Yz or ktm 250?

paddyB745
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3/15/2017 7:48pm
So I currently ride a 2016 Kx450f. Bought it on a whim one day, sold my 13 250sx and put a down payment on the kawi. Long story short, I'm bored of the big 450 already and wanna get back on a 2 stroke. Just looking for any opinions on the yz vs the 250sx. Mainly going to ride moto, but would like to start doing a little more hare scrambles. My minds saying the 17 ktm but I'm also thinking I could get a 16 yz a lot cheaper and it might be a better bike overall. Any ideas appreciated, thanks,
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Bermworm
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3/15/2017 8:01pm
Had a 13 250 sx loved it bought it in august 12 traded it in on a 2015 yz last year love it even more.What breaks on orange won't break on blue.Plus I got a killer deal on the blue bike because it was new old stock.That being said there is a big difference between the 13 and 17 KTM.What made me like blue so much was the suspension it is like wearing ballet slippers on the track.Apparently orange is just as good now so it's mostly about whether you want to spend the extra couple of grand or not.Old fat bald and slow and loving it.
seth505
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3/15/2017 8:03pm
Between bikes I've had YZ, 13 sx and 17 sx. I'd buy the 17 sx again 10 times out of 10.
I definitely can't comment on longevity yet, though I'm confident it'll be good.
3/15/2017 8:20pm
Id go with the ktm. Not sure where you are located, but in socal you cant find 16 yzs and will pay 7800+ out the door. The ktm you can find for around the same price. I ride a 14 sx, not a single problem and it has 210 hard desert hours on it. I change the top end every 30-40 hours, all pistons looked great, the wiseco still looked brand new.
paddyB745
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3/15/2017 8:36pm
Thanks for some tips. They honestly both seem like really good bikes. I'll probably go check em both out next week. If the yz is only a couple hundred bucks cheaper I'll probably end up with the ktm. I never had any issues with my 13 and honestly loved the heck outta that bike. Should have never sold it...

The Shop

fins227
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Chillicothe, OH US
3/15/2017 8:39pm
YZ because KYB
TeamGreen
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3/15/2017 8:44pm
fins227 wrote:
YZ because KYB
AERs are doing better in shoot-outs than the KYBs.

I'm jus' sayin'...
tempura
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JP
3/15/2017 8:51pm
No brainer, KTM
305FC250
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Miami, FL US
3/15/2017 8:58pm
The 2017 suspension on the KTM/Huskys is amazing. I had the same debate except for a 125 instead of a 250. $500 price difference wasn't a deal breaker for me. Couldn't find any left over 2016 or older marked down 125s still in any dealer showrooms and I wanted a fresh bike so it was 2017 vs 2017 for me. I ended up picking the Husky and could not be happier. The power to weight blows away the YZ and the suspension is easily on par or even a tad better if anything. Haven't ridden the 250 smokers but I'd expect the KTM to have the same advantages.
ledger
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3/15/2017 9:45pm
The 17 KTM is one helluva bike , feels like a 125 in weight and has the pull of a four stroke but better. I sold mine to a Vital member, so maybe he can chime in and tell you how much he likes the bike. Jetting issue's and bar bend is about all I found negative about the new KTM.
urbanlift707
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Humboldt, CA US
3/15/2017 9:52pm
I've done some back to back Motos on both 17's. Now I own the Ktm so I'm sure I'm biased even if I'm not trying to be but to me it's a much better overal package. The yz does have a plusher initial feel, but I'm 100% satisfied with the wp stuff. That is the one and only thing it has a slight advantage at imo, the Ktm's motor, brakes and handling really make the difference for me.

Sipes #412
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Tacoma, WA US
3/15/2017 10:15pm
Get the 17 ktm you won't regret it. I currently ride an 07 yz250 pretty much the same as a 16 and some guy at the track let me ride his 17 ktm and it's the best 2 stroke I've ever ridden hands down.
JBecker 72
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3/15/2017 10:54pm
I own a 13 YZ250 that's dialed in. Love it, never selling it. But I really want to ride a 17 250 SX or TC. Everyone says they are amazing.
Phillip_Lamb
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3/15/2017 11:23pm
paddyB745 wrote:
So I currently ride a 2016 Kx450f. Bought it on a whim one day, sold my 13 250sx and put a down payment on the kawi...
So I currently ride a 2016 Kx450f. Bought it on a whim one day, sold my 13 250sx and put a down payment on the kawi. Long story short, I'm bored of the big 450 already and wanna get back on a 2 stroke. Just looking for any opinions on the yz vs the 250sx. Mainly going to ride moto, but would like to start doing a little more hare scrambles. My minds saying the 17 ktm but I'm also thinking I could get a 16 yz a lot cheaper and it might be a better bike overall. Any ideas appreciated, thanks,
if your buying new

Husky or KTM

if used
YZ.

the yamaha is carrying the same engine from 1999! and its had no updates ( i know because i have a 2003 and my dad has a 2017)

the chassis is ok, suspension is great.

but KTM Husky
better motor
lighter
better chassis
suspension is good


I have a YZ cuz i only had 2k available. If i bought new I would get a Husky/ktm
HenryA
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Stockholm SE
3/16/2017 1:09am
Husky!
Acidreamer
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Mansfield, OH US
3/16/2017 6:22am
The cheaper yz will leave you extra money to make it better than the ktm...
watson
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Houston, TX US
3/16/2017 6:43am
KTM. Better bike, more updated, and you're giving money to a company that actually puts R&D into 2 strokes.
seth505
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3/16/2017 6:48am
Acidreamer wrote:
The cheaper yz will leave you extra money to make it better than the ktm...
They are close in price. When I sold my last YZ and was looking for a new bike in 2013 I was able to get the KTM cheaper than the YZ (in southern CA).
Johnny Ringo
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Tombstone, AZ US
3/16/2017 7:02am
YZ, your frame won't snap. You also only have to tighten your spokes half as often as a KTM.
Mx746
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Marietta, GA US
3/16/2017 7:11am Edited Date/Time 3/16/2017 7:13am
Id buy the YZ for the Keihen, and the KTM for the counter balancer.
Motofinne
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3/16/2017 7:28am Edited Date/Time 3/16/2017 8:03am
Acidreamer wrote:
The cheaper yz will leave you extra money to make it better than the ktm...
I don't know how the pricing looks over there but here in Finland both bikes have a price of 8490€.

Edit: It seems like the msrp is 7400 bucks for the YZ and 7700 for the SX. I don't think you'll get many extra parts for 300 bucks.
JRT812
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3/16/2017 7:35am
Pretty interested in the new KTM 2 stroke coming out this year
newmann
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3/16/2017 7:56am
YZ, your frame won't snap. You also only have to tighten your spokes half as often as a KTM.
Guess you haven't been watching the internetz the past decade. YZ frames cracking seem to be the new norm. Lots of threads here and elsewhere. How well has Yamaha been handling those failures?
Motofinne
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3/16/2017 8:00am
My standpoint in this question is that i would support the company that actually puts R&D money into the 2-strokes. Whether it's KTM/Husqvarna, TM or any of the smaller European brands(Gas Gas, Sherco, Beta) i would support one of those brands instead of a company that has zero R&D hours on their bikes for 11 years and still charging the same amount for the product.

The choice might be different if you have a budget of, lets say 3000 bucks and you are in the used bike market. But i would not pay 7000 to 8500 for a bike that is basically 11 years old. With that said the YZ is still a really, really good bike.
paddyB745
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novato, CA US
3/16/2017 8:29am
Motofinne wrote:
My standpoint in this question is that i would support the company that actually puts R&D money into the 2-strokes. Whether it's KTM/Husqvarna, TM or any...
My standpoint in this question is that i would support the company that actually puts R&D money into the 2-strokes. Whether it's KTM/Husqvarna, TM or any of the smaller European brands(Gas Gas, Sherco, Beta) i would support one of those brands instead of a company that has zero R&D hours on their bikes for 11 years and still charging the same amount for the product.

The choice might be different if you have a budget of, lets say 3000 bucks and you are in the used bike market. But i would not pay 7000 to 8500 for a bike that is basically 11 years old. With that said the YZ is still a really, really good bike.
Very valid point, that's the reason I bought the 13 250sx, because of the amount of r&d put into the bike.

It's looking more and more like a KTM will be coming home with me sometime in the future. Thanks for all the advice from everyone.

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