2002 KTM 250 EXC four stroke?

[OreoGaborio]

Been lookin for a woods toy that I can reg & ride on the road occationally (ie, rarely. I've got a street bike as well).

Found a 2002 KTM 250 EXC 4 stroke and might be lookin at it in the near future. Trouble is, I'm not finding a whole lot of info on that particular model. All the 250 EXC info I can dig up is on the 2 stroke version.

So what kina knowledge can you guys impart on me about this particular make/model? It doesn't seem to pop up on any KTM database or parts websites that I can find.

[LukasM]

Except for most engine parts (but cases are the same) it's basically the same bike as the other 00-07 EXC 4 strokes. Look for the 400/450/525 threads on here.

It's a good chassis but a bit gutless with only 250cc. There are 350 big bore kits but then you might as well get a 400 to start with.

[OreoGaborio]

Thanks Lukas! Appreciate the info and will do some research on its bigger brothers.

As much as I would rather have a 400+, this looks like a promising deal, it's pretty close by and I'm not lookin for a woods monster. I had a 03 KX250 a few years back & that was monster enough! I'm just lookin for somethin that a 165lb rider can have some fun on & get back into the sport. Broke my wrist & had to give up the KX cuz it was too harsh & too much work in the woods.


Me thinks the most street riding I'll do is between trails & maybe some short back road trips to see the girlfriend or something.
Hell, maybe I'll throw her on this & see how she takes to it (Don't worry, I'm an MSF RiderCoach!)

[Switchblade315]

i've road one of the newer ones. And I've never heard anyone call one gutless until now. No it's not a 400 or a 525 but it also isn't as heavy. for anyone 200 or less LBS it's one hell of a bike. Get over that and yeah you might want a bigger bike. but truth be told. in the woods it will go just a fast as any of the other bikes.

gutless that's funny right there.

[Navin]

The new ones are rocketships. The RFS 250 is a pooch. I've read the 350cc BB is the nicest RFS combo for woods/trails. It is the full sized XR80 of the KTM world, probably the slowest, least racey bike they have built since the late 1960s.

Might be peftect for the OP though. Like a KDX200 with less power.

[LukasM]

Originally Posted by Switchblade315

i've road one of the newer ones. And I've never heard anyone call one gutless until now. No it's not a 400 or a 525 but it also isn't as heavy. for anyone 200 or less LBS it's one hell of a bike. Get over that and yeah you might want a bigger bike. but truth be told. in the woods it will go just a fast as any of the other bikes.

gutless that's funny right there.

What is "newer"? The OP was asking about the RFS 250. The weight difference to a 400/450/525 is a whopping 2 lbs or so. That doesn't exactly make for a good power to weight ratio....

Yeah if you ride tight woods only it's probably fast enough, but on the street it is indeed gutless.

[tHEtREV]

Originally Posted by Switchblade315

i've road one of the newer ones. And I've never heard anyone call one gutless until now. No it's not a 400 or a 525 but it also isn't as heavy. for anyone 200 or less LBS it's one hell of a bike. Get over that and yeah you might want a bigger bike. but truth be told. in the woods it will go just a fast as any of the other bikes.

gutless that's funny right there.

Completely different bikes.

The first 250 four stroke was just a sleved down 400 (from memory), so it can't be compared to the newer bike that was designed as a 250 from the start.

It was just a stop gap to try to cash in on the 250f market until they could release the serious attempt.

According to a few magazine I read at the time it was a poor performer.

[OreoGaborio]

Pics of the bike below.... So this is an 02 250 exc rfs?

KTM 250R exc-four stroke 2002 - $2300
aprox...3000 miles..garage queen..bought it to ride with my son...she needs to be used..
original plastic and aftermarket black plastic...original seat perfect, also brand new SDG taller saddle..
original rear spring plus aftermarket stifffer spring...I'm 195lbs 5'11"and set up perfect..
still on original rear sproke teeth not even worn...electric + kick start...

School me if you will.... I'm a street & roadracing guy... know very little about KTM's. Only KTM's I've ridden are the RC8 & RC8R

Again, just looking to get back into the sport & lookin for a good deal on something that's good in the woods, preferably 4 stroke & street legal.

[enduro0125]

What LukasM said (and tHEtREV).
The first 250 four strokes were gutless and they couldn't give them away when they were new.

I'd pass and look for a 400 of that year over the 250.
If you want a 250 look for the new design.

[OreoGaborio]

Damn.... Well it's gotta have more nut than a KLX 250, right?

What year did the new design kick in?

Thanks so much for the info so far guys. I may go take a peek for shits & giggles anyway. If it's minty fresh & I can talk him down a bit I may pick it up. Looks like a big bore kit is readily available even though I don't really need a power house. That's what I've got the Tuono for.

Any other info is greatly appreciated.

[Navin]

Thats not a bad deal but if you keep shopping you might find a RFS 400/450 or 520/525 with the same time on it for the same price. Price a 350 BB kit for it and plan on adding it eventually, it is that slow.

[OreoGaborio]

Well, it's a moot point now... seller checked out a bike in Maine and realized how much he loves the 250 so he took it off the market. Damn.

But thanks for all of your help! Hopefully I'll find something else soon.

[jake28]

Oh well, it wasn't meant to be. For your stated purposes, the 400 versino of that bike is great. It is what the 250 wanted to me, basically a 250 in size but with more grunt off of the bottom. Easy to ride, easy to lug around, smooth. You lose a tiny bit of maneuverability over the 250 just due to the long stroke of the motor (ie. more inertia and feels slightly heavier).

Coming from an MX-bred YZ250F, riding the EXC400 was like the tractorish version of the 250. Plow thorugh anything and grin doing it.

[IheartmyNx]

Well if a Ferrari is gutless I guess a KTM 250 can be too...

I mean, if you're comparing it to a farm tractor...

I've seen Dyno's on them over at James Dean and they run up to 13,000 if memory serves me...

They just have NO stroke, or no bore... Gotta be one or the other to be... 250cc's. They turn up like a de-stroked sportscar, all top-end. that's all... Not a "250" thing...


It's a damn BORE Vs. STROKE kinda thing... And ya can't call it a 250 if it's not 250cc... bonk!


I swear I hate this dam "it's a 250" thing...

[enduro0125]

Originally Posted by iheartmynx

i've seen dyno's on them over at james dean and they run up to 13,000 if memory serves me...

.

a 2002?