2015 Yamaha 250Fs?

[pete.ktm]

anyone else looking at the new yamaha 250's?

http://www.dirtrider.com/features/2015-yamaha-wr250f-yz250fx-revealed/

want to get something new, a ktm 350 was my current preference but really want the xcf-w which i don't thinks comes to nz. don't want all the lights, extra handle bar switches etc

so thinking the yz250fx might be an alternative, probably a couple of grand cheaper and possibly a bit less maintenance long term.

might miss the easy 3rd gear goes most places of the 450 but wouldn't mind a few less kg's when i'm weaving between the trees (and picking it up).

[scott411]

anyone else looking at the new yamaha 250's?

http://www.dirtrider.com/features/2015-yamaha-wr250f-yz250fx-revealed/

want to get something new, a ktm 350 was my current preference but really want the xcf-w which i don't thinks comes to nz. don't want all the lights, extra handle bar switches etc

so thinking the yz250fx might be an alternative, probably a couple of grand cheaper and possibly a bit less maintenance long term.

might miss the easy 3rd gear goes most places of the 450 but wouldn't mind a few less kg's when i'm weaving between the trees (and picking it up).

have not seen the FX released down this end of the world, the aussie sites are only showing the new WR, cool to see a japanese brand put some effort back into off road tho, not sure why they did not do the 450 at the same time tho,

whats the difference between a 350XC-F which is listed on the KTM NZ website and a XCF-W?

[pete.ktm]

whats the difference between a 350XC-F which is listed on the KTM NZ website and a XCF-W?

xc-f is the hard core gncc type machine, but no kick start and i've been hit with battery problems before.
xcf-w is an exc without the blinkers and extra road legal shit.

I think.

Last time i looked the manual said to replace the piston twice as often on the xc-f version.

[noobi]

Could you not just take all that stuff off an excf?

[barty5]

Could you not just take all that stuff off an excf?

You still pay for it tho

[haydes55]

Why not get the SXC then?

[Jay GTI]

xc-f is the hard core gncc type machine, but no kick start and i've been hit with battery problems before.
xcf-w is an exc without the blinkers and extra road legal shit.

I think.

Last time i looked the manual said to replace the piston twice as often on the xc-f version.

That's pretty much it, the xc-f is basically an sxf with a 6 speed gearbox and an 18 inch rear wheel. I wouldn't worry too much about the piston requirements, follow the manual only if you're both racing regularly and fast. I'm neither, so see no need to think about a piston on my '11 350 sxf until it at least 100 hours. Battery-wise, my bike's been pretty reliable starting off the button, the only issues I've had is through lack of use, but a trickle charger sorted that out.

[pete.ktm]

Could you not just take all that stuff off an excf?

yeah i guess i might have to but i figure if i'm going to drop $15k on something i'm allowed to be a little picky.


I wouldn't worry too much about the piston requirements, follow the manual only if you're both racing regularly and fast. I'm neither, so see no need to think about a piston on my '11 350 sxf until it at least 100 hours. Battery-wise, my bike's been pretty reliable starting off the button, the only issues I've had is through lack of use, but a trickle charger sorted that out.

i wouldn't expect the xc-f to have half the life expectancy of a exc-f if ridden the same but i'm sure over 3 or 4 years you'd be doing more maintenance on the xc-f. my 450exc lasted 300 hours before it needed a $2.5k piston and valves job, my mates wr450 lasted as long. don't expect the smaller bikes to maybe get to those hours but i'm figuring if the yamaha is anywhere close to being as nice as the ktm it'll probably be cheaper to run over the long term so it's worth the wait for the reviews and to hit nz before deciding.

i still remember the poor guy on a xc-f or sx-f on the last tussock buster i did, in the middle of waiouru's thick tussock with a dead battery and no where to push start. yeah nah.

[takitimu]

Why not get the SXC then?

Gearbox, it was bad enough the 6 speed sxf, but a 5 speed ( dropping sixth, the other ratios remain the same ) has me looking xcf.

The Yamaha looks pretty dang cool & the new wr is supposed to be far tighter to the yzf to, but I think give it a year to bed in before really looking that way.

[pete.ktm]

The Yamaha looks pretty dang cool & the new wr is supposed to be far tighter to the yzf to, but I think give it a year to bed in before really looking that way.

yeah i was worried about it being a first year model, i didn't realise last years yz250f is almost the same bike without the smaller rear wheel, 6 speed gearbox and electric start. when i went to the local yammie dealer just on the off chance they'd heard about the new models, nahhhh, they had a 2015 yz250f on the floor. looked almost identical to the 2015 yz250fx and wr250f (if you ignore the lights).

only bummer is the price diff between the yamaha and ktm might only be ~$1K.

a little more info on the bikes on this yamaha site...

https://www.yamaha-motor.ca/products/details.php?model=4561&group=MC&catId=80

[barty5]

Might have to go see if our local shop here in Connecticut has a demo model :)

[ktm84mxc]

There's a guy on trademe usatoday bring in 015 YZF's and on selling them pretty cheap when compared to NZ shop prices, he also brings in KTM's and can get the US model best suited to ur needs.