YZ250X vs KTM 250 XC first impressions.

I’ve been riding KTM 250 XC for 6 years. This is my first impression of the 2022 YZ250X after getting the bike this summer. Hope the information is helpful if you are looking at one of these bikes. Both bikes are awesome and a lot of fun with some small differences.

[@funkNretro]

People like to bag on the 2006 chassis without acknowledging that it is 30 years of Japanese refinement. The rider triangle, stability and balance of the Yamaha have felt like home from the minute your push it around the garage.

[@BackcountryLife]

The YZ250X is one of my favorite bikes of all time!!

[@MrExicutioner]

Getting a new 250X this week as a Christmas present to myself 😁

[@michaelspinelli5261]

How do you like it so far? torn between getting a 250x and a ktm 125xc

[@slayer6936]

I got myself a 22 125x for me for Christmas!! Being single and retired is great!!

[@slayer6936]

I am 61 and just got 125x!! But the wearher wrnt to crap and only have 40 minutes on it!! But what a great bike. I have it all moded out after watchin videos for 8 moand seeing all the pros and cons, So since I live in the mtns at 4500 i got a smart carb along with a pro circuit combo,vforce 4 reed, 9oz fww,avs levers, moose pedels and put protection all around andcwent to a 52t in the rear and upgrade the chian and a griper seat cover..DAM WEATHER. Great video!! Looks like i will not be outside for a week..no tv off grid for me..love the videos brother!!

[@scottrugenstein7034]

I have been on KTM’s since 1992. This year I jumped ship to a 2022 YZ250X. Wow! Amazing bike in stock form. Over 2 grand cheaper out the door and the best stock suspension I’ve ever been on. Set the sag and go. I race HS and enduro in Indiana and my first 250 ever. I’ve had open class bikes and a couple of 200’s. This engine is very similar to a 300. Another plus is there are countless mods and upgrades that are readily available for this bike. And very little changes over the last few years. Couple of aftermarket rE starts available if that’s your thing. I do not miss the E start, but if I do I will put a Rekluse auto clutch in it. Love it can’t say enough about it. Blue is the new orange.

[@stmboat]

Good vid didn't know I wanted this comparison. Noone else brings up the real differences that can't be seen.

[@MainJet158]

Great review! I had a 2019 250X and sold it to buy a motocross bike. I wish I still had it because it was so much fun and easy to ride as in your video. I like the look of the 2023 plastic and I will be buying one soon after they hit the floor.I have a 2021 250FX that I use for off road but I really miss the 2 stroke.

[@Sanguine_Addiction]

I have a 2017 YZ250X with a SmartCarb and I plan on keeping her until the frame disintegrates. STUPID amounts of fun to ride!

[@brianhardy1812]

Great review! I've owned a late model YZ 250 but not the X. The X seems like a great package for the woods rider. I own a 2018 KTM 300XC currently but that X looks like so much fun.

[@PBstx1100]

I also switched from a KTM 2t to a 2020 YZx. I’m just a weekend warrior. The simplicity of the YZ is so fun. It’s just an old school 2t but it feels super crisp. The KTMs are precision woods weapons but the YZ puts a big smile on your face with how raw it is. Only thing that i need to fix is the vibration for longer rides. It vibrates through the bars way more then my KTM did. Going to try rubber mounted bars this fall.

[@wdsracer]

How did the rubber bar mounts work?

[@Mountainbike1962]

Great job on your review!

[@602butch]

I have a 17' 250X and I love everything it offers. I'm 6' n 190lbs. Vibration in my hands was a big issue but after installing flexbars that issue is history

[@adambatchelder4121]

Grrat video, one huge power delivery difference is the non counter balanced yz motor . A counter balancer is like a big fly wheel weight. One reason i really like the 12 to 16 ktm motors they are very light and rev quick.

[@stevenburton7922]

Excellent review...thanks for posting

[@PennsylvaniaEnduroRiding]

I had the opportunity to ride a KTM 250 XC, XCW and yzX all in a row . They definitely all felt slightly different, but upon my return, my consensus was that the YzX was CAPITAL F-U-N !!!

[@bradenriley9066]

I bought the first run of 250x August of 2015. Absolutely love the suspension! Fly wheel weight I found is a must. I feel like I'm riding my MTB when riding my two stroke.

[@jessarellanes6648]

Thinking about getting a YZX soon. I forgot to mention I had a 85 YZ 250 that I rode back in the day.

[@human1513]

I agree with your assessments from my experiences.

[@thekevinator149]

Great video, cool trails! YZ250s are fantastic bikes. I think the counterbalancer is a bigger deal for the 300 than the 250.

[@thatfast3002]

300 is a square motor bore and stroke so the 250 by design is more prone to vibration

[@Jimmy_Watt]

I just went the total opposite direction from you. I am selling my decked out woods YZ250, and just bought a Gas Gas. I am also 5'9", 165, and the YZ feels long. Really just physically large. I find that I am more confident in the nasty gnar on the Austrian bike. The brakes, clutch, and electric start bring it together for me. I do love the Yamaha engine and KYB fork. Happy trails.

[@PBstx1100]

Yea it’s definitely preference. I went with the YZ over the KTM because the KTM felt to cramped. I had to cut the bars down a few inches on the YZ but I feel more comfortable moving around the cockpit of the YZ.

[@stevenburton7922]

Cool video...thanks for posting!

[@thomastjg53]

Really nice review. More every day comments that we can understand. Hopefully you will post more videos.

[@517keith]

Thanks, I'm not the best at editing or anything but I'll see if I can put together a long term review after being on the bike for a year now.

[@Horus71]

Thanks for the video. I'm looking for a bike to do the Willare enduro in Western Australia's Kimberley region. This bike could be it. I would be gearing it up as this race is about top speed with gnarly sections thrown in as in soft sand etc.

[@PBmxer]

The YZ250X is the best enduro bike I ever owned. It just loves to ride and have fun. Its a giddy bike.

[@517keith]

Couldn't agree more!

[@DougNMarcum42]

i have watched these bikes get kicked and it is barely dropping your foot a few inches and they are running.amazing bikes.

[@jarrodg4686]

Good info. Nice job.

[@517keith]

Thanks!

[@bobkotas7693]

Sweet video! I just picked up a 2023 YZ 250X. I am stoked to have a 2 stroke!

[@seamarsh3756]

Had mine a year and haven’t thought once about electric start which surprised me.

[@brandonespinoza111]

It’s because if you kick it hard enough it’ll start first kick👍

[@ZSmith-yy4lv]

Just don’t stall. Problem solved.

[@brandonespinoza111]

@@ZSmith-yy4lv easier said than done

[@ZSmith-yy4lv]

@@brandonespinoza111 haha, sure is. Something like a flywheel weight does help.

[@RealMcCoyMoto]

Keith! I ride Payson canyon all the time:) let’s ride! I just bought a 250x

[@rodan2852]

Its right up my alley. My 98 KX 250 is a little too aggressive for guests... this looks like it wont kill my friends if I let them ride it 😂

[@crf450xripper]

Great review and bike. Looking at getting a 250x myself. What trail are you on in utah?

[@517keith]

Thanks, they are great bikes, this trail is up Payson Canyon.

[@erick5327]

Well done

[@mortkb]

Curious if you did any jetting changes. Sounds like is is sputtering down low which is not a big deal but doesn't sound clean down low. When it revs out it seems to clean out quick but that low end sputter would be something I would want to fix.

[@517keith]

Yes I made jetting changes since the lowest I typically ride is 5,000 feet. This was up at around 8,500 feet so it was a little rich on the bottom end.

[@snowrider4495]

I rode both bikes. The ktm feels cheap and slow 1st thru 3rd but then it wakes up. The yamaha just felt faster and more nimble so I bought the 2019 yz250x and put a 13 tooth on the front sprocket.

[@josephfelice601]

how does the 13 tooth sprocket perform?

[@oregonskate]

Trading in my 450fx soon. Thinking of the these two bikes or a 250xcf. Do you think the 250x is better overall? any issues?

[@517keith]

I have had no issues with the bike at all and I absolutely love it. The KTM is a great bike too. If you are comparing to an XCF it is kind of apples to oranges though, the first thing you need to decide is if you want to go 4-stroke or 2-stroke, they are both good, just different.

[@carlatamanczyk3891]

How would an FMF Gnarly compare to the stock pipe I wonder? Does the X have pkenty of technical trail torque with stock pipe?

[@517keith]

I have not personally tried a Gnarly pipe on the YZ250X yet, a friend of mine did and did not like it, that same friend had one on his KTM 250XC and loved it but did not feel like it worked well with the YZ250X but again I do not have any personal experience there. I did have the FMF Gnarly pipe on my KTM 250 XC that I put on after I damaged the stock pipe, it was ok but I preferred the stock pipe. I do a lot of technical, hard enduro type riding too and I have been very happy with the stock power on the YZ250X.

[@carlatamanczyk3891]

@@517keith Thanks... If I had one I believe all I would do is add a larger tank, skid plate, hand guards, flywheel weight and maybe gear down just a little.

[@matthewhayden2529]

@@carlatamanczyk3891 I personally have that FMF Gnarly header pipe on my 250x and I personally like it. To me it seemed to give it some more low end torque along with going 1 tooth smaller on the front sprocket. The bike still runs good with the stock pipe as well. The Gnarly pipe would a good alternative pipe if you end up needing to change the header pipe.

[@RealMcCoyMoto]

Also, is your 250x carbureted? What’s your jetting???

[@517keith]

I am 170 on the main, and if I remember correctly 45 on the pilot, running the EJ needle in the 2nd clip and running a 40 power Jet.

[@OldManWibble]

Hauling ass! Mind sharing which trail this is? You can comment it on one of my videos if you don't want it posted here 😊

[@tbgtbg6311]

Why did you not choose the 2022 KTM 250 XC? Did the YZ250X change from 2020?

[@517keith]

YZ250X has not changed for a while, I chose it over the XC because I like the suspension and handling better on the YZ. Both are awesome bikes.

[@tbgtbg6311]

@@517keith You are the only person that said vibration was not a problem. Were your KTM's counter balanced? Worried about a rattling nightmare.

[@517keith]

@@tbgtbg6311 I believe I mentioned it in the video but I'll clarify here, the YZ250X vibrates significantly more that a counterbalanced two stroke engine! How ever once I ride for a bit I don't even notice it, maybe it is just me but it doesn't bother me at all, but then I have been riding 2 strokes for over 20 years with about 5 years on a four stroke. A rattling nightmare? We have been riding non counter balanced 2 strokes for generations with out ever thinking it was a problem until KTM started counterbalancing them a few years ago. Is the counter balance nice? Absolutely! Does the YZ250X vibrate more that the KTM? Absolutely! Does it cause a rattling nightmare? No, is does not now and it has not for the last 70 years of 2 stroke dirt bikes.

[@skylerflitton5168]

Is the 250x more manageable on the trails vs the regular yz250?

[@northerntoyota7584]

Short answer, yes. The changes made to the x are all to make it better in the trails

[@517keith]

Same as Northern Toyota said, yes the x is significantly better on the trails.

[@alisoupb]

what would be better for sand dunes?

[@snowboardingrules1]

What hand guards are those?

[@517keith]

Acerbis

[@craigsteinman9807]

The at 81 tires sukk..I got a x .I use goldentyre

[@wickedchevy9852]

What’s the best bike for really tall guys

[@517keith]

I’m probably not the best person to ask because I’m only 5’8”. Seat height on both these bikes was very similar, the Yamaha is just a touch taller. The rider triangle might be just a bit more roomy on the KTM for a bigger guy.

[@ferider8728]

Is the yz250x. E-start and kick?

[@easternyellowjacket276]

Just kick.

[@OldManWibble]

Feel any need for a heavier flywheel weight?

[@517keith]

No I have never felt I needed one on this bike

[@tbgtbg6311]

I put one on mine, and it's been great for raging on hills.

[@Hotlz220r]

Are you related to Don Bailey

[@517keith]

Not that I know of.

[@donproper3632]

I wish them guys would stop the bike and talk about it instead of trying to ride and you have to listen to him being all winded that seems to be the thing nowadays but I don't know why maybe I'm just old school

[@tomfisher47]

Good riding brother

[@Starkchris]

All the tech going into these new soy toys.😅