VOL. 48 ISSUE 23 JULY 19, 2011
when we tested it at slow speeds.
All the same can be said about
the 500. Despite not really being
in its element on the tight trails,
the 500, which I only rode a short
time, still felt remarkably nimble
and light for a big displacement
machine. Technically, it weighs
about two pounds more than the
450, but I couldn't tell the difference.
The 500's motor is surprisingly
smooth and manageable, but it's
still a lot of bike, so it wasn't my
first choice in Wyoming. But in
the open desert or canyons, that
could easily change.
flers. They also have a slightly different fuel tank and airbox.
2012 KTM 250/350 XCF-W
The DOHC cylinder head has
Both the 250 and 350 XCF-Ws new camshafts for improved
are closely related to their XCF low-end torque and has reduced
cousins, but they get the new compression ratio from the SX-F
"W" chassis and suspension – 13.5 to 12.3. There's a new
components. The motors have lighter piston with a reduced
been significantly retuned to be dome, and the crank is heavier
more compliant for enduro use, for smoother power delivery and
and are fitted with front and rear improved traction. Like the bigger
lighting and spark-arrestor muf- four-strokes, the 250/350 XCFs
get the new clutch, and a newly
developed 6-speed gearbox utilizing the same gear ratios as the
250/300 XC-W two-strokes.
The 250/350 (as with all of
the thumpers) has a large-output
196W EFI stator.
Both the 250 and 350 XCFWs are extremely fun to ride, but
require a bit more work if you
want to go fast, especially the
250. The 250 XCF-W likes to be
revved out from turn to turn, and
it's good to keep your finger near
the clutch at all times. For a 250
four-stroke, the "W" pulls pretty
54-63 KTM XCW.indd 63
P63
well off the bottom, but it would
rather be pinned.
The 350, on the other hand,
doesn't pull much harder off the
bottom than the 250 but certainly makes up for it from about
bottom-mid all the way up, and
I mean up. The 350 revs way
out there like the 250, having a
12,000 rpm rev limiter. Overall,
though, the powerband is extremely smooth and very compliant.
Both the 250 and 350 offer a plush ride, and feel light
and nimble on the trail, but the
two-strokes, which are about 10
pounds lighter, still have the edge
in that department.
Of the four-strokes, the 350
would have easily been my first
choice for the enduro – the 250
would have been too much work
having to keep it wrung out all the
time, and the 450 still would've
required too much muscle for
my tastes. The 350, however,
would've been just right.
CN
7/15/11 12:49 PM
