A little different take. Don't know which of the three is faster. That can be debated all day long, and never really settled. But you're riding for fun, right? So how do you like to ride? Smooth flowy corner carver? 200. Run and gun MX kind of style? 250. Reformed 4-stroker? 300.
I wanted light weight for tight, slow-ish trails, and have not regretted the 200, but boy would it blow chunks if my local riding had ANY open component. There just is not much joy in hurrying the little guy along the connector roads, etc., which doesn't matter to me at all.
Overall, on long days, I don't think any bike has ever been faster or more efficient than my old 250 EXC (2004 maybe?), but the 200 is the most fun I've had on a dirt bike since I was a teenager racing open class 2-stroke Kawasakis (dated myself there, didn't I?).
Finally, though I'm hugely in the minority on this, I never really loved my 300. Great torque, etc., but just felt kind of big, klunky and piggish. Not like a CRF450X or anything, but I would never choose it over a 250 for any application I can think of.
200/250/300 Assorted Questions
Started by
RLTrail
, Aug 17 2012 07:45 AM
43 replies to this topic
Posted 21 August 2012 - 05:42 AM
HRPFNSTF, on 20 August 2012 - 06:43 PM, said:
A little different take. Don't know which of the three is faster. That can be debated all day long, and never really settled. But you're riding for fun, right? So how do you like to ride? Smooth flowy corner carver? 200. Run and gun MX kind of style? 250. Reformed 4-stroker? 300.
I wanted light weight for tight, slow-ish trails, and have not regretted the 200, but boy would it blow chunks if my local riding had ANY open component. There just is not much joy in hurrying the little guy along the connector roads, etc., which doesn't matter to me at all.
Overall, on long days, I don't think any bike has ever been faster or more efficient than my old 250 EXC (2004 maybe?), but the 200 is the most fun I've had on a dirt bike since I was a teenager racing open class 2-stroke Kawasakis (dated myself there, didn't I?).
Finally, though I'm hugely in the minority on this, I never really loved my 300. Great torque, etc., but just felt kind of big, klunky and piggish. Not like a CRF450X or anything, but I would never choose it over a 250 for any application I can think of.
I wanted light weight for tight, slow-ish trails, and have not regretted the 200, but boy would it blow chunks if my local riding had ANY open component. There just is not much joy in hurrying the little guy along the connector roads, etc., which doesn't matter to me at all.
Overall, on long days, I don't think any bike has ever been faster or more efficient than my old 250 EXC (2004 maybe?), but the 200 is the most fun I've had on a dirt bike since I was a teenager racing open class 2-stroke Kawasakis (dated myself there, didn't I?).
Finally, though I'm hugely in the minority on this, I never really loved my 300. Great torque, etc., but just felt kind of big, klunky and piggish. Not like a CRF450X or anything, but I would never choose it over a 250 for any application I can think of.
What RPM range did the power on your 250 seem to be more available? How did that compare to the 200? I am trying to narrow options to the lightest, most nimble bike but with low to mid RPM range power delivery. I don't ride wide open throttle very often. All three sizes I'm sure are great bikes and offer different advantages.
Edited by RLTrail, 21 August 2012 - 05:49 AM.
Posted 21 August 2012 - 09:11 AM
RL, watch some of my vids. Just search my username on youtube. I ride a 200 and imho, they have great low to mid power with just a little set up. I lug my bike way more than i should. Even with -3 on the rear sprocket. lol
Posted 21 August 2012 - 10:27 AM
Here’s my input…
I am very fit rider at 5’7” and 148 pounds WITH gear. Although I do not race, many of my riding buddies (A-AA) do race and they tell me I’m an A rider.
I have a 2009 KTM 200 XC-W. It is a fantastic bike & I believe that it is almost the perfect bike for me. I am very aggressive, like to make the bike wail and enjoy shifting. Those three things I believe are critical to the happy ownership of a 200.
The bike has lightning fast reflexes.
If you get lazy all your momentum is lost.
Poor gear selection in steep climbs is costly.
Example: On one ride I swapped bikes with a AA guy on a 300XC. The first thing I noticed was the top end was a bit unimpressive. I’m not saying it wasn’t fast or powerful, just a bit flat. The next thing I noticed was after settling into 3rd gear, I discovered all I needed was a little clutch to navigate the tight stuff and climb any hill. Much like the bottomless well of torque of a 450 except the 300 is responsive enough to be FUN to ride.
Here is the biggest difference between the 200 & 300 for me. I hopped back on my bike and re-rode the same section of trail that the 300 easily chugged through in 3rd gear. On my 200 I shifted 11 times. E-L-E-V-E-N shifts, rowing from 2-4, bike wailing, throttle pinned, clutch fanning.
If you are a lazy rider, go big. If you are aggressive and fit enough to keep the bike boiling, go small.
My next bike? Probably a 250XC-W. It won’t be soon. I’m holding out for fuel injection…
I am very fit rider at 5’7” and 148 pounds WITH gear. Although I do not race, many of my riding buddies (A-AA) do race and they tell me I’m an A rider.
I have a 2009 KTM 200 XC-W. It is a fantastic bike & I believe that it is almost the perfect bike for me. I am very aggressive, like to make the bike wail and enjoy shifting. Those three things I believe are critical to the happy ownership of a 200.
The bike has lightning fast reflexes.
If you get lazy all your momentum is lost.
Poor gear selection in steep climbs is costly.
Example: On one ride I swapped bikes with a AA guy on a 300XC. The first thing I noticed was the top end was a bit unimpressive. I’m not saying it wasn’t fast or powerful, just a bit flat. The next thing I noticed was after settling into 3rd gear, I discovered all I needed was a little clutch to navigate the tight stuff and climb any hill. Much like the bottomless well of torque of a 450 except the 300 is responsive enough to be FUN to ride.
Here is the biggest difference between the 200 & 300 for me. I hopped back on my bike and re-rode the same section of trail that the 300 easily chugged through in 3rd gear. On my 200 I shifted 11 times. E-L-E-V-E-N shifts, rowing from 2-4, bike wailing, throttle pinned, clutch fanning.
If you are a lazy rider, go big. If you are aggressive and fit enough to keep the bike boiling, go small.
My next bike? Probably a 250XC-W. It won’t be soon. I’m holding out for fuel injection…
