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Japanese 350s
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I have nothing against KTM and husky. I'd just figured at this point other manufacturers would have something in the pipeline for that market.
Somebody interviewed some Japanese engineer at Honda years ago about this subject, and he said something along the lines of it didn't make any financial sense to develop an entirely new motor for something they would only sell a few thousand units of.
They even had twice pipes on it back then too.
The horsepower does not worry me ( I'm happy with my CR500 two-stroke), it's just harder to throw around with that lump of an engine.
Same piston, cam & valves, just need a shorter cam chain, deck the barrel and a new crank.
I've ridden my mates KTM350's, didn't excite me at all; too flat all the way through the rpm range, maybe with all the low-down shifted to the top-end might be nice :-)
I really like the looks of those old Honda SL's. One of my brothers bought a brand new SL70 back in the early 70's. Neat bike, and Honda would probably sell a bunch of them if they brought them back.
Pit Row
The 450’s are a hand full these days, the 250’s arnt enuff ( 2t excepted)
Tried orange! Just not my flavor!
& forks suck!
I wouldn’t be surprised if one day soon the current 450’s go the way of the 500 2t!
Too much for the average rider
But remember, KTM is a company run by dirt bike enthusiasts, people who really love riding and racing.
Honda and the rest of the Japanese companies are run by conservative accountants.
I feel like my 17 CRF450 on soft is fairly similar to my friends SXF350 on normal.
Destroking while utilizing the same crank webs would hardly reduce inertia
It would decrease piston speed, make the ports and valves become oversized for their use, and require a high revving type engine to produce good power
The ktm 350 is a very short stroke engine
If you reduced bore size - and went the other way - you could still produce good torque at lower rpms more easily - imho.
Of course a reduction of both bore and stroke - would cross the middle and be what you really want.
The sport needs a cc reduction. 350 still produces the same hp needed to go fast - but has enough versatility that different oems could produce different power styles and compete for rider preference
When most of the top 5 at mxdn is 250cc - the proof is already there the 450 isnt needed
KTM and Beta both make a 350, and have since 2011. There are a few smaller 300's in the TM and Sherco that people seem to love, and Beta alone makes a 390 (formerly 400) as another niche choice in the 4t's. There are also some over 450 big bores in the KTM/Husky, Beta, TM and now Sherco also. To each their own
Here's the just released 2019 Beta RR Race Edition 4t which is available in a 350/390/430/480.
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