Posts
89
Joined
5/1/2022
Location
CA
Is a 2023 350 SXF worth it over a 2022 stock GasGas 350F for a novice vet rider at 6'3, 220 pounds. Or would the MC350 likely be the better choice for its more forgiving nature and plusher ride character? Evaluating options.
No.
The 2022 handles a lot better.
Get one and buy a vortex and you will have a superior motorcycle to the 2023.
Neither one is going to hold a vet novice back. A 1997 kx250 wouldn’t hold us back let’s be honest.
I have a 22 gasgas mc350 with an fmf pipe and the suspension setup for my weight and skill and rode a stock 23 ktm 350 back to back and I would pick the gasgas. The only thing I felt the ktm did better was corner entrance. It just seemed to have a little more bite on the front tire when you first leaned into the corner. The engines are both good. The ktm had more bottom but didn’t rev as far. Once I put the billet clamps on my bike I got some of the front end feel the ktm had. Both are awesome bikes if you take the time to set them up for yourself. At 220 pounds you would need at least a rear spring on both bikes.
I have a XPR mapped Vortex for the 22 Gas Gas I am willing to part with, it is excellent and mapped for 91 pump gas… If interested let me know. I am moving to a 24 350 SXF in the next couple weeks as a 50th Bday present!
The Shop
Free shipping: VITALMX
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
I may be interested if OP isn’t. See phone number in message sent. Thanks.
Word is Chad can reformat the ‘17-‘’22 Vortex for the ‘23 and up Austrian bikes. I have one in my ‘17 and may get a ‘24 soon.
I disagree, I think the new frame turns much better.
I disagree and feel the new chassis is a big step forward.
I do think the 23 is a good upgrade. The new engine is really good out of the box.
I agree, if you ride them back to back its pretty amazing how much better.
I have heard that from a close friend of mine that knows Chad, i will give them a call next week to confirm! I also heard he is getting really impressive numbers on the dyno with 91 fuel and OEM exhaust!
Do you know if he’s able to make everything on the handlebar switch work? Do you mean Vortex built from 17-22?
Howdy scott_k2003, as several have remarked, it is very unlikely that you will ever need more than the GG 350 will be able to provide. As you move up, you may need more, but maybe not. My vote says tune the suspension to your weight and skill, and get out there and get more experience. Anyhoo, whatever you choose to do, have fun and be safe !
In my opinion if you have a Vortex ignition on a KTM/GG/ HSQV platform, is there really a need to switch maps when you are riding or racing?
On the 22/2023 Gas Gas bikes we take that switch off. Most guys pick one Vortex map for whatever track condition they are on and stick with it.
We did a blind KTM and Gas Gas test with 4 professional riders this past March and every rider picked the same map (XPR map 4) without knowing what map they were testing.
I owned the SXF 350 2017 model,,,, which I installed the big bore 366 Athena at 80hrs,,, I changed to the SXF 350 2019,,,, which I changed to the SXF 350 2022 model with Ohlins suspensions.
I had the opportunity to try the 2023 SXF 350 last weekend. , the engine is surprising and amazing. It feels like a 400cc. More powerful than the 366cc.
I did not appreciate the handling of the new platform. The suspensions were stiff and the bike did not fit in curves. At least not like my 2022 with its Ohlins suspensions. I recognize that the 2023 would probably perform better with equivalent suspensions.
It is clear to me that I will wait for the corrections or skip a KTM cycle. It was downright a disappointment. By the way, I tried the 2023 SXF 450 Factory Edition and it was similar.
Yes, sometimes there is a need/want. Some may want the QS feature, the launch control, or traction control. On my ‘18 (with a TD Vortex) I’d use the aggressive map for starts and sometimes run the rest of the race on a tamer map.
Brent,
To add to that, on my 21 350SXF I run Map 3 on the Vortex for map 2 on the handle bar and I have never even tried any of the other ones on the box... which is pretty dumb on my part! I will switch to map 1 on the bar at the end of the day when it’s hard packed and choppy as it’s smoother than the other map, was told that’s Chads “cleaned up OEM map” … I think i’m keeping the older vortex and just having him remap it for the 24.
The new KTM platform gets mixed reviews, I personally don't care for it as much as the 2021-2022 version of the bike.
The improvement is that the new chassis does not squat under acceleration as much as the 2021- 2022 chassis, BUT even with the bikes getting break in time in for the standard 10 hour period, the motorcycle feels a little stiff and harder to turn, even with upgraded suspension.
I know some suspension tuners like REP have a new linkage and knuckle available to make the shock a little more progressive, but I haven't tried one yet on our 2023 450SXF.
Just ran this exactly at a ride day. Perfect conditions first 3-4 times out map 1. Last couple were getting dry and rough XPR map 3 (set to 2 on the bar). Worked great. Other than suspension, this is the mod for these bikes. XPR or Twisted. For GG owners, you can buy the switch that comes on the KTM & Husky - plug n play, - or set it and forget it.
Pit Row
I am a lowly vet novice, and had a 2017, 2020.5 fc450 and rode my new 2023 sxf450 today and it's pretty easy to feel the differences.
Since I am 250lbs and 6.1ft tall, the 2017 was quite choppered and would squat when standing and on the power. It took me ages (first ktm) to figure out a big spring and loads more compression damping.
I got my 2020.5 dialed much quicker and I've been riding loads recently and it's a dialed bike and better than the 2017, it turned much better.
Riding rhe 2023 today, the ergos are better and with just a rear spring the back end really holds up a lot better. The bike is proper stiff and transmits a lot to the rider, so the reports might be correct and it should loosen up soon. I think for bigger riders, it might have more potential than rhe older frames.
The old bike won't hold anyone back, but maybe for bigger lads the new one might be more suitable and quicker to setup.
I won't be trading for a 1997 kx250
sent you a PM
I picked up a '23 with 9hrs on it. I'm coming off a '20 450sxf. I'm still shaking it down and adjusting from coming from the 450. I'm only three rides in and the bike is fucking awesome.
Post a reply to: '23 350 SXF Worth Upgrade Over '22 GasGas MC350F?