KTM 350 or 450?

40Plus_922mx
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4/20/2014 7:16am Edited Date/Time 4/20/2014 4:18pm
I am thinking of going orange. I have ridden/raced since 1980. My fastest years were 99-05 where I was about a middle intermediate. I now mostly ride vet tracks and jump whatever's there. I no longer ride the bigger tracks like the main one at Racetown 395. I prefer an electric power delivery. I am tired of the kick starter and carburetors. I weigh 200 lbs geared up.

Can I get some opinions on which one of these bikes and which years would be best? Thanks guys.
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Socket946
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4/20/2014 7:19am
Electric like power delivery to me means instant torque without a top end hit? For sure the 450.

I felt the 350 to be a little peaky compared to the 450, but STRONG compared to my 270.

What are you on now?

Coming from a 250F, the 350 felt good.
TbonesPop
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4/20/2014 7:22am
I have ridden both. I like both a Lot, you will too. As far as which one to get, it's up to your riding style. If you go with the 350, get one that is no more than 2 years old. They had some issues with the valves and the fuel pump on the early models. The newer 350's are much improved. As for which one to get, I prefer the 450 (I'm 6'0", 210 - but not fat, muscular build). The 350 will rev forever and you ride it more like a 250F and rev it out. The 450 you ride like a 450. All in all, I think you will really like either bike. I personally prefer the 450, but would take a 350 in a heartbeat as a back up option.
rcannon
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4/20/2014 7:39am
If your not horribly serious about racing, the 350 is sooooo much fun.

I ride a yz295 (Eric Gorr) and I'm not sure the 350 is as fast as that bike, but its so easy to ride. My knees appreciate electric start, too. Maybe Its due to my being old, but if I had the money, I'd be riding a brand new 350.
Scott167
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4/20/2014 7:42am
I had an 11 350 and currently have a 13 450. the 450 sounds like a better option for what you want. very good linear powerband, no hard hits and very smooth. the 350 is a good bike but needs to be kept on the pipe and revved to the moon. I have not ridden the 13 350 or newer but i hear they are much improved over the 11/12 bikes. I am quite happy with my 450 and my next bike will be another 450.

The Shop

B-EVANS
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4/20/2014 8:37am
I am thinking of going orange. I have ridden/raced since 1980. My fastest years were 99-05 where I was about a middle intermediate. I now mostly...
I am thinking of going orange. I have ridden/raced since 1980. My fastest years were 99-05 where I was about a middle intermediate. I now mostly ride vet tracks and jump whatever's there. I no longer ride the bigger tracks like the main one at Racetown 395. I prefer an electric power delivery. I am tired of the kick starter and carburetors. I weigh 200 lbs geared up.

Can I get some opinions on which one of these bikes and which years would be best? Thanks guys.
You described my riding history almost exactly, eerie. I've had the '11 350, a '12 KX450, '13 KX450, '14 KTM 350, and just got the '14 KTM 450 factory edition Friday. The 11-12 350's were fun bikes but slow. The '14 KTM 350 is very fast and probably the most fun bike I've ever ridden. It turns like crazy, great brakes, feels a lot lighter than a 450 in corners and is just a blast to ride. But the suspension sucks. Had it revalved and is better than stock but after coming off the KX with air forks that worked very good(no issues in 45hrs), I just hate the KTM forks. That brings me to the new forks on the factory edition. I put the first hour and half on it yesterday at mx track open practice. These new forks are night and day better than anything KTM has ever had before. The new linkage and shock may also be the best I've ever ridden and its not broke in yet. It doesn't wallow and swap in the whoops like the regular 14 and doesn't kick off the lips on jump faces. In that first ride I never had the urge to twist a clicker and I usually wear them out trying to find a better feel. If you are buying new, I would wait til July or so when the '15 KTMs come out and get the new suspension on 350 or 450. If not, I would look for a good used 13-14 KX 450 and get the air forks, factory connection made mine excellent, and the newer KX's start easy. By the way I weigh about 200lbs with gear also, so hope this helps. Difference between 350 and 450 motor is what you like. The 350 will lug you around but if you want to go, you got to twist it and rev it and ride more aggressive. The 450 is very smooth and you can short shift it, rev it, or just lard-ass around all day. The 450 feels a little heavier at lean in on corners, but still feels a lot lighter than a KX in same area.
40Plus_922mx
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4/20/2014 8:41am
Socket946 wrote:
Electric like power delivery to me means instant torque without a top end hit? For sure the 450. I felt the 350 to be a little...
Electric like power delivery to me means instant torque without a top end hit? For sure the 450.

I felt the 350 to be a little peaky compared to the 450, but STRONG compared to my 270.

What are you on now?

Coming from a 250F, the 350 felt good.
Been on 450's since 2001. Spent some time on a RPM KX315 for a while then back to 450's. This last year I rode a CRF250 and although the fun factor was all there I was always looking for power. Just sold that bike. I was leaning 450 again. Looks like that may be it.
conwaymx
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4/20/2014 8:51am
go with the 450, the 350 only works in Europe.....
4/20/2014 12:03pm
The 350 is sweet but theres a $200 diffrence between the 2, in that case the 450 is a no brainer.
BobPA
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4/20/2014 12:16pm
The 350 is sweet but theres a $200 diffrence between the 2, in that case the 450 is a no brainer.
How so? I much prefer my 350 over a 450. It feels wayyyyy lighter, turns on a dime, and makes plenty of power. But, you have to be aggressive to go fast, it reminds me a lot of riding a 250 two stroke...but with much less clutch work. My father is 65 and still puts up a pace that would rival most on here with his 350.

If you like to lug a bike and do not carry descent momentum through turns go 450.

If you don't mind revving a bike and being aggressive to with the 350.
4/20/2014 12:52pm
Bobpa, i 100% agree with you, but because of the price diffrence i would go with the 450. I ve had 2 ktm 450s and love them!but the maintaince on a 350 for me would be 2 much as my primary bike. Either way you cant go wrong, we all ride diffrent and the 350 is better for some people than others.
TeamGreen
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4/20/2014 2:14pm
I've ridden both, a lot.

Get the 450.
Socket946
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4/20/2014 2:14pm
TeamGreen wrote:
I've ridden both, a lot.

Get the 450.
I still get moist at the idea of buying a 350. But I'm a "small bike" man at heart.
Crush
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4/20/2014 2:45pm
13 350 here. Easiest bike I've ever ridden.
4/20/2014 2:54pm
the latest 450 is hard to look past, get the suspension tuned and that's it ,
navyfc117
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4/20/2014 3:10pm
I will be getting another 350 (2013 or newer) after I heal up from back surgery. I have rode a 2013 450 my friend had and he sold it for another 350.
Ryno23
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4/20/2014 3:14pm
My girlfriend rides a 350sx. Sooooo.... Whistling
BobPA
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4/20/2014 3:30pm
Ryno23 wrote:
My girlfriend rides a 350sx. Sooooo.... Whistling
Send her my way, we already have something in common...Cool
Ryno23
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4/20/2014 3:40pm
Ryno23 wrote:
My girlfriend rides a 350sx. Sooooo.... Whistling
BobPA wrote:
Send her my way, we already have something in common...Cool
LOL. No way man, she's a keeper!!! Actually, I ride her 350 some and think the bike is a blast. I have a 14 YZ450 in which is great but when the track gets super rough the 350 is better to ride. Only thing I really don't like about that bike is working on it. WTF did we ever do to Austria for them to make the sub frame go THROUGH the airbox side panel mess???? And the seat bolt UNDER the rear fender??? Makes me want to kick Arnold Schwarzenegger in the nuts!
malachi177
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4/20/2014 4:03pm
Ryno23 wrote:
LOL. No way man, she's a keeper!!! Actually, I ride her 350 some and think the bike is a blast. I have a 14 YZ450 in...
LOL. No way man, she's a keeper!!! Actually, I ride her 350 some and think the bike is a blast. I have a 14 YZ450 in which is great but when the track gets super rough the 350 is better to ride. Only thing I really don't like about that bike is working on it. WTF did we ever do to Austria for them to make the sub frame go THROUGH the airbox side panel mess???? And the seat bolt UNDER the rear fender??? Makes me want to kick Arnold Schwarzenegger in the nuts!
Laughing
Crush
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4/20/2014 4:18pm
Ryno23 wrote:
My girlfriend rides a 350sx. Sooooo.... Whistling
BobPA wrote:
Send her my way, we already have something in common...Cool
Ryno23 wrote:
LOL. No way man, she's a keeper!!! Actually, I ride her 350 some and think the bike is a blast. I have a 14 YZ450 in...
LOL. No way man, she's a keeper!!! Actually, I ride her 350 some and think the bike is a blast. I have a 14 YZ450 in which is great but when the track gets super rough the 350 is better to ride. Only thing I really don't like about that bike is working on it. WTF did we ever do to Austria for them to make the sub frame go THROUGH the airbox side panel mess???? And the seat bolt UNDER the rear fender??? Makes me want to kick Arnold Schwarzenegger in the nuts!
There's only one of them tho!

As long as you have a weird length 8mm t-handle or a short handle socket driver you're set. haha

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