2020 K TM 350 EXC-F VS. 350 XCF -W
COMPARISON
P40
complement the more free-flow-
ing exhaust system.
XCF-W's get competition-level
upgrades in the dual-map switch
and traction control so that you
can manipulate power delivery
in four levels, essentially. These
features are excellent on KTM's
SX-F and XC line of race bikes.
The XCF-W gets Dunlop AT81s
and a skid plate standard.
Our 2020 KTM 350 XCF-W
weighs 248 pounds full of fuel in
completely showroom stock trim.
So, there's a five-pound weight
advantage going to the XCF-W
here head to head.
Power Difference
The total power difference be-
tween an EXC-F and XCF-W is
debated. We're tempted to pull
some dyno runs and check since
we're holding on to the bikes for
a bit, but it doesn't really matter
what the total power output is
when you ride on the trail. Re-
member, this reduction in power
is primarily to reduce noise during
a drive-by test via mapping and a
more restrictive exhaust. So, the
power loss is at the peak of the
curve as the drive-by test is done
at a percentage of rpm based on
peak power rpm. If you lower peak
power, the drive-by rpm lowers.
In our real-world testing, we
found a small but noticeable differ-
ence in back-to-back riding on roll-
on power and overall peppiness.
The XCF-W sounds and feels a
bit more alive than the EXC, but
the overall difference in trail-flow
situations isn't drastic. The muffled
sound of the EXC makes it feel
a little more mellow than it really
is, too. The bottom line, there's
minimal difference on flowing trails
and fun two-track and single-track
between the two bikes.
Visually it's hard to
tell the two apart,
and the same
can be said for
performance.
