2021 250 MX Shootout | PNG Happy Hour
November 19, 2020
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Presented by PNG
Our 2021 250 Motocross Shootout comparison has come to a close, and after our final day of comparison testing at Cahuilla Creek MX Park, our testing staff gathered at Blackmore Ranch in Murietta, California, to relax and do some bench racing about all five of the machines we spent the day riding. While the official shootout results are yet to be determined (lots and lots of data and test rider feedback must be processed), the PNG Happy Hour conversation offers a ton of insight about each of the machines. Which bike will win? Draw your own conclusions and see if you were correct when we drop the official results next week!
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I have the YZ250F, am 50 year old 200lb vet rider and love the low end torque or pull in the lower gears but because I’m not fast the turns I decided to get the 2021 KX450 over what I had been waiting for which was the 2021 KX250 and I do not like it at all. To me my 2019 YZ250F actually feels like it has more low end punch than the new KX450 – at least in second and third and doesn’t bog as bad if going slower through the turns. Since I’m not likely to get as fast as I was 20 years ago coming out of turns I figures the KX450 would pull harder than my YZ250F in 3rd coming out of a turn right into a jump but that’s not the case. I need another bike for my son to ride but being that I ride way more I am more into the dynamics and performance thus will also ride this second (new) bike. With that being said how does the KX250 do vs the YZ250F (realize you guys stated in the video that the 2021 YZ250F lost some of it’s low end pull but does that apply to 3rd which is where I say majority of the time unless needing 4th to hit long bigger jumps) as far as punch coming out of a corner/turn right into a jump? I know the new KX250 has 2 injectors – one closer to the combustion chamber for down low power and one further downstream for high rpm so I’m curious if that helps match the low end pull of the 2019/2020 low end pull of the YZ250F? I also know now that I love the KYB forks much more than the Showa and can’t figure out why the new KX450 uses Showa but the new KX250 uses KYB. Of course I had my suspension changed out on my 2019 YZ250F for my weight and would do the same on the KX250 but yeah, love KYB! So to sum up what I”m after info wise is do you think since I’m used to the low end torque, easy handling and lighter weight of a 250 with KYB suspension should I just stick with the Yamaha or does the KX250 have the same low end torque now in the new 2021? I do know that after one lap on the new 2021 KX450 I thought the bike rode horrible vs my 2019 YZ250F and it wasn’t just because of the suspension but more the fact that it lacked low end pull which is what I need to get my fat (not really I’m in good shape lol) ass over certain jumps coming right out of turns. I guess some of what I’m experiencing and am not used to is that riding a 450 is soooo much different of a feel – even though the bike itself is only about 6 or 7 pounds heavier than the KX250. I prefer the easy light handling or something on the 250 – just seems easy to manage. Thanks for any input or advice and great video!