bike was very fast.
Kryan5
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Etters, PA US
7/15/2016 10:34am Edited Date/Time 7/15/2016 10:37am
I just sold mine and it was a great bike. I bought it new in 2012. Never had any major issues, just standard wear.

I did have some issues with the tranny about a year ago(hard to shift under load and would hit false neutral), but that was mostly because I was over due for a bottom end rebuild. I replaced and filed the shifting mechanism and spring(not expensive) and also cleaned up the shifting forks during the rebuild. After that all those issues were solved. It was like new after that. I would also suspect you would have that issue on any bike that has been ridden hard for a period of time.

The suspension on that bike is good. I had mine re valved by Factory Connection and it was awesome! I can't think of any complaints or I'd let you know.
Bruneval
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7/15/2016 11:20am
I have had 1995, 2011, 2012 and 2015 250sx (okay, the 2015 was the husky). All brilliant bikes.

I did have a gearbox problem with the 2011. When it was about 10 hours old, it wouldn't power shift without the clutch and power rolled off. Tried new shift shaft/paw, star, indent roller, shift drum. Different oils, and even the mod to th Spring that is on YouTube. Gave up on it in the end, and sold it to a friend who is still using it as a woods bike to this day with no issues. Got sick of looking at the inside of this engine.



The Shop

Bruneval
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7/15/2016 11:23am
P.s. The 2012 and 2015 were absolutely fine - not a single issue.
Bruneval
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7/15/2016 11:29am


The husqvarna was definitely a lot more refined than the earlier versions. The 2011 was brutal fast, whereas the husky was softer and easier to ride. They were all jetted perfectly, and I highly recommend the Suzuki needle swap if the bike hasn't had it done already.
stone881
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Fruita, CO US
7/15/2016 11:34am
I like mine a lot and had many Yz's. I don't think you will regret it as imo it is better than the Yz everywhere except suspension.

But like others have said, get a revalve and it will be almost as good. I recently installed JBI Pro Perch in my forks and need to play around with oil levels, but this made an immediate improvement.
Bruneval
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7/15/2016 11:37am
If you do buy the KTM, and have the cash spare, there's an ohlins fork insert kit and shock on eBay now for $1100. The buy it now is $1500, but it was on there last week and didn't sell. The addition of these parts, when set-up correctly, makes the 250sx a pretty much perfect bike.
Markee
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7/15/2016 12:23pm Edited Date/Time 7/15/2016 12:27pm
Bruneval wrote:
I have had 1995, 2011, 2012 and 2015 250sx (okay, the 2015 was the husky). All brilliant bikes. I did have a gearbox problem with the...
I have had 1995, 2011, 2012 and 2015 250sx (okay, the 2015 was the husky). All brilliant bikes.

I did have a gearbox problem with the 2011. When it was about 10 hours old, it wouldn't power shift without the clutch and power rolled off. Tried new shift shaft/paw, star, indent roller, shift drum. Different oils, and even the mod to th Spring that is on YouTube. Gave up on it in the end, and sold it to a friend who is still using it as a woods bike to this day with no issues. Got sick of looking at the inside of this engine.



The shifting under load comes from that part in the middle of your bench. Its call the "sliding plate" the one that the spring pushes.

The sliding plate needs to be sharpened and the shifting problems goes away, shifting is very direct and positive.

A 1/8 round fill and the sliding plate clamped in the vise, sharpen to resemble this, just a quick drawing to illustrate the problem:



If the shifting plate does not make a good grab, it bypasses the shifting drum and no shift. If KTM/Husky would make a new die for that stamped plate that has a sharper hook, there would be no problem.

But you need to remove the inner clutch case and basket to pull the shifting assembly out to sharpen. Also might need that inner clutch case gasket too.
sdfog1
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Flower Mound, TX US
7/15/2016 12:33pm
I had the shifting issue with both my 2011 250 XC and 2013 250 SX. Started after about 80 hours or so. The 2011 was worse. I also never figured out the problem or found anyone who knew how to fix it.
seth505
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7/15/2016 1:10pm
I went from an 09 yz to a 13 sx and love both bikes, I'll be getting another KTM though. I did the sharpen trick for my shifting that is posted above by Markee.
Bruneval
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7/15/2016 1:28pm
Markee - that's the best description of the fix I have read - thanks for taking the time. I filed the shift paw but it didn't fix it, so I must have not done it correctly. The youtube video doesn't make it that clear as to what the hook should look like. I did notice that KTM has an updated part number for this now so hopefully they fixed it.
Sipes #412
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Tacoma, WA US
7/15/2016 6:36pm
Thanks for the replies. I'm just waiting to sell my 2015 yz450f now. I've found a couple online for 3500 which is more in my budget right now and I miss riding a 2 stroke I grew up on them and they are just too much fun.
Sipes #412
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7/18/2016 8:23am
Does this happen on the 14 or 15 models too?
7/18/2016 12:39pm
Sipes #412 wrote:
Does this happen on the 14 or 15 models too?
I haven't noticed anything
Micahdogg
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US
7/18/2016 2:16pm
Markee wrote:
The shifting under load comes from that part in the middle of your bench. Its call the "sliding plate" the one that the spring pushes. The...
The shifting under load comes from that part in the middle of your bench. Its call the "sliding plate" the one that the spring pushes.

The sliding plate needs to be sharpened and the shifting problems goes away, shifting is very direct and positive.

A 1/8 round fill and the sliding plate clamped in the vise, sharpen to resemble this, just a quick drawing to illustrate the problem:



If the shifting plate does not make a good grab, it bypasses the shifting drum and no shift. If KTM/Husky would make a new die for that stamped plate that has a sharper hook, there would be no problem.

But you need to remove the inner clutch case and basket to pull the shifting assembly out to sharpen. Also might need that inner clutch case gasket too.
I have a 2011 250SX that has been wood ridden its whole life. I never noticed a shifting issue, but now that I think about it, when I have been on the pipe REALLY hard I do recall a few moments. I thought I was just lazy on the clutch or fumbled with shifter so I looked into this drawing. After some more checking, in addition to what you just described, it sounds like people also have stretched the spring out so that it gives a little more tension to the sliding plate to make sure it grabs good.

Good info for sure and something I'll keep an eye on. Thanks yall.

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