Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127692
:R C S 1995 KTM 250 ElXC A E-TE Tsoften the suspension, ad d a large tank and make all the other changes required to conv ert if for off-roa d . Either wa y, you'll be paying more, and we 'd be willin g to bet yo u wo n' t be any happier. Using a simple process of elimination, KTM litera lly leaves you with no other alternative. . The bulk of the test on ou r E/XC took place at the Ghost Rider National Enduro in Lucerne, California. Though decidedly West Coast in nature, this event included a wide variety of terrain, including high-speed sand whoops and very low-speed single track through rock piles. And the day before the enduro, we rode a 50-mile loop that was about as technical as anything you 'll find this side of a National Trials event. (It included transfer sections from the Trial de Espana.) For variety, we also tried the bike out at Rainbow MX track in Rainbow, California. As might be expected, I was primarily interested in the much-hyped new suspension on the KTM, and I must say, I was quite imp ressed . I've got a fair amount of experience with the '94 Marzocchi Magnum fork, and the '95 is at least as good. The primary difference is in the compression-side cartridge, which is now easier to disassemble. Tolerances are closer as well, and the upper tubes have a better chrome coating and a smoother surface, to extend seal life. Compression damping is handled by the left leg, while the right is in charge of rebound. Both knobs are on top, so adjustment is a breeze. I went one click stiffer on compression, and was completely satisfied. Call me a trend-follow er , but I am completely sold on conventional forks. I'm sure inverted forks have their place, but I think that place is pr obably on the front of a factory supercross bike. For the average every day Joe (or Chris ), the upsid e-up versions are the way to go. By Chris Jonnum Photos by Kinney Jones ow ca n yo u not b uy this motorcycle? Okay, if you're in the market for a touring street bike, the 1995 KTM 250 E/XC m ight not be the perfect choice. But if you're looking for a new enduro mount, there's really no other option. Yes, there are other manufacturers that sell 250cc enduro bikes in the States, but none take the task as seriously as the steadily growing Austrian factory . Suzuki has their tried-and-true RMX250, but while they update their motocrossers every year, their enduro bike hasn't benefited from a single major improvement in several seasons. True, they continue to gamer National off-road titles, but RMXs require extensive engine and suspension modifications to make them competitive at that leveL KTM, on the other hand, sells an enduro bike that is based on their mot ocrosser, and thus boas ts the absolute latest in tech nologic al gadgetry, like a con ven tional Marzocchi Magnu m fork a nd an Ohlins shock. Heck, the Kat oom even has aluminum bars. Sure, the RMX costs $149 less, but the KTM is ready to race out of the crate. Ya m a ha fans w ill point to the WR250, which Fred Andrews has campa igned off-road w ith much succes s. But for enduro use, the WR requires the addition of an odometer and a spa rk arrestor - at the bare minimum. Ideally, the explosive powerband should be smoothed out, and a headlight would also be nice. The E/XC, on the other hand, comes standard with an odo, spark arrestor, working light and a smooth-but-strong power delivery. Consider the Yamaha's cost - w hich is $101 higher than the KTM befor the modifie cations, and the WR jus t doesn't make sense . Of course you could always purchase a Husqvama, CRE, TM or Gas Gas - if you can find a shop to sell you one, tha t is. Or you could buy a motocrosser and Tuning_fo .: . . .: . .=----=------r .ks I _ f you don't know by now that the big news for the '95 KTMs is their conventional Marzocchi Magnum fork, then you must have been living in a cave for the past several months. Of course, if you've been living in that cave for long enough, then you've probably never heard of inverted forks, and are wondering what all the fuss is about. Anyway, here is KTM's lowdown on the new Marzocchi. SPECIFICAnONS Spring Preload sleeve Oil Level 45, 540mrn long lOmm 7.5 cartridge 19Omm,fork &: cartridge compressed SETIlNCS Compression Rebound 11 clicks out 8 clicks out MAINTENANCE Clean dust seals Bleed air Oil/seal change (racing) Oil/seal change (trail riding) Every Every Every Every ride (Raise dust seal and clean underneath) ride (Bike on stand, open air bleed screw) six hours 20 hours