package felt so put together and opened my
eyes to the sheer advantage of factory-level
teams. Trick parts, like the tuned KYB air forks,
Raptor footpegs, hot-start switch, and hard-to-
find neutral were other Easter eggs sprinkled
throughout Roczen's ride.
The runner-up on my list of favorite bikes
that I rode this year was a production bike, the
2024 KTM 250 SX. Its new fuel-injected two-
stroke engine is so easy to ride, and the lack of
carburetion makes maintenance a no-brainer.
Just mix gas and go. Picking just one of the
fuel-injected KTMs was difficult, as even the
newly revamped XC-Ws are true weapons in
the woods. However, on a day with good track
prep and deep, loamy soil, you'll want to aim
for the outside lines and let this KTM 250 SX
two-stroke sing.
Another motorcycle way up there on my fun
list is the 2024 Yamaha YZ250F. I loved the
previous-generation YZ250F and was seriously
concerned when they announced an all-new
model rolling out for 2024. Thankfully, the bike
kept all the good parts like the motor and sus
-
pension and axed things like the wide radiator
shrouds and bowed-out seat. Now, the bike
is slim and nimble but still packs that strong
punch from the engine department.
FEATURE I 2023 CYCLE NEWS BIKES WE LIKE
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