First ride on new bike

[roostafish]

Picked up my new KTM 350 XC-F yesterday. Rode it today for just a short loop. A 10 miler with a mile torture test down a "Carl's Diner" style rock Garden with only a few dirt sections between boulder patches.

I only put gas in and rode it, so just trying to break it in, but I can say that fuel injection is awesome. The linkage rear suspension on the KTM finally fixes the horrible pogo rear end of the PDS system. I didn't even set the sag, just rode it. So far I like it. Very aggressive tuning both engine and suspension and SUPER light feeling. I have no idea what it weighs but it sure feels lighter than my Gas Gas two stroke. It doesn't feel as forgiving as my EC 250, but it will be fun to play onsomething new.

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by roostafish

I only put gas in and rode it, so just trying to break it in, but I can say that fuel injection is awesome. The linkage rear suspension on the KTM finally fixes the horrible pogo rear end of the PDS system. I didn't even set the sag, just rode it. So far I like it. Very aggressive tuning both engine and suspension and SUPER light feeling. I have no idea what it weighs but it sure feels lighter than my Gas Gas two stroke. It doesn't feel as forgiving as my EC 250, but it will be fun to play onsomething new.

Yada, yada, orange Kool-aid, blah, blah

Seriously now, I'm all for new bikes, so good for you. KTM is great at filling niches other manufacturers (including GasGas) can't seem to, or are painfully slow to, exploit. And variety is the spice of life. Let us know how you get on with it.

[GMP]

Good luck Mike, hope it works out for you.

[roostafish]

I hope it works out for me too. I really need to change my game this year, so decided to go four stroke and go with an aggressive bike. I nearly went with the SX but the XC is essentially the same with the mods for off-road already done.

This is all about qualifying for the ISDE which seems to be more difficult as I age.

I am a big Gas Gas fan. Been riding them since 1999. It's time to check out something new for a bit. The big experiment.

The proof is in the stopwatch.

[roostafish]

And one other comment. I did ask if there were going to be any YamaGassers imported to the U.S. before I decided to give the orange Cool Aide a taste.

[nambo-trev]

Hey whatever makes you faster and more confident, it really comes down to that not the color of the bike

[siaknijustin]

My dad has the EXC-F and I can honestly say that if I was interested in a fourstroke, that would be my pick. His has the latest gen of the PDS (not the link) and I think that it along with the entire chassis feels planted, responsive and predictable...I certainly can't say that about some of the older orange bikes.

[Rick]

Roost, congrads on the scoot.....Good luck!

[GMP]

Get a link skid. You actually rode that thing naked through a boulder field?

[roostafish]

Originally Posted by GMP

Get a link skid. You actually rode that thing naked through a boulder field?

I did ride naked. Didn't know what I was getting into. Gguards are on the way. Not too many though. I don't want to add too much weight.
Lots of talk about protecting th e link. Funny, I never even considered it an issue.