Posts
198
Joined
4/13/2015
Location
AU
Edited Date/Time
4/12/2022 10:32am
Super excited to get my new 22 350sxf a few weeks ago. I had the 18 fc350 and just loved it.
Finally got out for my first ride on the 22 Ktm today and was shocked to find I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would. Number one problem, vibration. And not just through the bars, my feet felt a buzz in a way I’ve never felt on any dirt bike before. Through the bars it’s worse. My hands are numb after three laps.
Other than that, the suspension is just not up to par. On big impacts, the Forks feel like something Ktm bought at a 2 dollar shop. It’s just a strange feeling. They work pretty well ( for air forks) through medium sized bumps, but jump landings they feel horrible. Keefer refers to this in his tests as feeling “cheap”, and I have to concur. They feel better than a 2020 sxf I owned on small medium bumps, but feel terrible on a big landing. The 2020 forks were kind of opposite, as they worked well on big stuff, but just couldn’t cope with choppy braking bumps. Maybe as they removed the bottoming cone on the newer AER design?
Other than that, the power is awesome, and I love the handling (forks aside), brakes and light weight feel. The bike overall feels stiff, but I assume that will improve with further riding time. But with the vibration being so bad, I can’t really enjoy these positives for all that long before my hands and numb and I can’t ride anymore.
So, I’m debating just dumping this bike, or, giving it more time to break in. I can see the frame will soften the overall feel some, and I expect I’ll get a spring conversion for the forks and be happy, but will the engine vibration issue improve post break in ? Any other Ktm/husky 350 owners feel the vibration is bad also? Does it improve with more time on the bike?
Finally got out for my first ride on the 22 Ktm today and was shocked to find I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would. Number one problem, vibration. And not just through the bars, my feet felt a buzz in a way I’ve never felt on any dirt bike before. Through the bars it’s worse. My hands are numb after three laps.
Other than that, the suspension is just not up to par. On big impacts, the Forks feel like something Ktm bought at a 2 dollar shop. It’s just a strange feeling. They work pretty well ( for air forks) through medium sized bumps, but jump landings they feel horrible. Keefer refers to this in his tests as feeling “cheap”, and I have to concur. They feel better than a 2020 sxf I owned on small medium bumps, but feel terrible on a big landing. The 2020 forks were kind of opposite, as they worked well on big stuff, but just couldn’t cope with choppy braking bumps. Maybe as they removed the bottoming cone on the newer AER design?
Other than that, the power is awesome, and I love the handling (forks aside), brakes and light weight feel. The bike overall feels stiff, but I assume that will improve with further riding time. But with the vibration being so bad, I can’t really enjoy these positives for all that long before my hands and numb and I can’t ride anymore.
So, I’m debating just dumping this bike, or, giving it more time to break in. I can see the frame will soften the overall feel some, and I expect I’ll get a spring conversion for the forks and be happy, but will the engine vibration issue improve post break in ? Any other Ktm/husky 350 owners feel the vibration is bad also? Does it improve with more time on the bike?
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"See dude, it's not just me".
However, they did find this when disassembling the forks, which I'm guessing was part of my problem. You may want to torque everything and also pull the forks apart before giving up.
Its a great bike.
Craziest thing I've ever seen.
Make sure your suspension is set up right. Vibration issue, not sure. My 2019 vibrates a lot. I went xtrig phds bar mounts and a Renthal fat bar. The pro taper Evo is also good. The stock bar is super stiff.
DM me and I can give you all the set up tips and settings. KTM are stiff at first and there are a few minor parts that need changing
We did a lot of testing in this area in January on this bike, and we tried quite a few items to reduce vibration.
Changing bars and grips is a good start, we had the least amount of vibration with Pro Taper SX Race bars without a crossbar. We also went to an aftermarket bar clamp, and ultimately X Trig ROCS clamps with the PHDS bar mounts, This eliminated almost all handlebar vibration.
The end setup for this bike was One FaastCo anti Vibration mount on the clutch side, an Aluminum throttle tube, X trig clamps, PHDS bar mounts with the medium elastomer inserts, slightly different torque settings on the upper motor mounts, and TI bolts to replace the OEM lower motor mount bolts, and Renthal soft Grips because the Stock ODI are too big and too hard.
But if you want to do the minimum, change the bars and get some Faastco anti vibration bar inserts, and change the grips to glue on types rather than the stockers. If you want to go one step further, you can get the X trig OEM PHDS bar mounts that will fit the stock KTM triple clamp.
It goes without saying that the shock and fork have to be set up for the rider's weight and skill level, and when they are, they are equal to the best suspension on the market. Spring rate in the back is the most important thing to look at.
I have more but that is a good start.
Pit Row
The suspension is really good on that bike. I’m to the point now that I just run modified AERs and I am 6 foot, 215 and race Vet A Moto, so I definitely put the full range of the stock forks to use and an A kit isn’t the difference in me going faster it’s always more seat time, which is much cheaper than an A kit.
One thing, make sure you change the rear shock spring if you aren’t in the stock weight range. The biggest trick to getting the AERs to work best is having the shock set up properly.
I run Renthal FatBars, because I had them laying around, but Pro Taper seems to be the go to.
As mentioned, xtrig ROCS clamps with PHDS and a set of FaastCo bar inserts (on both sides) will get you where you want to be.
I have the ‘19 and there’s absolutely no vibration issues on my bike. I use the Emig V2 grips and don’t have any issues with them being to big, size XXL gloves, so maybe smaller hands might be a different scenario ??
Vibration could be a bunch of things. Your FC had ProTaper bars stock. That makes a difference. Loose bolts and mounts. If its still bad, internal engine item then. Crank out of balance maybe?
Seems as tho ktm’s quality control is severely lacking.
Vibration is a concern though, something ain’t right there.
I didn’t even know about the fasstco handlebars inserts, so if all the above is still not enough I’ll try that too.
Will also re-torque all the motor mounts and Swingarm pivot.
My initial ride report was based on the bike totally stock. I did retorque the triple clamp bolts to spec and check the bike over, but otherwise totally as delivered.
I’m not a Ktm hater, last 4 bikes I’ve had were the 18 fc350, 20 450sxf and I also have a 21 crf450r in the garage at the moment. Most aspects of the Austrian bikes are great. I did feel more vibration on my 18 350 and 20 450 than previous Honda’s I had owned, but nothing like what I felt on the 22 350. But huskys come with pro tapers stock, and my 20 450 I bought with 10 hours on it, so already run in and already had a pro taper bar installed, so maybe that really is most of the difference.
Regards the fork, something definitely felt “off”. But I’ll sort out the handlebars clamps first and then tackle the forks once I have a few more hours on it.
Thanks again everyone
IMO KTM needs to really get rid of the OEM plastic throttle tube, they bind up so easily in a crash…
If the shock has too light of a spring, or the sag is not set correctly, then the bike will “chopper out” and the fork will feel like shit.
Race sag and spring rate for your weight is the first and most important thing to get right with any new KTM/Husq/ gasgas.
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