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/1428833
P98 QUICKSPIN I 2022 K TM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION Most of the other additions on the 350 XC-F Factory Edition are nice. The armor will be used. The seat will be needed when it's wet. The holeshot device is fun but doesn't stop me from sucking sometimes. The fac- tory wheels will be abused by me when I change mousses. The brake upgrades are smart as the solid rear rotor is stronger in the heat of mud-filled battles, and stopping is just as important as going in the end, right? I think the only part of the stock 350 XC-F Factory Edition I'd not race with is the stock Dunlop AT81 front tire. I really don't like it. And, apparently I'm not alone as all our test bikes were fitted with Dunlop MX33's for the event. The AT81 rear is fine for soft terrain and woods, but the front just continues to baffle me. I tried hard to think of what I would add on to this bike for a whole season of racing from aspiring A-class youngster to sunset- bound 40+ dreamer. You could upgrade the stock flag-style hand guards for something more robust to save on lever budget, sure. But that's about it. It is fast enough to race and win a lot of classes lining up on Sundays across the country. And, it has the legs to pull great results on West Coast off-road events, as well. Even though they bring the 450 heat to the WORCS, NGPC and other series, the 350 is kind of a smart choice for those of us that live in the real world. There's a saying that fits here: "All hat and no cowboy." And while I've tried to be the opposite of that my entire life when it comes to off-road racing, I dress, talk and act a lot better than I ever will be. Need proof? Look at every picture in this test. They are taken by professionals. You can hire them to make you look awesome, too. The KTM 350 XC-F Factory Edition has a big, big hat with those Red Bull graphics show- ing off all rhinestone-like in the pits. Luckily for the XC-F, it can pull off the rodeo, too. CN SPECIFICATIONS 2022 KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION ($11,799) ENGINE TYPE 4-stroke, single cylinder DISPLACEMENT 349.7cc VALVETRAIN DOHC, 4 titanium valves BORE X STROKE 88 x 57.5mm COOLING SYSTEM Liquid COMPRESSION RATIO 14.2:1 FUELING SYSTEM Keihin EMS, 44mm throttle body EXHAUST SYSTEM Flow Design Header (FDH) w / FMF slip-on muffler TRANSMISSION 6-speed CLUTCH Wet multi-disc, DS, Brembo hydraulics CLUTCH COVER Hinson BATTERY Lithium ENGINE MAPPING 2-way handlebar switch RIDER AIDS Traction control, switchable FRAME 25CrMo4 steel, central double-cradle type, orange TRIPLE CLAMPS Factory HANDLEBARS Tapered aluminum, rubber-mounted GRIPS ODI lock-on SEAT Factory, Selle Dalla Valle FRONT SUSPENSION WP Xact-USD, 48mm, pneumatic, fully adjustable REAR SUSPENSION WP Xact Monoshock w/linkages fully adjustable FRONT WHEEL 21 in. Factory D.I.D Dirt Star REAR WHEEL 18 in. Factory D.I.D Dirt Star TIRES Dunlop Geomax AT81 FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL 12.2 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 11.8 in. FRONT BRAKE Simi-floating, single 260mm disc REAR BRAKE Solid, single 220mm disc FUEL CAPACITY 2.6 gal. SEAT HEIGHT 37.4mm WEIGHT (DRY, CLAIMED) 226 lbs.