2008 Racer X Canada Tested 250F Shootout
NOVEMBER 5, 2007

 

The 250 Shootout reports are Presented by Podium Grafix, who provided numberplate decals for all of our 250 four-strokes. Podium's website is currently under construction, but you can reach them at their Peterborough location by calling 705-742-5756 or using their toll free number, 1-866-995-7446.

The 2008 250 four-strokes

Photos by Allison Kennedy and Jason T. Griffiths

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the 2008 Racer X Canada 250 Four-Stroke Shootout! Last week, our test riders took us through the 450 lineup, and this week, they give their opinions and ratings on the MX2/ Lites bikes. While a couple of the 450 machines stood out from the pack, the race for the #1 spot in the 250F class is tighter than ever. Like the 450 shootout, each tester has rated the 250F bikes first to fifth, with five points awarded to first, four points to second, and so on down to fifth-place.

The 2008 KX250F comes from the factory looking like ... well, factory!

Jason Moore
6’ 160 lbs
Intermediate

Kawasaki KX250F:
I was very keen on the power plant of the KX.  It had very smooth power delivery from bottom to mid and was very manageable to keep in the meat of the power and the back wheel tracking.  However, the engine stopped pulling and power dropped significantly once you hit the high rpms. 

For an “out of the box” set up, the bike handle handles amazingly well.  This can be attributed to the ergonomics of the clamps, bars, seat and chassis.  For a taller rider, it's not often you jump on a bike and feel comfortable right away without high bars, offset clamps, etc… A lot of riders complained about the soft seat foam on the Kawi’s, but I was a fan, probably because it resembled the couch cushion I sit on while playing MX vs. ATV Unleashed.
 

Honda CRF250R:
This is easily the best overall bike in every category.  It handles great; has great ergonomics, feels comfortable and great power delivery.  However, the one complaint I had with the motor was how much you had to shift.  This could easily be fixed with different gearing, but on the long, sweeping natural track we rode, it required you to be in low-to-mid rpms.  The motor was fast, which meant it would rev out fast and require you to keep shifting.  It made for a lot of work while riding. 

Honda seems to have their package dialed in so each year. When you ride their new bike there isn’t anything in particular that jumps out at you as a revolutionary or an “all-new” change; they simply keep improving on what they have and focusing on the bike as a whole, which is probably why there aren't any weak aspects of the CRF.

Jay Moore looked "factory" in his Team Canada Fox zebra gear. Moore says the Kawi has great bottom end and comes setup comfortably for taller racers.

 
Yamaha YZ250F:
I found it hard to become comfortable on the YZF.  The front end seemed to push a lot in corners. Softening the forks helped a little bit, but the stock front tire was still not ideal for this particular track. As I mentioned, it’s hard for taller riders to get used to a new set up.  The YZF had a very low set up, the bars felt like they were in my lap, which kept me from riding as aggressively.

One thing that jumped out at me was the braking power on the front wheel.  I have never owned an oversized rotor but I get frisky anytime I ride a buddy’s bike with one on.  The YZF gave me that frisky feeling.

The bike was average; it didn’t necessarily perform poorly, but i just did not have fun on it, thus leaving a poor impression in my mind while I applied more Myoflex to my popeye forearms before putting in another moto.
 

Suzuki RM-Z250:
The Suzuki was another one of those bikes that did its job, but didn’t have that “wow” factor.  The power plant was ultra smooth, perhaps too smooth which gave me the impression that I wasn’t riding fast.  I felt comfortable with the set up; I just didn’t feel aggressive on the track with it.  The Suzuki did a great job with the handling for corner entry but with the power delivery and my cornering style, it made it hard to keep my speed up.  With some modifications to give it some more bottom end and a harder pull, this bike would be higher up on the list for me.

 
KTM 250 SX-F
Hopping onto a Katoom after riding any Japanese four- stroke gives you the feeling that your jumping onto a two stroke.  The chassis and the engine overrev are what give you that impression.  The tubular frame is fun and comfortable.  The bike felt great between my legs and allowed me to maneuver it around choppy bumps entering or exiting corners.  This is probably a good thing because if you hit a square edged choppy acceleration/braking bump with stock suspension you might be eating a dirt sandwich for lunch.  As the day progressed, the track got rougher, thus making the KTM harder to control in a straight line. 

The power of the engine is amazing and really suits my over revving style.  With some aftermarket suspension and tuning this bike could be very competitive.

Rankings:
Kawasaki
Honda
Yamaha
Suzuki
KTM

The 2008 RM-Z450 may not be the flashiest bike on the stand, but it certainly shines out on the track. Every tester agreed that it's one of the best handling bikes and has a great motor that works well for all ability levels.

 

Danny Brault
5’7” 145 lbs
Pro


Suzuki RM-Z250:
It doesn’t take me long to feel comfortable on the Suzukis, whether it’s the 450 or 250—or even their two-strokes—they’re all great at cornering. The motor on the RM-Z250 is similar to the `07; it doesn’t have a hard hit, but it makes moderate bottom end and pulls smoothly into the top. The Suzuki did sign off earlier than the other 250s down long straights, but that could be fixed with a simple gearing change or aftermarket exhaust.

The forks and shock were balanced and they seemed perfect my weight and height. I was flat landing a few of the smaller doubles, and the bike refused to bottom, yet it was still plush and soft over braking bumps. Like the RM-Z450, it felt like I could ride the Suzuki harder, for a longer period of time.


Honda CRF250R:
After racing an `07 CRF250 at a race earlier this summer, I wasn't expecting too much from the Honda’s motor. I was wrong. The CRF has the most powerful motor of the group, with good bottom, great mid-range and excellent overrev. I never felt the need to slip the clutch (probably because I busted the lever off on the first lap).

Like pretty much all of the 250Fs, the Honda’s suspension worked well for me. It was more rigid than the Suzuki, but still plush. The only thing I would change to the Hondas is the appearance—they look basically the same since they started producing them in 2004.

With its smooth and strong power delivery, and light and nimble feel, the `08 RM-Z250 was a favourite among testers.

KTM 250 SX-F
The last time I rode a KTM 250 SX-F was back in 2006 and I remember the motor feeling like a mini-450, with great torque and low-end grunt. Unfortunately, the `08 motor doesn’t feature the same qualities. The KTM still makes great power, but you need to keep in the sweet spot to take advantage of the motor. No more lugging. It still has awesome overrev and it definitely suited the long, fast straights.

Initially, the KTM rode “stinkbug” with the rear end refusing to squat while exiting corners, but we fixed that by softening the compression and speeding up the rebound. I do enjoy the quick turning capabilities of the KTM; you can just point and shoot. As I mentioned with the 450, the KTM comes stock with quality grips, bars, levers, great stopping power, and a nice sleek feel.


Kawasaki KX250F:
Just sitting on the stand, the 2008 Kawi screams fast. With its black rims, hubs, seat, and new decals, it’s catching up to KTM in the bling department.

Off the stand, the Kawi is fast too! The motor is much like the Honda’s, with good bottom and mid-range, but it does sign off a little earlier on top. The seat-to-handlebar junction has an open feel and it didn’t suit my riding style or size. I found it difficult to get my weight over the front end. This could easily be solved by changing the bar bend or clamps. Handling is another strong point of the KX. It turned when you wanted it to, felt stable everywhere, and never wandered.

You could probably throw a blanket over the Honda, Suzuki, and Kawi. All three are very close, and it’s tough to rank one above the other.


Yamaha YZ250F:
The Yamaha is an average bike in my opinion. It makes decent power throughout, has a solid and stable feel through the corners, and the suspension worked well for my size. There just isn’t anything that gets you excited. The rider compartment suits me just fine, but it could be cramped for a taller rider. It doesn’t have the motor of the Kawi or Honda, but with minor changes, it could easily be a contender.

Rankings:
1. Honda
2. Suzuki
3. Kawasaki
4. KTM
5. Yamaha

The 2008 YZ250F and 450F are once again available in white or blue.

Dan Stenning
5’8” 150 lbs
Junior


Kawasaki KX250F:
The new KX250F was a blast to ride!  I was impressed by how I could just get on the bike, twist the throttle and ride confidently right from the get-go.  The bike was easy to put into a corner due to its light handling, but I did found myself worried that I was going to wash out on occassion.  Exiting the corner, it had tons of power and it really put the power to the ground effectively. 

For a junior-level rider this is a great race ready bike. Cosmetically, the bike looks great with its anodized black rims, triple clamps, front and rear hubs, cauliflower brake discs, and black engine covers, all add to the bike’s bling.


Yamaha YZ250F:
As soon as I got out onto the track on the YZ250F, I noticed how wide it feels when your legs get up near the radiators.  It’s not an uncomfortable feel; it was just different than all of the other bikes.  This bike also felt like it didn’t have a lot of punch coming from the motor.  It does not feel like the YZFs from the past. On that note I noticed how much quieter the YZ was from all the other bikes, so the lack of power could be coming from the new muffler which is designed to help keep the dBs down. 

Once I got used to the power delivery, I just made sure I kept up my momentum up through the corners to help keep my speed (or lack there of) up.  I found the bike turned well and had excellent traction even in the slicker spots on the track.  The suspension felt the plushest of the smaller bore bikes.  I think a little money spent on an exhaust and possibly some light engine work would make this bike great.  As for the look, I am not a big fan of the white (maybe I'm too young to rememebr Hakan Carlquist) but luckily that is not the only colour this bike comes in.  Personally, I love the Yamaha blue.  The YZ250F also has black engine covers and cauliflower brake discs to add to the “sexy time” appeal.  It comes with ProTaper Fat Bars which is a plus if you tip over a lot, and the fact that you don’t have to buy a triple clamp right away if you prefer Fat Bars is also a plus.

RXC photographer Dan Stenning finally had the chance to be on the other side of the lens.

KTM 250 SX-F:
The KTM had a completely different feel than all the other bikes.  The saddle position felt very flat from front to back, and it seemed to sit higher than the other bikes.  I could almost slide too easily from the back of the seat to the front, and I wonder if that would cause me to slide backwards when I was accelerating.  I had no issues with it on this ride, though.  

The front end felt low and I found myself hunched over while sitting forward through the corners.  This could be from the bend of the bars, or possibly the flatter, higher saddle.  Overall, the bike turned well, pulled great, and was very smooth.  I love the look of the KTM.  The bike comes with graphics that are sealed in the plastic, similar to clear-coating over stickers in custom paintjobs, so there is no torn off areas from wear.  I love black, and with the rims, the frame, the exhaust, the upper fork tubes, and the valve cover all black, the orange really stands out.  It is a wonderful package to look at, and the only draw back of that is I would not want to race it for fear of ruining the beauty of the 250 SX-F.


Suzuki RM-Z250:
The RM-Z250 was a comfortable bike to ride.  Right away, I noticed that the pegs felt smaller than the some of the other bikes.  It was almost as though they were tilted back a little and I was standing on the one edge.

The suspension was a strong point on the RM-Z.  It felt very good over the smaller bumps and the larger ones did not feel as harsh as some of the other bikes.  The turning was a little on the twitchy side for me.  I found myself fighting to get the bike to lean over on the flat corners.  I did get a feel for how you had to make the bike lean, but it was an ongoing battle for most of the ride.  Appearance wise, the RM-Z is just a so-so looking bike.  It could take a cue from its competitors and use some colour on the rims, hubs or triple clamps to spice things up.  I am very esthetically conscience and want a bike that looks good.  In the RM-Z’s case, it performs better than it looks. 


Honda CRF250R:
I had a great time on this bike.  It was easy to ride and confidence inspiring.  The biggest change that everyone wants to know about is the new steering damper.  I didn’t really notice it much and that is probably a good thing.  They have designed it well enough that you don’t even know its there, but you know it helps.

Nothing felt out of place.  The bars were right, the suspension felt good and the tires hooked up great.   It was not the lightest feeling bike but it was no brick either; I was able to flick it around the track at will.  Cosmetically, though, this bike does look the lightest.  The motor didn’t have the punch that one or two of the other bikes had, but it still pulled me through any turn and up any hill that I pointed it at. 

Rankings:
1. Kawasaki
2. Honda
3. KTM
4. Suzuki
5. Yamaha

The 2008 Honda CRF250 is a tough bike to beat, thanks to superb handling, a strong motor, and quality construction.

Dave Hind
6’2” 185 lbs
Intermediate

Yamaha YZ250F:
I loved the motor on the new Yamaha; it has great roll on power. The bike felt balanced, other than the twitchy front end.  With a few front end/fork adjustments this bike could be top at the of its class. It was best looking bike at the shootout, in my opinion. The Yamaha is the lightest feeling 250; it was flickable and responsive in the air.
 
Honda CRF250R:
The Honda is the most stable feeling 250F I've ridden. The front end builds confidence in all types of corners (flat, rutted, tight or sweeping). It has okay bottom end power, but really comes alive from the mid to top end. For a stock bike, the CRF sure likes to rev. In Honda fashion, the 250 has perfect controls, handlebars, and strong brakes with a great feel. “Magic” some would say when discussing the CRF250.
 
Suzuki RM-Z250:
The RM-Z250 has great all round power and it's one of the best turning 250F's. Even though the Suzuki is agile, it doesn't give up any stability. It felt solid and responsive in all conditions. The forks worked better than any of the other 250s, with great action and plush feel. It's just an overall fun bike to ride.

Dave Hind's confidence grew as he rode the CRF250.

Kawasaki KX250F:
The Kawi is hands down the best motor and suspension combo in the pack. I felt comfortable after the first lap on this bike.  The suspension felt balanced and it never kicked or felt twitchy on any part of the track. I really could not find anything to complain about on this bike.  A clear class winner!

KTM 250 SX-F:
This was my first time riding a KTM 250 SX-F,  and it didn’t disappoint. This bike has a huge amount of overrev with smooth power delivery throughout. It has a fast and very strong motor!  Lots of trick parts too: bars, rims, hubs, triple clamps, grips, and levers.  My only complaint  was this bike didn’t feel as balanced as the other 250F's. It's tough to rate these bikes, as all of them have their own characteristics and it really comes down to rider preference.

Rankings:
1. Kawasaki
2. Honda
3. Suzuki
4. Yamaha
5. KTM

The KTM 250 SX-F is a proven winner after two MX2 East championships with Michael Willard.

 

Rob McCullough
5'9" 185 lbs
Vet Pro
 

Suzuki RM-Z250:
I was pleasantly surprised at the extremely smooth and broad power offered from the 2008 RM-Z.  Although it didn’t hit the hardest of the bikes tested, I felt the power started early and continued to pull strong and cleanly throughout its power band without a hiccup unlike its big brother.  Last year I ranked the Honda first on motor alone but with the subtle changes Suzuki made with respect to carburetion, muffler construction and exhaust porting, the motor felt great.

As everyone knows, Suzuki’s corner great and this model is no exception, regardless of the corner type, the handling was flawless.

The track conditions during our test favoured the softer suspension settings as it was fast with small high speed braking and acceleration bumps which were right up this bike’s alley.  Although the ’08 has new wave rotors, braking was good but surpassed by a few others, most notably the Honda and KTM.  Aesthetic changes include a relocated hot start lever (throttle side) and a projected cross-shaped pattern on the top of seat to provide additional grip under acceleration.

Overall I found this bike is an excellent package that allowed me to ride to the best of my ability for the longest period of time, hence receiving my first place vote. 


Honda CRF250R:
I don’t really have much to say that hasn’t already been said before when it comes to the CRF250R.  Ergonomics, brakes, quality of construction, brutal airbox design and resale value are all Honda trademarks and for ’08 nothing seems to have changed.  With that said, I unfortunately felt Honda, even with revised porting and additional compression, has let the other manufacturers back in the game as I felt the ’08 model we tested wasn’t nearly as dominant as last year’s version.

With the new HPSD, I truthfully didn’t notice the claimed improved turning that is associated with the modification. Although, I do feel the Honda corners very well and is stable at speed. Braking was excellent, with the ’08 now equipped with wave style rotors. Overall the Honda does everything extremely well but on this day I felt the Suzuki was just a little better.


Kawasaki KX250F:
In my opinion the Kawasaki was the loudest, and had the hardest hitting power, all coupled with more vibration than the other brands.  As a matter of fact, I felt that the mid-range hit was so significant that I thought the bike had been modified. Having said that, I don’t think it was any faster than the Honda.  Overall this bike’s power would be best suited to one of Intermediate/Pro ability.

I don’t believe Kawasaki made significant changes to the suspension but since I typically ride a 450, all 250’s feel plush.  Other than the mid-range hit, I found the KXF’s ability to shift under load very much improved over last year’s bike but it’s still not as smooth as the other brands.

Overall this is a strong package but needs a little work to compete with the Suzuki and Honda.


Yamaha YZ250F: 
Every time I ride a newer YZF I’m reminded of a banner I once saw at Ralph Wilson Stadium during a Bill’s game that read: “Hey, Flutie, the 80’s called and they want their haircut back.” Only in this case, it’s the opposite. I truly believe the ’03 YZ250F was a better performing motor than the current models.  Yamaha is just not getting it done in the engine department.  Last year I criticized the clutch as I felt it slipped right out of the crate. For ’08, Yamaha has a new oil passage to optimize the amount of oil supplied to the steel and new friction plates which appeared to be working so far as I didn’t detect any slippage during my ride.

Like the 450F, the 250F felt the lightest of the bikes, has great footpegs and with Yamaha’s “slim line” body components and “flat design” seat I felt the YZF was amongst the easiest bikes to transition on.  Handling and suspension were very good, not really giving away anything to the other OEM’s while I feel stability at speed is Yamaha’s strongest trait.  Too bad the stock motor is so weak otherwise this bike would be a contender. However, it's a good package so motor mods would be well worth the money and effort.

Rob McCullough goes old school on the KTM 250 SX-F. The KTM doesn't have the bottom end punch of the Kawi, but it sure makes up for it with a strong mid and top and it's revs out further than any other 250F.

KTM 250 SX-F:
As much as I hate to do this I have to rate the KTM last due to the vague feeling the bike gave me during my ride.  I know I’m going to get ripped for this, but ergonomically this bike just feels cramped and foreign to me. Unlike the 450 which makes excellent power not requiring constant clutch use, the 250’s power was somewhat bland compared to the Honda and Kawasaki forcing the use of the hydraulic clutch which I’m not a fan of. 

Handling was decent while the suspension felt unbalanced (forks that dive entering corners and a rigid rear end),  I’m certain we could have improved the stock settings, but we did not have ample time to fully explore settings.

As with the 450, I found the smaller KTM to have the best front brake we tested and with respect to maintenance and components, KTM leads the way in ease and quality.  Overall, as I said earlier, I just couldn’t get totally comfortable and with more time the results might have been different.

Rankings:
Suzuki
Honda
Kawasaki
Yamaha
KTM

 

Jason T. Griffiths
5’9” 160 lbs
Vet Junior


Yamaha YZ250F:
I enjoyed the rigidity and stability of the Yamaha. The suspension is well balanced, and the bike stood up nicely coming out of corners. I found the motor to have good bottom end, but it lacked the overrev found on the Honda, Kawi and KTM. There weren’t any bogs or hesitation with the motor, however, so it was easy to ride.


Suzuki RM-Z250:
It took me a little time to get comfortable on the Suzuki, mainly because of the soft suspension. But when the power came on, I really started to like this bike. The bike didn’t wow me in any areas, but the power delivery was really easy to manage.    

JTG's demonstrates the push-away technique on the YZ250F.  He found the Yamaha to have good bottom end power and excellent stability around the corners.

 

Honda CRF250R:
The first thing I noticed with the Honda was how narrow and slim it felt. The bike feels light and small all over. Next was the incredible power; it was the fastest 250F in the test. It had good mid and kept pulling far into the RPMs. The suspension felt good everywhere, very nimble. Somehow, the CRF made me feel 150 lbs again!


KTM 250 SX-F:
While the KTM doesn’t have hard hit down low, it really comes alive as the RPMs start to climb. The KTM does a great job of getting the power to the ground, as I thought it had better traction than any other bike. It always felt stable, it was easy to move around on, and I really enjoy the hydraulic clutch on the KTMs.


Kawasaki KX250F:
This was the best feeling bike, in my opinion. The suspension was plush, it had strong, smooth power, and it cornered well. The only weak point would be that the seat is too soft.

Rankings:
1. Kawasaki
2. KTM
3. Honda
4. Suzuki
5. Yamaha

FINAL 2008 250 FOUR-STROKE RANKINGS:

1. Kawasaki - 26 points
2. Honda - 24 points
3. Suzuki - 18 points
4. KTM - 12 points
5. Yamaha - 10 points