Posts
5680
Joined
1/9/2016
Location
Yellow Pine, ID
US
Edited Date/Time
7/29/2020 1:19pm
So for 20 years I've been beating the drum of the YZ 250 as the best all around 2 stroke if you want to race any and every discipline.
Well.... the other night I threw my leg over a 2020 KTM 250sx.... WOW. Just wow. This thing was bone stock, 2.3 hours on it. I cannot believe how good it was. Power felt electric and pulled from bottom to top, absolutely no vibration, front end felt super planted, turned on a dime, overall chassis felt stable. Can't imagine how good it could be with a few tweaks for rider preference.
Just had to throw that out there because I'm sure there are threads on here where I belittled anyone who suggested the 250sx was on the level of the YZ250
Well.... the other night I threw my leg over a 2020 KTM 250sx.... WOW. Just wow. This thing was bone stock, 2.3 hours on it. I cannot believe how good it was. Power felt electric and pulled from bottom to top, absolutely no vibration, front end felt super planted, turned on a dime, overall chassis felt stable. Can't imagine how good it could be with a few tweaks for rider preference.
Just had to throw that out there because I'm sure there are threads on here where I belittled anyone who suggested the 250sx was on the level of the YZ250
So I don't want to hear about how good the 250sx is right now. LOL!
The Shop
Don’t listen to the idiots who send their WP suspension off for all sorts of reinventing the wheel. Stock AER is fine for anything other than AMA Supercross. And if you want to send it off, send it to a place like Enzo that won’t force hundreds or thousands of dollars in parts. It’s completely unnecessary.
Yamaha’s engines are the same since 02, and chassis the same since 2006. Lots has changed in the last 15-20 years, believe it or not.
KTM moved past Yamaha in the 2-Stroke department in 2012 when they added linkage. Since then, each generation has gotten better and better.
06
07
08
09
11
12
16
in the current state that unit is in, ive raced them in every class from novice to expert to vet to over the hill (55+)
i made expert in new england on an 87yz250
soooo my buddy owns a husky dealer makes me buy a 19 TC250
hands down boys and girls, its better than the YZ and if yamaha dont do something about that bike they should just stop making them its an embarassment
My next bike may very well be of Austrian make... But if the front feels harsh in those real world rough conditions, you can be damn sure I'll be one of those "idiots" doing a conversion kit or the like. Slow guy or not, I know what a good fork feels like.
Also, perhaps give the cylinder head a reasonable squish band.
The rest is fine. Yes the KTM makes more power in the mid range, but the YZ makes more up top and has a broader delivery. Pick your poison and mod accordingly. Pretty crazy that the 21 year old YZ engine is still so damn good as it is!
Pit Row
I've ridden the SSS stuff plenty. It's nice, but this idea that is SO MUCH BETTER than AER 48s / WP shock is absurd. The AER48s were a damn nice upgrade from my 2013 CC forks (which were done up by my buds at WP USA) and as such I've left my AER48s bone-stock.
Some guys (not you, just a general statement) get so bent out of shape when someone disagrees. I have gone back and forth on the AER, depending on where I've ridden, some days I love it, other days it isn't great. But that's me. I can see how some guys wouldn't like it and others love it. SO many things factor in. I'd for sure buy a TC/SX 250, so by all means I'm not knocking them. Great bike. Like you said the last 2 gens really stepped up and on paper it blows away the Yamaha. But I hop on the YZs and it just feels more at home.
First off there are a lot of great comments. Lemme say they are both great bikes. I have ridden both with stock suspension and revalved suspension.
Stock to stock suspension the KYB is better, but stock KYB is soft for a 180-185lb human. A stock WP AER is only average if you know how to set it up. An ENZO revalved AER is very good and better than stock KYB.
Revalved/resprung KYB vs. revalved WP... that’s a tough one. To me it’s down to set up, you have that 3rd variable with the WP - air pressure. In all honesty if my set up is dialed the revalved WP is as good or better than than the revalved KYB, caveat being I could very well be feeling the forgiveness of a steel frame.
Handling: the YZ is not as natural in corners, little more bar input needed. My forks are up 10mm. Turns great, rails ruts, decently stable but not quite as stable as KTM. Almost feels like the YZ has a shorter wheelbase if that makes any sense.
Engine: the YZ is a riot! You know you are riding a 2 stroke, everyone who rides it is like F&@K this thing is fast! It does have an FMF with a shorty.
KTM has a smooth electric feel. Fun and easy to ride.
Bottom line both bikes need suspension revalved.
The KTM is the easiest 2 stroke to ride. Anyone can jump off a 450 right on one no problem. Smooth and mellow, very electric feel.
The YZ is more of a handful but ridiculously fun to ride and will put a huge grin on your face.
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