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KTM 250 EXC reviews

5.0 (6 reviews)
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Reliability
4.7
Overall quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
4.8

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Voted most helpful review

Clay Brinkerhoff

Washington, Utah

Reviewed on November 24, 2006

Motorcycle reviewed 2005 KTM 250 EXC view listing

5.0
I am 45 yrs old and love to get out into the mountains and ride the tight trails. This bike gives you the option of 3 power valve springs, all color coated, that are easy to exchange. I prefer the green spring. It gives you usable power on the bottom, and quick zip at any time( the most even delivery of power... read more
I am 45 yrs old and love to get out into the mountains and ride the tight trails. This bike gives you the option of 3 power valve springs, all color coated, that are easy to exchange. I prefer the green spring. It gives you usable power on the bottom, and quick zip at any time( the most even delivery of power). This bike makes me a much better rider than I really am. I love it; all I can do is smile. Almost every one I ride with has plans to switch to KTM. I will never own anything else - It's that good!
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

ron moses

caledonia, Missouri

Reviewed on October 2, 2005

Motorcycle reviewed 2005 KTM 250 EXC view listing

5.0
This is by far the best woods bike I have ridden. Other than moving the needle and the handlebars I have seen no reason to change anything. I ride in the rocks and roots of southern Mo. This bike does everything so well that I feel like I am cheating when I ride with my friends. Thanks KTM for what I think is... read more
This is by far the best woods bike I have ridden. Other than moving the needle and the handlebars I have seen no reason to change anything. I ride in the rocks and roots of southern Mo. This bike does everything so well that I feel like I am cheating when I ride with my friends. Thanks KTM for what I think is the perfect woods bike. In the last 6 years I have had 4 250s 1 200, 1 380, 1 300, and 1 520, none of these bikes come close to what this bike can do.
Reliability
4.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

Freddie Olmo

Delaware, Ohio

Reviewed on September 1, 2005

Motorcycle reviewed 2004 KTM 250 EXC view listing

5.0
From the start, this stock bike is extremely docile and tractable since the bottom end is softer than previous years. The red spring provides some excitement, but is still soft and manageable. The suspension was too soft for me being around 235 pounds with gear, so the stiffer springs >46 really improve th... read more
From the start, this stock bike is extremely docile and tractable since the bottom end is softer than previous years. The red spring provides some excitement, but is still soft and manageable. The suspension was too soft for me being around 235 pounds with gear, so the stiffer springs >46 really improve the handling. I raised the forks 2 marks for better turning, and was definitively an improvement. Eventually you get used to the soft power, in my opinion, because the higher internal gear, for what I placed a 52 rear sprocked... that made it a bit stronger getting out of the curves, but fast enough you crave for more explosive power. This bike does not lack top-end, despite a smaller diameter carburator. Once I stopped racing at the end of the year, an SX 2005 top-end was installed converting a good bike in a better fire breather. It is still very tractable. It was easy to go faster, but did not cause rider's fatigue. I went more adventurous and got a JD kit, which enriched the areas in the 1/4 of the throttle that the stock needle had. I put a Fatty pipe which enriched the already powerful midrange after the Sx top end. The top-end was "seasoned" with a 38 mm carburator which made it a killer top-ender. I think that this bike can be very versatile for the rookie, as well as the seasoned rider, but for the latter the power is far from "pro-class", specially on races where speed and fast power is needed against MX japanese counterparts. I believe this bike is well made, but I'm more impressed with the tuneability of the machine where you can customize the type of power you want. Having this bike for 2 years makes me realize I want to keep it, specially when for 2006 the concept of the "XC" SX type of engine is the winning ticket.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

Brett Muller

GERALDTON, Australia

Reviewed on June 30, 2005

Motorcycle reviewed 2004 KTM 250 EXC view listing

5.0
I bought this bike as an ex-demo with 91km's on the clock. I was naturally in love. Blown away with the power. Learned how to ride all over again. It is very much a racer, rather than a long trail ride bike. It easily rips up motocross tracks, though suspension clickers will need tweaking for that. I've done ... read more
I bought this bike as an ex-demo with 91km's on the clock. I was naturally in love. Blown away with the power. Learned how to ride all over again. It is very much a racer, rather than a long trail ride bike. It easily rips up motocross tracks, though suspension clickers will need tweaking for that. I've done longer trail rides ~120km's through varying terrain and it get's uncomfortable with all the 2 stroke vibration after a while. Longer transport sections and i'm longing for a 6th gear. However I have my gearing on 13-49 now and I can easily get 100km/hr in 4th gear and up to 140km/hr in 5th. Still very suitable in the tight stuff too. Great all around bike.
Reliability
4.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
4.0
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Voted most helpful review

Danny

Cumming, Georgia

Reviewed on February 2, 2005

Motorcycle reviewed 2005 KTM 250 EXC view listing

5.0
Purchased this bike back in 11/04. Previous bikes were CR250's (1988, 1998), CR125 (2001), YZ125 (1999), CRF450 (2004), XR400 (1998). Having had such a variety of bikes and power deliveries, I can say that this is the closest I've come to 4-stroke power and the 2-smoke hit is very, very controllable and pleas... read more
Purchased this bike back in 11/04. Previous bikes were CR250's (1988, 1998), CR125 (2001), YZ125 (1999), CRF450 (2004), XR400 (1998). Having had such a variety of bikes and power deliveries, I can say that this is the closest I've come to 4-stroke power and the 2-smoke hit is very, very controllable and pleasing! The ergonomics are like any other mx'er... for serious riding styles (mainly). However, this bike CAN BE LUGGED in the woods without fouling a plug or fanning the clutch. I'll never have another Japanese 2-stroke after this experience and will only own a KTM dirtbike from this day forward. I'm told the maintenance is very low on these bikes and the extra cost is easily justified by the top-shelf componentry. <li> I love my XR400 and have sworn by it as the "perfect" woods bike with some modification prior to this bike. I found after some research that it would easily cost more than it was worth to install the same level of componentry onto this bike! The manufacturer buys this stuff at very discounted cost. don't expect to be able to slap some Brembo brakes, Excel rims and such on your Japanese bike and not spend as much bling as you would on the KTM... you just can't do it. In closing, yes I highly recommend this bike as a serious woods bike, race bike (Hare Scrambles) or even a play bike. Again, this is not a highly strung 2-stroke that requires constant maintenance to the forks/shock and top end like the traditional Japanese bikes! Read around. I'll post another review after some more seat-time and let you know how it's holding up to the Georgia woods abuse.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

Wade Wasinger

Lenexa, Kansas

Reviewed on January 28, 2005

Motorcycle reviewed 2005 KTM 250 EXC view listing

5.0
I rode one of these at a demo in October and was blown away at the bike. I went ahead and purchased one hoping the demo was not just a "one off special" for the demo. The bike did not disappoint. First off, the forks are incredible. Better than any of the revalves I've owned, just set them up f... read more
I rode one of these at a demo in October and was blown away at the bike. I went ahead and purchased one hoping the demo was not just a "one off special" for the demo. The bike did not disappoint. First off, the forks are incredible. Better than any of the revalves I've owned, just set them up for the type of riding you are going to be doing and leave them alone. We ride a couple of really rocky, rooty areas with long ascents &#038; descents and these forks are incredible. The rear suspension is good, the bike stays hooked up well, although it will blow through the travel pretty quick on bigger hits. Possibly sprung slightly soft on the rear too... although it doesn't do anything bad at all. Again, in Arkansas where we do quite a bit of our winter riding, the trails are very nasty, rocky, offcamber with lots of ascents &#038; descents and many logs thrown in for good measure... the suspension soaks it all up. The new frame delivered what I believe to be the finest handling woods bike I have owned to date. Extremely precise, turns great, stable at speed with great ground clearance. The engine...wow! It rips, but can be lugged down to like 2 rpm and chug right up a hill, four stroke style. I prefer this engine over the 300 actually. With the light weight of the bike and zingy power, the bike feels like a beefy 200 on the trail. After spending a couple of years trying to warm up to the 4T's but not really liking them that much, I'm glad to be back on the 2 strokes... this is a great engine. As usual, the controls/componentry/details are great. Great juice clutch, great bars &#038; grips. This bike is money well spent whether trail riding or racing.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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