KTM 250 SX-F 2024 — Specifications

Ninety-nine kilograms on the scale dry, 45 horsepower released by a 249.9 cc single-cylinder, a seat height of 950 mm that immediately puts the rider in attack position. The KTM 250 SX-F doesn't try to convince on paper — it makes its case on hard-packed dirt, in the noise and dust of motocross tracks. And on that specific terrain, few machines dare to go toe to toe with it.

What sets this engine apart from its direct rivals, the Yamaha YZ250F and the Honda CRF250R, is the density of its architecture. The DOHC four-valve-per-cylinder unit, with a bore of 78 mm and a stroke of 52.3 mm, sports a compression ratio of 14.4:1 that leaves no ambiguity about its intentions. Add DLC-coated titanium valves actuated by finger followers to reduce friction, a 44 mm Keihin fuel injection system managed by an ECU that reads the engaged gear in real time, and you get an engine that responds with disarming directness at every twist of the throttle. The KTM 250 SX-F pulls hard, certainly, but it pulls with a readability that amateur riders will appreciate just as much as professionals.

The hydroformed chrome-molybdenum steel frame works in direct synergy with the 48 mm inverted WP fork, adjustable over 310 mm of travel, and the rear WP monoshock at 300 mm. This fully adjustable suspension duo — high- and low-speed compression at the rear, 30-click compression and rebound at the front — puts the bike in a class of its own in terms of setup precision. The pressure-cast one-piece swingarm allows wheelbase adjustments to suit different track configurations. Brembo Wave discs measuring 260 mm at the front and 220 mm at the rear complete a braking package that responds with precision without ever biting aggressively.

The electronics on the KTM 250 SX-F deserve mention without condescension. The handlebar-mounted map selector allows switching between two power curves, activating traction control on wet sections, or engaging launch control from the gate — a feature that was reserved for Supercross machines just a few years ago. The Mitsuba electric starter, powered by a 2 Ah lithium-ion battery, has become indispensable in competition, and KTM has managed to integrate it without penalizing the overall weight. For those looking for a used KTM 250 SX-F or weighing up the different model years, this electronic evolution is a genuine argument in favor of this version over earlier ones.

The one area where some nuance remains is the 7-liter tank, which is consistent with purely competitive use but limiting for extended recreational riding. The 950 mm seat height also demands a suitable build, which clearly steers this model toward already experienced riders rather than beginners looking for their first motocross bike. Priced at €9,499, the KTM 250 SX-F sits at the top of the MX2 segment, on par with its premium Japanese competitors, but with a level of out-of-the-box preparation that other brands don't offer without a second trip to the checkout.