I'm looking for a new ride

[Shane06]

The whole ease of maintenance thing was the deciding factor I didn't want to be one of the guys selling a late model 4 stroke frame on trade me so sold the 450 and sick to the yz250. I guess it's all personal preference and maintenance budget

[Ayrtonsenna]

So I brought a...Enduro....Injected four stroke...Akro pipe.....arrives on wednesday.....the plot thickens

[pete.ktm]

So I brought a...Enduro....Injected four stroke...Akro pipe.....arrives on wednesday.....the plot thickens

what colour and size?

looking at a ktm 350 exc in TSS over the weekend but then i wondered if i really want to spend $15k + all the other little bits like radiator/handle bar/case guards etc when you can get some pretty well looked after >2011 bikes for $8k.

so i'm still waiting for the new yamaha 250's be get ridden and reviewed and then try and get a ride on a 300 two stroke just to get that out of my system and then i'll get something.

And it might still be the new 350 in TSS coz the AA just sent me some e-mail saying "If you fancy a new car, boat, motorbike, campervan or other vehicle for the summer, we can help you out."

[Jimmy]

try and get a ride on a 300 two stroke just to get that out of my system and then i'll get something.

Pete - you may remember me when we'd ride the Horowhenua events b4 I moved to Ak. I traded the 450 two years ago for a '13 300exc and it has proved itself over and over. More fun than the 450, easier haul out of trouble, tracks superbly, more than enough torque hence the 3 stroker name, and pre mix and oil changes are a breeze. And plenty quick enough too. I've done 100 hours on it now and absolutely no regrets. It's now or never mate!!

[pete.ktm]

Pete - you may remember me when we'd ride the Horowhenua events b4 I moved to Ak. I traded the 450 two years ago for a '13 300exc and it has proved itself over and over.

hey

glad to see you're still riding hard!

yeah, the more i think about it the keener i am on the 300. hopefully the one on trademe in porirua doesn't go before i stop dicking around.

cheers for your input!!

[Ayrtonsenna]

what colour and size?

looking at a ktm 350 exc in TSS over the weekend but then i wondered if i really want to spend $15k + all the other little bits like radiator/handle bar/case guards etc when you can get some pretty well looked after >2011 bikes for $8k.

so i'm still waiting for the new yamaha 250's be get ridden and reviewed and then try and get a ride on a 300 two stroke just to get that out of my system and then i'll get something.

And it might still be the new 350 in TSS coz the AA just sent me some e-mail saying "If you fancy a new car, boat, motorbike, campervan or other vehicle for the summer, we can help you out."

Husaberg....couldn't afford what I really wanted.....have a problem with paying over 10k for a dry bike....its just not right

[Reckless]

Ktm 300exc would be my choice Chris Birch cant be that wrong for that many years and as I understand it its the biggest selling enduro bike??
You can make it deliver power how you like by swapping power valve springs etc.

Mind you Chris Birch is on a 200exc atm finally seen the light LMAO

Anyway god luck with your new ride

[Ayrtonsenna]

Mt Grey this weekend, haven't done this one....looks ok : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3ePCuMla8A

I'm sure the Husabergs going to love it...cant wait ! first time I've had her out..

A

[pete.ktm]

I'm sure the Husabergs going to love it...cant wait ! first time I've had her out..
A

so what model you get?

i'm leaning toward a ktm 300 2 stroke or 2015 yamaha wr250 but need a good ride on a 300 and the reports of the yahama are only just starting to appear.

had another ride in the weekend and the 450exc is a freakin nice bike for just tooling around, let me know if you miss yours after the ride on your new one and maybe i'll just be boring and just get a later model 450.

[Ayrtonsenna]

HI Pete, I brought a 2014 Fe250...haven't really had the chance to take it out...crazy busy at work. Its going to be interesting alright....looking forward to playing with the map switch. I'll probably make a vid- think its the last organised ride of the year!

Appreciate everyones input....funny when I think about it....everyone said don't buy a 450......and I brought one....don't buy a FE250...and I did...slow learner?

A

[pete.ktm]

HI Pete, I brought a 2014 Fe250...A

excellent, would be really interested to hear what you think about it compared to the 450, power and ride-ability wise.

and pretty sweet looking bike, good choice!

.everyone said don't buy a 450......and I brought one....don't buy a FE250...and I did...slow learner?

hey what are the odds of being wrong twice? lol.

[Ayrtonsenna]

I must admit was a little apprehensive, had I made the right decision, watching the 450 get loaded up on someone else’s trailer and driven away was hard.

The 450 was a monster, a super charged tractor, which needed respect, it could easily lead you astray like an x girl friend, she was hard work but a lot of fun.

One thing to remember, anyone can go fast…its just a matter of turning the right wrist….yes it takes balls but there’s not a lot of skill in that…..I figure you need to learn to how to ride slow to go fast.

Right then……KTM 450 08 v Husaberg FE250 14

Gearbox:
First thing I noticed, was the amount of gear changes……I’d leave the 450 in 2-3 gear- that pretty much covered a lot of the obstacles encounted , slipping the clutch as I pointed her in the general direction. The FE requires more attention, changing up and down, keeping her in that sweet spot, I felt more engaged…and in control, ensuring the bike was balanced, and not laboured.

Brakes:
Rear felt non-existent, and the front felt vague. I had a play with the brake bias…and have decided to try some different pads. The 450 was very strong in the front, with an adequate rear, more than enough to pull Boris into line.

Power:
Deciding to run the stock map on the first lap, I was tempted to have a fairly relaxed loop…….wrong…….red mist…..first open section I came to…..I nailed it…..listening to the Akro pipe sing…while I snapped through the gearbox…..and ladies, I was very surprised…there would only be a few bike lengths in it agents a 450 I’m sure of it….dam.
Second lap…I ran the Mild map…thinking would I notice a difference?…..yes the bike became very crisp…and sharp, almost like a SX….this made the bike feel more assertive and switchy….
I had hoped to try the “wild” over the third lap, but starting falling behind the bike, and decided to leave it.

As noted above I felt myself constantly changing gear on the FE running quickly out of power, where the 450 would keep accelerating.
Boris never really minded what gear you were in…..in some ways, it may have made me become lazy, stalling the FE several times.

450 going warp fact 9 was a thing of beauty…..I’d think to myself- shit if I step off now I’m gone…yet…you’d still be holding her wide open…almost in a trance.

Weight:
There’s not a lot of difference between the two…with the 450 being another 9Kg heaver……the FE felt a little light in the front….a little nervous at high speed, but around the tight stuff it felt precise.
The 450 always felt planted….solid….but heavy.

Suspension:
Loved the 450 front end….would soak up anything….yet hard enough. FE has had suspension work done by the previous owner, its currently set for a 75-85Kg pilot - I’m currently 87Kg (Chocolate bars..mmmm) it felt very soft….I need to have a play…set the sag etc before really making a comment…early days..


So……to be honest I’m a little surprised….it wasn’t really the bike I was expecting….I had this perception, that reliving myself of the 450 would lead to early nights and hot chocolate. I was wrong.

Bring on 2015!


Ants

[pete.ktm]

cheers for the report, you write ride reviews just like my mate morgan, lol.

sounds similar to other guys experiences i've read of going from a 450 to a 250. a lot more gear changes

did you do any tight/forest stuff? could you feel the 250 being easier to change direction through the trees?

like you my 450's front end feels so good, a lot of other bikes i've tried have very loose feeling front ends and i hate them (but maybe could probably get used to it or change the fork height/install stabiliser or something) but i'll be trying to get a decent ride on a model before i get it. but not always easy to do.

interested to see what you think after a couple more rides.

[pete.ktm]

Pete - you may remember me when we'd ride the Horowhenua events b4 I moved to Ak. I traded the 450 two years ago for a '13 300exc and it has proved itself over and over. More fun than the 450, easier haul out of trouble, tracks superbly, more than enough torque hence the 3 stroker name, and pre mix and oil changes are a breeze. And plenty quick enough too. I've done 100 hours on it now and absolutely no regrets. It's now or never mate!!

ha ha you are right!

picked up a '11 300exc locally just before xmas and had a first proper ride on it today at one of the HMCC rides.

pretty awesome little bike, sooo light compared to the 450 and so fun when the power hits.

Did a quick swap with Colins WR450 and man that felt like a big heavy couch after the 300 (although it does have very nice suspension).

Cheers