Cycle News

Cycle News 2021 Issue 47 November 23

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/1431989

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RIDE REVIEW I BEN KELLEY'S FMF K TM FACTORY RACING GNCC 350 XC-F P86 just for you. Everything works in harmony and feels like home. The same is happening here. But the architect, contractor and interior designer is Kelley's mechanic Jose- angel Cordova and the KTM Factory behind him. In the trenches of GNCC, the magic blend of perfection is all about delivering traction, speed, control and durability in the face of truly brutal conditions. GNCC rac- ers face rocks, roots, grass, dust, hardpack, knee-deep mud and very hard trees, often in a single lap. The bikes need to not only rip a hole- shot from a dead-engine start, but they need to have the legs to stand on a smashed radiator in a Florida swamp after three hours on the rev- limiter dodging palmetto roots in the sand. They must do all this while en- couraging and inspiring their pilots to ignore the urge to barf and quit. If you think about what we're ask- ing from these bikes for a second, it's damn impressive. And while a stock 350 XC-F Factory Edition is all I'll ever need, experiencing the factory advantage difference is remarkable. LINE 'EM UP I think it's obvious everyone would choose a factory bike over a stock bike, given the chance. But I've ridden other people's factory bikes that just don't work for me/normal people. And while Ben Kelley's fac- tory bike is built specifically for him, I honestly think most normal, mortal people like me would be absolutely You will not find more varied terrain than around a lap of a GNCC course. A factory race bike needs to handle them all with consistency and speed. The author holds on the best he can.

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