We tested six of the current models in the 250 class with the collaboration of several experienced national riders. An event from which we were able to draw many conclusions in a category in which the brands offer their customers more and more complete and competitive models.
The brands chosen were KTM, GasGas, Triumph, Yamaha, Fantic and Honda. And as for the riders, we had the luxury of being able to share our opinions with names like Joan Cros, Nil Arcarons, Daniela Guillén, Carlos Prat, Biel Piera and Jordi Gaya.
The tests were realized at La Farm track, located at Bellcaide D´Urgel, Lleida, Spain.
TRIUMPH TF 250-X
The Triumph TF250-X does not give the impression of being a model with little experience in the cross sector. Other more experienced brands have done much worse with their first-year launches. Triumph has been smart. Not only did they hire an incredibly talented group of engineers, consultants and test riders, but instead of trying to start from scratch, they drew heavily from the KTM and Japanese brands. The TF250-X’s engine is strong, agile and exciting. It’s not the most powerful bike on the dyno, but on the track it offers respectable power, with a linear pull and a nice sound. It feels light and agile on the track, that’s because it’s the lightest bike in its class at 100 kg.
In terms of ergonomics, it is very similar to KTM models, as it is easy to hold with the knees. With top quality components, Triumph didn’t skimp on details. We liked its DID rims, Brembo brakes, Brembo hydraulic clutch or ProTaper handlebars. A unique aluminum frame is mounted which, in combination with KYB suspension – including 1.9″ (48 mm) AOS spring forks and a three-way spring rear shock – gives this model exceptional handling and cornering stability, being together with the Honda the most elastic in cornering.
Perhaps the most negative note of the Triumph is the gear shift, since you have to be playing a lot with the gearbox to make the bike work optimally in low and medium. On the electronics side, we didn’t like the Quick Shift mode either because of some irregularities in the operation.
HONDA CRF 250
Honda sigue fiel a su filosofía con los modelos CRF, que no destacan por su par motor pero hacen las mil delicias con su conjunto de chasis y suspensiones Showa.
The overall feeling for our participants was of being constantly glued to the ground and of making it much easier to pass through the curves with ruts.
For this 2025, Honda set out to build a more comfortable and docile chassis, with the same geometry as before but with 70 percent new components to modify the riding characteristics. In addition, in the suspension section, the fork has new valves, but there are also many component changes, as is the case with the springs. A new flex control valve inspired by the Showa A-kit forks is also incorporated. In addition, new oil and seals complement the components. The rear shock receives a new spring, reservoir, axle and oil seal for a consistent ride feel to complement the frame and fork changes. Interestingly, the CRF is very stable on the ground, but somewhat more difficult to handle in the air compared to the KTM or Triumph.
In terms of engine power delivery, the CRF 2025 250 is only slightly stronger than the CRF 2024 250, which is still not enough to keep up with the others. If we’re looking for the best bikes to recommend for racing, the Honda rides easily, but struggles to keep up with the Yamaha, KTM, Husky or GasGas due to its soft powerband. We weren’t too convinced by either the cable clutch or the CRF250’s rough-sounding muffler.
KTM SX-F 250
The SX-F perhaps deserves the award for the most balanced engine in terms of power, although the Austrian bikes are curious, because there is a percentage of riders who really like the performance of its frame and WP suspensions, while others, on the other hand, do not adapt easily. From our extensive experience as testers, we believe that the chassis of the Pierer Mobility group bikes (KTM and GasGas) are really competitive, but they need more hours of adaptation and a very good tuning of the suspension set-up for us to really feel their potential. The chassis and swingarm maintain the same geometry as before, but materials have been removed to create a smoother feel on the track. In addition, the suspension settings have been updated to work with the new chassis and the shock has new low-grip seals.
New for 2025, the forged shock tower has two large holes (one on each side) milled to improve its flexibility. The thick forged steel plates that were welded to the top of the frame spine and wrapped around the steerer tube were made thinner in the 2025 frame to allow for greater flex.
La KTM destaca por encima de las GasGas debido al diseño del bastidor auxiliar. Permite un área abierta debajo del asiento, lo que mejora el flujo de aire hacia la entrada y proporciona una respuesta del acelerador más emocionante. También tiene configuraciones de suspensión más competitivas que se adaptan a la mayor parte de los pilotos. Quizá la nota más negativa es que hay problemas constantes con los radios que se aflojan durante el período de rodaje del motor. Además, las horquillas de aire WP XACT pueden ser delicadas, lo que requiere controles regulares de la presión de aire al comienzo de cada recorrido y durante el día, especialmente en condiciones más cálidas.
YAMAHA YZ 250F
Both in Europe and America, the official teams are working with the YZ 250F with very good sensations, leaving good flashes of speed and winning character, an assured marketing plan for the brand.
The Yamaha YZ 250F has the most explosive engine in the class. It’s loud and has plenty of torque. The rev limiter kicks in quickly, making you feel like you’re going fast on the track. Last year, it was completely redesigned, incorporating all the chassis improvements inherited from the YZ 450F. For 2025, the YZ 250F has received new suspension settings, the updated forks don’t sag as easily as they did last year going into corners, and the bike feels more competitive. In fact, what our guest riders liked most about this model was the suspension travel and its mid-range power. Yamaha’s free Power Tuner smartphone app still offers an impressive range of customization for riders who want to increase or decrease engine braking and throttle response.
When you ride it, the YZ 250F seduces you with the roar of its engine, giving you the feeling that you are an aggressive rider and that you are pushing hard on the throttle. But let’s not kid ourselves: it’s true that it has a competent engine, but it’s a bit harder to go fast on the YZ 250F than on the KTM or the GasGas, because you have to be lightning fast with your left foot to make sure you grab the next gear at the right time. Even so, the YZ 250F is one of the most liked in the comparison, because it is also agile and fun on much of the course.
It should be noted that, exclusively for this test, an Akrapovic silencer was fitted, which contributed to a slight improvement in engine response. In addition, as mentioned above, in this comparison the Yamaha is, together with the Fantic, the only stock bike that would pass the new FIM regulations.
GASGAS MC 250F
As a sister to the KTM, the MC 250F has much in common with the SXF, and is also offered at a more affordable price: it sells for about 1,300€ less than the KTM.
The former Spanish brand was acquired by Pierer Mobility Group and began sharing a platform with KTM in 2021. That year, the MC 250F got the same updated chassis as the KTM, with a shortened shock turret, thinner-walled chrome steel tube thicknesses and new shock linkage. The MC 250F benefits from a class-leading chrome-plated steel chassis, a powerful high-revving engine and the highest quality clutch with a CNC-machined steel basket and the primary gear integrated into the rear of the basket. The GasGas is equipped with the same engine, chassis, subframe, swingarm, braided steel hoses, Pankl transmission and new stock tie rods as its orange and white relatives. However, GasGas maintains its own identity with some modifications adopted to help reduce price and fine-tune power and handling, giving it a unique character with a smoother suspension valve timing than the KTM.
Although the GasGas MC 250F is less responsive and not as fast as the KTM, it is still a machine that impresses with its potential, being as fast as a KTM after a few simple modifications. In this regard, it is worth noting that, for this occasion, the control unit was modified, so we perceive a richer motor response. Regarding the WP suspension, there were very different opinions, especially from riders who are used to riding Japanese bikes, who found it more difficult to adapt to the two Pierer Mobility group bikes.
FANTIC XXF 250
The new Fantic model, with a quite ‘racing’ character, was generally liked by most of the riders. In the engine section, the sensations were of low inertia, being able to let it run efficiently in the curves, as well as offering the feeling of being glued to the ground.
Compared to the similar characteristics of the Yamaha, the XXF is more aggressive at the first touch of the throttle compared to the YZ. More minutes of adaptation are needed to understand it and to know its strengths. It’s not a bike that seduces you just to get on the track like the Honda would, but as you ride it, you get used to it and end up being able to turn fast and get the most out of the fun engine. This new engine has a really distinctive solution in the market: the inverted cylinder head, for a direct, short and efficient front intake line. In this way, mass centralization is maximized for the benefit of agility and maneuverability.
The new exhaust with titanium pipe ensures linear delivery, high torque and high-speed supercharging. There are three maps, all customizable via the WiGET app, and a new electronics package with a handlebar-mounted map selector. Traction and Launch Control come standard, and everything is always under control thanks to the new handlebar-mounted multiswitch for changing mapping and traction level with a single click.
We feel that it is not as agile as the KTM, the GasGas or the Triumph, especially in jumps, where it is a bit stiffer in the front. The XXF 250’s chassis is all-new. It has a redesigned aluminum frame that in principle should be lighter and more agile than last season’s, but it is still somewhat behind its competitors. The new Kayaba suspension features an SSS (Speed Sensitive System) fork that can now be adjusted without tools thanks to a butterfly system on the stem head. We were surprised by the potential of the new Fantic which, with few adjustments, offers a competent race bike.
