I'm admittedly a Yamaha guy. I ride with guys that have KTM's. I bought my 250X new in 2016, and have never regretted it. It's been perfectly reliable, it's easy to find parts for, and the kick-only starting has rarely been an issue. Knowledge base is huge online. I get it why people like the orange bikes, nothing against them, but I'll stick with tried, true, and blue.

I think there are a lot of loyal YZ fans that would love to see Yamaha continue in the right direction. I think people who have switch to Orange over the years would switch back if Yamaha would step up their game.

$3500 is a hell of a lot of parts, gas, and premix. Which is why I prefer it!

Great video man thanks, been looking at both bikes and this does clear a few things up.

If yamaha would just put electric start on the 250x it would destroy Ktm. The yz250x engine is bulletproof and been around for ages! And their suspension is always phenomenal.

I grew up riding off-road and was out of the game for years, now I’m getting back into it and all these people are whining about electric start on a dirt bike. When did people get so soft?

I have a six days KTM 450 and a yz250. Both with rekluse clutch’s, and the yz has a flywheel weight, I love them both in trails. But they’re different enough to really appreciate both.

Hey Jay, great vid! In your “can a yz250 make a good trail bike” vid I asked if you thought the crf250x was a better single track trail bike as I know your a secret crf250x fan like me. Your answer was you would still rather trail ride a crf250x than a yz250 off-road. How good is that yz250x? Would you say it makes a better trail bike than the crf250x? Is it significantly easier to ride off-road than a standard yz? Or is it just a slightly tweaked yz? Thinking about getting one, thanks so much!

I like how you guys just tractor through the old citrus grove. Reminds me when I was a kid riding all the avocado groves 🥑

Agreed... Love to see Yamaha update the YZX with a hydraulic clutch possible counter balancer and better gearing . Hope they will listen to someone.

This is exactly what I'm down to with buying a new bike. Hard to argue the value of the Yamaha.

I perfer old tech which is why I want a yz250x no hydrologic clutch no electric start, super basic bullet proof. Great review

Have you guys tried the 113A Stic module in your Keihen carb with a JD jetting kit ,I just tried one in my 250 exc ,I don’t do any elevation or big temp changes so I can’t really comment to that but the torque and ride ability is what I have noticed the most ,very close to my TX 300 in that regard ( that runs a stock Keihen) how it stacks up against a lectron or smart carb depends on what you are chasing .cheersd👍

Anyone else love the feeling of kicking over a bike rather than pushing a button

On that 250x was he using the stock gearing 14-50 or something else? I went to 13-51 and running out of gearing on top

How's the service intervals on the ktm starter

Great review. Currently on a 2021 250 XC TPI. love the bike more every time I ride it.

Hello! I want to buy a motorcycle to be used for walks through the forest and climbs, descents but I want to have power under me. I thought about 250-300 in 2t over the year 2015! Would it be good on carburetion or injection? And which model would be more suitable and reliable?

I bought a 4T after riding a Sherco 250sec, not a big Sheroc support system here so I got a 250xcf 2020. The suspension on the 2020 is way better than my 2018 AER forks.

ever do a 6-day conversion of this? lights, flywheel?

Great review on both bikes bro!

I own a YZ250X, and I agree with everything you said. I love it, but I envy the nice KTM's

If you ride gnarly stuff the e-start is a must! That being said, I don't like the new bikes doing away with the kick start! I like the E, but the kick is a must in my opinion.

In my backyard in Central Idaho, the torque of a 300 is much more desirable on steep technical terrain .... hands down.

Thanks, I think this video was “pretty dang good”.

That Yamaha looks fun!

I say the 300XC all the way but the price of that yz is hard to beat.

Gear the yz one tooth down on the front and it “tractors” just like a 300. I’ve had three 300’s up to and including the 2019 . The yz just feels so much more “flickable” and the suspension is fantastic. Both great bikes that being said but don’t tell me that you can’t lug a yz 250x .

You forgot reliability. Yamaha wins that department too?

Personally I have both a 19 300xc with kyb internals in the suspension, and I have a 03 yz250 I just finished building four trails/enduro and honestly I have found myself having an easier time on the Yamaha. Yes I miss having the button but the point is with my comment and I’m sure this video is, both bikes are amazing and you won’t go wrong either way

Keep in mind, the KTM is closing in on double the price too.

I ride a yz250 2 stroke 2010 with a billitron lectron carb and recluse clutch and pipe it's always crisp and liner power is way better fuel economy is awesome and it only cost half ktm

As a YZ250 owner who converted his bike to X spec I concur! For the money it's a great bike. I'm 58 and yeah there are times I wish had eStart but overall it's an easy bike to start once warmed up. Added a Lectron and have ridden this bike at 800ft all the way up to 8kft and it's been pretty consistent. BTW where did you guys film this?

Are you running a 13 tooth on the front of the yZ or is it the stock 14? Curious which is better on that bike.

I've owned both bikes, but converted the YZ250x to a 300x. It was a 2016 that I dumped a ton of money and effort into and it ended up costing more than a 2020 KTM 300 XCW 6 days - I ;liked the YZ300x to a point but IMO the 300xcw is a much better bike overall. Until Yamaha produces a factory 300, 6 speed, with an e-start the Austrians will continue to get my money.

I'll never buy another bike without e start.

I’m new to dirt bikes. Ridden various street for years. Hydraulic clutch, sprocket changes are not difficult or am I missing something?

I've been looking at getting a bike and it's been between these 2. I haven't had a bike since I graduated high school, my last bike was a cr 250 and I loved it. My main concern is I am like 250lbs now and am concerned that a 250 doesn't have the lug to pull me the way a 300 would. any experience with that?

Monks Hollow!! I helped build that trail a very long time ago!!

How would the KTM 250 sx compare to a yz 250 for trail riding? Could it be set up for woods riding, and if so, how much would it cost? Neither bike has e start, but the KTM sx is dramatically cheaper than the TPI bikes, plus it’s counter balanced, has a hydraulic clutch & Brembo brakes stock.

Moving from a 2021 WR250F to a 2022 Yz250x tomorrow, feel like I’m just going to struggle with the kickstart but hey I’m 17 still got plenty of life in me to kick 😂

Thinking about pulling the trigger on a 17’ 250x next week to replace or add to my 13’ 450 XCF, a little nervous about the lack of E start been quite a while since I had to kick, but if it’s not for me I’ll just send it down the road 🤞

So for those making the point about the hydro clutch and e start. What about putting a rekluse on the yz? I don't mind kicking a bike when it's a planned stop.

It sounds as if the TPI isn't totally dialed in yet and could be a hassle. If the YZ had electric start it would be an easy choice.

And my new TM EN300ES swoops in for the win!!! Haha It's basically these two guys combined with some added feel and glory! 👍🤘💪

If the clutch and e-start bother you there is always the Magura and Panthera option's and you are still way cheaper AND you know it will get you back to the truck at the end of the day.

A couple of weeks ago I was doing some knarly enduro on my YZ 250X..... A couple of days after that I stiffened up the compression and rebound then raced it cause my 450 was out of commission... It was the most fun I had racing in years, Even with the 11oz flywheel weight I was hanging with the 450's pretty good... That's where the YZ really shines it's a very versatile bike that's relatively easy to ride to a wide variety of riders in a wide variety of conditions.... In my opinion there ain't many bikes out there that can do that.... And to top it all off they are super reliable and easy to get parts for.

I have a yz250x and absolutely love it....the bike rips.... I ride it both on vet tracks and trail. Reliable, excellent power, and great suspension. I am buying a 2nd yz to set up one for track and the other for trail.

Just spend the additional money and get something that is specifically tailored for riding this kind of off road terrain. Originally I road Japanese bikes and was hard pressed going to a KTM just because of loyalty. But, when I rode a KTM XC-W 300 I was completely sold. I also think any of the Euro bikes hands down are great! Realistically, how many Yamahas or Japanese bikes do you see at Erzburg or at the Romantics?

My 1992 yamaha wr200 had an internal counterbalancer. Why can't they smooth out the yz250x some 28 years later?

With the title it's not a surprise I expected that

As a yz250 rider...I totally agree. KTMs are "better". Depends on needs and wants though. I can afford a KTM....but just love my YZ. I don't race and I have rekluse so the electric start is not an issue.

Plus the Yz250x is beter for motocross also. A lot of guys ride mainly off-road but they do like to do motos also... If you want a slow technical hard enduro bike though Ktm is better But overall if it was my money, Yz250x would be my choice easy

little unrelated but what can I do to my 2013 wr250f to wake it up, it has a lag in 1st gear, I want it to hit immediately

I love my yamaha. I was a ktm fan, but today I hate ktm with all my heart. They are good bikes but, they are too delicate and required much much more maintenance than yamaha. Yamaha is cheaper, simple and bulletproof.

All KTM and Husky need to do is start putting KYB on them. It's the gold standard.

Anyone have any experience with a big bore YZ 300X? That would be interesting

I had a 2018 yz250x and loved it! Went to a crf250rx good bike but I liked the yz better to be honest. Then......I rode my buddies ktm300......you know were this is going now yep! Now just deciding ktm or husky? Chime in guys..

Why don't you see Suzuki in the trail game as much? I have an 03 RM 250 would like to do more trail riding like your other video where you rebuilt a similar bike for that purpose.

I wish the ktm had a kickstart. Always the best back up

I'm not a small guy at 6' and 230 lb. The last bike I had was a 94 ktm 300exc, ported and high comp head. That thing was a handful for trails. I'm gonna get a 250x next... getting to old for that kind of powa.

cool now test them both on a mx track and then compare??

Yamaha needs to put a e starter on the yz250x and the ability to put lights on it. If Yamaha could do those two things at a minimum they would sell much more.

good video

Both are good bikes and choices. You get what you pay for. The Yamaha was great 15 years ago, and is still a good value, but the harder the terrain, the better the KTM. First gear is too high on the Yamaha, no 6th gear limits top speed, no counterbalancer, less torque, and no lights to get home in the dark. The charging system will not support good aftermarket lights. The stock tank is pretty small. The KTM suspension works better in extreme terrain, the Yamaha closer to Motocross suspension works better in fast open country and handles jumps better. Quality and durability is equal. I have 300 hours on my stock 2019 TE 300i and it shows no sign of wear: original piston, etc. Several in our ride group have run the Yamaha, but pretty soon tire of kick starting in the gnar. The E start really saves your energy over a long day of technical singletrack. The vibes also get to some. The Yamaha guys also foul plugs frequently, and most carry a spare. I haven’t fouled a KTM plug in 10 years. Yamaha needs to spend some money and update the old design, solving these problems. But we are still waiting for the T7, so don’t hold your breath.

Yamaha all day!!!

I paid 7k for a new 2019 husky te250i and it was the best decision I ever made

Put a esr 325 in my 250x. And smaller tooth in the rear. 🤙🏿👍🏽

Easy choice in Australia. The ktm comes plated and can be ridden on the road which opens up alot of riding areas. YZ.........not so much.

Put estart on it Yamaha !!

You should do a contrast with small bike company’s like gas gas 300 vs tm300

Yamaha all the way!

I wanna see them on single track

Wouldn’t a better comparison be against the ktm 250xc?

Yamaha all day

Tangki bahan bakar yz250 besar sekali apakah itu aslinya?

In the UK the price difference is so small that the KTM is the obvious go to, why is Yamaha charging that much for a bike that has had zero R&D put into it since 2006

*KTM counter balanced engine, steel frame, better suspensions, more torque, lighter weight, actually NEW not 20 year old YZ - electric start on the KTM*

YZ all day!

Anybody know how tall Jay Clark is?

Love my yz250x the only thing I would change is have electric and kick start

Amazing how it cost 12,000 to have fun on the trails. Yamaha , 6800 out the door ? Not today (4/14/22) my friend

Yamaha yz250x needs the following to compete fully: 1. E-start 2. Counter balanced motor. 3. Lighting options (+ larger stator to run it.) 4. A 300cc option =) 5. Optional would be gearing tweaks, color schemes & a hydraulic clutch.

TPI is now TBI

The Yamaha is also lighter and handles better, the new 22 ones don't brake better than the Ktm but they do have better brakes than the huskies Magura

Go Yamaha 😎👍 So brake up grades n sum light engine tweaking would be cheaper than 3k I'm guessing,, not that KTM is a bad choice cuz they rip😁

Here in Canada the Yz250x sold for $8600.00 I just put my hand on a left over 2019 ktm 300 XC for $10 250.00 $ instead of $12 250.00. With a 6speed, e-start, bigger gas tank, hydro clutch and with all the R&D KTM constantly do year after year it was a no brainer. If Yamaha would adresses those issue the story would probably have been different.

Yamaha wins on starting because it has a kick starter.

*The yzx does not come with a larger tank. 2.1 gallons with a reserve.

Yamaha for the win!

One day Yamaha will do it for us or not but who knows they might just fool us by building the bikes we want..

Yammy all day! KTM looks like a rich dad bod bike! When I’m riding my yam I’ll be looking to roost rich KTM kooks!

4:10 I wouldn’t say detuned. More like retuned

No need for tpi as you can get a smartcarb for it for 600 with the money saved. The 300 is gonna lug hills awesome but a flywheel weight will help

KTM is a no brainer!

Personally I don’t understand why so many people find a need to have an electric start. If I stall my Yamaha it kicks over and restarts with very little effort. This question is for the KTM guys, if your battery goes bad do you have a kick starter as a back up?

Id love a KTM but my bikes get put through the s##t. Yamaha 2 strokes are tough, simple and parts are plentiful 🤔

Coming from the standpoint of a cross-country racer, I don't think this video does either bike much justice. Your viewpoint is based on the slower side of things. My question is which bike does better in a racing condition where there's tight woods, whoops, and knarly terrain.

300 KTM Ofcourse - no brainer

That ktm looks good