A Word on How We Test
At Dirt Rider, each new bike model is given at least a solid two days of testing before it goes into lockdown for the shootout. We put five to seven running hours on the machines before the comparisons start. This year, we kicked things off early with a moto trip to the Glen Helen National amateur day races and crossover challenge. This real-world impression proved immensely valuable. Afterward, we had Decal Works spruce the bikes up with complete background and number kits (it even installed them on our plastic...yes!). Day one of heads-up testing was performed at Racetown 395 in the high desert of SoCal, with Kyle Redmond, Chris Dvoracek, Ricky Yorks, Morgan and Cameron Burger, Chris Denison, Kris Keefer, Timmy Weigand, Jesse Ziegler and Michael Willard completing evaluations. We kept the bikes completely stock with slightly used tires and similar hours when they went through our barrage of radar tests. Then the manufacturers gave them a quick oil change, wiped them down for an hour-long photo session and finally turned them over to our testers for an eight-hour beating. At the end of the day, the bikes received fresh oil and breathers. Day two was a week later at the famous Castillo Ranch MX track, where Chris Barrett, Matt Armstrong and Sean Friday joined us. We got to skip the photos, radar runs and maintenance that morning and hit the track at sunrise. The tires were beat so we had Dunlop outfit each ride with identical D756 rear and D745FA front meats. These proved perfect for the deep and heavenly Castillo Ranch course and eliminated any tire induced advantage or disadvantage across the brands. Each bike went through three complete oil changes (the hours clicking away on the motors required the service) and a few air filters depending on how many berms they exploded. Now, they're sitting patiently in the DR headquarters waiting for a race!
Honda CRF250R
MSRP: $6449; Black, $6649
Sound Test: 96.5 db
Seat Height: 37.3 in.
Footpeg Height: 16.5 in.
Weight (ready to ride; no gas): 219 lb
Test Day Weight, Tank Full: 231 lb
Kawasaki KX250F
MSRP: $6099
Sound Test: 95.0 db
Seat Height: 36.9 in.
Footpeg Height: 16.3 in.
Weight (ready to ride; no gas): 220 lb
Test Day Weight, Tank Full: 234 lb
KTM 250 SX-F
MSRP: $6698
Sound Test: 94.0 db
Seat Height: 37.8 in
Footpeg Height: 17.3 in.
Weight (ready to ride; no gas): 216 lb
Test Day Weight, Tank Full: 228 lb
Suzuki RM-Z250
MSRP: $6099
Sound Test: 97.6 db
Seat Height: 37.4 in.
Footpeg Height: 16.7 in.
Weight (ready to ride; no gas): 218 lb
Test Day Weight, Tank Full: 230 lb
Yamaha YZ250F
MSRP: $6249, White $6349
Sound Test: 96.0 db
Seat height: 37.0 in.
Footpeg height: 16.4 in.
Weight (ready to ride; no gas): 217 lb
Test Day Weight, Tank Full: 229 lb