Honda CRF250x vs KTM 200exc (Which will last longer?)

**KTM200/stevo0987** · 11th July 2012, 15:49

Im A 14 year old power freak

bout 5ft 7-8 ive ridden many bikes in my life. ive ridden a drz400 which did not impress me at all yz250 was good but i want an enduro bike. my dad has picked these two bikes (title) over time from friends.But i dont think the crf will last me long because its a 4 stroke

lol and ive read that it puts out 26hp at the rear wheel (motousa) and expensive rebuild cost. we both like the 200 but he hates the sound of a 2 smoke.... what s his problem?.
but if you could put in you 10c worth that would be grate
CHEERS

**Yamaha_rider** · 11th July 2012, 16:21

I am the same age as you, about the same height too, and i ride a crf250, when my dad brought it a little over a year ago to get back in to trail riding, at 123hrs the honda shop did a topend rebuild on it, dad upgraded to a ktm 525 and i got the crf250, its now got 156hrs on it, and its losing compression, so it will need the valves done and maybe new rings

so if your looking for a low maintenance bike, i suggest a two stroke, and from what i have heard the ktm 2 strokes last for ages

**Stylo** · 11th July 2012, 17:18

Originally Posted by Yamaha_rider

I am the same age as you, about the same height too, and i ride a crf250, when my dad brought it a little over a year ago to get back in to trail riding, at 123hrs the honda shop did a topend rebuild on it, dad upgraded to a ktm 525 and i got the crf250, its now got 156hrs on it, and its losing compression, so it will need the valves done and maybe new rings

so if your looking for a low maintenance bike, i suggest a two stroke, and from what i have heard the ktm 2 strokes last for ages

Agree and in my opinion it's a no brainer . The CRF is a good bike for a 250f but thats about where it ends. If you're a power junkie remember a 2T makes about 40% more power on a per litre basis and does it with less weight , lower cost and far less moving parts= much more reliable and far less expensive to run. The 2T's seem to hold their value longer too if you look after them .

Also the powerband on the 2T is a lot more fun ! ( Does a 250f have a powerband? )

**Yamaha_rider** · 11th July 2012, 17:23

Originally Posted by Stylo

Agree and in my opinion it's a no brainer . The CRF is a good bike for a 250f but thats about where it ends. If you're a power junkie remember a 2T makes about 40% more power on a per litre basis and does it with less weight , lower cost and far less moving parts= much more reliable and far less expensive to run. The 2T's seem to hold their value longer too if you look after them .

Also the powerband on the 2T is a lot more fun ! ( Does a 250f have a powerband? )

All bikes have powerbands

whether there a 2 stroke or not...

**Ktmboy** · 11th July 2012, 17:57

Originally Posted by Yamaha_rider

All bikes have powerbands

whether there a 2 stroke or not...

Umm.. I think you have been mis guided.

Go the 2T

**ktm84mxc** · 11th July 2012, 17:57

If you follow the prescribed maintaince on either bike they are roughly equal and the costs are compareable. The 2 smokes just don't require valve adjustments just power valve cleaning every 50 hrs.
Try and get a 2008 or later KTM as this is when the had a frame & plastics up grade, the CRFx has changed little over the years.
The KTMs are not loud unless a after market or MX/SX muffler is fitted, same applies for the CRFx.

**barty5** · 11th July 2012, 17:59

the crf250x is a completly different bike to the crf250r and rebuild on it would be spaced further apart due to its different performance which by the sounds of it is not the bike you are after the crfx is the so call farmers version for a better term drum brake etc etc compared to disc brake and better suspension and power etc. but you dont want an mx bike so sorta rules out the crfr so looks like your left with the ktm.

**motor_mayhem** · 11th July 2012, 20:06

Originally Posted by barty5

the crf250x is a completly different bike to the crf250r and rebuild on it would be spaced further apart due to its different performance which by the sounds of it is not the bike you are after the crfx is the so call farmers version for a better term drum brake etc etc compared to disc brake and better suspension and power etc. but you dont want an mx bike so sorta rules out the crfr so looks like your left with the ktm.

CRFX has disc brakes (has never had drum brakes). CRFX is electric start (Only new 200EXC's are). CRFX has linkage suspension. 3 good reasons not to discount it completely.

**cheese** · 11th July 2012, 20:53

Barty is confused with the CRF230. The CRF250x has thicker casings and quite detuned. You can mod them, but the forks are too soft its a bit boring.

The EXC200 is the best out of the box option.

**barty5** · 11th July 2012, 21:48

Originally Posted by motor_mayhem

CRFX has disc brakes (has never had drum brakes). CRFX is electric start (Only new 200EXC's are). CRFX has linkage suspension. 3 good reasons not to discount it completely.

yup sorry your right was thinking the 230 but it is still detuned and not really sounding like what he was after

**SMOKEU** · 11th July 2012, 22:43

Have you thought about a KDX200?

**KTM200/stevo0987** · 12th July 2012, 08:28

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

Have you thought about a KDX200?

i did but there a bit old if you know what i mean

**ktm84mxc** · 12th July 2012, 08:59

Yes the humble KDX200 has been around in its present form since 1995 when compared to a XR250, TTR250, DR250, KLX250/300 yes it could match these, but the world has moved on to the WR,CRFx, EXC-KTMs, GAS-GAS's the amount of work required to bring a KDX to this level requires dedication and dollars.