2022 Stock KTM 250sxf vs Yamaha yz250f

Rice509
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Rice509
Curious to know for 2022, which 250f bike you’d choose given the opportunity to own either one? I know KTM is going to update in 2023, so that’s a consideration. Hard to beat Yammy’s reliability. Orange vs Blue, who you buying and why?
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fourfourone
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fourfourone 6/2/2021 6:58am
6/2/2021 6:58am
2 VERY different bikes. I would watch all of the 250 shootouts.
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Rice509
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Rice509 6/2/2021 7:05am
6/2/2021 7:05am
fourfourone wrote:
2 VERY different bikes. I would watch all of the 250 shootouts.
Agreed, and have certainly watched them all. I’m 6’2” and slim so I’ve tried to pay attention to taller riders and their feedback. Without testing both, I’m just looking for opinions of those who have personal experience on each bike’s platform or their thoughts on differences.
dedi684
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dedi684 6/2/2021 7:51am
6/2/2021 7:51am
If i could decide i would have one myself. I have done demo rides on both within the last few years.
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JBecker 72
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JBecker 72 6/2/2021 8:19am
6/2/2021 8:19am
fourfourone wrote:
2 VERY different bikes. I would watch all of the 250 shootouts.
Rice509 wrote:
Agreed, and have certainly watched them all. I’m 6’2” and slim so I’ve tried to pay attention to taller riders and their feedback. Without testing both...
Agreed, and have certainly watched them all. I’m 6’2” and slim so I’ve tried to pay attention to taller riders and their feedback. Without testing both, I’m just looking for opinions of those who have personal experience on each bike’s platform or their thoughts on differences.
I’m about the same height and 175 pounds. I was in a similar situation a couple months ago, though I was shopping pretty much all brands. Ultimately went with a 2021 YZ250F and couldn’t be happier so far. But I’m sure I’d be happy with a KTM too. I watched all of the shoot outs and the YZ seemed like the best fit for me. Average Vet intermediate who only gets to ride a couple times a month. Everyone said how easy this bike is to ride, and they were right. It’s the best off the showroom floor suspension I’ve ridden too.
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LouisianaMotocross 6/2/2021 8:26am
6/2/2021 8:26am
Rice509 wrote:
Curious to know for 2022, which 250f bike you’d choose given the opportunity to own either one? I know KTM is going to update in 2023...
Curious to know for 2022, which 250f bike you’d choose given the opportunity to own either one? I know KTM is going to update in 2023, so that’s a consideration. Hard to beat Yammy’s reliability. Orange vs Blue, who you buying and why?
I love the KTM brand, but if you are racing limited class and can't run cove valves, I'd go with the Yz. The KYB suspension would be the deal breaker for me.
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hbdesigns913
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hbdesigns913 6/2/2021 9:46am
6/2/2021 9:46am
Yamaha. KTM felt really small to me. KTM also seemed down on power compared to the Yamaha. Probably because of my riding style and rpm range I ride in. Ktm suspension seemed to be good. Much better than the 17 crf450 I was riding the same day.
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yak651
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yak651 6/2/2021 10:39am
6/2/2021 10:39am
No idea what the '22s will bring....rode my buddies '20 KTM and let him ride my '21 YZ. I liked how I could corner on the KTM but thing felt slooooow until I finally started reving it out way more. Much prefer the Yamaha power, he had similar feelings, we are both vet riders so take that into account (not screamers...)
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skeef
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skeef 6/2/2021 10:53am
6/2/2021 10:53am
Good luck buying eitherGrinning If you want a bike by august you better put a deposit down soon!
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Zycki11
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Zycki11 6/2/2021 11:06am
6/2/2021 11:06am
Buy blue.... reliability is unmatched. The gains for cheap are massive. For the price of an exhaust system you can easily gain 3hp without sacrificing anything. Not to mention the bike handles well and has the best boingers.
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Leeham
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Leeham 6/2/2021 11:12am
6/2/2021 11:12am
I reckon both bikes will get minimal changes for 22. But as you can see I got a Yamaha. KTM feel is super slim and is nice and the bike feels overall smaller but lots of room ergo wise. YZ is different by overall feeling bigger and a smaller cockpit. Havent rode a KTM 250 but isnt too far off the YZ bottom but the Yamaha rev speed is really fast while the KTM builds the revs a touch slower but revs out a ton further. I dont ride to the limiter a whole bunch so the torque feel of the YZ suits me much better. Both are wicked good bikes, just depends how you ride
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Moto520
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Moto520 6/2/2021 11:50am
6/2/2021 11:50am
it depends on how you ride. Both bikes have great reliability. If you like to ride the 250's wide open (like a 125)...the KTM is tough to beat. If you like to lug....the YZ is good.

Suspension is better on the Yamaha
ergos are better on the KTM.
reliability would go to Yamaha
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kab210
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kab210 6/2/2021 12:00pm
6/2/2021 12:00pm
I'm about your same size and prefer the ergos of the KTM/Husky over the Yamaha. As long as you don't mind riding a little higher in the top end, I would recommend the Austrian route
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AH387
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AH387 6/2/2021 12:28pm
6/2/2021 12:28pm
I assume the '22 YZ250F is relatively unchanged, so if that's the case then we can assume the '21s characteristics apply. That being said, I feel like all of the KTM 4strokes have a bit of a "long-geared" feel to them. Not particularly aggressive off of idle, but very smooth transition to a rocketship top end. So the power is totally different between the 2. The YZF is very exciting and torquey feeling but you need to shift sooner. The positive is you can probably carry 3rd through a corner easier than a KTM. So it's a complete trade-off that is really only determined by rider preference. I came off of a 350 to my YZ250F and it's basically because I feel better on theYZ250F to get up and going out of turns and over obstacles. Plus it has a great recovery, if I make a mistake. I feel like the KTMs you are kind of in between gears and it really punishes you if you don't carry good momentum or make a mistake. Plus the YZ suspension is great, whereas I had a bit of a bad experience with AER fork and really wasn't looking to go that route again. That being said, I know plenty of people who would pick a KTM over a YZ250F, but it all depends on the rider and what you are looking for.
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Rice509
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Rice509 6/2/2021 12:51pm
6/2/2021 12:51pm
Thanks for all the replies, great insight no doubt. I'm leaning YZ250F simply because it actually looks like I might have an angle on a '21 that isn't spoken for. Given the models stay the same from '21 to '22, it's still tough to choose between the two bikes as they're both solid from what I'm learning. I did notice the slimmer ergo of the KTM, but I don't think the wide shoulders are an issue for me with the Yamaha.

The KTM dates have changed again for me locally (son is now getting his KTM 65SX in November instead of July like originally planned) but the 250SXF was also supposed to be the same date (with multiple bikes coming) and now just one being shipped to my dealer from the factory. So inventory issues are obviously going to carry over for another year or so at least.

The reason I posted/requested 2022 info was because bikes were being shipped as pre-sold, so I really didn't think I'd be able to get a '21 at all. If the '21 YZ250F is available from this other direction, I'm going to grab it and ride blue!

Much appreciation for all the replies!
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inthebadboycorner 6/2/2021 4:21pm
6/2/2021 4:21pm Edited Date/Time 6/2/2021 4:49pm
I visited my local dealer for the first time in a year last week, Big 5 dealer.
i was shocked by the lack of adult mx bikes on display, one 450 RMZ, that was it for the Japanese, over on the Austrian area there were a couple of off enduo,s.
The salesman said if i was interested I would have to put money down and wait for the second shipments.

Good luck on your choice.
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soggy
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soggy 6/2/2021 6:27pm
6/2/2021 6:27pm
inthebadboycorner wrote:
I visited my local dealer for the first time in a year last week, Big 5 dealer. i was shocked by the lack of adult mx...
I visited my local dealer for the first time in a year last week, Big 5 dealer.
i was shocked by the lack of adult mx bikes on display, one 450 RMZ, that was it for the Japanese, over on the Austrian area there were a couple of off enduo,s.
The salesman said if i was interested I would have to put money down and wait for the second shipments.

Good luck on your choice.
Have you been under a rock for the last year?

Bikes are sold out nearly everywhere
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yamahaha131
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yamahaha131 6/3/2021 4:38pm
6/3/2021 4:38pm
I’m probably in the minority here but the Ktm feels wider to me back above the pegs where I squeeze with my legs. Not an issue, just noticeable.
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wrc777
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wrc777 12/2/2021 7:44am
12/2/2021 7:44am
yamahaha131 wrote:
I’m probably in the minority here but the Ktm feels wider to me back above the pegs where I squeeze with my legs. Not an issue...
I’m probably in the minority here but the Ktm feels wider to me back above the pegs where I squeeze with my legs. Not an issue, just noticeable.
I have noticed the same thing.
motodad312
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motodad312 12/2/2021 8:10am
12/2/2021 8:10am
My son is 6'4" and had a YZ 250f prior to his current 250 SXF. He likes the KTM better. He thinks the cockpit fits him better (I think the YZ always felt wider and he likes the narrow feel of the KTM). He also rev's the piss out of the bike so the KTM is much better suited for him (that top end pulls forever).

I don't get the reliability comments on the YZ/Jap bikes. We owned all of the Jap brands at one point before moving to KTM. I've never found a more reliable bike than the KTMs. Change the oil and air filter and they are bullet proof.
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Austin_Rankin 12/3/2021 12:13am
12/3/2021 12:13am
The yamaha needs dual injection and stronger engine internals, and the ktm is over ported creating a velocity issue off bottom for sucking air.

Pick your poison.
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luke11
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luke11 12/3/2021 2:41am
12/3/2021 2:41am
It comes down to personal preference having rode the Yam personally I found it handled amazing but the power/sound is something that takes some getting used to. It signs off way too quickly for me but I’m sure with more hours on it I would adapt my riding style sufficiently. The ktm I haven’t rode my in stock form so can’t really advise. Heard there is more power up top though and I very much doubt it handles as good as the yam.
Brent
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Brent 12/3/2021 3:43pm
12/3/2021 3:43pm
The last two weeks, I have been riding the 2022 KTM 250SX-F that I got for Rick Elzinga earlier this year. The motor is stock except for a Vortex ECU.

I also got to ride a new friend's 2022 Yamaha YZ250F at Glen Helen this past Thursday back to back with the KTM - we basically swapped bikes.

I don't normally race or ride a 250F, so the transition from a 450 is hard for me, and it has been a learning curve on how to ride a 250 and keep the momentum going instead of just relying on 450 horsepower.

That said, The KTM is a high rev machine, it has a HUGE HP boost up high in the RPM, and the Yamaha seemed to have more low end power that signs off earlier than the KTM does.

Suspension wise, I felt the Stock YZ suspension was as good as the re-worked REP KTM fork and shock on my bike.

The only thing that was hard for me to get used to was the tall feeling of the YZ as compared to the KTM - I'm 5'11".

Both bikes are just awesome though, I forgot how much fun these little bikes are.


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