RIDE REVIEW I 2024 KTM 350 SX-F
P82
best work in the higher rev ranges.
It also offers more over-rev than the
250. The second and third gears
are strong on the 350 and carry
much higher into the red than we
anticipated. Think of the way you
rev and carry speed on a 250 and
apply that thinking to the 350. Yes,
you can still be a bit "lazy" on it and
ride a gear high, but you don't want to lug
this bike as much as you would on the larger
450 since the sheer, low-end grunt just isn't
as comparable. It certainly feels faster than
its 250 counterpart, but its overall personal
-
ity wants to be ridden in a similar fashion.
What really
stands out while riding this
bike is the overall maneuverability. With less
rotating mass inside the engine, the 350
feels light and flickable. It might
only measure out to be a one-pound
difference, but at the end of a moto,
I didn't feel as tired as I did when
doing the same duration on the
450. On track, the 350 feels more
like a lightweight 250 and allows
you to ride longer with less fatigue.
Moving it into the rut of choice or
using body English to correct the bike in the
air doesn't require as much effort as the
bulkier 450. A 450 motocrosser is a lot to
manage at speed, and the controllability of
the 350 is a pleasant surprise when you see
the halfway point in your race.
Racers might find a few drawbacks when
lining up with the 350 since it bumps them
up to the faster 450 or Open classes. But
(Right) With less
rotating mass, the
bike feels lighter
than a 450. (Below)
The 350 feels more
like a lightweight
250 and allows you
to ride longer with
less fatigue.
