2017 KTM 250, 350 AND 500 EXC-F
FIRST RIDE
P106
twisting. KTM shaved nearly a
pound of weight from the new
frame. As an added bonus,
the new frames are fitted with
threaded inserts for a KTM ac-
cessory skid plate.
For 2017, the EXC line re-
ceived the new WP Xplor split
fork and the Xplor PDS shock.
The fork is still an open-car-
tridge design style with adjust-
ment for compression on one
side and rebound adjustment
on the other, with easy-to-reach
dials on top of the fork legs. The
fork has also been designed to
better resist bottoming and is
about a half-pound lighter.
The new and much smaller
less travel. The Xplor shock,
while actually longer than last
year's shock, is positioned
differently, helping to drop
the back end of the bike. The
EXC seat is lower and slightly
wider when compared to the
SX-F and XC-F seats, but still
uses the same base and is
interchangeable with the other
models.
Take the mirrors and blinkers
off and the EXCs could easily
be mistaken for an XC or an SX.
All the 2017 KTM models share
the same styling, which means
the new EXCs are the most ag-
gressive dual-sports we've ever
seen.
After twisting the throttle on
all three bikes for an entire day
and logging over 100 miles, we'll
tell you right now that these bike
are brilliant. KTM has owned the
hardcore dual-sport market for
a number of years, but there is
always room for improvement and
these bikes are not leaving much
of that anymore. The previous
generation of EXCs (350 EXC and
500 EXC) ran fairly well in stock
condition but still suffered from
Xplor PDS shock is 1.3 pounds
lighter than the previous shock
and is about the size of a shock
found on an 85cc motocross
bike.
One of KTM's goals was to
lower the overall seat height
of the EXCs for 2017 and they
were successful, losing 20mm
of overall height with changes
to the suspension and seat. The
Xplor fork is shorter than last
year's fork and has about 10mm
The Continental tire choice
might seem silly for such a dirt-
worthy machine, but again, it
all comes down to passing EPA
regulations. The TKC 80 tire
cuts down on the noise level
for the drive-by sound test-
ing, helping the EXCs earn the
license plate that hangs off the
back fender. Most riders will
no doubt quickly change the
street-orientated tires for more
aggressive DOT knobbies.
The only thing that
sets these three
bikes apart are their
engines. The 500
puts out the most
power, of course,
but in a super user-
friendly way.
GEAR ID'D
HELMET: 6D ATR-1
GOGGLE: SCOTT PROSPECT
JACKET: KLIM STOW AWAY
GLOVE: KLIM XC
PANT: KLIM DAKAR IN THE BOOT
BOOT: SIDI CROSSFIRE3 SR
BACKPACK: KLIM NAC PAK
