QUICKSPIN I 2025 KTM 350 XC-F Factory Edition
P82
Right out of the
crate, the KTM
350 XC-F Factory
Edition is tough to
beat in the woods.
Having ridden KTMs in the
past, I prefer setting them up
with a wheelbase that is as
long as possible. For me, this
improves their stability without
compromising steering abilities,
which is what I found on this
bike.
The rest of the bike will feel
very familiar to anyone who has
ever ridden a newer generation
KTM 350 XC-F in the past. The
addition of the Factory Edition
parts, however, transforms this
bike to an even more race-ready
off-roader than it already was
as a standard model. And even
if racing isn't your thing, the
Factory Edition enhancements,
without question, will noticeably
improve your ride even further.
I ran 110mm of sag and went
two rebound clicks slower on
the rear WP shock. I tend to ride
with more of a slacker-feeling
setup than most, and I was
happy with just these adjust
-
ments. As for the fork, I ran the
stock setting in the race, but if
I had to do it all over again, I'd
add a few clicks of compres-
sion to the fork to keep it riding
higher, which I believe would
have improved feel over bumps
at higher speeds.
Otherwise, I was very im-
pressed by how well the KTM
350 XC-F Factory Edition per-
formed in the Ironman race.
I could not have asked for
anything more from the bike,
which, I feel, is saying a lot for
a motorcycle rolled right off the
showroom floor and straight
into the heat of battle.
CN
Noah Kepple
