KTM 250 EXC-F 2018 — Specifications

One hundred and three kilograms dry, a seat perched at 960 mm, a single-cylinder that climbs to 12,800 rpm without flinching: the KTM 250 EXC-F 2018 is not a motorcycle you choose by default. You choose it because you know exactly what you want, and what you want is to gain time on a special stage or cross a forest pass without losing your footing in the rocks. This small 248cc four-stroke is built for the rider who already has a few enduro seasons in their legs and refuses to settle for a soft compromise.

The engine is the centrepiece of the package. KTM worked the DOHC cylinder head with DLC-coated rocker arms, four titanium valves, and a Keihin 42 mm throttle body injection that responds without lag the moment you open the throttle. The shortened connecting rod and recentred crankshaft lower the centre of gravity in a measurable way, not just on paper. At 35 horsepower for 103 kg, the power-to-weight ratio places the KTM 250 EXC-F ahead of many direct rivals, including the Husqvarna FE 250 which shares the same platform but positions itself differently in terms of ergonomics and mapping. The Mitsuba electric starter, standard equipment, is no gimmick: when you go down in a muddy descent and need to get moving again quickly, you bless that orange button. Earlier versions — the KTM 250 EXC-F 2008 or KTM 250 EXC-F 2009 chief among them — did not have this advantage, and riders of that era remember it well.

The chrome-molybdenum steel tube frame defines the character of the machine. Torsionally rigid, longitudinally supple, it absorbs impacts without sending vibrations back through the wrists. The WP-USD Xplor 48 fork with its preload adjuster and separate damping circuits per leg allows fine tuning without tools, which is a genuine convenience on a bike you take to competition one weekend and out on a trail the next. The rear PDS shock absorber, directly anchored to the single-piece cast aluminium swingarm, works progressively and resists bottoming out well thanks to its twin piston. The whole package delivers 355 mm of ground clearance, a figure that speaks to anyone who has ever committed a wheel into a poorly gauged rocky section.

Brembo brakes with Wave discs, a six-speed transmission with a "zero dirt" selector, an 8.5-litre transparent polyethylene tank with integrated level indicator, and the short aluminium exhaust centred on the mass: every component answers to a precise specification, without unnecessary excess. The NEKEN handlebar with ODI grips and the ability to modify the engine mapping via an optional button complete a package that clearly targets the amateur or semi-professional competitor. This is not a motorcycle on which to learn enduro; the 960 mm seat height and the engine's temperament settle that question.

At €9,690, the KTM 250 EXC-F 2018 sits at the top of its segment. The Yamaha WR250F and Honda CRF250RX play in the same arena at slightly lower prices, with less sharp but more forgiving engines. For those looking for a used KTM 250 EXC-F, recent model years such as the KTM 250 EXC-F 2022 or KTM 250 EXC-F 2021 bring additional refinements in electronics and mapping, but the mechanical foundation of this 2018 model remains solid and well-documented, notably thanks to a detailed KTM 250 EXC-F workshop manual and an active community of tuners. Parts circulate freely, the used market is well-stocked, and the customisation possibilities — particularly on the KTM 250 EXC-F exhaust — are numerous. An honest bike in its intentions, demanding in its use, and formidably effective in the right hands.