KTM 250 SX-F reviews

For the past 4 years I’ve been a proud owner of my 2007 KTM 250 xcf-w and I must say what an amazing bike! I have ridden many bikes ranging from 2005-2022 and I am a firm believer that this bike sits between a good and excellent bike to own. It punches a huge amount of low end power which absolutely tanks through anything you throw at it. One of my favourite things about this bike is it that you can easily customise it to your preference - with regards to aftermarket parts , plastics, accessories and tuning-making it an outstanding bike to customise to your riding style at a reasonable price. Suspension is super reliable and comfortable , handling is fantastic and the power is amazing. However I do believe there is some room for improvement… the stock kick stand has to be the only worst thing about this bike ( the stand is too short and sits on a very thin metal frame) which compromise’s the chain guard if it breaks. The Radiator as well can be a problem, this year of bike does run hot and the radiator doesn’t essentially help slow down rising engine temperatures, I would recommend if anyone is wanting to purchase this bike sometime soon is to save a bit of money to install a cooling fan onto your radiator- it works like a bomb and prevents any damage to your bike’s engine in the future. Besides that I would consider this bike to be a 9/10 for a junior or senior rider. Hope this helps ! Show less

Old dude's play bike is a blast to ride on single track enduro trails and in the woods. Great handling and loads of power. KTM quality and reliability are top notch. Show less

So I picked this bike up for cheap to mess around with in the pits behind my house with my friends. When we go pit biking I usually ride my TTR90 but I got the KTM because I love 2-strokes. For its size, it absolutely rips. This bike has tons of power even with me on it and I weigh 170 pounds. Not sure why but the suspension works surprisingly good for me, but I don't do jumps or anything. I just ride around pits and trails. Overall it's a great little bike. The only downfall is it doesn't go very long on a tank of fuel. Show less

We all know the price of off road motorcycles in the new age of 4-strokes has risen to ridiculous heights and technology has gone thru the roof. It gets harder and harder these days for anyone to afford the cost to buy one and the hiring of a mechanic to work on them. I'm a 37-year-old 250 B rider who started racing motocross in my early 20's and continued to do so heavily in to my early 30's. Being frustrated with the issues above, I wanted to buy something that I knew how to work on and was relatively inexpensive in comparison to the 4-stroke money bomb. Although hesitant at first, I knew KTM was leading the charge in the 2-stroke world so I made the decision to switch knowing that the transition may be a bit of a challenge. Now eight hours on the seat, this gamble proved to be the most successful gamble I've ever taken on a motorcycle. I'm not even saying that it took eight hours to fall in love with the bike. What I'm saying is every additional minute I put on it is the most fun I've ever had on a motorcycle! It takes a while to get used to the power band but it's incredibly powerful. If you want to know how lazy 4-strokes are, ride a 2-stroke and wheel! This bike is extremely light weight, and corners awesome! I was also amazed by how well this thing is built and the attention to detail. If you're a Honda guy like I was and you thought they had the best front break in the world, think again. The front break on the KTM is flat out ridiculous! The stopping power is phenomenal! Who needs engine breaking when you have the brakes...REAL BRAKES! The front brake especially! If I had anything negative to say about this bike it would be suspension. As of now it is completely stock. I do need to note though that I have not really had it set up yet for my weight and it's quite possible my body weight may require stiffer springs. I've been adjusting the clickers and have got it feeling pretty good but it still feels a bit soft and spongy. The tracks I've ridden on thus far haven't had huge jumps but have included a variety of jump faces and landings anywhere from mellow to steep jump faces and up to 60 feet jump distances. After about eight hours in the saddle on the KTM 150 I took a spin on a 2013 4-stroke and was bored - literally bored! Do yourself a favor if you want to go out and have fun. Buy a two-stroke! I also believe the bike will be equally competitive in a race scenario. Brauuuuup!!! Show less

So far, I have ridden this bike on (lots of single track, desert, Glen Helen, City and Rock Gardens). It handled them all extremely well. The throttle is very smooth for EFI with the JD 6x, otherwise it is lean as heck and a bit too snappy in first 1/4 throttle or so. Once you get the bike re-sprung for your weight, throw a JD tuner on it. You need nothing else than protective gear for the bike and the bling of your choice. One more thing, the clutch is so smooth and easy to pull, it is amazing!!! Show less

I just traded my 2006 CRL25 for this bike and it's amazing! Power is great in low end and great on top. It's kind of hard to kick over though if you're short like me. I just lean it up against a tree and start it. It's very reliable, comfort is amazing as it has a wider seat than my 125. It has definitely had quality parts used. It's a very nice bike. Show less

Seriously - I've been trying out a few bikes to find the right combo, and this is it. Yes, the seat is hard. It's so nice and light, that it offsets its height. It has plenty of power and great suspension. I really liked my KX100, but felt a bit folded up on it, so this is perfect. It was a little nervous for my first ride out, but no crashes - just sore. Now I just need to get in better shape (yes, that 160 lbs. should be closer to 125 - lb. for lb. Go get one ladies!!! Show less

It's an all-around good bike. The powerband dosent last as long as a CR but she rips. Show less

I bought this bike for my son and he absolutely loves it. You can tell that this is a quality machine just by looking at the build and the quality of parts. It has the best of everything. This bike outclasses anything in the category. It even keeps up with 125ccs! It is scary fast, when this thing hits the power band it is unbelievable. It is a fantastic bike. If you are looking for a machine under 125ccs, get it, nothing comes close! My son has outgrown the bike, it is now for sale. It's in perfect condition. Show less

It's easily the best bike I have owned. I did own a 2009 Honda 250R and the KTM has easily blown the Honda away. It's a very comfortable bike but I did find the suspension a little too soft. But with a stiffer spring, it was a lot better. As for power, it beat the Honda hands down and was just a lot easier to throw into corners and jumps. If you're thinking of buying a KTM SXF I highly recommend it, even the 2012 model is excellent -KTM forever. Show less