Age-old question: 250f vs 450f

450. I’m 5”11 165 pounds And ride a 450. I wouldn’t put anymore than 150 pounds on a 250f, but I also haven’t ridden one since 2007 so I don’t know what they are like now as far as motor and reliability.

Anyone can be competitive on a 250F. The maintenance cost on a 450 compared to a 250 is a lot less (from my experience, especially if you rev them out). You can run a 450 forever if you maintain them.

300 two stroke or 350 four stroke are both great options. You can lug them or shred them... both are great all around bikes. Food for additional thought.

mxer807 wrote:

450. I’m 5”11 165 pounds And ride a 450. I wouldn’t put anymore than 150 pounds on a 250f, but I also haven’t ridden one since 2007 so I don’t know what they are like now as far as motor and reliability.

So your giving advice based on your experience with the 250f engine technology of over a decade ago?

Get what you want. In my experience, my 450 is easier to ride. I dont have to have high intensity on it compared to the 250. I feel like im demolishing the clutch on a 250 out of corners to make it feel like the 450. Plus the 250 needs a 6th gear. The place i ride at had a 1/8th mile straight, and 5th is not enough. The 450 can go 4th gear faster than the 250 in 5th. Sure you can change gearing but the cost of torque on a 250 isnt worth it.

On the plus side for the 250, its absolutely a blast to ride. Theres never a time i cant wail on the gas and drop the clutch out of a flat corner. The 450 will step out or wheelie if you do that. The intensity required on a 250 is fun and good to sortof cross train for the 450.

Mind you i weigh 250lbs so my view of the power on these bikes is vastly different than most riders.

mxer807 wrote:

450. I’m 5”11 165 pounds And ride a 450. I wouldn’t put anymore than 150 pounds on a 250f, but I also haven’t ridden one since 2007 so I don’t know what they are like now as far as motor and reliability.

pmshortt2 wrote:

So your giving advice based on your experience with the 250f engine technology of over a decade ago?

I have a 2009 kx250f and it pulls just fine and i weigh 250lbs. Stop it with that garbo lmao

mxer807 wrote:

450. I’m 5”11 165 pounds And ride a 450. I wouldn’t put anymore than 150 pounds on a 250f, but I also haven’t ridden one since 2007 so I don’t know what they are like now as far as motor and reliability.

pmshortt2 wrote:

So your giving advice based on your experience with the 250f engine technology of over a decade ago?

Notice I how I said “so I don’t know “ ?

mxer807 wrote:

450. I’m 5”11 165 pounds And ride a 450. I wouldn’t put anymore than 150 pounds on a 250f, but I also haven’t ridden one since 2007 so I don’t know what they are like now as far as motor and reliability.

pmshortt2 wrote:

So your giving advice based on your experience with the 250f engine technology of over a decade ago?

kb228 wrote:

I have a 2009 kx250f and it pulls just fine and i weigh 250lbs. Stop it with that garbo lmao

Your bike is probably tired AF 250 pounds on it. Poor thing.

pmshortt2 wrote:

So your giving advice based on your experience with the 250f engine technology of over a decade ago?

kb228 wrote:

I have a 2009 kx250f and it pulls just fine and i weigh 250lbs. Stop it with that garbo lmao

mxer807 wrote:

Your bike is probably tired AF 250 pounds on it. Poor thing.

Nah bro it rips

250f For me. 6ft and 145 pounds.

I like the lighter bike, power that’s there without feeling I’m fighting the bike at every step. I could never get comfortable on my 450 so picked up a 250f over winter.

I can see where that may not be an issue for heavier guys, but for being scrawny the 250 is the way to go. Only spot I used to wish for more power was long straights when trying to pass the slow pokes on their 450s and they could outrun me. Everywhere else I could generally keep up or be faster.
Edit: I’m typically a woods rider so power difference may be more noticeable on the track.

350

6'2" 200lbs here, and would describe myself as average B-rider weekend warrior. I've onwed all three 125, 250, and 450 and can believe the 250F is more than enough for 95% of guys on the track. Anyone who says they don't have enough power to move a heavier guy around the track is full of it. If you have the right gearing for the tracks your riding it will never lack power.

The weight on a 450F may also be a big jump for a 125. I currently have a KX450F in my garage and when the tracks break down and i get fatigued i find myself wish i had the smaller bike again.

999 wrote:

Ok, so I know this question probably gets asked a lot but I couldn't find any more recent threads so I'm going to ask anyway. I'm 6'2 170lbs coming off a 125. I've always had two-strokes and I'm thinking of picking up a new bike in the next few weeks. I'm average skill, never raced but probably would be mid pack C rider. I've been leaning towards a Honda 250 after hearing peoples complaints about air forks but don't want to regret not springing for a bigger bike a few months down the line. I could probably pick up a 17 450 for roughly the same price as an 18 250 so costs are about even. After riding 125's for a few years I'm really used to wringing the bike out and hanging in the top of each gear, so I think a 250, especially the high-revving Honda, would be best for me in that regards. Curious to hear other people's opinions, so let me know what you think.

i noticed u said the air fork on the 250 , the new 250 f from honda has a showa spring fork . And on the market it is currently the best suspension out there arguably better then KYB SSS on the yamahas . I bought the 250f . Ive ridden and owned everything . im 185 c to b 25 year old rider , 250f takes me over everything with style . 450's are less to maintain , but 450s also have alot of power , and honestly if your not racing; and your every questioning a 250f , you dont need one . I promise you the new 250fs feel x2 as fast as a tired 125 ... going from a 125 to a 450 is an insane increase in power . buy happy , buy smart ! good luck .

If you are a mid pack C rider that has never raced and only ridden 125's to date please do not buy a 450. Shit happens too fast and that bike will have you cashing cheques your skill level can't afford. A 250F is a brilliant bike. I'm partial but buy a Yamaha. Best out of the box and bulletproof.

mxer807 wrote:

450. I’m 5”11 165 pounds And ride a 450. I wouldn’t put anymore than 150 pounds on a 250f, but I also haven’t ridden one since 2007 so I don’t know what they are like now as far as motor and reliability.

pmshortt2 wrote:

So your giving advice based on your experience with the 250f engine technology of over a decade ago?

mxer807 wrote:

Notice I how I said “so I don’t know “ ?

Then you shouldn’t be attempting to give bad advice in the first place. Quit talking out of your ass, that’s all I noticed.

350. I have a 17 FC450. A friend of mine has a 17 KTM 350. If I had ridden his 350 before I bought a 450 I might have bought a 350. You are able to exit corners under power more smoothly yet hammer the throttle to get what you need on top. I am 270 lbs.and really like the 350 power delivery.

New 250Fs are awesome machines. Very easy to go fast on. That would be my recommendation.

I only ride a 450 because I’m 200 pounds in gear and don’t like shifting as much. But I will say that the modern 450 is also a very easy to ride bike. My 16 KX450F is on a whole other level compared to the 00 YZ426F I had almost 20 years ago.

Edit: and yeah, a 350 would be awesome as well. I wish more companies made them.

46 year old Vet B rider (for about two laps) - 5'10 180 now was 200lbs. I rode 250 2-strokes BITD and moved to 450's in 2004. After a few years I tried a 250f and rode them for 5 years or so. LAst eyar i decided to try 450's again just to see so bought a 15 CRF450 because they were supposed to the the "slowest" 450. Yeah right, fun bike but never could get comfortable enough to really push it even after going to spring forks. Went back to a '17 KX250f and couldn't be happier. If I didn't ahve two kids riding also I might have tried a 350 but for as much as I ride and the cost it wasn't worth it at the moment since I could buy the KX's for $5k new.
For me the 250f is the perfect bike. Plenty of power to clear any jumps but not so much you have to worry about whiskeying all the time. The 450 wore me out trying to watch the throttle control especially in whoop sections. The 250f you can just pin it and go. I tried a YZ250 2-stroke last week on my home track and can;t even see how I rode them years ago? YMMV, but I love 250f's adn doubt I'd ever go back to a 450........

pmshortt2 wrote:

So your giving advice based on your experience with the 250f engine technology of over a decade ago?

mxer807 wrote:

Notice I how I said “so I don’t know “ ?

pmshortt2 wrote:

Then you shouldn’t be attempting to give bad advice in the first place. Quit talking out of your ass, that’s all I noticed.

Talking out of my ass.... ahhhhh the dumb asses on vital such as yourself . Love you guys.

You’ll miss the 125. 6’ 150# 47 yr old c mx rider. I have a yz250 and a 95cr125. I’m having so much fun on the 125 it’s no comparison. The yz is fantastic, but I can get taxed on it. I had a 450 and the torque was welcomed but the constant concern about looping or whiskey throttle was nagging as were flame out problems. If I was going to get back to racing I’d get a 250f or a 350, or, even better a 150?

Not to beat the dead horse, but I think you have our answer. I am a 210 46yo vet rider. I picked up a new 2017 KX 450 last year end of season. I was looking for a 250, but I got a screaming deal on the 450, 6K out the door.

Everything people are saying above are true, mostly. I kind of wish I would have spent the extra and got the 250. I do enjoy my 450, but I dont use nearly the power that bike has, not even close. I have whiskey throttled and almost ended up in the woods off the side of the track. I have whiskey throttled it off a double then into the next jump which almost but me into a nasty endo, and I even had a goose fly up and hit my chest on an up jump hill I grabbed a handfull of throttle and was on top of the hill before I knew it and still dont know how I cleared the rest of the hill with out crashing. The 450 has tremendous power and torque. The great thing about the low end torque is you can recover from corning mistakes by just opening (controlled) the throttle. I find myself getting beat up wrestling the bike around.

I have done a few things to my KX to make it more manageable. Kawasaki has 3 ignition couplings, a soft, hard, and standard. The hard coupling takes a little of the hit out of it to try and control traction on a hard pack track. It works slightly, not a huge noticeable difference. The other thing is a Rekluse clutch. Now that made a difference, huge difference. With the auto clutch I can ride in a gear higher which tames the engine braking and obviously takes a little of the steam out of the big hit on the bottom.

The great thing about this bike is I am not abusing the engine at all. I havent hit the rev limiter, knock on wood, yet. Hell I havent been in 5th gear on any of the tracks. So with maintenance the engine should last forever.

Go with the 250F or 2 stroke 250 IMO.

Tracktor wrote:

46 year old Vet B rider (for about two laps) - 5'10 180 now was 200lbs. I rode 250 2-strokes BITD and moved to 450's in 2004. After a few years I tried a 250f and rode them for 5 years or so. LAst eyar i decided to try 450's again just to see so bought a 15 CRF450 because they were supposed to the the "slowest" 450. Yeah right, fun bike but never could get comfortable enough to really push it even after going to spring forks. Went back to a '17 KX250f and couldn't be happier. If I didn't ahve two kids riding also I might have tried a 350 but for as much as I ride and the cost it wasn't worth it at the moment since I could buy the KX's for $5k new.
For me the 250f is the perfect bike. Plenty of power to clear any jumps but not so much you have to worry about whiskeying all the time. The 450 wore me out trying to watch the throttle control especially in whoop sections. The 250f you can just pin it and go. I tried a YZ250 2-stroke last week on my home track and can;t even see how I rode them years ago? YMMV, but I love 250f's adn doubt I'd ever go back to a 450........

I dont want to hear that ive been riding yz 250s for many many years but wanted a 250f preferrably with e start. I chickened out and replaced my 16 with a new 18 yz. Vet b but im only about 140 pounds these days so i thought a 250f might be perfect.

I had both a RMZ450 & 250. My son still has the 250. Senior A 205# rider and I could ride the 250 just a fast as the 450 and not get as tired. If you ride a track with allot of hills, the 450 will pull it much better. For the rest of the world, a 250f is just fine and more fun to ride. I dropped down to a Husky 350 and have been in heaven since.

I'm adding another vote for the 350. I wish for a 450 once in a while but the 350 is so much more forgiving and IMO the most like a 2 stroke as far and the way it needs to be ridden.

Thanks for the input guys, I think the CRF250 is the right choice for me. Maybe a 350 if I can find a crazy good deal. Should be plenty of power for me as I work on my technique and if it's too weak in a couple years I can always make the switch.

I like a 450 once in a while but only when I’m fresh but after I start to fatigue I start to get a little sketchy.
Day in and day out a 250F is the best choice for the “Average rider”.
Also after I returned to riding after 17 years I’ve always felt that riding a 250F is more similiar to a 2T in technique.
Like Tbonepops stated there will be a tad more maintenance on a 250f. But they can also last if maintained properly.
My .02 of course.

Ghost

Would you consider the ktm250sxf? I rode mine for the second time and it’s a great motor. I come from 450f’s and a 250 two stroke. I love the Ktm250sxf