Personal Bike comparison

[roostafish]

In a few weeks I will have the opportunity to test some KTM's back to back with my Gas Gas. Will be riding a good loop and timing my laps with each machine. Very curios to see the results. It's a challenge to me from the KTM dealer who thinks I'll be faster on a big four stroke. Of course his motive is to put me on a KTM 500 xc w. We will surely see. I'm curious myself and really hope they bring out a 150 xc. Will post findings.

[AZRickD]

Prior to purchasing my used 2005 DE250 at the end of 2007 or so, I test-rode a bunch of bikes. Several KTMs, Yammies, Hondas, Suzukis.

Most of my riding buddies who are on KTMs don't bother to do much test riding. And when they do that, it's usually at some dealer KTM Demo Daze.

In the end, whatever you buy, you can say that you bothered to do some research.

I rode a Beta 350 and a KTM 500 on Memorial Day Weekend. I'm not much of a 4T guy, so my review is biased. The Beta 350 with it's over-stroke motor took some winding out to get into the power. Kind of like a smallish, open-desert motor. But the Beta frame allowed the bike to turn very nicely. I was able to find a small turn course and it did pretty well there. Probably a lot like a Gasser, I suppose if it were saddled with the high-held 4T motor weight.

The KTM500 was a different animal. You could definitely feel a quality improvement over the Beta. I rode it on a short, rocky section of two-track. It is a Man's bike. It had that horse-like, big bike feel of a KX450. A feeling that said to me, "Yeah, you're doing alright in this 10-minute frolic. Check back with me in another half-hour."

[Diggs345]

Dont be suprised to find out your faster on a smaller bike , unless they take you to a deep sand track.

I was quite a bit faster on my ktm125 than i was riding my cr500 hybrid , man that bike would wear you down

[AZRickD]

How fast will you be after a 2-hour enduro?

[bowhunter007]

I definitely look forward to some feedback. Personally, if a 4-stroke could scream like a 2-stroke, I'd own 3. As it is, I own 3 2-strokes, plus my DS.

[john01]

Look forward to your results/impressions.

[Jakobi]

Originally Posted by bowhunter007

I definitely look forward to some feedback. Personally, if a 4-stroke could scream like a 2-stroke, I'd own 3. As it is, I own 3 2-strokes, plus my DS.

Some of those 4T 250F's come pretty close in the screaming department. They just don't make the same power while they do it.

[GMP]

And thats why they can be ridden fast for a long time, despite some being heavier.

[bowhunter007]

Originally Posted by Jakobi

Some of those 4T 250F's come pretty close in the screaming department. They just don't make the same power while they do it.

I started shopping for a 4-stroke 8 months ago. Since then 4 2-strokes have followed me home. I'm down to 3 since I totaled the KTM .

[Jakobi]

Originally Posted by GMP

And thats why they can be ridden fast for a long time, despite some being heavier.

Its true.. Less is often more..