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/1487488
SHOOTOUT I 2023 250cc FOUR-STROKE MOTOCROSS SHOOTOUT P68 2023 YAMAHA YZ250F ($8599) Wet weight: 235 lbs. (claimed) Last year we said the Yamaha YZ250F was unchanged, and for the most part, it was. Minor updates like a new rear-wheel setup with a wider rim, a new spoke pattern, and a wider Dunlop tire were the only changes. This year though, the only update this bike receives is a set of bold new graphics. After three years of winning the Cycle News shootout, does it really need anything changed? Maybe, maybe not. The blue crew is back again, looking for a full-ride scholarship to the podium's top step. 2023 HUSQVARNA FC 250 ($10,099) Dry weight: 223 lbs. (claimed) The Husqvarna FC 250 is the first of two bikes that enter a new generation for 2023. It gets an all- new frame, motor, and electronics package strikingly similar to its KTM brethren. In doing so, it's put on a few pounds from the previous year. The Husky has also changed from white to gray and sits 10mm lower than the KTM. While the FC has always been closely related to the KTM, this model year is the most similar they've ever been. ProTaper handlebars, slightly different plastics, and lower suspension are the main differences that set the Husqvarna apart from its Austrian relative. S uzuki elected not to participate in our 2023 250cc Four-Stroke Motocross Shootout. We certainly wanted to include it but we also wanted to respect Suzuki's wishes. It's easy to criticize the RM-Z250 on paper. It has two major strikes against it right off the bat—compared to its rivals, the Suzuki is the heaviest on the scale and the only 250F without an electric start. By those two metrics alone, we already know where it rates. On the track, factor in its mellow power delivery and harsh suspension, well, let's just say it doesn't attract hard-core racers anymore. >> WHAT ABOUT THE 2023 SUZUKI RM-Z250? >>> 2023 KAWASAKI KX250 ($8499) Dry weight: 227.6 lbs. (claimed) The Kawasaki KX250 might appear unchanged. Dig a bit deeper, though, and you'll see quite a few updates from the 2022 model. Engine performance, mainly low-to-mid- range power, was the main focus for this year's KX. The green machine received a longer exhaust header, a straighter downdraft intake, and a repositioned injector in the throttle valve. With a dual injector system, the second upstream injector (the one closest to the airbox) has been relocated from the top of the air intake to the bottom for a more efficient shot into the engine. Aside from that, the Kawi is more or less the same strong contender it's been for the past few years. H H H H H H