Best 350?

Had a ‘19 KTM 350 and also a ‘23 KTM 350, both were great bikes. Had to throw in the mx towel because my neck and back, it’s been a few years since I hit the track. Miss it, but life goes on.

2019-2022  ktm 350's are great. never liked the frame or motor of the 23 and up 350's. Just rebuilt my 22 350 motor after 223 hours. 

Not tryin’ to be a smart-ass…but…

I’d have to go with the Beta RX smoker. 

 

I went to a 350 for the same reasons as you, I was tired of shifting so much on my 250, but I also wanted a free feeling 4 stroke, I always feel the 250’s are wound so tight!


I don’t know where you live but I’d sell you my low hour (have to check but 10 hours or less) 2025 Husky FX350 for a song and dance. Phenomenal machine but I have other bikes and not enough time to ride them all so this one can go.

I thought this thread was going to be about me

CR500.

Sorry, thought that was the correct answer to any “what bike?” post…😂

I joined team 350 this year (new leftover 25 350SXF). I absolutely LOVE this bike. I was on 250 2-strokes until 4-strokes took over, then 450s ever since. I swore I would never ride anything but a 450, particularly at 230lbs. However, I found a deal too good to pass up on the 350 and figured it would be easy to sell if I didn’t like it. 

My first couple rides were tough until I took my man pill and admitted that all the 450s had made me lazy as €£%$ in the corners. Reaching back to my 2-stroke days in the old brain-box reminded me to actually use the shifter, stop lugging it, and ride like a motocrosser. I am now 5+ seconds a lap faster on the same tracks as I was on my 450, and can ride much longer without feeling like a wrung-out dishrag. As a bonus, you can lug it a bit if absolutely necessary and a quick hit of the clutch will bring it back into the power. And the top end pull is like a dragster. 

Handling-wise, it makes the 2022-earlier chassis feel like it has a piano hinge in the middle. I always liked my 450 (21.5 FE) until I rode the 350. Granted, the engine makes this slightly apples to oranges, but the 25+ is on rails, turns tight, and feels Velcro-ed to the ground. 

In my opinion there is not a better Vet bike made than the 350. If I did off road too I might consider the XC. 

I touched one the other day at the dealership, stunning 

Just sold my 2017 350. With spring forks and REP knuckle handled great. Always found myself between gears though so prob going back to a 450. 

I loved my 2021 350SXF and was so nervous to get a new gen frame model because of all the reports. I picked up my 2025 and it is so much better than the 21 and felt stupid for being worried about the new chassis. Is it soft and supple, nope, but it’s a MX bike, it’s precise, flies straight and corners amazing for me… The motor is much stronger than the last gen as well, I felt the last gen a TD or XPR Vortex ecu was necessary but you will be fine without the vortex on the current gen, I will probably pick up a 2027 soon! 

Those were really good bikes…surprisingly good on a moto track, too.

2025+ frame with a split triple clamp. I prefer the Luxon clamp as it has the Japanese style design for the steering.

I’ve posted a few times on here about the stock triple clamp being the culprit for the harsh feeling from the newer ktms everyone talks about. I noticed a huge difference with clamps on the newer ktms. 

I would take the air fork with a Luxon clamp over KYB Spring fork with a stock clamp as I have both. 

350s are amazing and I don’t understand why more people don’t ride them. I would think a Factory 350 would be the ultimate Sx bike but with KTM having no competitors in that displacement, they need their guys on 450s from a marketing standpoint. I believe I was the best 350 rider in Sx this year because of that 🤣

I spent a couple weeks on one setting up and sweeping timekeeper enduros a long time ago, it was super rideable and comfortable. Didn’t feel fast at all, but it was really easy to carry speed on. Just enough power.

I've had every generation 350 and believe each one just got better with my current 25 350sxf being the best. The motor on the 23+ models is the most impressive part, and a big improvement over the previous model.

The stiffer chassis is the main complaint of the newer model and some feel it some don't. It really isn't something that bothers me but I am a bigger guy and ride alot of sand.

I'm excited to see what the 28 model delivers with rumours of a softer chassis and possible dual injection.

The current gen is the best gen. The motor is basically perfect. Plenty of power and it revs to the moon. When I first bought it, I was missing my 2021 chassis, but once I dialed in the sag, it’s been flawless. Can’t go wrong with any of them 2017+ (post 4CS forks), but if you can swing it, get a new one. 

Edit: it also doesn’t matter which color. I’ve had all 3 and they’re all good. 

I have owned a 2017, 2020 and now 2026.  All the bikes have been the XCF. The 2017 and 2020 were very similar with the motor.  The forks were slightly better on the 20, but I ended up switching to a spring fork. The 26 is unreal.  The suspension is so good and the motor is really good. The advancements with the transmission and ECU are head and shoulders better.  The ergos on the 26 fit me much better than the 17 and 20. 

Have had a 21 FC 350, 23 MC 350 (old gen) and currently a 25 FC 350 heritage. The new gen bike is better in every aspect than the previous one. Done racing and back to a professional practice rider so this one will be around for a long while. Love the 350s. Went back to a 450 for a bit, only lasted a few weeks before I traded it in and bought the 25

Just recently sold an RM and reminded me of the good ol days watching you tear up Badlands 🙂 I can’t wait to go get a 350. Been a 250 two stroke die hard for a while and it’s time to come home lol. 

I've had one of every gen since 2016 and would echo what others have said about steady improvement with each one, with the biggest improvement being the 2023. The engine has a much better low end now which sounds like it would be exactly what you're looking for having said you're sick of the frantic shifting and clutching on the 250 but also don't want an automatic like the 450. The 350 really is the perfect middle, you can ride it lower rpm like a 450 or let it rev like a 250 and it's happy doing either. The harsh chassis complaints shouldn't be a big concern for you if you ride softer tracks, I've only ever noticed it on super hard, choppy conditions, non issue on sandy stuff. I have the FC and primarily ride moto but have done a national enduro and hare scramble on it with nothing more than softening the compression on the shock and dropping the psi in the fork, which you said you don't want the air fork but it would give you some more versatility than the spring fork if you want a do it all bike, and really they've gotten way better and are a good fork now. I also have a few buddies that have FXs that they race J-Days on which are moto and woods and they love them so you probably can't go wrong either way. Only other thing to consider is the ride height difference between the White and Orange one, the Husky has a lower seat height which I like, the KTM sits about an inch higher.  

‘26 350 XCF has spring forks, correct? 

Yo…..that 2022 was a great bike.  It runs more like an extremely hopped up 250 than the 2023+ bikes.   I had a 2022 and eventually replaced it with a 2025 after 90+ hours.  They both have their advantages.  If the 2022 is a good low hour deal…..don’t rule it out.  

Yes it does.

Anyone know if there's going to be any changes to the '27 350? I have a '23 and I'm about due for a new bike. If there isn't going to be any updates to the '27 I'll just find a '25/'26 with low hours

Any two stroke diehard can compare a 250 2 stroke, to a 350, and convince me of switching? I have owned a 450 previous to my YZ 250, and hated it. I also owned a 125 and loved it, so I am curious to see how a 250 2 stroke stacks up against a 350

Not bad then. I’m in Illinois. If you want it message me.

I was a 2T die hard. I briefly had a CRF250 some years ago, and hated everything about it. Went back to a CR250. Was intrigued by 350s but leaning towards a YZ250 when getting back into riding. Was able to ride a friend’s 350. It honestly felt reasonably light and nimble with minimal engine braking. That was almost 2 years ago and I have zero regrets for getting a 350 SXF (‘24). 

Disclaimer-my last 250 2-stroke was an 02 CR250 with milled head/TMR ported cylinder/etc, so no experience on the modern 250s from team blue/orange/etc. That said, I’d say the 350 is extremely similar to a 250 2-stroke in terms of riding style (2nd gear in turns, 3rd on the exits, likes to be ridden aggressively)…except that unlike a 250 2-stroke, it has almost unlimited rev like a 250 4-stroke, and some of the torque of a 450 4-stroke (to a point). It’s not an automatic like a 450, but it has a much more forgiving power spread than a 2-stroke with all of the positives. 

I know it gets repeated ad nauseum, but the 350 really is the perfect motor. 

Reference the air forks, I was a diehard “air forks suck” subscriber until this bike. I am riding my 25 bone stock other than clickers/air pressure adjustment and a heavier rear spring. Now that it’s broken in I’d ideally like slightly firmer feel, but I honestly could ride it as-is without issue. They’re really, really good.

I started 16 350 xcf, current is a 24 and agree on the 24era, the ergos just suit me and the engine tweaks are really good ( first one I didn't tweak the TPS to enrich idle/reduce stall ).

Just the chocked off airbox/exhaust for sound otherwise same bike I believe