Tough choice : SXF350 '16 or '17 ?

2/18/2017 1:04pm
I'm a slow vet rider. I want to change my RMZ 250 2011. Just to please me. I'm considering a KTM 350. The 2017 model seems to be the best compared to the 2016. Is it worth the $ 1,500 more for better forks, traction control and included hour meter ? Who tried one compared to the other back to back?
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Bramlett321
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2/18/2017 2:21pm
TheVetGuy wrote:
I'm a slow vet rider. I want to change my RMZ 250 2011. Just to please me. I'm considering a KTM 350. The 2017 model seems...
I'm a slow vet rider. I want to change my RMZ 250 2011. Just to please me. I'm considering a KTM 350. The 2017 model seems to be the best compared to the 2016. Is it worth the $ 1,500 more for better forks, traction control and included hour meter ? Who tried one compared to the other back to back?
I'd pay it as I just bought a '16 300 and for what you're gonna pay to get your forks fixed, that's my main complaint then you could've had the new bike new style. I have the latest generation of the 4cs and I absolutely hate them. They weren't so bad at first but now they're terrible.
CarlinoJoeVideo
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2/18/2017 2:30pm
The main difference you should be concerned with is the forks. 4CS(16) vs AER(17).

Can you afford an extra $1,500?
If you can, get the 17.

Do you mind setting your fork Pressure?
If you don't mind, get the 17.

Will you get the forks revalved?
If yes, consider the 16.

Would you consider upgrading to an aftermarket fork set?
If yes, definitely get the 16.
fast willy
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2/18/2017 2:48pm
17 all the way. Overall better package
2/18/2017 2:53pm
The main difference you should be concerned with is the forks. 4CS(16) vs AER(17). Can you afford an extra $1,500? If you can, get the 17...
The main difference you should be concerned with is the forks. 4CS(16) vs AER(17).

Can you afford an extra $1,500?
If you can, get the 17.

Do you mind setting your fork Pressure?
If you don't mind, get the 17.

Will you get the forks revalved?
If yes, consider the 16.

Would you consider upgrading to an aftermarket fork set?
If yes, definitely get the 16.
Yes I can afford the extra...

I'm not a great fork tuner...

I don't consider to invest a massive upgrade to the forks but maybe I could consider a revalving...

Finally, thanks to you, my choice is clear, I need t buy the 2017 !

The Shop

2/18/2017 3:06pm Edited Date/Time 2/18/2017 3:07pm
TheVetGuy wrote:
I'm a slow vet rider. I want to change my RMZ 250 2011. Just to please me. I'm considering a KTM 350. The 2017 model seems...
I'm a slow vet rider. I want to change my RMZ 250 2011. Just to please me. I'm considering a KTM 350. The 2017 model seems to be the best compared to the 2016. Is it worth the $ 1,500 more for better forks, traction control and included hour meter ? Who tried one compared to the other back to back?
Do not buy the 16,spend the extra and get the 17,the forks are worth it
deez387
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2/18/2017 4:22pm
I was in the same predicament you are in currently. I ended up finding a 16 that was close to stock with 30 hrs that was to good of a deal to pass on. So I went that route, just had the 4cs revalved (they already had factory connections upgrades) If the forks still don't work for me, I figured with the $ I saved I'll look into some cone valves or ohlins.
2/18/2017 4:36pm
deez387 wrote:
I was in the same predicament you are in currently. I ended up finding a 16 that was close to stock with 30 hrs that was...
I was in the same predicament you are in currently. I ended up finding a 16 that was close to stock with 30 hrs that was to good of a deal to pass on. So I went that route, just had the 4cs revalved (they already had factory connections upgrades) If the forks still don't work for me, I figured with the $ I saved I'll look into some cone valves or ohlins.
I live in Canada and it's not California here with all the expertise to improve the ride of a motorcycle ...not to mention that it's more expensive way. The '17 seems to me the least risky option for a better ride.
Monk
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2/18/2017 5:02pm Edited Date/Time 2/18/2017 5:20pm
Should be more then $1500. I live in BC and saved over $2k when I bought the 16 over the 17. Regardless of what people say, I still didn't want a air fork, I like the simple approach of springs and oil. The TC isn't a big deal either as it comes in the form of a clutch...and according to most I'm not a real rider anyway cause I use a Rekluse. Lol

All that being said, I do suspension work for my speed and weight so the savings came of value... I didn't work on my 4cs either as that's a lost cause. You'll get it to work well in one area, but not another. I'm not one to compromise. I went with Dal Soggio inserts, and valves the shock. The AER forks (just like SSS) still need work if you want the most performance from them...

If $1500 is the best you'll get, go with the 17...
EastFlorida
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2/18/2017 5:24pm Edited Date/Time 2/18/2017 5:27pm
I had the same decision to make. I race off road so I was considering the XC-F. I went with the '16. Used the money I saved to do both the front and rear and added a Rekluse.

For me, it was well worth it. $1,500 + suspension + Rekluse + other stuff made the '16 the way to go for me. Your only true decision is the forks. Unless you are an "A" rider, the 4CS is good, especially if you revalve...

You said you're a slow vet rider, then save the money and use it as you see fit. You won't reap the benefits of the other things. You have the new chassis and new engine which makes the big difference one '15 and prior models...
xr70
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2/18/2017 6:10pm
Buy the 16 and spend the extra $ on the KYB fork conversion, well worth. The 17 AER suck anyway.
jim598
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2/18/2017 6:16pm
I have a 16 ktm450 sxf with ohlins (3500 upgrade) I also have a 17 250 fc husky. in my opinion the aer forks work as good as my ohlins

xr70
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2/18/2017 6:51pm
jim598 wrote:
I have a 16 ktm450 sxf with ohlins (3500 upgrade) I also have a 17 250 fc husky. in my opinion the aer forks work as...
I have a 16 ktm450 sxf with ohlins (3500 upgrade) I also have a 17 250 fc husky. in my opinion the aer forks work as good as my ohlins

Hook me up with some of that good shit that u r smoking, I want some of that. No, really, I don't know about the Ohlin's, but I hated my air fork on my 2016 450 SXF FE and I even had it revalve by Enzo a couple of times. So, I got rid of it and I purchased the 2016 fork with the KYB conversion and I am in heaven! It's just a totally different bike now. I love it.
2/18/2017 6:53pm
jim598 wrote:
I have a 16 ktm450 sxf with ohlins (3500 upgrade) I also have a 17 250 fc husky. in my opinion the aer forks work as...
I have a 16 ktm450 sxf with ohlins (3500 upgrade) I also have a 17 250 fc husky. in my opinion the aer forks work as good as my ohlins

xr70 wrote:
Hook me up with some of that good shit that u r smoking, I want some of that. No, really, I don't know about the Ohlin's...
Hook me up with some of that good shit that u r smoking, I want some of that. No, really, I don't know about the Ohlin's, but I hated my air fork on my 2016 450 SXF FE and I even had it revalve by Enzo a couple of times. So, I got rid of it and I purchased the 2016 fork with the KYB conversion and I am in heaven! It's just a totally different bike now. I love it.
That seems like the best option to me. You can't go wrong with kyb.
Jack_Mehoff
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2/18/2017 7:47pm
17 all day unless you're getting CVs or something
Bruce372
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2/18/2017 7:48pm
2017 all the way. Most of the savings, you will loose on the back end when you sell the bike.
2/19/2017 12:36am
xr70 wrote:
Buy the 16 and spend the extra $ on the KYB fork conversion, well worth. The 17 AER suck anyway.
So the AER forks suck,you must be so fast that they cant keep up hey?
2/19/2017 2:10pm
Bruce372 wrote:
2017 all the way. Most of the savings, you will loose on the back end when you sell the bike.
You're right ... I had not thought about this.
Matt6505
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2/19/2017 4:01pm
I would go with the 17 just based on the fork, I'm not a fan of air forks but the AER are the closest feeling to a spring.
xr70
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2/19/2017 5:12pm
xr70 wrote:
Buy the 16 and spend the extra $ on the KYB fork conversion, well worth. The 17 AER suck anyway.
So the AER forks suck,you must be so fast that they cant keep up hey?
Look like like that u have Hard on for the AER , not me .
r.sal923
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2/19/2017 7:58pm
My te 300 4cs work really good. I have had a new Yamaha every year since 2003, and Enzo has been doing my suspension. I don't see what the big deal is about the 4cs . It seams to work pretty good for stock suspension . This is also my first off road bike and have only rode moto for last 15 years. I would like to try 4cs on moto track to see what all the complaining is about
Matt6505
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2/19/2017 9:21pm
r.sal923 wrote:
My te 300 4cs work really good. I have had a new Yamaha every year since 2003, and Enzo has been doing my suspension. I don't...
My te 300 4cs work really good. I have had a new Yamaha every year since 2003, and Enzo has been doing my suspension. I don't see what the big deal is about the 4cs . It seams to work pretty good for stock suspension . This is also my first off road bike and have only rode moto for last 15 years. I would like to try 4cs on moto track to see what all the complaining is about
They are a super harsh fork, I'm sure you can tweak them to have them work well but my experience with them was they were super harsh at the top end and if you tried to soften them you'd be using too much of the stroke on the bigger hits
rikhek
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2/20/2017 12:39pm
TheVetGuy wrote:
I'm a slow vet rider. I want to change my RMZ 250 2011. Just to please me. I'm considering a KTM 350. The 2017 model seems...
I'm a slow vet rider. I want to change my RMZ 250 2011. Just to please me. I'm considering a KTM 350. The 2017 model seems to be the best compared to the 2016. Is it worth the $ 1,500 more for better forks, traction control and included hour meter ? Who tried one compared to the other back to back?
I'm a slow vet as well and just got a 2017. I think you'd be better off with the 2016. I had my 4Cs forks done for around $300 by Factory Connection. They worked very well for my riding after the FC work. I'm not faster/better with the 2017 air forks than the 4CS.

Also, the 2016 has the same cosmetics as the 2017, only real difference is the forks.

An hour meter costs $9.99 off eBay,,,,,
mx_563
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2/20/2017 12:49pm
Here's my question....what year did the 350 make the biggest leap forward? The original 350 was said to weigh just as much as a 450 and wasn't that fast. The 2017 is a featherweight and pumps out over 50hp. Was it a steady evolution or was there one year when they made a big leap?
EastFlorida
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2/20/2017 12:57pm
mx_563 wrote:
Here's my question....what year did the 350 make the biggest leap forward? The original 350 was said to weigh just as much as a 450 and...
Here's my question....what year did the 350 make the biggest leap forward? The original 350 was said to weigh just as much as a 450 and wasn't that fast. The 2017 is a featherweight and pumps out over 50hp. Was it a steady evolution or was there one year when they made a big leap?
2016 saw the big changes in chassis, engine and improvement to the 4CS. The 16/17 handles so much better than before.
Monk
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2/20/2017 12:58pm
mx_563 wrote:
Here's my question....what year did the 350 make the biggest leap forward? The original 350 was said to weigh just as much as a 450 and...
Here's my question....what year did the 350 make the biggest leap forward? The original 350 was said to weigh just as much as a 450 and wasn't that fast. The 2017 is a featherweight and pumps out over 50hp. Was it a steady evolution or was there one year when they made a big leap?
Motorwise>>>2013. Virtually no changes in the bike from 2013-2015. I actually think the bike took a step back suspension wise when 4cs was introduced in 2014. Brakes/chassis/weight all stayed pretty close since the 350s introduction in 2011.

Everything else>>>2016. The bike got a little faster but lost quite a bit of weight...

ob
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2/20/2017 1:07pm
I have a 16. I've ridden the 17 lots. For one you will never use the traction control, it gives the bike a really weird feeling. Like something is wrong, you won't like it.
If you are very fast you won't really be happy with either set of forks, just how almost every bike is. If you are very slow you can make either fork work just by changing clickers, oil height, or air pressure. Make sure you get the lighter rear spring if you aren't 175lbs + on the 16. If you are just very picky, out of shape, or just want the good stuff buy the 16 and use the extra money on inserts, or any other aftermarket fix. Like everybody says you can always sell the inserts later and get your money back. If you have the money get cone valves, they are magic.
Both bikes run the same, actually my 16 seems faster than the 17 for some reason. You can not feel the weight difference.
ob
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2/20/2017 1:14pm
mx_563 wrote:
Here's my question....what year did the 350 make the biggest leap forward? The original 350 was said to weigh just as much as a 450 and...
Here's my question....what year did the 350 make the biggest leap forward? The original 350 was said to weigh just as much as a 450 and wasn't that fast. The 2017 is a featherweight and pumps out over 50hp. Was it a steady evolution or was there one year when they made a big leap?
Biggest leap forward? Thats easy, the 16 was almost ALLLLLLLLLLL new. Frame, chassie, motor, etc, lost like10lbs, and got noticeably faster. 17 pretty much just got the new air fork, with some mapping electronics changes. Next new one 2019 model?
Whip
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2/20/2017 1:25pm
17 = forks
Freakazoid
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2/20/2017 1:33pm
There has been a lot of these ktm questions lately. Someone please make a sticky saying "just get the 17"..

No doubt, pay a little extra for the newer bike.

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