What foreign riders will also notice is that the KTM has a little more bite at the tires than they're used to. This even with the stock Bridgestone sand/mud tires that aren't happy when the track turns hard. The traction is great and the overall handling is easily on the light side of the spectrum, making the KTM a cinch to throw around. This while remaining pretty stable at speed. This year the modifications to the fork and its seals and bushings have taken away the spiky or harsh bump feeling that last year's bike gave through the bar. This only helps the traction further and gives riders a lot more confidence in turns.
The aluminum rear shock body saves some weight, but riders should schedule service more frequently than in the past as more oil contamination is going to take place. But the new valving and oil routing seem to have added plushness in the rear without losing any stroke control or causing any more frequent bottoming. The adjustments are now easily noticeable in one- and two-click settings, and even the high-speed adjustment makes pretty significant changes to the ride of the bike. Clicking these adjusters is more like getting the shock valved than just making it stiffer or softer. Faster riders liked a little more (two to three clicks) compression in the rear and an additional one-eighth turn more high-speed compression, as well as a couple of clicks of compression to the fork.
The only complaints we had with the suspension seemed to happen when the track's bumps went from loamy conditions to hard-packed. We feel it was more of a traction issue related to the tires than a shock tuning issue, as clicking the adjusters did little to correct the bike's kick. But compared to last year we're claiming the bike has better turning and a much improved ride. You will notice the newfound plushness.
After a couple of track days we're ready to line this KTM up with the rest of our 250Fs and see which will come out on top. And as always, it seems there's no clear-cut winner in staging. This KTM is polished enough now that it doesn't stand out with some sort of unique performance traits that will polarize our test crew. Orange is good. But is it good enough?
What's Hot
Improved power fills all the gapsPlusher suspension with better damping controlBy Dirt Rider's track record, the most durable 250FQuiet, and it still rips
What's Not
Can be hard starting when new
Pipe burns pant legs
Number plates require custom preprints to look decent
No place to grab to put bike on a stand
Specifications
MSRP: $6698
Claimed dry weight: 216 lb
Actual weight (ready to ride, no gas): 216 lb
Seat height: 37.8 in.
Footpeg height: 17.3 in.
Seat-to-footpeg distance: 20.5 in.