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Old 02-16-2018, 07:09 PM
AZRickD AZRickD is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,838
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I attended the Phoenix KTM Demo Daze last month (day after the Phoenix Super Cross).

Here is a portion of the review that I wrote on my club forum. I am also making an unfortunately long video of the six bikes I test-rode.

Quote:
Bikes ridden, in order: 250XCF, 300XC-W, 250 XC-W (TPI EFI 2-stroke), 150XC-W, 350XCF, My 2011 Gas Gas EC250R, and lastly, the 250XC.

The test course was on the far-west side of ACP and consisted of a short "desert" section which included about 100 yards of six-inch rutted bumpies to test the initial compliance of the Air Forks of the XC/XCF line and the XPlor of the XC-W line (I did not ride or even see any EXC models being tested -- and I didn't look, since I am not interested in them. I also didn't ride any SX models). After that somewhat rough section we could test the power of the motor through the two deep sand wash *crossings* and some twisty desert sections that began to get silty after an hour. We were told to do the desert loop once and then do three laps on the "MX" course which was very short -- four or five turns. No big jumps other than a half-dozen rolling bumps, and one tiny table top. I didn't time it, but the whole thing 1+3 loop was completed in about 6-minutes, give or take.

A little background. I am going at this in pursuit of a mid-bore 4-stroke for non-crappy trails, racing, and a smidgeon of dual sport. While I rode the 2-strokes, I did so because I wanted to test the XPlor suspension of the XCW line. I also wanted to compare it to my 2011 Gas Gas EC250R.

In short order, what I (re)-discovered was that I feel more at home on a 2-stroke, to a point. Generally speaking, I was able to move them around better and I enjoyed the power delivery in both the XC and the XCW 2-strokes.

To a point. And that point might have been moved, due to my still-healing ribs and my back which is a big mess right now. I didn't throw the bikes around as much as I would have liked.

I know you're wondering about KTM's 2-stroke counter-balancer. Yes, it works. I felt no vibrations through the foot pegs and just a slight tickle on the grips. My Gas Gas doesn't vibrate much, and this iteration of KTM vibrated even less.

The 2-strokes that I felt most comfortable with were the XC-Ws. The XPlor fork and shock soaked up cross-ruts and other bumps like they were floating over them. The power of the XCW 2-strokes were also more to my liking. Yet, although, back a couple of years ago, I loved my demo ride on the 150 XCW, I didn't like it as much this time. And it had mostly to do with the tires. They felt weird in the turns. They were slipping in the silt-ruts and that was tweaking my back with every-other turn. The other bikes had more power and it was easier to get the front-end light. The other KTMs had no issue there.

I also rode the 250XC-W TPI (EFI 2-stroke). That was a fun bike. The power was very linear. No hit. No bog. No burble. It was so linear that I had that typical smooth-power feeling that I wasn't going very fast. And the XPlor suspension was golden for me. I don't think I would be very quick to revalve them. Something about how I ride the XC-W made it feel very good when turning. Maybe the way the XPlor suspension settles in a turn.

The KTM carbed two-strokes (carbed 250XC, 250XCW and 300XCW) where different animals. I rode the 300XC as the second test-ride (right after the 250XCF). The 300XC was a potent rocket. Controllable torque off-bottom that ate up the short sand wash entrances and exits. It didn't come with a map switch, but if I bought a 300XCW or 300XC, I would install a map switch. If I were fresh, I could make use of the power. But just as with my GG 250, I use the rain-map when I start to fatigue. And I think the 300 would take me there... faster.

The Mikuni carbs of both the 2-strokes were jetted to perfection. Great off-idle behavior. Pretty-dang linear all the way on top. I was lifting the front tire off the ground when accelerating around corners. The suspension of the XC AER air forks were firm, yet compliant. Perfect for a mix of MX track and single-track. If I were to buy it, for my mid-pack C speed, I would need them re-valved softer.

The performance of the FI XC-W 2-stroke vs the carbed XC 2-strokes got me curious, so I went straight over to my Gasser to do some A/B comparisons for power, suspension, and handling. The XC 2Ts were rippers. My Gasser would be left behind on a drag race, but I have altered my GG to focus on the lower end of the revs. The 38mm Keihin carb was replaced with a 36mm Lectron. The head was modded for the same purpose. And as it is an "EC250" and not an "XC250" it comes stock with an 18-ounce flywheel weight. I don't know if the ECU is different between the 2011 EC and the XC. It is different for 2018. The seat-of-the-pants measure had the XCs well ahead of both the KTM 250 XCW fuel-injected TPI 2-stroke and my Gasser. And I would put the GG and the TPI about the same. As I expected, the Gasser has more bottom and less top than both the 250 2-strokes. The KTM300XC is in a class by itself.

All of the 2-strokes turned better than the 4-strokes. Even the 300XCW turned better than the 250XCF. I thought the 250XCF might be able to edge it out, but it didn't.

The transmission ratios, shifter, and brakes all felt good. All of the KTMs felt very refined. My Gasser felt a little long in the tooth -- but still functional as a rock bike, should I get a pricey 4-stroke some day.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg KTM Demo Phx 2018.jpg (125.1 KB, 16 views)
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