Help me decide

[FlangMasterJ]

I've got an opportunity to swap my stock 06 KTM 250SXF (68hrs) with a 290 kitted 06 Kawasaki KX250F (36hrs).

Now I'm a big KTM fan. I love the look, the build quality and the whole KTM way.

I know I'll be scorned by my KTM riding friends if I do get the Kwaka but I'm after a little more power and the 290 is sure to give me that.

I know the 06 KTM is meant to be the most reliable of the 250F's. How does the KX250F compare?

Cheers guys.

[cheese]

Keep your one. Its better than a worked up Kawa.

[FlangMasterJ]

Yeah good call. I spoke to the guy at the delaership and asked which bike he would have and he said the KTM. They're a Kawasaki and KTM dealership to.

[umka]

if u have had your ktm since new keep it coz you know how well it has been look after and you dont know how well the kxf has been looked after even if it is a close friend they may do little things that are really bad. just my thoughts

[Finn]

Keep the KTM. Snot green bikes are no good.

[scott411]

if it is a athena 290cc kit then they are all good,

every body has an opinion on which is better, and i will always back kawa's

but sometimes it is the better to stick with the devil you know,

the 290cc kits give you a good midrange but don;t ad any power up top

[cheese]

Yeah I was going to make the point of you know your bike and that 36 hours could be complete bullshit or the 290 kit could be rangi as hell.

And the big question, why would someone want to swap a worked bike for a stock one? They have probably spent alot of money on it.

[scott411]

a brand new KX250F with a 290 kit fitted is still cheaper than a brand new KTM250SXF,

and a few people do it from brand new as well.

[Danger]

The KXF250's tend to overheat. I wouldn't have thought a bigger bore would have helped but could be wrong?

[FlangMasterJ]

I'll stick with my Pumpkin. Hopefully a new FMF 4.1 system will give it a little more pep.

By the way I'm heading up the Karapoti with my brother on saturday (it's his first ever ride offroad) he'll be on my 250SXF and I'll be on my mates 560SMR (yes road rubber :mellow:) if anyones up that way your welcome to join us.

Just look for one guy on the ground and one guy going sideways towards the shrubbery.

[scott411]

The KXF250's tend to overheat. I wouldn't have thought a bigger bore would have helped but could be wrong?

we have had no problems since 04 with bikes over heating, and the guys that run big bores are no different, Athena make a whole new barryl. not rebore a std one.

all late model new generation four strokes will overheat compared to 2 strokes,

[cheese]

its always hard to get rid of one bad thing that happened in a reputation aye.

[scott411]

your right cheese,

especailly when people on the internet keep saying things that are not ture, ;)

i stand by the fact that most the Japanese stuff is pretty close in build quality, some people have thier favourites, i see alot of bikes and the owners make more difference to how a bike last than the manufactures do

[dammad1]

I have read many articles about the overheating problems of the KX250F and they still had problems after 04 but they got better with each year.

[tnarg]

Never had any overheating problems on mine. But back to question, stick with what ya got. You know the history.

[notch]

After reading an article in a USA dirtbike mag which detailed the maintenance required on a KX250F, I'd stick with the KTM...

[FlangMasterJ]

Definately sticking with my 250SXF. Went for a ride up the Karapoti with my brother. He rode my 250SXF and I rode a friends 560SMR.

Riding a 560cc motard with stiff as suspension, road rubber and Taupo racetrack gearing wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Most of the riding was all in first gear only occasionally hitting second.

The 320mm front brake caught me out a couple of times. Sent me sliding down a hill and sending me arse over kite leaving me curled up amongst the shrubbery.

After we had returned to my hauler (1.6L Corolla 'Japans Big Car') I took the 250SXF down the track for a quick blat. My god did I enjoy it. The thing just floats over everything and pulls like a hooker on pay night. After riding the 560 I felt 10 times faster.

My brother enjoyed it so much we're going up there again this weekend. Just have to hurry his ass up into buying his own 250SXF.

Attached are a couple of mobile phone pics.

[cheese]

Man they are some awesome looking tracks up there!!!