2020 250xcf Shakedown

[@davidchapman3597]

Your bike looks really planted blasting through those rocks!

[@caputo116]

Right on dude... full send on the new bike!

[@chadwalker8859]

That looked like a super fun ride! Great video!

[@firffighter]

Awesome! Just saw that you went back to 4 stroke! I've been able to spend some time on my cousin's '17 YZ250fx and I have to say, I absolutely love it! These new 250 enduro thumpers are amazing! Looking forward more of your videos and impressions on the new bike!

[@7thirtyseven]

Ya, the XCF is a little "raw" down low compared to the FX, but has a bit more torque. Thinking of a video to highlight just how much has changed since 16 on the 250XCF.

[@firffighter]

@@7thirtyseven YES! I would be very interested in a video comparing the new 250xcf to the older model(s). There's just not a lot of information on these bikes and I think they're a very overlooked bike for enduro/woods riding. I'm very interested in the 250xcf and new Yam 250fx. Would you say the Yam was easier to ride off idle? Just curious because I can stick my cousin's 250fx in 3rd and lug all day and use 2nd with some clutch to climb the technical steep stuff.

[@7thirtyseven]

@@firffighter the FX is more refined off idle, Yamaha did a fantastic job with it and I think it reaches its peak torque about 1500 rpm lower than the XCF. That said both bikes are far more "lurchy" than a 2t at low rpm. They respond instantly to any input of the throttle. Any inadvertent jiggle of your right wrist is instantly reacted to by the bike. This is often very disconcerting to 2t riders but has some awesome advantages in the slow going as well.

[@firffighter]

@@7thirtyseven Really appreciate the insights! I notice the lurchy response on the YZ250fx if in 1st and 2nd, but it's smooth in 3rd and hard to stall. Very similar to my Beta 300 when ridden this way. He's running a very good map for woods ridng. Thanks for the information! Great stuff! I'm very interested in the 2020 250fx with some nice updates this year!

[@Lostonabike]

YES BACK TO FOUR STROKE!!! can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched your previous 250 xcf vids from u almost falling off a cliff to the other shakedown

[@7thirtyseven]

Great machines!

[@Ebrown709]

Great video!! I have the 17 model and love it!!

[@mustardproductions3531]

Seems like more bottom-end torque than previous years but, w that signature KTM over-rev that we’ve come to love..

[@7thirtyseven]

Not sure how much more it has than previous years, I know 16 was a big jump in torque for the KTM 250xcf

[@PlacervilleRick]

So good to see a review where the bike is ridden swiftly and properly, minus the goofs that we all pull off. :-) I've been really enjoying my 350 xcf, but I know how much fun the 250s are. I sounds like new bikes really hit the mark.

[@7thirtyseven]

Oh man I love that bike!

[@markmtbrider]

At a recent demo day here in Ohio, the 250f's from sherco and Ktm were the surprising standouts for me on that short loop. Very impressive bikes .

[@7thirtyseven]

Absolutely. Much easier to manage than bigger bikes and lots of power on tap if required.

[@henrykostbade9350]

Great video!

[@SWFlowseeker]

Nice. I’ve always wondered why the 250 xcf doesn’t get much love. I had a 350 xcf and thought it was overkill most of the time. I want to try the 250

[@7thirtyseven]

Ya, it truly is a remarkable machine.

[@mustardproductions3531]

SWFlowseeker i love them 👋🏽

[@painsrides]

Nice ... I like how you ride and where you ride 😎 Good edit too ..... Sub-ed

[@ferider8728]

Thinking of buying it now, was thinking the 350. But maybe this 250 has enough.. Thanks

[@7thirtyseven]

Enough for this old guy!!!

[@tmlpony]

Great info! Tnx,, deciding to go 20 yz 250f or ktm 250 2t tpi or ktm 250 xcf,,right now im racing hairscrambles with a 18 350sxf,fast fun bike,but tough to handle in the tight tech stuff(rock gardens)

[@tmlpony]

And im 51 years old,165lbs fighting shape lol

[@j-moto1215]

Hey man great video! How do you like those gloves? Been searching for a pair of gloves that last longer than 2 rides

[@7thirtyseven]

I think they are awesome. They are an aquired taste though.... I get the kind with the protection on the fingers to stop the little ouchies.

[@brianroberts6605]

Howard, how is the vibration in the bars. My old wrists are shot, and need a smooth runner.

[@7thirtyseven]

Not bad at all! More of a concern may be the forks. They reward aggressiveness but certainly are not plush if you back off! First couple rides I did notice some vibration in pegs when I got tired but much less than a 19 350 I rode back to back.

[@PlacervilleRick]

Brian - Try installing the Fasst Flexx bars, they have been career extenders. I've had them on last two bikes and they save the hands.

[@motomogul4023]

I see you are on map 2 in the video, have you tried both? I still go between the two. Can't tell the difference sometimes? I have a 2019 model.

[@7thirtyseven]

Ya, I've run both. Both work fine number 2 is just more aggressive when you crank on it. The only really noticable button was the traction control. Pressed it once by accident and the bike felt like it wasn't running right!

[@akathecanadian]

Coming off a 250sx and 300xc, should I be looking at a 350? Or is this a well worth bike for what it is? Would I be let down or surprised?

[@7thirtyseven]

I'm partial to the 250, seems like a lot of guys like the 350, I don't get it's appeal.

[@nick-xd4tj]

just wondering... any reason why you went with the 250 xcf vs the 350xcf? looking to upgrade this winter and looking what other riders think?

[@7thirtyseven]

Because the 350 is too much bike for me. I find it becomes counter productive and I go slower, have less fun.

[@davidchapman3597]

Great point I find in tight single track less is better. Light weight and finess is the way to go. The old saying, its easier to ride a slower bike fast than the other way around, and more fun..@@7thirtyseven

[@7thirtyseven]

@@davidchapman3597 yes! One of the things people forget is that you can only go as fast as the contact between your tires and the ground. The KTM 250XCFs have since '16 had enough torque and Horsepower to put me at my limit. Ie I can just go beyond traction with the 250, so anything extra puts me into that energy sapping rear wheel going everywhere but forward zone. The big key for me was when the 250fs had their torque bumped up. It's now in a range where you can ride moderately technical stuff without screaming the machine.

[@firffighter]

Also curious what tire choices? Lots of similar terrain here in high elevation Oregon

[@7thirtyseven]

I am running the stock tires the rear deteriorated quickly. Lately I've been using the Michelin starcross (medium front soft rear) no real reason but I like them new and they seem to me at least to be very consistent as they wear.

[@firffighter]

@@7thirtyseven Excellent. Thanks! I'm running the Starcross medium up front as well this season and have to say it's performing nicely across a wide variety of terrain

[@whiskeythrottledave]

Hi Howard, do you find the '20 much different from than the '16 250xcf you had?

[@7thirtyseven]

So far the big items are the clutch, the 20 is very nice. Great feel. The suspension is excellent so far... Not hard to out do the 4CS of the '16, but the 20 is very confidence inspiring. It's lighter and thinner, but the big thing is how " flickable" it is through the trees while sitting down! Just kinda goes where you want!!!

[@whiskeythrottledave]

@@7thirtyseven Thank you for the info!

[@haydentapp2181]

Why size handlebars

[@7thirtyseven]

Stock

[@markmtbrider]

What kind of fuel range are you getting?

[@7thirtyseven]

Not sure to be honest. Easily get 75-80 km on singletrack at a decent pace. Probably get 100 km out of it if I never twisted it much?

[@Whichwaymoto]

Where is this ride at?

[@7thirtyseven]

Near Calgary Alberta

[@benjaminlane3004]

It looks like either Ghost or McLean

[@scottgaskill4896]

How much do ya weigh?

[@7thirtyseven]

Just under 180 in fighting trim

[@EnduroScum]

Awesome bike, one of the most fun bikes I’ve ridden!

[@7thirtyseven]

Yup it's amazing fun!

[@EnduroScum]

Where is that, trails look sick 🤘🏼

[@7thirtyseven]

Part of my stash of good stuff....