Posts
2334
Joined
7/31/2010
Location
Merritt Island, FL
US
Edited Date/Time
11/10/2012 9:20am
Looking for some input on this model. Seems a local one is up for sale and it has peaked my interest. So, what about the handling, suspension and engine - reliable?
Thanks,
Shaun
Thanks,
Shaun
As far as reliability, my 08 250 XC was completely bulletproof and never gave me any problems. My buddies 300 XC has likewise been completely bulletproof. Unless you want it for strictly for MX, it is a fantastic bike and you can't go wrong with it.
How bad/good was the 2001 version. Found one of them for sale at what seems to be a VERY good price...
Thanks again!
This is true out of the box, but you can totally tweak that to fit your riding style:
You can change the power valve spring to make it hit hard (it comes with 3 different springs in the tool pouch)
You have 2 engine maps, one soft (default) and an harder one. Usually done by plugging/unplugging a wire. On my 07 I added a switch so I can flip on the fly as conditions demand.
In higher altitude (like Colorado) it helps a lot to get the head shaved. I had Slaven do mine and it is night and day. Starts first kick and it is a lot easier to jet.
With all the mods set for a hard hit, my bike pops wheelies in 3rd on acceleration only. Stock I felt it was a bit of a dog trying to lift the front to cross a log for example. (Again, Colorado, 11,000 feet riding altitude)
The electric delivery Tblazier mentions is nice. We had a Hare Scramble when the ground was frozen. When the top layer started melting, some of the 450 had trouble even making it up the face of some steep tabletops. No problem whatsoever for my 300 on the soft map and a rear tires that had seen better day.
I wished I had held on for an 08. From all the reports, the new frame and shock position made it a lot nicer than the previous generation.
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You can't go wrong with the unit you're looking at for your riding application. You'll love it.
Unless you're riding up in elevation, an XC would be just fine. In fact I rode an 06 300XC for a couple seasons up in the WA Cascades, and it was just fine. If you have to, you can change up the gearing, maybe put a gnarly pipe on it...helps.
I went XCWe, just to try it-and-it was a great deal on a 2010 bike w 25 hrs on it. I had to change the gearing out back, to get it to grunt 3rd gear in corners like my XC did, but once I got the gearing dialed, it's sweet. XCWs are kind of known for being a bit "gappy", particularly first to second. Again, rear sprocket changes in the rear will cover a multitude of sins.
The XCW is known for softer suspension than the XCs-for obvious reasons...but I had both bikes suspensions done for my weight and better action. KTMs are the state bike up here in gnarly WA single track!
Dont worry too much about the xcw gappy transmission....Everyone talks about it, but it really is no big deal. Only 1st and 2nd gears are different then the xc and you are out of them so fast it doesn't matter. You will find you will be in 3rd and 4th in the single track. I use a recluse which makes it the cats meow.
Given the choice, buy the XC. It is pre wired for lights and all just like the xc-w.
The best 300 out there is the 2011 xc.......3 gal tank stock, 48mm cc forks, 6 speed, no linkage and all the other improvements in the last 5 years of handing, etc.....
2 strokes should not have electric start.......They just don't hold up. If you get it, you will be working on it sooner or later. They have a kick, so alot of guys abandon the magic button when it poops out.
This bike has power all over......Great woods bike. Mine has an sx crank in it, so it has a little more pep then the normal xc
07 ktm 300xc.
It is a high maint item. But it sure is nice when you're on ridge on the only foot you can plant is your right!
You'll learn to love it. But like I said, you'll be maintaining it-or it'll stop working. There are some mods you can make to get it to last longer & perf better tho. Check KTMtalk.com....
I'm going to ride Hare Scrambles with some moto thrown in from time to time..
Pit Row
'08 great bike, suspension will suit most riders stock '01 no so much.
ooops... I missed your post where you talk about the bikes your looking at.. The one here is 1800$ and set up for supermoto'ish/street'ish
I second you will also eat 450's for lunch in the tight woods. I also agree the 01 handling will suck. Not enough rake I think.
It is a good solid bike, and most likely you can plate it in FL and ride it to the 7 eleven for kicks. Very unlikely you can do that with a yz due to offroad title.
I have a 2008 300 in the garage. It is great bike! I have had 5 - 300's and this is my second favorite. The 2006 I liked the front end better, less twitchy. Nothing a steering stabilizer (WER) couldn't fix. Brakes! Youch - they stop on a dime. In the front I went to RED EBC pads to soften the pull. Nice thing about the 300, you can be climbing a hill in too high of a gear and just feather the clutch and it will keep climbing! Holeshot from a dead engine start - easy. I prefer to kickstart vice the e-buttion, it is faster. Also, the bike is great for riding moto too!
"People SAY a 250 MX bike is faster than a 300XC-W, and it does FEEL slower, but you race one side by side and even the XC-W will yard a 250 like its tied to a tree."
its called power all over and lots of it and torque to the moon.........Put an sx crank in your 300 and you will really see a crazy improvement.....maybe a little less torque, alot more power.....
I have a 09 300XC-W and love it! As stated above, the tuning options are infinite, you can go from smooth offroad bike to MX monster hit in about 10 minutes with mapping, spring options and tension adjustment on the spring.
As far as the starter goes, make sure its adjusted, do the oil mod and spend a little extra on a Shorai battery and it will work flawless.
Ive had both, an 05 YZ250 and now the KTM. For me, which is mainly offroad with a little bit of MX sprinkled in, the KTM is better. As an added bonus, I added the lighting kit on the KTM, which was plug-and-play and got a license plate for it here in Ohio. Not sure how things are in Florida but it might be something to think about.
Bottom line is, both bikes are good, you wont go wrong either way.
Post a reply to: 2008 KTM 300 XC-W, Anyone own or ridden one?