KTM Ride Day

[takitimu]

Hi,

It sounds like there are a few people who've ridden these & figured might not be a bad idea to pool thoughts. Here's mine.

I rode Convict/Criminal

350 XC-F - Fast, really fast & torquey, but felt a bit heavy, I never got to wind it out, it didn't feel much different to the EXC350 ( less bark that an EXC350 with full FMF exhaust ).
250 XC-F - The motor is really different to the '12, the midrange punch is gone, again I never got to wind it out, but you'd have to ride it higher in the revs compared to the '12, still nice & torquey though ( not to sure how much diff the heavier flywheel makes ).
All up not alot of diff to the '12 250 sxf/'12 350 EXC, maybe a bit easier to move around on & better bottoming resistance, I still dislike the MX51 front & wish they'd swap it for the 31 for NZ.
I still don't quite understand how a stiffer front mudguard will not accumulate as much mud, but it's the ultimate fire extinguisher holder.

350 Freeride - Seriously cool little bike, really light ( even the battery is down low ), very torquey, but very mild.

Was fun to ride the new bikes.

[peadub]

Did you get to ride the 450XCF?

[pete.ktm]

yeah hope more people offer their impressions of the different models. gotta wait till late sept for the wgtn demo day.

last year a couple of us came away with the feeling that the 450 was still the best compromise for us, the 250 and 350 were nice and light and good if you want to hit the gear lever every 30 seconds but the 450's power everywhere was nicer to ride for us trail riders.

[takitimu]

Did you get to ride the 450XCF?

Not me, to much bike for me, heck I think the 350 is to much. After going back to my '12 though I missed the '13, it was a mistake to not ride them back to back.

The one thing I'd love to know is if the '13s boil like the '12 models, mate got a '13 EXC350 so that didn't give any clues away ( yeah it boiled, but it's a '12 with a few tweaks ).