Ktm 250 Sxf
Quick Ride
KTM 250 SXF Four-strokes for more folks
KTM HAS FINALLY
gotten serious about 250cc four-strokes, and the 250 SXF is the result, arriving almost too late to be considered a 2005 model. So what if it’s late?! Who made up the rules for bike production anyway?
Never mind the model year, this brand-spankin’-new 125-killer is sure to rock your socks off! We had the chance to get a sneak-peek, one-day ride on the little pumpkin and came away thoroughly impressed.
By “little,” we only mean that the 250 SXF is made for the 125cc class. This engine deserves to be called a “powerplant.” The all-new, 249.5 lcc (to be exact), dohc four-stroke has a hugely broad powerband, making the bike very easy to ride. There is plenty of snap, with strong pull out of comers and down long straights, yet it’s smooth and
controllable, the way a fourstroke should be. Lug it or rev it, flog it or bog it... Unlike some small-bore four-strokes where proper gear choice is vital, this engine has the juice to pull any of the six gears at most any speed, making it feel like a bigger-bore machine. Maybe we should tear down our testbike’s engine to check its displacement?
Stopping is no issue thanks to the superb Brembo brakes. The rear feels perfect while the front is super-strong, if borderline grabby. As for engine braking, this new bike is near-perfect, though it backfires on decel like a panicked trucker hitting the jake-brake!
Great motor, good brakeshow about the suspension? Complementary, for sure.
The WP 48mm fork is superplush with ideal damping, giving a smooth, predictable ride. The linkageless WP PDS shock is decent, though not the best rear suspension ever. The system is getting better all the time and it’s plush like the front, but a couple of suspensionbottoming jump takeoffs shot the bike in a different direction than the rider intended. The front and rear settings are evenly balanced, though, and with a little finetuning, we think an optimal setup can be found.
Steering is as precise and quick as a GPS-guided missile, making turning a breeze, though the payback for that response is a little headshake. As for comfort, the riding position is greatnot cramped for taller riders yet perfect for smaller ones, too. A previous complaint of Katooms being too narrow was laid to rest with a new gas tank that is a wee bit wider than the other SX models with a new, easyto-remove larger cap. Add in the wide footpegs and hydraulic clutch and this is one cozy ride.
Quality and workmanship aren’t issues, as KTM is fast becoming a front-runner for top-notch fit-and-finish (the billet upper triple-clamp is nice!). The Austrian company impressed us with its latest 450 SX and EXC models, and now with this sweet ride, the only ’05 model to come with a factory-style black-painted frame.
Overall, the 250 SXF is a winner, a fact already proven with multiple Supercross wins by KTM factory riders Nathan Ramsey and Josh Hansen. Now it’s your turn!
Ryan Dudek
