JPrelude

Member
Apr 17, 2000
25
0
I've been weighing out my decisions for a new bike for a while now. I love the YZ426F's but think it might be a bit much for when I do take it in the woods. I love to ride sandpits and jump. I also like the power of my current 250 2 stroke. What kind of power does the 400sx have to my RM250 as far as acceleration. I wouldn't go with less power but want that fairly nimble feeling of the 250 with more ability to lug it down low if necessary. Also, how are the SX's as far as ease of starting hot and cold. I'm not interested in E-start as I want to keep the weight down. Thanks

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Deznut

Member
Sep 5, 2000
7
0
Handling: Take 30 lbs of bricks and duct tape them to various parts of your current 250. Go for a ride and see how you like it. Can't comment on the power difference. However, you are correct about the YZ 426. Too high strung for the woods or even the desert. Better for the track.

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Coach in ND

Member
Mar 19, 2001
212
0
My 400 SX rocks. Much easier to ride than any 250 2-stroke. The power band is so broad that on alot of moto tracks you only need two gears. It depend on you riding style....but my style favors the 4-stroke. you have to be smooth to make it work. If you try to square off corners to try to beat a 250 he'll kick you ass....be smooth and pick good lines and he'll wear out before you break a sweat.

If you stall it pull in the clutch and kick....mine fires on the first or second kick. In the morning choke it and kick it once or twice...done deal.

Oh, and by the way, my bike doesn;t feel anything like a 2-stroke with 30lbs of bricks taped to it.

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2001 KTM 400SX #529
2000 SVCC 125cc H.S. #1
SPONSORS: MA'S CYCLE, SIDI, WD-40, ACERBIS, SMITH, SPROCKET SPECIALISTS, N-STYLE, WER, DEVOL.
 

Highline

Member
May 9, 2000
10
0
I agree - my 400SX doesn't feel like a 250 with 30 lbs. attached. I've got nothing but good things to say about mine.

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Highline
-'00 KTM 400SX
-'00 Honda XR400R (for sale)
 

KTM400MAN

Member
Sep 6, 2000
76
0
Who ever said that a 400sx felt thirty lbs heavier than a 2-stroke suzuki, must be bleeding yellow or must not have ever ridden a KTM 400 . My bike feels just as light as a two-stroke 250, especially
when I finish my motos in first place. Go KTM!!!

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Deznut

Member
Sep 5, 2000
7
0
The point was, your KTM 400 IS 30 lbs heavier than a 2 stroke 250 (any brand). That was not intended as knock on KTM 4 strokes, which I have heard are excellent. I ride a KTM 2 stroke. That just means that depending on what type of riding you do, choosing the 4 stroke over the 2 stroke means you will be tossing around 30 lbs more bike. In the smooth, fast stuff that probably will not be an issue. In the tight, technical or rough stuff, that extra 30 lbs is going to make the 4 stroke less nimble, harder to navigate though obstacles and it's going to make you tired faster. Some of my best friends ride 4 strokes and they love them, but there is no question that when we hit the tough stuff, they are working harder than I am. It's worth it to them because the 4 strokes are so much fun in the smoother and/or more open stuff. In my original reply, I was merely trying to use a humorous way of making the point that the 4 storkes are sgnificantly heavier than the 2 stroke 250 and the handling of the bike will be effected by the additional weight. It still comes down to personal choice, and the original post was written by a guy trying to make one.

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Hick

Member
Aug 15, 2000
224
0
Originally posted by Deznut:
The point was, your KTM 400 IS 30 lbs heavier than a 2 stroke 250 (any brand).

A 400 SX probably weighs 10 or 15 pounds more than an RM 250. A 400 EXC is probably 260 pounds RTR no gas (at the most), but the poster was talking about the SX Deznut, which has no lighting coil, battery, headlight or starter.

Claimed weight is 236 for the 400 SX and 247 for the EXC.

I’ve ridden a 520 SX, 400 EXC, & 520 EXC. The 400 will out accelerate any 250 I’ve ridden, and the six speed makes it very versatile. IMO it is much easier to ride than any Japanese 2 stroke 250. It also kick starts MUCH, MUCH, MUCH easier than a YZF and even easier than an XR 400. Unless it is flooded one little half-hearted flail at the kick starter will bring it to life.

BUT, all the KTMs listed above felt too light up front for my liking and would headshake easily. They turn a bit slow too for my tastes. But keep in mind I’m coming off a YZ 426 w/ a Scott’s damper, so that sort of impression (headshake, front-end too light, doesn’t turn) may be inevitable…

I could certainly learn to live with a few quirks
biggrin.gif
I don’t think anybody who buys a 400 SX will be disappointed.



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'00 YZF
 

KTM400MAN

Member
Sep 6, 2000
76
0
Hey Deznut, sorry my response may have seemed a little "harsh", as I thought you were bagging on the KTM thumpers. I understand your point, and if I were to have responded in a more polite way, I would have
given the same response as Hick. He's right on the money with his response. I have the sx, and haven't ever ridden the exc or the mxc
(not to mention I have shaved about 6 or 7 more lbs. off my bike, with a pipe and other aftermarket mods. So in reality, my bike is closer to 230 lbs. The 520sx DEFINITELY feels heavier than a 250 2-smoker,since it has so much rotating mass. I had a 99wr400, and I spent about $2500.00 in trying to lighten up the beast, and it still was a pig
in comparison to the KTM400sx. Anyway, nextime please use the smiles legend, or some other way to let us "very sensitive" rfs owners know you're just having fun with us, and we'll try to do the same. Thanks again, Erik

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visit our club's website at www.ruts.org
 

weimedog

~SPONSOR~
Damn Yankees
Nov 21, 2000
959
2
So far all of the folks I know with KTM400's love them, they are more versitle than the YZF. I rode a YZF426 and it's a motocross bike period. If thats your game its a good solution. Also if your thinking about Yamaha's, start checking out the posts here. Count up the Yamaha problems vs. the KTM problems. The difference is stunning.

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2001 VOR503 V-Cross
1982 husqvarna XC430
1974 Bultaco Frontera 360
6 Kids, Four Ride, 3 race. (cr125, yz80, 2 KX125's)
Case 780, INT 1066, Ford LTL9000...and a Percheron
 

KTM400MAN

Member
Sep 6, 2000
76
0
Not so! I drag-raced my buddy the other day several times, and my 400sx beat his 2001 cr 250 every time. He is a good expert mx'er, so it's definitely the bike, not the rider.

Erik

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visit our club's website at www.ruts.org
 
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