2018 Can-Am DS 250 vs. Honda TRX250X: By the Numbers

Youth-sized machines are a great way to get kids riding ATVs and experiencing the fun that going off-road has to offer. But, what do you do when the kids outgrow the pint-sized machines, but aren’t quite ready for a full-blown adult ATV? There are several options out there for the teenaged age class and two great options are the 2018 Can-Am DS 250 and Honda RX250X.

Powerplants

With most kid-sized ATVs powered by 50-100cc engines, they get to explore some speed as their skills grow. As they grow into the teenage years, they really start to feel that need – the need for speed. A 250-class machine is perfect for them, as it can last well into adulthood and gives plenty of power for the growing skillset, while offering enough restraint for the parent in you to feel at ease. The 2018 Can-Am DS 250 is powered by a 249.4cc single-cylinder, four-stroke engine. It is fed via a Keihin PTG23 carburetor and directs everything through a simple CVT transmission with forward, neutral and reverse. This keeps everything simple for your rider.

Honda has been producing the TRX250X for a long time. In fact, the first X rolled off the line back in 1987. This machine is considered a full-sized sport ATV, although it falls on the smaller-side of being considered full-size. It is powered by a bulletproof 229cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder four-stroke engine that has a 20mm piston-valve carburetor. It has a manual transmission with five forward speeds and reverse. The X has Honda’s SportClutch system, which acts like a standard manual clutch, but won’t let the X stall out if you happen to miss the clutch when shifting.

Speaking of Shocks

Both machines have a single swingarm and rear shock with a solid rear axle. The 2018 Can-Am DS 250 has a chain drive with sprockets, while the Honda runs a direct driveshaft system for simplicity and less maintenance. The DS has dual A-arms up front with 5.5 inches of wheel travel. The single rear shock offers up 6.7 inches of travel for a smooth ride.

The Honda TRX 250X has dual wishbones up front with 5.9 inches of wheel travel. Out back, there is 5.7 inches of travel from the single shock. The rear brake is a sealed drum while up front dual disc brakes provide stopping power. The DS has disc brakes all around. Both machines have 22-inch tires, with the Honda having aluminum rims to the Can-Am’s steel rims.

Other Considerations

Seat height is almost identical. The Can-Am rides in with 31.5 inches tall to the Honda’s 31.4 inches. Wheelbase is close too, with Honda having 44.3 inches to the Can-Am’s 47 inches. Size-wise these machines are pretty close. Both have electric start and similar price tags. Can-Am has a MSRP of $4,199 for the DS250 compared to Honda’s MSRP of $4,749 for the TRX250X. The DS only comes in Can-AM yellow, where the Honda comes in a bright yellow color and Honda’s sleek red as well.

The 2018 Can-Am DS 250 is classified as a youth model and with that, it carries an age limitation of 14 years and above. This is important if you plan to use the machine on public trails, as many areas require that the rider’s age match the factory recommendations for the machine. Honda classified the TRX250X as an adult-level machine, meaning it carries a tag of 16-years of age and above. Something to keep in mind when doing your shopping. Both are great options for your rider looking for a bigger, more powerful machine to ride the trails with.