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/128163
TS 2""._ Mini 14- Mistel'50+ 11th Bill Maxim Veterans 1nt. 4th Ryan jolulsoll Veterans Pro. 1st jeremy McGrIlth 4th DaviII Barrett 5th Larry Brooks Women Pro. 1st jessica Patterson 4th jusfln Keeney Mini 65cc 4th Blake WIIarton Mini 9-11 4th Blake Wllanon Supermini 3m)Mstin Keeney 4th MitdIeIl Dougherty 5th Ryan vtllopotD Openjr. 2na Paul cortez Open Pro. 3m Richie owens 4th Weigana Seniors Int. 3m Rob HealY seniors Pro. 21f11lJro1nas CIII'SDII 2na jacqueline Hutlson 4th KellY Yancey 5th Aubrlana Dunn Women Pro. 1st Elizabeth Bash OTHG Pro. 1st Steve Lamson 4th BillY FnmJc 5th DaviII BalJett OTHG 38 Pro. 3nl Kevilt FoleY OJHG 38 Expert 211II »uy fa OTHG 38 11ft. 1st Dcwe Feeney OTHG 45 Nt1Vice 5th jim IIane1tber9 OTHG 45 Beginner 1st Don ...".,... HIuItIleston 4th Ridral'tl Kolbet nm The 300 EXC, with Its 2.9-9allon gas tank, odometer and apart< anester, is enduro-ready right out of the crate. Except for the addition of handguards, our 300 competed In two WORCS races, two enduros and was used In a number of trail rides In box-stock condition - and It never missed a beat. light weight and torquey motor (not to mention the easy-to-use kickstarter), I no doubt would've searched out a shortcut back to the pits. And then there was the Laughlin WORCS race that was so sandy that the extra 50cc really came in handy. But, no matter how good the 300 EXC might be, it still isn't perfect. The fork and the seat are my two main complaints - the fork is too soft and the seat is way too stiff (and narrow). Toward the end of one enduro, I simply just could not sit down on the bike anymore (if you know what I mean). As sad as I was to see the 300 go back to KTM, I wasn't sad to see to the seat go away - not one bit. As far as reliability, every 300 EXC we've ever ridden has held up well and has never let us down, and the same goes for our most recent KTM 300 EXC test bike, which probably didn't get as much attention between races as it should've - but the 300 didn't seem to care. As usual, nothing broke on our bike, and had it not been for a small ding in the exhaust pipe, it almost didn't look like it had even been ridden after a good washing. Even though we've been spending more and more time on four-stroke off-road bikes these days, it was nice to get reacquainted with the twostroke 300 EXC again. Yes, the fourstrokes might be getting all of the attention these days, but the KTM 300 EXC is still one of the best allaround production off-road bikes ever built. Just because the thumpers might be newer, doesn't necessarily mean that they are better. eN 217·623·4428 www.countrymotorsinc.com WHY WAIT? CALL! DON PEDEN & DONNIE UTILE cue I e n e _ or; • JULY 17, 2002 29