[kendunn]

I ride an 06 DE300. My son has an 03 EC250, the 250 feels totally different than my 300. If you are a roost/full lock up/roost and repeat rider the 250 might be better. The 300 is a lot easier to ride slow, but still will rock and roll when needed. The set up I am riding now is the 300 with a trials tire. Its funny, I am riding now with a guy on a KTM 450EXC w/ knobbie, races GNCC, and he takes off like a bat outa hell, ripping and tearing, and here I come "ping....ping.....ping" but totally in control. He looks worlds faster, until he is picking his bike up dragging it back up the hill and I have to stop and wait on him. I am old enough to be his dad, BTW.

There is this one little off camber hill that seems like I am the only one that can get up. I can't even ride my sons 250 up it, it spins out. I took my KTM friend over it last weekend and I looked back and he was pushing his up it. I just creep up it, barley fast enough to keep from stalling, and it goes right on every time. He has commented how he can't believe how I can lug the bike down to nothing and keep on going, where we ride (rough single track that is just ridden by a couple of people) that can be a huge advantage. I swear I have heard the 300 go totally silent before and then it take right back off going UP a nasty rutted and rocky hill.

Bottom line, if the trails you ride keep you in 3rd and 4th gear, get the 250. If you ride in 1st and 2nd, get the 300. If you ride in 5th and 6th get an XR650R!!!!