Factory Edition 350

One of the reasons the Factory Editions exist is to get new generation bikes on the starting line a year early, with no factory effort racing the 350, there's no reason to produce one. Secondly, the FEs have pushed the limit of how late they can be released and still appease the AMA's rules, meaning quite often they aren't in dealerships until some point in February and KTM has pushed their regular production runs so early, a standard year model is usually available only four months later.

Depending on the year and if the FE models actually hold real changes, they don't sell through perfectly. The 250s specifically sit a lot...I've walked into a shop in the later part of a year and seen tons of FE/RE model 250s just sitting around. Even with rebates, they end up being pricier than a standard model that comes out just a few months later. The 450s sell through better but end up sitting around too. Between their three brands, they're flooding the market with over 1,000 special edition 450s and trying to sell them all before the standard production models release just a few months later, adding in around 1,000 special edition 250s...that gets harder...add in 350s and it gets even tougher.

I think I will buy the 25 350 and bolt on my forks and the fender/gps/litpro for I think $250 and be happy. 

A buddy of mine asked the same question a week or two ago.   We were joking that these "editions" are all really just the Vet Editions and the 350F is a mostly a vet bike...   It seems like the perfect up-sale product.

What surprises me is that anyone buys the Austrian Factory Editions (prior to the current year).   None of the previous years had any really compelling performance upgrades.   Kawi and Honda give you improved suspension and some engine work.  The current KTM F.E. versions with the user tunable EFI and GPS system are much more interesting.

If you want a fresh bike it’s the only one to buy since it’s released really early. I’ve bought FEs just so I could get a bike early. I don’t like waiting till summer has started to get a new bike. 

This thread has achieved peak vet rider

There is a factory edition 350. It just happens to be an XCF which is a bike they actually race. They are kind of tough to find in a dealership so they must sell through pretty well.

I am a GasGas/Honda dealer.  We built a 2023 MC350F Factory Edition in house-it's awesome with the Dubya wheels, FE triple clamps, 4.1FMF, ect, but it did get rather expensive.  It should retail for $14,999, but to be competitive we have it down to $12,499.  The kicker is that's the same as a CRF450RWE, and more expensive than the 2023.5 MC450F Factory Edition which is on sale for $9999.  Prices do not include freight, prep, or tax, title, license.  See pictures for a sweet 350 FE build! 

We like trades, and we are in central Texas in New Braunfels.  Kent Motorsports/35 North Honda.  830 624-3000.   kentmotorsports.com

This is the first gasgas I've actually liked the look of, and sounds like nice setup too! 

I run braktec and I am a vet. Bleed them right, run the pads you like, they are fine.

I’m a vet and would buy a fc350fe in a heartbeat. Just saying. 

And it comes with the best option of all…. A kick stand.   

Understandable decision from a racing standpoint.

From a number crunching standpoint, seems reasonable to believe 1000 350s would go before 1000 250s. 
 

Would they not be able to make less, since they don’t care about homologation? 

Spring forks too if you hate air. 

Wrong transmission, unless you are off-road guy 

This past year I finally decided to get a new bike had plenty of used ones but it was time, I had no intention of getting a Factory edition bike but a 350 was my choice and the xc type platform. I looked at the base XCF350, The Husky FE?350, a hold over '22 XCF350. Then I saw the Factory Edition bike and started asking questions ... the amount of bling parts basically made it pretty close to the same price as the base model. Well I did have some struggles (the air fork had a defective seal which made me chase everything else and really was frustrating) After realizing the seal was defective and installed the SKF Glide kit the forks are great. A few things I have found: the bike hates pump gas, had to richen the TPS a lot, pipe springs vanished, the frame stiffness is real they say 10 hrs more like 25 hrs to break in, not a fan of the Dunlop tires, found I killed the engine a lot - resolved by just managing my riding style. In hindsight because of all these things I have kind of a paranoia with it, I may have been better off with the base model, IDK.

I eyed the 450 FE, but with preferring a 350, and the massive rebate on last year's standard model, it was a no brainer. With the savings, I could buy all those upgrades and still have money left over for racing (and beers).

It’s really about the orange frame … at least for me. As a 350 guy we are stuck with the black frame. I know it’s not that big of deal but I just prefer the orange frame and no i’m not stripping it down to get it powder coated. 

If your a vet guy just buy a 350XCF factory edition. The wider 6 speed trans is going to be better for a vet riding style anyways, the 18" rear will give you some more forgiveness in the rear. Just don't fill up the tank all the way if you are riding moto or buy the SXF tank for $100. 

As a current FE owner im not overly worried about it being an early model of frame etc. i bought it because i wanted the bling & it was going to cost a fortune to buy all the bits & fit to a stock bike.

KTM could release the 350 FE as just an upgraded 350 of the current model. Similar to car specs. I dont buy a new car then go back & ask for leather seats etc. i buy it new the way i want it. They could do a small run of 500 limited edition bikes no problem.

anyone remember the rattray 125sx? I wish id never sold that bike!!

If I had to wish for something it would be a Factory Edition 300SX Smoker!