2 Stroke vs. 4 Stroke! 2024 KTM 250SX or 250SX-F? - Cycle News

Two stroke or four stroke, which one are you picking? We take the 2024 KTM 250SX and put it head to head with the 2024 KTM 250 SX-F in this version of a 250 comparison. Watch the full video to see who wins! #CycleNews Note* - Horsepower numbers are claimed from KTM.
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0:00 - Intro
1:17 - 250 vs 250 Class?
3:56 - Specs & Differences
7:55 - Riding Impressions
13:10 - Winner?
17:05 - Wrap Up
#2Stroke #4Stroke

[SoSlo]

You said it! Now give us 300 2T vs 350 4T! Goldilocks bikes for us vet riders.

[highschooljohnny]

I go back and forth but at the end of the day I'm picking 2t because its faster, lighter, and most fun.

[spacejaime]

Best 4T vs 2T comparo ever. These power numbers make me think they were dynoed at the P.C. dyno, which is my reference point. It's amazing how 250 2T can squeeze so much horsepower these days. Before power valves and reed induction (and now fuel injection), 25-30 hp would be a rocket! Excellent!

[anthonymoreno]

Ryan brought up a great point. Would love to see 300 SX vs 350 SX-F. Great vid!

[zackk]

Part of motocross was to try and master the 2 stroke. Electric bikes could blow both of these away but we are getting away from what motocross is which is what we did with adding 4 strokes. Just because they are racing does not make them a true race bike. The 2 stroke are the true motocross bikes

[turbohawk]

It's interesting that when a 4 stroke passes by, the exhaust sounds AND smells bad...the 2 stroke smells GOOD and sounds good (to me). The simplicity of the 2 stroke is where I think it's always going to rule. 4 strokes just have too many parts.

[vxevxe]

If modern 2 strokes had the same amount of money dumped in them for as long as the 4 strokes had the 2 stroke would win hands down.

[eugenespreutels]

Totally agree with you. I have been riding a 250 250sx and it's just an absolute blast, probably not as fast but just makes every ride fun and at the end of the day, that's all that matters to me.

[joelboutier]

Great debate. And thank you so much for not comparing a 250 2-stroke to a 450 4-stroke!!! It's great to see a proper comparison instead of one bike vs a cheater bike. I hope these conversations help rewrite the rules of motorX that have disadvantaged 2-strokes into nonexistence. It is such a complex debate. It's not just about horsepower & weight because many riders STILL prefer 4-strokes. Rider comfort, power delivery, user friendliness, clutch/throttle manipulation, traction, and fun factor are all just as important. I really like to see the advances in TBI 2-stroke technology bridge the gap between 2T & 4T. I would really like to see 2Ts be competitive again in motorX. The new TBI technology is helping 2Ts gain the advantages that made many riders move to 4Ts. I just hope it can be refined in time before motorX moves to electric😅

[mikehudgens]

I am a new subscriber to your channel - I ride a 2023 KTM SX 250 ( pre mix ) lol a 21 KTM factory edition 450, 92 KTM MX 500 ( aka The Hulk ) and a 89 KTM EXC 350 2 stroke !!! I love this comparison video and must say my 2023 250 w/o doubt is the best bike I have ever ridden / raced - really enjoyed your commentating and remarks etc - thank you for such great content

[pokebass]

I'm a two stroke guy. That being said, it's mainly because I'm a vintage guy. My whole deal with two strokes and vintage bikes is that if you can learn to be fast on something with less suspension and more erratic power, just think how fast you'll be on something with linear power and good suspension.

[horiak]

One key thing I noticed testing both the 250 4t and new TBI 2t back to back was the lug-ability of the new 2t’s and the anti-stall character of the mapping. Its so good that I think the 2t is better than the 4t from a clutch use standpoint. I found that I was having to get into the clutch way too much on the 4t. Where as I could do 3 complete laps in a row with better exit speed out of corners without ever even touching the clutch (no clutch use at all) on the TBI 250 2t. So if you’re trying to save $ on cheaper rebuilds and less frequent clutch use, the TBI 2t’s are in some ways better than a 4t with a rekluse radius CX. It was easier to ride the TBI 2t without the clutch, than it was to ride the 4t with a radius CX on the moto track. Less clutch burn = less racing cost. And the power was way better IMO on the 2t.

[ericrock]

It sucks all the the other sanctions run a true 250 class 2- Stroke and 4-Stroke are permitted to race each other.
Honda is a big proponent of not allowing 250 2-St in the 250 class.

It would be cool to see many different Displacements allowed and of course cannot surpass their respective class they are in 250 or 450. They allowed the 350 before why can they do that and not have the 300 in!?

AMA Sucks the transition years were pretty cool, 02-05 different types of bikes running.

Their should be a true 250 class if not deem it the “250f” class then 🤦‍♂️

[AverageBikeGuy]

@cycle news : Great review !!! Yes please do the 350 v 300 🎉

[rustbucket]

Too bad the AMA and those that influence them are antiquated in their ways of thinking about displacement. Allowing 250 2T in the 250 class for pro racing should allow for more competition from privateers that can’t pay for the full factory motor Hp, high cost rebuilds, etc.

[corvette_jake]

I find it way more difficult to ride a 4 stroke for one main reason, engine braking. I can not for the life of me get used to engine braking, always catches me off gaurd. I prefer small bore 2 strokes but to each his own

[zackk]

The 2 stroke has to be more powerful than the 4 stroke. Not sure what they are saying. This is why they changed the classes and made a pro 250 and 450 class because the 4 strokes where no where close in power. I think all motocross race classes should be based on the motors cubic inch. If it’s a 250 then it races a 250 class. If the 4 stroke can’t win in that class then to bad.

[petergriffin]

So I guess one important piece of this debate has to be tuning and competition running costs. I mean I guess for the average hobby rider the bike really doesn't matter at all. Carson Brown is gonna blast by you in 1970s Husqvarna with 3 inch suspension any day.
But i think when it comes to semi professional to professional racing the two stroke has something to offer. It's just so much cheaper to run and so much cheaper and easier to modify. With the fuel injection you can literally swap pipes next to the track upload a different mapping and have a totally transformed bike. You can still to this day do a lot with a Dremel and some knowledge about porting.
I think it would give the smaller teams a better shot against the big spenders

[pdkiernan]

250 2-stroke vs a 250 4-stoke, 2 strokes are faster, lighter and much easier to rebuild and maintain.
250 2-stroke vs a 450 4-stroke, the 4-stroke makes better power over a wider rpm range.
Only a girl would pick a 250 4-stroke over a 2-stroke.

[bobjohnson]

The 2stroke sounds like a racing bike and not Bubba's bean farts.