Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128365
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For '05, KTM concentrated on making the 250 5X's chassis more compliant. It already had the
motor, but KTM has been struggling for quite some time to find that right suspensiorv'frame mix to
rake advantage of that "killer" case reed-inducted powerplant of its. The 250 5X has been criticized in the past for being too harsh and unstable. Blame it on its linkage-free rear suspension if
you want (and you might be right), but KTM is convinced that its unique suspension design isn't
the problem, that it's instead a frame - or more specifically a flex - issue. So for '05, KTM
redesigned the frame primarily by adding and raking away flex in key areas, and then adding finishing touches, such as a new swingarm and triple damp. Even the WP fork has been tweaked on
with flex in mind. The inner and outer fork tubes have been modified to where there is supposedly less binding now, which in tum results in smoother operation. So, when it comes to the KTM's
2005 chassis, flex is the key word.
The high-tech WP shock, designed to operate as though the suspension had linkages, has also
been reworked significantly for '05.
The motor wasn't entirely ignored, either. It now has a two-ring piston, the cylinder head has
been reshaped, and the crankshaft diameter has been increased slightly - all in the name of
improved usability and reliability.
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TRACK TESTED
If you're interested in horsepower and torque, then you've come to the right place. The 250 SX
has plenty of both, making it one of our favorite motors in this shootout. This bike has a nke hit
off the bottom and just keeps pulling and pulling right through all frve gears, and it does so in a
supersmooth and linear manner It is, to say the 1east, quite impressive. The KTM has so much
torque that one tester went as far as to say that it reminded him of a four-stroke motor. And, like
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most four-strokes, the KTM works well if you short-shift it.
In the over-rev department, the SX falls a littie short compared to the other motors here, but
getting there is a lot more fun on the KTM. And besides, if you shift early, then there's no need to
ring it out.
The KTM also shifts well, and we loved the superlight pull of its hydraulic clutch.
All of our testers - at the very least - liked the KTM's motor and everything that had anything
to do with the motor, but it was in the handling department that our test riders' opinions started
to rake different paths. The real fast guys, it seemed, still had some issues with headshake and felt
it was too busy feeling overall, while the middle-of-the-road guys were far less critical of the
KTM's handling disabilities. But we all agreed that the KTM just isn't as compliant over the smaller
bumps, especially when you're sitting down, locked into a rutted tum and on the gas - the acceleration bumps are just murder on your innards. On areas of the track where you can stand up, prepare and use your legs to help soak up the junk, though, it's not so bad. In fact, the KTM works
pretty well. But compared to the others, the KTM just isn't as supple.
Overall, we found the KTM's suspension to work best with somewhat softer-than-stock settings at both ends and with the ride height set a little lower (II Smm) for higher-speed tracks. This
seems to give the front end a little more stability down the straights and under hard braking, but it
does lose some turning prowess.
And speaking of turning, the KTM is again impressive. It gets in and out of any kind of tum
imaginable without hesitation. The triple-clamp offset is adjustable and is the only bike of the fIVe
that offers this ability. We didn't feel the need, however, to malke any changes because, if we had,
it would have increased the offset by 2mm, reduced the trail and made the KTM tum quicker than
it a1reatly does. The drawback would've been a loss of some high-speed stability down the
straights - didn't need that. Changing the offset isn't as simple as turning a c1kker; it can be done at
the track in about a half hour.
And the brakes, the KTM stops like now. The Iront brake is super strong, but it is a little on the
grabby side. Once you get used to it, though, you won't want it any other way.
As far as ergos, the KTM is remarkably comfortable, yet it does have a distinctively different
feel than the other four - it's not necessarily worse or better, mind you, just different. After a couple of laps, you'll feel right at home on the KTM, and then the other bikes will feel different.
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KTM: Great motor, improved