2026 Honda CRF250R vs 2026 KTM 250 SX-F - Spec Comparison
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2026 Honda CRF250R
The 2026 Honda CRF250R is a competition-focused motocross bike engineered for intermediate to advanced amateur riders seeking serious off-road performance. Built around a liquid-cooled 249cc four-stroke with sophisticated fuel injection and a fully adjustable suspension package, it delivers the power delivery and handling precision demanded by competitive weekend warriors. The CRF250R is renowned for its reliability, rideability, and dominance in amateur motocross racing.
2026 KTM 250 SX-F
The KTM 250 SX-F is a lightweight motocross machine designed for intermediate to advanced riders seeking competitive performance on the track. Powered by a potent 250cc four-stroke engine with fuel injection, it delivers sharp throttle response and reliable power delivery. The bike is renowned for its agile handling, nimble acceleration, and class-leading competition credentials in the 250F motocross category.
2026 Honda CRF250R vs 2026 KTM 250 SX-F: the key differences
Both are motocross bikes, so this is a like-for-like choice.
- The 2026 KTM 250 SX-F has 3 Nm more torque (23.7 vs 26.7 Nm).
2026 Honda CRF250R: Built purely for closed-course motocross racing, it excels at jumps, whoops, and hard-charging berm-to-berm riding rather than any form of road use.
2026 KTM 250 SX-F: Built purely for motocross competition and off-road riding, excelling on tracks and rough terrain rather than pavement.
Verdict: Choose the 2026 KTM 250 SX-F if you want more torque. Check the full table below for every figure, and the size comparison for fit.
| Specification | 2026 Honda CRF250R | 2026 KTM 250 SX-F |
|---|---|---|
| Other | ||
| Category | Motocross | Motocross |
| Comments | Torque is a rear-wheel dyno figure. | Connectivity. Torque is a rear-wheel dyno figure. |
| Rake | 27.6º | - |
| Color Options | - | Orange/white/grey/red/yellow |
| Engine | ||
| Capacity: | 249.0 ccm (15.19 cubic inches) | 249.9 ccm (15.25 cubic inches) |
| Engine Type | Single, four-stroke | Single, four-stroke |
| Bore x Stroke | 79.0 x 50.9 mm (3.1 x 2.0 inches) | 81.0 x 48.5 mm (3.2 x 1.9 inches) |
| Compression | 13.9:1 | 14.5:1 |
| Cooling System | Liquid | Liquid |
| Fuel System | Injection | Injection |
| Starting | Electric | Electric |
| Ignition | CDI | Keihin EMS |
| Valves Per Cylinder | 4 | - |
| Performance | ||
| Power | ✓43.0 HP (31.6 kW) | ✓43.0 HP (31.6 kW) |
| Torque | 23.7 Nm (2.4 kgf-m or 17.5 ft.lbs) @ 9800 RPM | ✓26.7 Nm (2.7 kgf-m or 19.7 ft.lbs) @ 9300 RPM |
| Power/Weight Ratio | 0.4249 HP/kg (dry) | 0.4236 HP/kg (dry) |
| Chassis & suspension | ||
| Frame | Aluminium twin tube | Central double-cradle-type 25CrMo4 steel. Aluminum-reinforced polyamide subframe. |
| Front Suspension | 49mm fully adjustable leading-axle inverted telescopic Showa coil-spring fork; 12.2 in. travel | WP XACT-USD (AER), Ø 48 mm |
| Rear Suspension | Pro-Link system; fully adjustable Showa single shock; 12.1 in. travel | WP XACT Monoshock with linkage |
| Front Wheel Travel | 310 mm (12.2 inches) | 310 mm (12.2 inches) |
| Rear Wheel Travel | 307 mm (12.1 inches) | 300 mm (11.8 inches) |
| Rake (fork angle) | 27.6° | 26.1° |
| Trail | 117 mm (4.6 inches) | - |
| Ground Clearance | 330 mm (13.0 inches) | 343 mm (13.5 inches) |
| Transmission | ||
| Gearbox | 5-speed | 5-speed |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Final Drive | Chain | Chain |
| Clutch | Multiplate wet; 9 plates, 5 springs | Wet multi-disc clutch, Brembo hydraulics |
| Brakes & wheels | ||
| Front Brakes | Single 2-piston hydraulic caliper (30mm, 27mm) w/ 260mm petal-style disc | Single disc |
| Front Brakes Diameter | 240 mm (9.4 inches) | - |
| Rear Brakes | Single 1-piston hydraulic caliper w/ 240mm petal-style disc | Single disc |
| Rear Brakes Diameter | 240 mm (9.4 inches) | - |
| Front Tyre | Pirelli Scorpion MX32 80/100-21 w/ tube | 80/100-21 |
| Rear Tyre | Pirelli Scorpion MX32 100/90-19 w/ tube | 110/90-19 |
| Dimensions & weight | ||
| Wheelbase | 1483 mm (58.4 inches) | 1493 mm (58.8 inches) |
| Overall Length | 2182 mm (85.9 inches) | - |
| Overall Width | 828 mm (32.6 inches) | - |
| Overall Height | 1262 mm (49.7 inches) | - |
| Seat Height | ✓955 mm (37.6 inches) | 958 mm (37.7 inches) |
| Dry weight | ✓101.2 kg (223.1 pounds) | 101.5 kg (223.8 pounds) |
| Wet Weight | 106.1 kg (233.9 pounds) | - |
| Fuel Capacity | 6.40 litres (1.69 US gallons) | ✓7.20 litres (1.90 US gallons) |
| Oil capacity | 1.40 litres (1.48 US quarts) | - |
"Best" (✓) reflects that single spec only, not overall suitability - a bike can win on paper and still be the wrong choice for you. Ties are all marked; specs with no clear better/worse direction (e.g. displacement, wheel size) are never marked, only tinted where bikes differ.
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