the place, which proves just how
evenly matched these bikes are.
Three different bikes took top
honors among all our testers:
the KTM, GasGas and Beta. But
the one bike that was at least
near or at the top of everyone's
list was the KTM.
The KTM rated highly in just
about every category we could
think of. The XC-W does every-
thing well, especially in overall
comfort and rideability. As with
the other Austrian bikes, we're
fans of its hassle-free oil injec-
tion system and ultra-smooth
engine. All the bikes have engine
counter-balancers and are nearly
vibration-free, which used to
plague most big-bore two-strokes,
but the KTM, for some reason,
seems a tick smoother than the
rest. It has excellent brakes, plush
suspension, and the best ground
clearance. Most of us agree that
the KTM is the best all-around
bike of the group.
Had it not been for its weak
brakes, the GasGas might have
stolen the title away from the
KTM when you factor in price.
The GasGas feels a lot like the
KTM on the trail, but its lighter
flywheel effect gives it a little bit
more pizazz, which some of our
testers said they really liked.
The Husky is right there, too,
but its tall handlebar isn't a hit
with our testers. Sure, this is an
easy fix, but hey, we ride them
how we get them.
The Beta is perhaps the
"spiciest" of the group, and if
you're into that, then the Beta is
the way to go. It's full of excite-
ment yet is still a very sound
all-around off-roader. Its stout
suspension and powerful motor
make it the best race bike of the
headlight bikes.
The Sherco is a master rock
crawler with all the armor to take
on the nastiest of trails and live to
talk about it. However, it doesn't
seem to fit everyone, and its high-
speed ability is a concern.
Bottom line? There are no
losers among these five bikes,
but after riding them all back-to-
back again and again, we feel
the KTM prevails as the best
all-arounder for a wide range of
off-roaders. But reading through
our fireside comments and other
analysis here will hopefully help
you identify the one that best fits
your needs. But don't be scared
to make a bad choice. You really
can't go wrong here.
CN
SHOOTOUT I 2023 300 cc 2-STROKE OFF-ROAD SHOOTOUT
P96
