2015 KTM 350sxf

gpracer36
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419
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12/8/2011
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El Cajon, CA, USA
Edited Date/Time 7/4/2014 7:31pm
I know KTM is doing demo ride days, has anyone rode the 2015 350sxf? can you compare it to a 13/14?

thank you
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6/16/2014 12:37pm
I have heard that in 2015 the 350 comes with an extra crank and cylinder so you can alter the capacity up to 450cc,
just like AC222!
6/16/2014 1:05pm
I hear the clutch lever is .5mm shorter for better fuel consumption.
moto314
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10/20/2009
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Mooresville, NC, USA
6/16/2014 1:09pm
I rode a 2015 KTM350SXF last week, but I have not ridden the 13/14.
bvm111
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10122
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7/1/2008
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Las Vegas, NV, USA
6/16/2014 1:11pm
moto314 wrote:
I rode a 2015 KTM350SXF last week, but I have not ridden the 13/14.
So how was it.... Any insight would be appreciated!

The Shop

Brent
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Temecula, CA, USA
6/16/2014 1:43pm Edited Date/Time 6/16/2014 1:44pm
moto314 wrote:
I rode a 2015 KTM350SXF last week, but I have not ridden the 13/14.
I was told that there is only one bike for the press to evaluate, and only one publication has it for testing now. Are you with one of the magazines or a dealer?
MxKing809
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Big Sand Whoops, MI, USA
Fantasy
6/16/2014 1:56pm
It's just like a '14. It has the machined linkage mounts and the 4cs forks. But I believe it's damn near the same as a 14 other than that
tek14
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1/26/2014
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Vantaa, FI
6/16/2014 2:01pm
Hope they fixed problem with rear shock. Get bad after couple hours..
Testing stock bike doesnt tell you all.. even 250f sucks with orginal mapping
and pipe. Getting suspension setup for your weight and mapping for tracks
makes bigger difference than model year 13-15.
bkent136
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Melbourne, FL, USA
6/16/2014 9:06pm Edited Date/Time 6/16/2014 9:06pm
gpracer36 wrote:
I know KTM is doing demo ride days, has anyone rode the 2015 350sxf? can you compare it to a 13/14?

thank you
I've ridden the 13 14 and 15. They don't feel any different. Just the forks are different.
BAMX
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Fallbrook, CA, USA
6/16/2014 9:42pm
I rode the offroad models last week. They are both sweet.
Ace_Burt
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12
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1/2/2011
Location
Seadrift, TX, USA
7/4/2014 5:51pm
I just bought a 2015 last Saturday and have 3 days of riding on it. I am a life long motocrosser (although I did race off-road too for about 10 years) and ride a couple days a week. For reference I am about 5'7" and 150 lbs. I did not own an 13-14 350 (I have been riding a 250SX) but I have spent some time on a 14. The 15 is different for sure. The forks are new, the frame construction has changed (it feels a bit stiffer), the shock is different and the linkage is changed. You don't have to buy the pro circuit pull rods now because it comes with longer rods and the rear end sits lower. its a couple pounds lighter and the fork offset change (2mm less) also changed the geometry a bit.The mapping is different and it feels like it revs just a bit faster. it doesn't start any better though so some mapping is in the works for it too

So far I like the bike. It turns really well, is pretty stable and makes decent, tractable power. The weakness is the suspension. If it is anything like my SX (2 stroke) some suspension valving and playing with tube height and sag will get it dialed in. The forks are a little too busy in the middle but better than I thought they would be. They are not to stiff at first and they will take a big hit pretty good too. Personally my problem is getting it to track straight through big, fast whoops and stay in a long fast rut. In other words its the rear end.....Ironically they same issues I had with my SX. If its anything like my SX it will be a sweet bike once dialed in.....and it looks like the fix will be very similar too.

Hope this helps......
bvm111
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Las Vegas, NV, USA
7/4/2014 6:03pm
Ace_Burt wrote:
I just bought a 2015 last Saturday and have 3 days of riding on it. I am a life long motocrosser (although I did race off-road...
I just bought a 2015 last Saturday and have 3 days of riding on it. I am a life long motocrosser (although I did race off-road too for about 10 years) and ride a couple days a week. For reference I am about 5'7" and 150 lbs. I did not own an 13-14 350 (I have been riding a 250SX) but I have spent some time on a 14. The 15 is different for sure. The forks are new, the frame construction has changed (it feels a bit stiffer), the shock is different and the linkage is changed. You don't have to buy the pro circuit pull rods now because it comes with longer rods and the rear end sits lower. its a couple pounds lighter and the fork offset change (2mm less) also changed the geometry a bit.The mapping is different and it feels like it revs just a bit faster. it doesn't start any better though so some mapping is in the works for it too

So far I like the bike. It turns really well, is pretty stable and makes decent, tractable power. The weakness is the suspension. If it is anything like my SX (2 stroke) some suspension valving and playing with tube height and sag will get it dialed in. The forks are a little too busy in the middle but better than I thought they would be. They are not to stiff at first and they will take a big hit pretty good too. Personally my problem is getting it to track straight through big, fast whoops and stay in a long fast rut. In other words its the rear end.....Ironically they same issues I had with my SX. If its anything like my SX it will be a sweet bike once dialed in.....and it looks like the fix will be very similar too.

Hope this helps......
I have been a life long 250 two stroke guy, so I am looking to get my first 4stroke in the next few weeks. I really like the idea of the 350 not being as brutish as a 450! I am 40 but can still wring my 06 KX250 pretty good, I just don't want to buy the 350 and regret not getting to 450... Or the other way around!

Can you compare the power to a 450 for a guy who has only ridden 426 the year they came out for 2 laps!
Ace_Burt
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12
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1/2/2011
Location
Seadrift, TX, USA
7/4/2014 6:40pm
It is plenty fast enough unless your going to line up on a national gate, and even then a light rider with a good start is going to be right there. I went to the KTM ride day and rode all the bikes. The 150SX is the funnest motorcycle i have ever ridden but you have to really ride it every second to keep it moving. I did not like the 450 (and i have had about 10 450's of every color over the years), it felt heavy, didn't turn nearly as well as well and wore me out in about 5 laps. I didn't like the 250F, it made decent power only at the very top (13k rpm or so) and it felt heavy to me. The 350 is smoother, you have to rev it more than a 450 (it actually reminded me of riding a 2 stroke in many ways) but it fast and it didn't wear me out like the 450. I rode and raced 250 2 strokes every week for over 25 years and still like them (that's why i have my 250SX). To me the 350 is the bike closest to my 2 stroke, its just a little faster and its more tractable.

I think its a personal choice, for me a 250F (unless highly modded) is tough to ride the vet classes in when your drag racing 450's to the first corner and starting out mid pack. I love my 2 stroke but it wont beat a 450 to the first turn if its soft and deep, but i think its competitive everywhere except the dry slick stuff after that first turn. The 350 will run with 450 to the first turn and its a lot easier for me to ride personally. It don't wear me out like a 450 and i like to ride a couple classes anyway. My 2 stroke days and ways translate good for this bike.







PTshox
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1589
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Highland Village, TX, USA
7/4/2014 7:03pm
Forget the bike... lets talk about that white car behind it.
Ace_Burt
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12
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1/2/2011
Location
Seadrift, TX, USA
7/4/2014 7:10pm
ha ha we call that car terror, it will scare you to death in a matter of seconds with the electronics turned off.....
bvm111
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Las Vegas, NV, USA
7/4/2014 7:31pm
Sweet thanks for the info... That's what I was hoping it would be like. There is a guy at the track i ride at most that just bought a 14 and he loves it, i would never think of asking to ride it though. He is similar to me, always rode 2 strokes, had a 10ish year break in riding and just started again. I have been looking to attend a ride day for KTM but I have not been able to find one.

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