2015 KTM 250 XC-F VS. YAMAHA YZ250FX
SHOOTOUT
P52
feel as plush as the KTM's, and
at low speeds and on uneven
terrain the FX felt less connected
to the ground. Midstroke, how-
ever, is excellent and has a great
feel; it's plush yet very controlled
and transfers very little stress to
the rider's arms and shoulders.
Bottoming resistance is also
very good. At moderate speeds
and on moto-style courses, we
preferred the FX's suspension
over the XC-F's.
Another big difference be-
tween the KTM and the Yamaha
is their frames. The KTM's is
made out of chromoly steel,
the Yamaha's aluminum, and
you do feel the difference. The
FX has a slightly more rigid feel
than the KTM's more compliant
steel chassis and provides more
gripping surface for your knees.
Even though the Yamaha is
heavier on the scale, it feels light
on the trail, which most likely
has a lot to do with its unique
reversed cylinder configuration
that gives the FX an extra low
center of gravity. As a result,
the FX just feels lighter than the
KTM and more agile, yet it is still
very stable at speed. It is just
a great-handling machine. The
KTM handles well, too, but not
quite as confidence inspiring as
the Yamaha's.
When things get real rocky, it's
nice to know that when you're
on the KTM, you have almost
two more inches of ground
clearance than you do on the
We especially like the FX on
more open trails, but it can
claw and scratch its way
through the woods just fine.
