By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supermoto vs Enduro
Yamaha WR 250X (MY2012) vs KTM 250 EXC (MY2017)
Yamaha WR 250X vs KTM 250 EXC: where they split, and which one to buy.
You'll feel the Yamaha WR 250X flick into a bend the moment you lean on the bars. The KTM 250 EXC spends that turn-in with its two-stroke winding up for what's next. Its top end then goes off like a lit fuse.
So which one do you buy?
The WR 250X has the edge if…
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Edges it: WR 250X
For a learner on a small bike, the WR 250X is a touch easier to get along with. Thank easier controls and more comfort for that.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Narrow edge: WR 250X
The WR 250X nudges ahead once the pavement starts to wiggle. Most of that is more feel through the bars. Don't expect a night-and-day difference.
Which one's the smarter buy
Two different jobs
They sit in different classes, so the money question is a trade-off. Neither is the obvious better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
WR 250X
The WR 250X darts from apex to apex on tight roads, its steel frame and street rubber switching sides in a blink. The throttle wakes a fuel-injected single from Yamaha's motocross line, and there's only modest power behind each twist. On the Angeles Crest Highway, it's the light weight that keeps every hairpin playful. Serviced well, its gearbox keeps clicking.
250 EXC
The 250 EXC threads narrow singletrack on a slim body that slips through the tightest gaps. Its WP suspension keeps the chassis planted over broken ground. Behind the lever sit Brembo brakes, and there isn't much weight for them to haul down. Up top, its engine rips.
Nils rode the 250 EXC in 2016 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The WR 250X has the lower seat: 35.2 in (894 mm) vs 37.8 in (960 mm).
- The 250 EXC makes more peak power: 45 hp (33 kW) vs 31 hp (23 kW).
- The 250 EXC makes more peak torque: 27 lb-ft (37 Nm) vs 17 lb-ft (24 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Keeping running costs low
Off its turf: WR 250X
No running-cost verdict for the WR 250X. It doesn't fit this comparison.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
WR 250X
What owners say
Strengths
- Excellent reliability when maintained
- Lightweight and agile handling
250 EXC
What owners say
Strengths
- Explosive top-end power
What they cost used
These prices compare a 9-year-old WR 250X with a 9-year-old 250 EXC.
- WR 250X
- about $4,400
- 250 EXC
- about $7,300
At nine years old, the Yamaha WR 250X sits around $4,400 while the KTM 250 EXC runs about $7,300. That's a $2,900 gap in the US market. These are estimates from earlier records, not live listings.
What they share
- Engine
- Single-cylinder
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
Where the spec sheets split
| WR 250X | 250 EXC | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 35.2 in (894 mm) | 37.8 in (960 mm) |
| WR 250X | 250 EXC | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 250 cc | 249 cc |
| Power | 31 hp (23 kW) | 45 hp (33 kW) |
| Torque | 17 lb-ft (24 Nm) | 27 lb-ft (37 Nm) |
| WR 250X | 250 EXC | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 2.0 US gal (7.6 L) | 2.5 US gal (9.5 L) |
| WR 250X | 250 EXC | |
|---|---|---|
| Front tire | 110/70-17 | 90/90-21 |
| Rear tire | 140/70-17 | 140/80-18 |
| Ground clearance | 10.2 in (260 mm) | 14.6 in (370 mm) |
| Front travel | 10.6 in (269 mm) | 11.8 in (300 mm) |
| Rear travel | 10.4 in (264 mm) | 12.2 in (310 mm) |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
