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/1510691
COMPARISON I 2024 KTM 250 SX VS. KTM 250 SX-F P86 OTHER SIMILARITIES> KTM specs both of their 250 motocrossers with many of the same parts. You'll find Neken handlebars, ODI grips, Brembo clutches and brakes and Dunlop tires on both bikes. The body - work, seats and footpegs are also identical. These similarities make jumping from one bike to another easy, especially if you have more than one in your fleet. WRAP UP> Two things were evident when the checkers flew on this test. The two-stroke SX is faster yet "harder" to ride. And hard is relative—it requires more effort to maintain speed throughout a moto. Looking for lines, feathering the clutch, and maintaining throttle control are all non-negotiables on the 250 SX. The four-stroke might lose on paper, but we deemed it easier to ride for the same duration. Searching for lines isn't as crucial, and the bike feels more consistent in every condition. Riders use less brain power when repeatedly hitting their marks lap after lap on the four-stroke. Fac - toring in base prices and rebuilds further deepens this debate. Is there a clear-cut winner? Not necessarily. Depends on what your priorities are, mainly be- tween fun and performance. Our testers felt they could go faster for a longer period on the SX-F four-stroke. However, that doesn't mean it was as fun. The two- stroke SX easily takes the cake in the smiles-per-hour category but requires riders to eat their Wheaties before jumping aboard. Until the pro-level rules change, we'll continue enjoying both 250 machines. CN 2024 KTM 250 SX ($9149) ENGINE TYPE: 2-stroke, single COOLING SYSTEM: Liquid DISPLACEMENT: 249cc BORE X STROKE: 66.4 x 72mm STARTING SYSTEM: Electric FUELING: Vitesco Technologies EMS TRANSMISSION: 5-speed, w/ hydraulic Brembo clutch FRAME: Central double-cradle-type 25CrMo4 steel SUBFRAME: Polyamide HANDLEBAR: Neken aluminum FRONT SUSPENSION: WP Xact 48mm REAR SUSPENSION: WP Xact Monoshock with linkage FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL: 12.2 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL: 11.8 in. FRONT WHEEL: 21 in. REAR WHEEL: 19 in. FRONT BRAKE: Brembo 260mm REAR BRAKE: Single 220 mm, Brembo caliper STEERING HEAD ANGLE: 63.9° SEAT HEIGHT: 37.7 in. GROUND CLEARANCE: 14.1 in. FUEL CAPACITY: 1.9 gal. WEIGHT (CURB, ACTUAL): 233 lbs. S P E C I F I C AT I O N S 2024 KTM 250 SX-F ($10,199) ENGINE TYPE: 4-stroke, single COOLING SYSTEM: Liquid DISPLACEMENT: 249.9cc BORE X STROKE: 81 x 48.5mm STARTING SYSTEM: Electric FUELING: Fuel Injection with Keihin EMS TRANSMISSION: 5-speed, w/ hydraulic Brembo clutch FRAME: Central double-cradle-type 25CrMo4 steel SUBFRAME: Polyamide HANDLEBAR: Neken aluminum FRONT SUSPENSION: WP Xact 48mm REAR SUSPENSION: WP Xact Monoshock with linkage FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL: 12.2 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL: 11.8 in. FRONT WHEEL: 21 in. REAR WHEEL: 19 in. FRONT BRAKE: Brembo 260mm REAR BRAKE: Single 220mm, Brembo caliper STEERING HEAD ANGLE: 63.9° SEAT HEIGHT: 37.7 in. GROUND CLEARANCE: 14.1 in. FUEL CAPACITY: 1.9 gal. WEIGHT (CURB, ACTUAL): 238 lbs. S P E C I F I C AT I O N S