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While I completely agree with what you are saying and can see this is the thought process behind the manufacturers. I just wish they would care a little less about there bottom dollar and a little more about what the consumer wants (350's and 2 strokes ha ha).
It would be a safe bet to say only a small percentage of dirtbikes they sell actually get raced and even smaller percentage by pros. So if they really cared about profit they should produce more of what the average Joe wants.
All this has got me seriously contemplating putting my 23 350sxf motor in my 24 kx450 🤣
^^^Y’all are thinking too hard about this stuff.
A 350 in your 450 frame would be crazy cool!👍
While it would be nice to have a benevolent manufacturer run by enthusiasts, I don't see a one being carefree about their bottom line... at least one that wants to be in business very long.
The Big 4(3) aren’t gonna make a 350.
The Austrians are.
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Yeah I'm definitely an over thinker ha ha.
If I lived near someone I trusted to do the work I probably would. Will wait a try the new 25 ktm frame first.
And I also agree, the big 4 will never make 350's, just wishful thinking.
I just went from a 450 to a gasser 350. I was initially worried As I was slower and struggled to clear a couple step up’s that were easy on the 450. But after installing the map switch and quick throttle cam I am stoked! Can’t wait for the weekend, the bike feels perfect now!
I wasn’t talking about you
I do think that in few months there are gonna be even better deals on ‘24s.
Saw a 24 SXF 450 listed for $7999 at Ridersville, while the 350 is only discounted to $9599. Demand for the 350 no doubt dictates the difference, they never seem to hit blowout 450 prices. There’s a huge market for the 350 but it seems the Japanese will never admit it. Shame.
This is my first season with my 2022 KTM 350. I added the FMF 4.1 Titanium exhaust, XPR Vortex added, and Race-Tech Suspension by BWR Engines this previous Spring. I love this bike, especially coming from an arm ripping off 250SX. I'm a 40+B rider at 230lbs and have zero worries about power and handling. I don't think I'll go back to a 2 stroke or 450 any time soon? I love how it will lug and rev out when needed. It just pulls everywhere here in the sandy, loam, and black dirt tracks we have here in NW Illinois.
I've got a little over 20hrs on my '23 KTM 350sxf. I go back and forth constantly about going back to a 450. My 350 is amazing. Vortex, FC did my KYB conversion and revalved the shock. The bike does not hold me back in any way. I'm just a lazy, unskilled vet rider and a 450 lets me go faster. I always come to my senses though and realize I'm the problem and not the lack of 100cc.
I’m a minority here but if I’m going to ride a open class bike it’s going to be a 450, can’t think of any situation I’d want a 350 over a 450.
Not being rude but just wondering have you actually spent much time on a 350?
First ride report at Perris - I took it suuuper easy so I could get a feel for how the bike would react. First few moto's were alright, I wish KTM offered extra bar clamp positions. I like my bars to be in the center of the clamp, it helps me stay forward and drastically reduces my arm pump. I'll be getting some Luxon clamps asap.
This bike is incredibly light! It was so easy to get it to go anywhere I wanted and it has a ton of power. I did have weird moments of deflection where I wouldn't have expected, but I suppose that may come from being used to aluminum frames? I'm not sure.
I tried keefers settings and they were spot on (I'm 175).
I'm satisfied, but I want to make this bike have Yamaha level predictability. When I'm comfortable I can go pretty quick and I'm excited to figure this thing out.
My ideas so far to increase handling performance are: triple clamps (for bar positioning), fat bars to reduce vibration, and KYB inserts.
What are other "must have" mods that make this bike handle like a dream?
I'd buy a new Yz 400 in a heart beat, the 350 I would have to think about. Although I did love my Ktm 350, the the Sxf 270 I have is more fun to ride.
Deflection on a ktm you don't say...
The 350s seem quite a bit pricier. 10K, and that’s a good deal?!
Oh. My. God. KYBs are Gods gift to humanity. This is my favorite bike I’ve ever ridden. I decided to do some section work on the Main at Pala and good lord does this thing feel comfy with KYB inserts (350ml of fork oil) and the REP linkage. I still want to get triple clamps so I can move my bars forward for better control over the bike - but I recommend to everyone that they should try the KYB swap.
anybody got any tips for reducing vibration though? I felt a lot more vibration through my calves and hands at higher speeds — or do I just have to suck it up?
Did you already try turning around the stock bar mounts? They are usually mounted back stock.
Your can’t do much about the vibration at your feet other than maybe different boots. Sidi srs soles absorb some vibration compared to a welt sole. At your hands you can try thicker grips. A fatbar 36 will help with 250 engine vibes. I don’t know about 350 vibes. The 2025 upper engine mounts might help too.
Pit Row
i was never talking in a national because i’m not a national pro but a local average intermediate … but every single solitary video on youtube comparing 350 to 450 lap times is glaringly in favor of the 350 usually by 1-3 seconds a lap even josh was 2 seconds a lap faster at GH before he did the national so i don’t think he would beg to differ since he even said at the local track not racing a national he would chose the 350.
So instead of the Japanese companies keeping customers on their brands with 350s, they lose customers to other brands with 350s, yet they think their own 350s would lose riders from their 450 sales........dat don't make no sense.....they're losing customers
That 350 national video review was bizarre:
he said he hit the wall hard energy wise because of diet and training, he said he learned what to change and would come into the next one more prepared.
the next one he comes in more prepared and on a 450 and his results are essentially the same but the entire 350 video he blames and trashes the 350?
seemed more a Josh thing than a. 350 thing reading between the lines, and referencing back to the shootout where he was 3 seconds faster on the 350 and couldn’t even believe that fact or accept it.
Question on the 350. I'm very close to pulling the trigger on a Husky 350, like 4-6 weeks away. I have yet to ride a new one (newer than 2020). I sat on one and I'm not in love with the rider triangle (when seated) and how the seat feels - feels like riding a sawhorse. I'm currently on a YZ450 and really like it, yet I'm wanting to go the 350 route. I like a little more of a saddle feel to the seat (mainly for seat bouncing) verses a flat 2x4 feel. Any suggestions? Seat bump or step seat? I'm sure I would get a little more used to it. Outside that, I can't wait to pull the trigger on one.
The funniest part is he was also faster on the 250. 350 3 seconds faster, 250 2 seconds faster. The reality is there is only a handful of people in the world even at the pro level that actually accel on a 450 but like the other guy said the perceived disadvantage for racing is too strong to accept for almost everyone.
Went from a 19 ktm 450, to a 24 husky 350, only an hour on it, only thing I can say, it does feel and ride much lighter
got it on sale 9k otd.
Yep I agree. And also he said his results were better on the 450 but I can't remember which moto it was but the last 4-5 guys DNF'd so his results compared to 350 were very similar.
I agree that for qualifying the 350 is probably a slight disadvantage but for any of the guys out of the top 20-30 they could possibly be better off on a 350 in the motos.
I love my 350 but I'm faster on my YZ 250F.
I went from a YZ 450F to a 350 and I'm faster on the 350 but faster on the 250F.
Do you think you would be faster again if yamaha made a 350?
Are you talking about speed related vibration, or engine RPM related vibration?
KTMs vibrate more in every engine size and model. I don't know if it's the frame or the engine, but I only notice it when I switch between equal sized bikes. For about a lap I feel my buddy's 150SX vibrate if I've been riding my YZ125... Etc.
Since I ride a bunch of two strokes (YZ125, YZ250, KX500) and then hop on my 350F, I don't notice any increased vibration.
If it's speed related (not RPM related) it's entirely possible that it's in your suspension setting, tire setup and the track surface.
Unlikely a source of vibration, but if you have plenty of hold-up you can sometimes trade some HSC for LSC in the shock to get some comfort.
Which cartridges did you use in your forks? Spring rate?
How did your install go?
I love to hear feedback and learn from what you guys are doing with the conversion kits.
I think the track conditions during the shootout favored the smaller bikes.
a couple laps on the 350 at Fod
Post a reply to: Are you incredibly happy with your 350?