Bit of advice...YZ250f or a KTM200exc

[Reckless]

the 200exc can be what you want it to be really. you can chug it around like a tracter for sure, doesnt stall. Great for enduros man trust me, gets up anything especially when you're light. It also has a powercurve switch aswell which adjusts the power delivery from smooth to snappy.

and an adjustable power valve which makes it whatever you want it to be.

In saying that the 250f will be quite good as well. But you have to make a choice 2stoke or 4stroke. Id go for 2 stroke maintenance everytime but I like them>

[Rupe]

So...im wondering,the ktm200 not a really peaky/snappy,your either on or your off type of power delivery then?You can tractor it round snotty/slimey rocks and slippery/wet rutted out steep clay hill tracks then?Kinda why i thought of the yz250f as a main contender as well.

Ridden both quiet a bit, the ktm200 is not too snappy and hadles the conditions you describe very well. A 250f does too and will also ways have more tourque tractor ability, and in my experience finds grip much better than a 2stoke will. However the 250f's suspension is not ideal, and without a flywheel weight they do stall easy when the rev's are low, unlike the ktm.

You need to go ride both, neither is better, just one will suit you better.

[retired motoman]

You need to go ride both, neither is better, just one will suit you better.

Thats it in a nutshell . The ktm 200exc is a great small bore tool , there 200 sx that they did for a limted time was a great bike , not many were sold here. The new 300exc is a sweet tool for the job to .
Fitting a fly wheel weight to a yz250 will make it more enduro/bush friendly, it is the current champ after all The 2 stroke . Im just getting old and lazy and like the 4 strokes not knocking you around so much when your on the pipe.

[retired motoman]

I started on a kdx200 - very forgiving bikes but lacking on suspension . For the last 4 years, Ive been on a 4 stroke - Honda CRF250X - nice bike, forgiving and truck like a tractor - over and through everything .. very easy to ride. But the weight is a real negative. Finally Ive seen sense and gone back to a 2-stroke - 2009 KTM 200 EXC. Its light, well balanced and the suspension is plush beyond belief. I had a 200EXC back in 2002 but the power of the 2009 is totally different, not so vicious and almost feels like 4stroke engine braking down the hills. Only thng I miss with the four stroke is that up top power. On the big open straights & fire breaks the 2-stroke feels like its screaming its head off. So my recomendation is - buy a KTM200EXC - what a bike!

Its funny to here how many people started out on the good old kdxs .
I to had 2 of them in c grade back in the day , but as i improved i soon had to step on to a mx bike. Ktm and yamaha have changed there power bands
in recent years to be more like a 4 stroke and i suspect that has a lot to do
with why they have kept selling well and remained competive.