memphis2857
New member
Went to Lynville today to get signed in for the Black Coal national enduro and while I was there I took advantage of the Yamaha and KTM demo rides. First off here is a list of bikes I rode.
1. yzf450
2. Yz250
3. Yz250x
4. Yzf250x
5. 300xcw
6. 500xcf w
7. 450xcf w
8. 350xcf
9. 250xc
10. 250xcf
So I rode the yamahas first and I started on the 450. It just wasn't for me. Tons of power weird ergos and suspension was harsh. Next up I rode the yz250. It is the same yz we all know and love but it's still a motocross bike. Hard hitting and harsh suspension. Then I rode the yz250x! WOW! HOLY COW! SWEET JESUS! OMG!!! I loved this bike! As soon as you sit on it you instantly smile! The seat is soft and the suspension moves like it's made of marshmallows. Mind you I haven't even started this baby yet and I am already grinning like a fat kid at a Twinkie factory. So off we go. Instantly I noticed this nice smooth mellow feeling engine and I think oh no it's gonna be too soft. NOPE! Twist the throttle and hang on. The hit is tame but the power is there. It is very similar to our beloved GG 300's that's right I just compared a 250 to a 300 as did everyone else that rode it. Miss the hit? Reach up and flip the super smooth clutch and this thing breathes fire! Now the suspension is unlike anything I have ever experienced. Like I said marshmallows! Zero deflection and big nasty roots and rocks? Don't even feel them. All this and remember I am 250lbs on stock springs. Even still it just worked never bottomed or got unsettled. Even in big nasty sharp edged acceleration bumps. It just soaked them up and put the power down. Again WOW! Way to go Yamaha.
Up next was the 250fx. Not impressed. That being said this particular bike had a poorly tuned rekluse in it and in all fairness I am way to big for a 250f. The handling to me was just ok especially after coming off the 250x. But all in all it seems to be a solid bike for smaller riders.
Next up I moved over to the nasty old ugly orange tent and made sure to keep my helmet on so no one would recognize me. First up the 500. This bike will put a smile on your face for one reason only. Imagine riding a Farmall tractor through a 36" wide trail! That motor will make you giggle. Imagine this, you make a pivot turn and just roll the throttle on out of the corner only to remember you are in 4th gear! Next was the 450xcf w again great motor but the transmission sucks 1st and 2nd gear are way to slow and 3rd was too fast. This forces you to ride in 3rd and use the clutch like your on a 125. Bike was solid and handled well though. Next up was the 350xcf. I actually liked this bike. It revs to the moon and it seems really stable. The forks are terrible and really harsh even with me being way to heavy for the springs that are in them. I know I am not the first person to complain about 4CS forks. So after this I moved to the 2t bikes. First up was the 300xcw. I liked absolutely nothing about this thing. The motor had pretty decent bottom and then it was really flat until the powervalve opened and then it just exploded and then just signed off shortly after. Was really weird. And true to KTM form it was nervous. 500yds after I took off the handle bars started to shake and tank slap. Another 500yds and the front end washed and over the bars I went! Awful! So I was thinking maybe the xc will be better so I jumped on the 250xc. NOPE! Motor was very much like a motocross bike. Little bottom end and then BOOM! Better hang on. What's that? You want to carry second gear through this tight corner? NOPE. Again the 4CS forks are harsh and deflect off of every little root and rock on the trail. Last and definitely least was the 250xcf. I could not wait to get off this bike! It was just down right awful. Everything about it was terrible. To be fair I will remind you again. I am way too big
For a 250 but still YUCK!
Any way that was my thoughts on the bikes on hand. If I had to pick a top 3 it would go like this.
1. Yz250x
2. Yz250x
3. Yz250x
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1. yzf450
2. Yz250
3. Yz250x
4. Yzf250x
5. 300xcw
6. 500xcf w
7. 450xcf w
8. 350xcf
9. 250xc
10. 250xcf
So I rode the yamahas first and I started on the 450. It just wasn't for me. Tons of power weird ergos and suspension was harsh. Next up I rode the yz250. It is the same yz we all know and love but it's still a motocross bike. Hard hitting and harsh suspension. Then I rode the yz250x! WOW! HOLY COW! SWEET JESUS! OMG!!! I loved this bike! As soon as you sit on it you instantly smile! The seat is soft and the suspension moves like it's made of marshmallows. Mind you I haven't even started this baby yet and I am already grinning like a fat kid at a Twinkie factory. So off we go. Instantly I noticed this nice smooth mellow feeling engine and I think oh no it's gonna be too soft. NOPE! Twist the throttle and hang on. The hit is tame but the power is there. It is very similar to our beloved GG 300's that's right I just compared a 250 to a 300 as did everyone else that rode it. Miss the hit? Reach up and flip the super smooth clutch and this thing breathes fire! Now the suspension is unlike anything I have ever experienced. Like I said marshmallows! Zero deflection and big nasty roots and rocks? Don't even feel them. All this and remember I am 250lbs on stock springs. Even still it just worked never bottomed or got unsettled. Even in big nasty sharp edged acceleration bumps. It just soaked them up and put the power down. Again WOW! Way to go Yamaha.
Up next was the 250fx. Not impressed. That being said this particular bike had a poorly tuned rekluse in it and in all fairness I am way to big for a 250f. The handling to me was just ok especially after coming off the 250x. But all in all it seems to be a solid bike for smaller riders.
Next up I moved over to the nasty old ugly orange tent and made sure to keep my helmet on so no one would recognize me. First up the 500. This bike will put a smile on your face for one reason only. Imagine riding a Farmall tractor through a 36" wide trail! That motor will make you giggle. Imagine this, you make a pivot turn and just roll the throttle on out of the corner only to remember you are in 4th gear! Next was the 450xcf w again great motor but the transmission sucks 1st and 2nd gear are way to slow and 3rd was too fast. This forces you to ride in 3rd and use the clutch like your on a 125. Bike was solid and handled well though. Next up was the 350xcf. I actually liked this bike. It revs to the moon and it seems really stable. The forks are terrible and really harsh even with me being way to heavy for the springs that are in them. I know I am not the first person to complain about 4CS forks. So after this I moved to the 2t bikes. First up was the 300xcw. I liked absolutely nothing about this thing. The motor had pretty decent bottom and then it was really flat until the powervalve opened and then it just exploded and then just signed off shortly after. Was really weird. And true to KTM form it was nervous. 500yds after I took off the handle bars started to shake and tank slap. Another 500yds and the front end washed and over the bars I went! Awful! So I was thinking maybe the xc will be better so I jumped on the 250xc. NOPE! Motor was very much like a motocross bike. Little bottom end and then BOOM! Better hang on. What's that? You want to carry second gear through this tight corner? NOPE. Again the 4CS forks are harsh and deflect off of every little root and rock on the trail. Last and definitely least was the 250xcf. I could not wait to get off this bike! It was just down right awful. Everything about it was terrible. To be fair I will remind you again. I am way too big
For a 250 but still YUCK!
Any way that was my thoughts on the bikes on hand. If I had to pick a top 3 it would go like this.
1. Yz250x
2. Yz250x
3. Yz250x
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk