2023 KTM 300 SX VS 350 SX-F VS 450 SX-F | 2 Stroke Versus 4 Stroke | Laptimes and Comparison 

All 2 stroke fans know that a 300cc with modern technology is the ultimate dirt bike

I love seeing these direct comparisons! It makes sense that the faster rider was faster on the 2t for sure. It also makes sense that the "one per month" rider was fastest on the 350. It might even boil down to physical fitness, realistically. Awesome video though!

I picked up a 300 SX this month. I have one track day on it and it's insane. Great power. Amazing handling. Easiest to ride bike I've ever ridden. Coming off of a 2007 YZ250 that I have a lot of parts in and time on. If you're on the fence about getting a 300 SX, do it!

They should allow the 300 to race 450SX and MX

It won't change, but I really think the sport would benefit from a reduction in displacement and the elimination of restrictions between a 2-stroke and a 4-stroke. Meaning the displacement limit is set regardless of the amount of strokes. I also think a 200 cc cap in the small class, and a 350 cc limit in the big class would be optimum. It would be better for amateurs as well as the pros.

Damn the sound of that 2-stroke ripping brings back a lot of awesome memories! ✊

This is going to help me a lot on the showroom floor because I feel like so many people overthink it. All great bikes different personalities all fun. As always Michael thank you for filming things like this

Keep these up! Only thing I would like to see is just a few more testers...both those testers can ride a bike very well. I'd like to see some slow vet dudes like myself : ) Thank you for these tests!!!

Mike you & the Vital MX Crew do an outstanding job, this was a great comparison! Keep up the awesome work and here's to an amazing 2023!!!

Thanks for doing this test answers a lot of my questions. Awesome.

Awesome video guys. Love how you reference the weekend warriors and racers perspective! Every bike comparison should be doing that. Cheers

Awesome video, great content ML.

Excellent review @vitalmx ! Great to hear from regular to fast riders opinion on the bikes

Great information! Thanks!

Thank you This was great insight 👍

Awesome comparison.

I ordered a 300SX, can't wait for it to get here!

Great job. Do the same test with current factory KTM riders!! The dirt bike world has been injected with fun and tons of videos on the 300 now that KTM has ditched many TPI versions for 2 strokes that are strong powerful again in XC and motocross models. This was a great video to present a more fact based comparison. It was amazing to watch how fast Musquin was at RedBull rhythm on a new current model two stroke. It would be great to see a “hidden lap time” test with the factory KTM riders . Webb, Musquin, Pless…. Add the husky guys too! Toss in a purse of cash, for each model, so they don’t show bias. How far off are they on outdoors versus supercross tracks with a 300 versus 450 and even the 350.

✊✊✊ 250 sx review would be great Can’t wait for mine to arrive

Great comparison, just what I've been waiting to see, honest, straight forward lap time comparisons. Interesting the 300 was fastest, especially on those drier, faster tracks.

About time someone has some accurate data. I had an '09 450 and a '10 yz250 2stroke. I set them up identical. Same grips, levers, bars, seats, pegs, tires, i tooth up on the rear on both bikes sprockets. Same brand chains and sprockets and same air filters. They were interchangable. My laptimes were always within a second. The only things at that time. Which was around '12 when i had both. Was the 2stroke felt a little narrower in the middle. And if i didnt ride for say 6 months. The 450 was easier to get on and get comfortable the quickest. It would take me a day or so to get back up to speed and not be sketchy on the 2stroke. I have a 250 4stroke now (yz250f) and its just like your just there. Its just smooth and no real power to catch you off guard. Its like your just sitting on something and riding. No thrill factor. You can ride all day and never get tired. Its decieving in that i can put in more laps and not even realise i did. But if i had to choose, i would say own all three

Re: 2 stroke MX bikes vs 4 stroke...I grew up racing when the AMA started switching to 4 stroke and they let the 2 strokes run for a while too...But they made the 250 two strokes run in the open class...that should tell you all you need to know.

Can't wait to see a video from the KTM 300 SX vs Beta 300 RX

I got it. My new 300 SX is amazing. But still 3h of use and slow map. I think that the horsepower is similar than my previous 150SX but with more hp and torque in all the powerband. Sometimes the bike feels heavy in slow corners. (85kg vs 99kg) but once you gain speed everything is better. I love it.

I want the 300sx to race the 250cc amateur classes. The 4t guys had the displacement advantage for to long.

Great review I've said for a while now to AMA needs to go with pure displacement or in the short term let the 300 sx and other 300's race with the 450 COME ON MAN!

I raced my Jr years on 2 strokes, the 50cc, 65cc and 85cc. I remember the first time I rode a 4 stroke was a CRF150F and absolutely never looked back. Bought 2 250Fs then turning to the 450f (also 2). All of those bikes blew up, for one reason or another and were extremely expensive to repair. Was about to call it a 'career' and decided to try with 2 strokes again... Riding styles are definitely different and racing results are affected but man, what a joy they are to ride and maintain! Havent had an issue with my 250 2 smoker yet but its still too soon to tell. I would definitely give the 300 a chance over the 4 strokes regardless power outputs and lap times. Unless you are completing against Tomac, I wouldnt buy a 4 stroke! They are too robotic for me now! 2 Strokes are the SH*T!

Dang, the throatti growl of the 300 2stroke is off the hook 💯

Hey I'd love to see a KTM 300 Vs a TM 300 doesn't matter if it's the 2022 TM 300 I don't believe they have changed much

Need a comparison between the Beta Rx300, Tm Racing 300Mx and the Ktm 300Sx

I feel like the Moto crowd is just now finding out about these 300 two strokes. The off-road world has been this way for so many years it’s crazy

Great vid more riders should watch these ,prefer this to the 450 / 250 shootouts etc ,you usually buy the brand you like anyway just shows you all these bikes are in the ball park in terms of overall performance , buy the one that turns your cogs thats why we ride 👍

Great video! Next do 350 ktm vs husky vs gas gas lap comparison.

KTM we still need a 500-cc 2-stroke!!! Bring back that Nostalgia. Let’s get at least 70-hp

I'd love to see a YZF250 with airbox mod & ECU tune Vs a KTM350! These reviews are great by the way. Keep em coming :)

Interesting choice of music

If two-stroke bikes were invented yesterday, people would be raving about how awesome they were. It's only because of the displacement handicap in racing that they fell out of favor.

I would like to see a comparison between a modded 350 and stock 450 keeping total cost in mind for the judging.

300 are too fun! And make great snow bikes too!

2 strokes are fun, if you give it a chance. 4 strokes are fun also, but it isn't the same.

Cool bike. I ride a 1996 KX250 because it is a bottom and mid range beast. I think id really like this 300

GREAT!!!!!!

TBI Two Strokes for the win 🤘

300 for the win ! That bike must be just fantastic. I also love the 350 and wish other brands would try to build one of those.

When your 52, a modern 4-stroke just never felt like the complete package. A four stroke is missing tbe smell/the sound/simple maintenance/rebuild ability. Running to my KTM Dealer to snag the first 2024-300-2smoke🎉🎉🎉❤

The 2 stroke is making a comeback boys

You can tell they're not 2 stroke guys. A simple changing of the pipe and silencer makes a huge difference on how they ride. Pro circuit or bills make pipes that pull to the moon, fmf has the gnarly that pulls hard off the bottom but signs off early, and the fatty that's just a nice boost across the board.

Just picked mine up… what rear sprocket would u guys run on the 300sx? He mentioned hearing. Would you go to 50 or 52 t? Thanx

I think the beta 300 vs KTM would be good content also.

What's the weight difference between the bikes? 2-stroke much lighter?

RIP camera lense @5:42

I would love to see the 300s racing against 450s!!

That 300 is calling me!

Not a ktm fan but awesome they Are beeing the firstmovers on the tbi Leeds Hope yamaha does the same Thing know the fantic is coming with tbi and e start

I'm curious how the 300 can hold up to the 350 and 450 on a mx style start.

So many of the things that ed us to the 4-stroke revolution could have been altered if only the AMA and manufacturers raised displacement of our smokers to 165-175cc for the "125 Class" and 300 cc for the premier class.

Love Vital

Please find away to compare Jamie's Twisted Development yz300 to ktm 300

I would love to ride one of these my yz450f was a beast compared to my old 01 kx 250 built for racing but the way yamaha made them they were too wide in the front and the weight distribution just felt a little off to me I wanted to try a 350 but I heard so many stories of them blowing motors quickly and backed out of buying one

Well this is good news considering I put a deposit on a 350 earlier this week.

🔥

I can't believe Cole was 11 seconds a lap slower than Jacob ! I know Jacob is a National rider and super fast, but Cole can really scoot around the track for a guy that rides once a month . 😵‍💫

Beta 300rx vs KTM 300sx please!

So how would the 300sx do in the woods?

Makes me wonder for the gearing on thr 300, up a tooth in the back to pull corners in 3rd or a tooth down to make it 2nd longer? I got mine a month ago and I've heard the gearing needs changed more then once

4-strokes definitely have a more forgiving power delivery, but it has always bugged me that 4-strokes are allowed ~2x the engine displacement. Of course a 250cc 4-stroke is going to pull away from a 125cc 2-stroke. What I'm curious about is the actual weight and the practical weight of the bikes. 2-strokes were always so much lighter and felt more fun to handle. Have the modern 4-strokes resolved this issue?

What is the msrp between these three?

I’m very very suprised that the 300SX doesn’t make more WHP on the dyno than the 350, 44 is incredibly low for a KTM MX 300 I know dyno’s vary but YZ250’s make 44WHP as well. It’s weird especially because KTM rated it at 54, it’s not losing 10hp to drivetrain loss, also the torque number is absolutely horrendous it’s less than even a MX 2 stroke 250.

Anyway, even you are in 20’s or in 50’s without a minimum phisical training, you are playing with your security and health. I think technical skills are 40% and physical are 60% of your capabilities to ride at least 15 min without unnecessary risks. Such a miss grip your handlebar, or feel difficult to unaccelerate due your arm pump and overall lack of Ressistance and strenght. We know that riding twice a week, coming from zero, can work in approximately one month. Then more or less you begin to feel capable of control your bike and body. Instead of be like a dummy from the second or third track lap. Is really important. Any kind of training works, but the best is the best training: RIDE!

Yah love the new 300 but wish the would of left 2stroke alone as far as kick start an carb! Estart an injection just more problems an $$

The first tester is legit fast! The 300s are great for weekend warriors in off road and slow/difficult terrain too. They don't flame out in the slow stuff, and they don't overheat nearly as easily as a 4 stroke. If ya want to ride 5 Miles of Hell type stuff, a 300XC or XC-W with a fan on it is hard to beat. Riding an old school carb'd '18 300 XC here.

Good point about the RPM more RPM = shit load more $$$$

And that settles it, ditch the 4 strokes and let’s get mixin’ gas and haulin’ ass!!

300sx already on the 450's heels as it is! Imagine with a 350 kit ---- thing will shred 450s.

Another reason why AMA should allow 300 2Ts in the 450 class…

300sx vs 250sx like you said.

i wonder what the 300 will do with: high comp head porting remap aftermarket exhaust ms109. vortex ECU probs unlock another 10hp plus

why its always the same audio issue? you cant hear conversations because of their audio level, sometimes you cant hear them at all, they put the engine sound over the conversations....so hard to leasten..just saying

nothing about the 250sx?

Jacob Hayes is great

The 300 probly had the stock map which signs off early. Put a TSP map in there and.....no brainer.

I was looking at my specs on a 1990 KX125 and it says 38-40hp depending on what you read. Now I was about to head up to KTM and get a 125SX but just read it’s 30-32hp. Something is not right. They would t go backwards in time would they? I’m 230lbs and want a lower powered bike but surely expected to have more HP than my 1990 KX125. I don’t get this at all. Someone educate me please.

Two strokes is a better technology. If we think it was not developed till this 300 infection.. today two strokes would be even faster 👍🔝

Freshly released 300 dyno chart from dirtbikemag show 5 horsepower deficit versus 450 and then 2 ponies less than 350🤓

That was probably the worst music ever for a dirt bike video. It’s like your showing bikes from the Martha Stewart collection

💪✌️😉

Imagine if 2-stroke manufacturers didn't stop developing 2-stroke technology 2 decades ago...

Unless the bike has an auto mixture system, I'm out. I've done my time mixing fuel and oil.

Why would you ride the same lines with the 300? You are a 4stroke rider or a 2stroke ride, 2 different styles

A new 125 VS the old 2001 rm 125

Fastest lap times on the 300 but would not race it competitively???? 🤷🏻‍♂️

So the 450 !

I think if your a 250f guy, just know the 300 might feel like too much power to you.

Sound like the first rider was just getting faster as the day went. Now do yhe bikes in reverse order

450 is just too much if it isn't your job to race....was that way back 2008-20012.....you can make a mistake and recover but maybe wouldn't have even had that mistake on more appropriate bike KTM killed it with 350.....perfect bike really Haven't ridden new 300 Did have KTM 380 back in the day but not even comparable am sure

It's not true 300 they need to add more CC to bike

Jacob seems pretty biased right off the jump so I don't like that analysis. But good video otherwise.

Ktm 300's are blowing up alot. I'd only buy a 2 stroke with a carb until the kinks are worked out.

4 strokes suck