Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but Premium users receive great benefits. Premium benefits include:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
Just get it, keep both for awhile and sell the one you don't want later.
8700
Long post incoming. A ramble if you will.
Got an invite today from two friends, both with 25 orange 350s to come spin laps on their bikes (and let my daughter get some laps in on her bike)
One had kyb drop ins and 13/52 gearing with a hgs pipe, one had kyb a kit air forks, 14/52 with fmf.
Neither suspension set ups were great for me. Same symptoms my yz had when I was struggling, but probably because it was the same guy that built them. My buddies are both quite a bit shorter than me, so i was a bit cramped at 6' with their bar set ups. They both used similar odi bars with cross bar (stiff) and a bigger sweep than i like and definitely rolled back. Noticed that preventing me from getting far enough forward in corners but when i forced myself forward, those things could turn! I didn't care a whole lot about any of that tho. I was interested in the motor.
I was impressed. I jumped everything on the 2nd lap but to he fair i have 100s of laps at that particular practice track and would probably do everything on a 125 too. I hit everything big in 3rd, just as i did on my 450, but was higher rpm which i loved. Its so much easier for me to whip when im ringin it out lol. Only one section i felt the lack if torque. It was an uphill double then right after it was a 80-90' single to table. In beween the two i could kinda say i wanted a little more (ecu fix?). I liked the bike with the fmf a little better. He uses the softer map, but i tried both. I liked the hit on the aggressive map, but the engine braking was extreme compared to what im used to. The softer map made it much better but not quite the hit I like. Am i correct in thinking an xpr vortex would give me the best of both worlds? Both bikes had stock ecu's btw and both bikes were raced at the ranch. One in pro sport and the other in +45 and +50. The 13/52 bike was definitely easier to use 3rd everywhere (+50 bike). I think this may translate to solid starts too.
I was originally downshifting to 2nd for most turns, but i soon learned the bike would work just as well in 3rd and with a little clutch i could get right back to those high rpms where she really pulled.
I was sort of hoping id hate them, but i don't, so my decision is even harder now. The bike i mentioned for sale is listed at 9k. He also has a built set of wheels for 800. It would be nice to skip all dealer fees and also skip having to do the spring swap right away but still having a nearly brand new bike. Im thinking 8500 or 9k with wheels.
My go-to for suspension now is Levi Kilbarger at Bonzi. Dude does something to KYB that creates the most trusted suspension I've ever used, and hes confident he can give me that same feel out of the suspension that comes with that bike. Had a few buddies tell me I looked better on it than my yz but the track owner told me my yam pulled like a freight train lol. Wife was originally anti change but said i looked pretty quick on them so she supports the change now. She said my lap times were right about the same. I figure with one properly set up for me (bars and suspension), i may actually end up able to go faster because its so much more flickable. "Flickability" is what i liked about my yz over the kx I tried, but these 350s were even a step further.
Rant over. Will report back if i own one soon.
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
I'm smaller but I find the 350 shines when the track gets rough. I can ride a 450 ok on a smooth track but I just end up fighting it and getting wore out on a really rough track where the 350 I can push all moto, maybe be a little reckless for a second if I need to and get away with it without the consequences of doing that kinda thing on a 450. 350 is sick stock, even gnarlier in terms of ringing it out when you throw an ECU on. I can't believe more vet racers don't ride them.
I think the the 23+ 350's are awesome with the stock engine, but add a vortex and they are better again, go a step further and add a dual injector and they are next level.
I never use 2nd gear in any corner ever, 3rd/4th everywhere. The 350 is such a quick free revving engine that a quick stab of the clutch gets them right back in the meat of the power. And it handles rough corners better in 3rd than revved out in 2nd.
There has been alot of talk about the stiffer chassis on the 23+ ktms and it has never been something I've really noticed. I'm a heavier guy and ride alot of sand track so that might have been why. Recently I've been riding a concrete hard track and definitely feel a bit of that chassis stiffness people talk about. That is about the only negative I can come up with the bike but it's far from enough to make me not like it.
I say get the bike and try, you can always sell it if you don't like it.
I became a member of the 350 church yesterday. I have owned yz250fs since 2006. Many of them modified fairly good. I had ridden this bike and another friends 350 before I bought my bike. Both bikes when I rode them had a kit suspensions. My bike is now a stock 24 ktm 350sxf, no longer a kit. I rode it tonight on my practice track. Very fast, currently I am a little slower than my 250 while I adapt to it. Jumps are so much easier. I am not ridding it like a 250 yet. Hard pack and slippery today. Lugged it more like a 450, but it worked good. I was worried about the air forks but so far I was very happy. I did not check the pressure or set my sag. I need to do both. The seat height does feel to high for both feet down starts with no blocks. Dies anyone make lowering links for the bike? Very happy hopefully I adapt quickly to a new brand, my wife last night said it’s not blue?
Skip the lowering link and buy the Tamer front AND rear devices. Youll easily be flat foot snd youll get better starts than ever.
Im waiting to hear back from a dealer who is trying to get me a deal on one. If that falls through and the one i mentioned above is still available, I may just do that one. Whatever i do, im going to add a build thread and regularly update it as i give it the hours.
Pit Row
Post a reply to: Best 350?