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4/23/2009
Location
Tacoma, WA
US
How are these bikes holding up? I’m on the fence of buying one or finding a low hour yz250 since that are tried and true.
2023 ktm 250sx reviews
I’ll get some thumbs down for this but I have one and I’m being honest. I have been on 250 two strokes for years. The 23’ has the softest motor of any 250 mx bike I’ve ever rode, no bottom and soft mid range. It requires more throttle and clutch work to maintain the same speed as my 2020. Don’t even get me started on how we can no longer tune the motor to our liking(pv & jetting)
I have no loyalty towards any brand and will flat out tell you if you want a strong running 250 two stroke mx bike the TBI ain’t it. Get a YZ or 2019-2022 250sx.
I can only think that the guys who like them are coming off fourstrokes or a TPI.
Not to hijack but that's actually real helpful, thanks for the input man.
I know the motor is a big piece of the puzzle, but how do you the bike outside of power/delivery, liking the handling, putting power down, living with the bike, etc?
I really like the chassis, it handles even better/more precise then the 2019-2022. I revalved suspension and have it working pretty good but will convert to coils at some point.
Mine has fouled plugs and spooges. I’ve reduced the TPS value to lean it out and it helped but needs a remap. I’m hoping a remap gives it some bottom and snap, if not I’ll just continue to race my 2020 and just play ride the 23’.
Send your ECU over to Jamie at Twisted Development.
The Shop
Aren't they locked now? Can only improve with a Vortex?
They have figured out to unlock them.
several tuners doing it, but I give my money to Jamie
https://www.instagram.com/p/CsuJhthS7lz/?igshid=ZWQyN2ExYTkwZQ==
Exactly why I just picked up a 23 GasGas MC250 with the blowout rebates. They got a long way to go with the TBI.. Sorry, but less power, more weight, more expensive and more complicated is not the ticket on a 2-stroke MX bike.
As for remapping the TBI's, last I heard there are like 2 places in the US that have figured out how to crack the stock ECU and remap, Vortex has no plans to make an ECU for these bikes and GET was supposed to be close to releasing theirs.
*Edit... Langham post shows Twisted is in the remap game now.
Is there a way around taking the bike to a dealer and paying to have the map flashed from the error code or whatever it throws? There are some good deals on 23s, but I’m not driving 2 hours to the nearest dealer to pay them to fix a bike error
Not yet, but KTM is suppose to have something out soon to make that possible.
I heard that it was suppose to be released right after the ‘23’s came out, but the company that was building them, caught on fire.
I have a couple codes on mine right now, it hasn’t affected the performance any
That’s good to know. I really want a beta 300rx, but the ktm 250 can be found for so much cheaper. I have a few months to decide still
I didn’t expect to get attacked like that this morning!
. I’m one of those coming off a 4 stroke who’s enjoying it. Hadn’t rode a 2 stroke since ‘05. I have a ‘22 350 that I absolutely love. This ‘24 doesn’t pull as long as it but I think it’s deceptively fast. Feel like a hero on it, but will probably try to find some extra hp on it somehow. The best part is how light and flickable it feels. The stock suspension sucks to me though (6’, 220 w/o gear, 30+ A).
Thanks suspensionguy, appreciate your input there.
As a side note, I refuse to believe it is *that* difficult to unlock the stock ECU and I also expect a handheld code reader / the ability to clear codes will be along very shortly.
I have about 150 hours on my 2021 KTM 250SX... it has been a great bike once jetted properly ( also owned a 2017 250SX )
I purchased a 2023 250SX in October (trouble codes still flashing) bogs off idle/ have to clutch it like my 150SX/ power goes to zero when trying exit tight sand corners ( I have tried every combo of clutch, different rpms and it bogs like like someone turned off a light switch )
In November I bought a 2022 250SX and I have over 100 hours on it.... the 2023 I have 35 hours of frustration
I am glad to read about the re-mapping of the ECU... I really hope the new bikes get figured out
There are some good deals on 23 models right now but At this point I may wait another year to get the tbi bike until all the bugs get worked out maybe they will come with spring forks by then too. I feel the forks on the yz is much better than the air forks on ktm.
I compare mine to a 125 also, no bottom, tons of clutch and hold it wide open to get it to go.
I’ve had 5 250SX since 2015 and a handful before that when I wasn’t on 450’s. I was expecting this TBI motor to run soft but not this bad, it’s turd out of the hole and corners.
Luckily I still have my dialed 2020, might end up with a 22’ if I can send this 23’ down the road without having to give it away.
Absolutely love mine. This is my first two stroke MX bike in about 15 years (last one was a 2005 YZ 250). My 2 most recent bikes were an RMZ 450 and a KTM 450.
I feel like I'm riding more aggressive than the past few years. Bike feels a lot lighter than my 450 (I know it isn't actually much lighter, but man it feels 25 pounds or more lighter). I love that I can ride it much like a 4 stroke. It lugs out of corners pretty well. I geared mine down going up to a 51 tooth in the back and that brought 3rd gear a lot more for me.
Best part for me as an old man...when I go to the track for a practice day, I'm doing 2-3 extra motos than I was in the past on my 450. I'm just not getting as tired.
That’s my normal statement for these bikes. Jump on a 2017-2022 Austrian 250 that is jetted right and you’ll be really scratching your head. They are 10lbs lighter and a solid 49/50hp.
I have not seen any private dyno runs of the 250 but if the 125 lost 3-4hp with the switch to TBI I bet the 250 lost 5-6hp and it feels like it. I know HP isn’t always king but it shows how poorly tuned these are.
This bums me out. I don’t think I’ll be picking up a 250sx any time soon.. I usually mod my bikes anyways, but don’t like the idea of starting low on power
Pit Row
Local racers in my area avoid TBI like the plague for the same reasons mentioned above.
My 2016 250sx was a rocket. JD jet kit and an FMF shorty.
2013 SX250 converted to 300. Thanks for the reviews. I'm staying on the old stead.
They seem to very much like another pipe if anyone didnt know that already
Red slow map. Green hot map. White hot map and pipe.
Sir, you can't make a post like that and not specify EXACTLY which pipe!
My booty agrees with that dyno on my 300 (PC Combo)
I have a 23 250SX, I’ll chime in on a few things after putting 6 hours on the bike.
A major note about what I’m about to write here is that I DRINK KTM KOOL AID. I am
biased because I believe this brand makes the best motorcycle on the market. I’ve also been riding KTM since 1995 with a few years on Suzuki 80’s, and a few years on Suzuki and Kawi big bikes. The rest of my time has been orange.
As of now, my suspension is stock. Like haven’t touched a clicker stock. I don’t really care to because I have some of the race team equipment being rebuilt for me by JH2, and it’s the 6500 conversion fork and stock shock just being rebuilt and revalved. I’m 210 without gear, and yes the bike is undersprung for both my weight and skill. However, it does ride extremely well. I’m very impressed with the handling of the bike as a whole, even though I’m way north of how it’s set up from KTM. The 2023 chassis is better than the 19-22 gen, and to me feels like a better steering 16-18 chassis. The 250 SX power plant fits well inside the new chassis and is so lightweight and flickable, this makes the bike very easy to maneuver.
In the engine department, I can tell that this bike does not have as much punch as my 18. That’s not a bad thing, it just takes time to understand how to manage the power output. The easiest way to do so is by practically eliminating 2nd gear. This bike needs to be operated in 3rd-5th gear with the occasional tight corner in 2nd. I went from a 14-51 to a 13-52 taking the ratio from 3.62 to 4.0. I’m not the only one doing this, as lots of the euro guys I’m in contact with are doing the exact same. Yes, I do have to use a little more clutch, but it’s nothing extreme.
Just like a carbureted two stroke - the quality of the fuel matters. I’ve heard that WMR now has the ability to fully remap with stock ignition for fuel with powervalve tunability. Regardless, the stock ECU will be able to work with race fuel to an extent and make good usage out of it. I’ve run 110 and I’ve run 91 and let me tell you the 110 is a big difference. I’m very curious as to what mapping can do for these bikes. It feels very uncharted for me, as I was good at tuning a carburetor.
My one true complaint is the sound of the bike while riding it is very uninspiring, and I think many riders get on and think the bike sounds weak. I can say from having my buddies ride the bike - she barks. But the audio coming upwards from the intake, engine, and exhaust is downright lame. I’m hoping that Dubach can create a system that improved the performance first, and the sound comes with it. (We are partnered with DRD through the race team, so I’m waiting on their new system to be developed)
A lot of guys talk about how these bikes are turds, and are bringing up the added weight of the starter and throttle body, etc. To have perfect jetting mixed with no more kicking - I’ll happily accept the coupe pounds added. I’ve done one side by side start with a buddy off a gate, and Joey is a great starter. He was on a KTM 250f and launched well. By the time we got to the first corner, I had him. This was my very first time doing a gate drop on the new bike and I held onto 2nd too long. This bike isn’t a turd. This bike does not have that classic two stroke punch and that’s a fact. But what it does well is worth letting go of something that made people shy away from two strokes and go to four strokes.
I’ll find out this weekend how competitive the engine is, how my gearing ratio works, and the stock trim raceability this weekend as I’m going to round two of the Missouri State Series.
Dep pipe with long silencer. No more shorty...
Rippin ruts! Like what you do but geez that is full cup of kool-aid. Reading between the lines here..
Needing to gear the bike lower is a tale tale sign that the power delivery is not what it once was. As you said it doesn’t have the power of your 18 and that is very apparent with your needed gearing change. In reality it doesn’t have the power of any carb 250 MX two stroke but it does have more weight. More weight isn’t always bad but paired with less power I don’t think anyone who’s rode a TBI back to back with a carb motor would choose the TBI. They are too soft off the bottom and no mid range drive. Snap, forget it. The carb motors were fantastic and extremely easy to tailor to the rider.
The factory mapping is so poor most of these have spooge running down the silencer and dripping onto the swingarm. The guys unwilling to learn how to jet are tolerate of this but those that can jet a bike are not. Fouling plugs? Sorry but we’re not tolerate of that either. It’s totally unacceptable that a new modern fuel injected motorcycle will foul plugs. Yes, they foul plugs even when running the recommended octane and motorex @ 60:1. Mind boggling to me.
Another gripe is now we have no way to tune the power valve to the riders needing.
IMO There is more down grades and inconsistencies in this bike then there are advancements. A new generation should be better, not weight more, make less power, and have wide spread run ability issues discussed widely online and throughout social media. With the 24’s coming with the same mapping(104) it’s obvious KTM is going to rely on the aftermarket to tune them or will becoming out with a way for us to tune them ourselves $$$.
I’d take the priorly supplied PV springs and a handful of jets instead of having to ship my ecu then wait 10 to 20 days for it to be returned with a $300 tune I likely will not like.
The 2013 engine was the last of the real speed demons. Every iteration after 2013 was a detune of power to make them more user friendly. Will never get rid of mine just throw the engine in to a newer frame eventually.
My 14 made my vision blurry because it vibrated so bad. It ripped though
Crutcher - are you running 110 with stock ECU mapping or have you had the bike mapped specifically for 110? Or have you modified the squish?
They absolutely do vibrate like a son of a bitch lmao
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