VOLUME 56 ISSUE 49 DECEMBER 10, 2019 P89
it was powerful enough to pull
me out of the corners," said an
intermediate tester. The broad
midrange in particular received a
lot of praise from testers. Unlike
the Kawasaki that will fall off the
pace if it's not in its sweet spot,
the KTM will keep pulling just
about everywhere, building from a
meaty midrange to a stunning top
end, minding its manners all the
way through. "It has very broad
power that thrives up top," our
pro tester commented. "I found
myself not having to shift this bike
as much."
And if you feel the power isn't
quite great enough, there are
multiple ways to tailor the output
to your preference between two
engine maps, two traction control
options (plus off) and even the air-
box side cover (sealed or vented).
The Brembo hydraulic clutch
is another nice complement
to the power, offering smooth,
consistent modulation with a light
pull at the lever. Braking power
is also strong and consistent,
being named the best in class.
The KTM can boast a lot of "best
in class" features as its fit and
finish are unmatched (except, of
course, by its Husqvarna cousin)
with aftermarket-level compo-
nents right down to the ODI grips.
These premium features come
with a price tag to match. At
$9099, the KTM is second only
to the Husky when it comes to the
price tag. But if you're looking for
top-to-bottom quality, you better
be ready to shell out a little extra
for it.
