VOLUME 56 ISSUE 24 JUNE 18, 2019 P101
The 250 feels very similar but is slightly
easier to ride because of a more forgiving
engine that doesn't quite hit as hard when you
get on the gas in the meat of the powerband.
As a result, you don't have to hold on as tightly,
which saves you energy. Overall, the 250
requires less effort to manipulate and is prob-
ably the better choice for most people when it
comes to extreme off-road riding. Still, the 300
is a fantastic motorcycle.
Both the 250 and 300 have a map switch
that can be adjusted on the fly via a switch/le-
ver on the right handlebar. You have an aggres-
sive mode and less aggressive. You can feel the
difference. The less-aggressive mode is well
suited for the tight trails, especially on the 300.
While the WP suspension works quite well
on the Racing model, the KYB suspension
on the Factory works noticeably better when
pushed harder. It has a little more "cush" and a
more consistent feel. The Cross Country's KYB
suspension, on the other hand, is set up too stiff
for the tight single-track trails that we rode on in
Italy. The SCs were a little too hard to control over
the roots and rocky creeks. The SCs are a better
candidate for more wide-open terrain that you'd
typically find in the western U.S.
The SE300F is perfect for those who like 250Fs but
want a little more power overall while retaining agility.
