‘17 Ktm 350 vs 300?

BobPA
Posts
8023
Joined
10/31/2013
Location
PA US
10/9/2017 11:19am
cc304 wrote:
Goes both ways though. Even pros like kailub russel ride a 350. Both are great bikes just asking about opinions, I wouldn’t go as far to...
Goes both ways though. Even pros like kailub russel ride a 350. Both are great bikes just asking about opinions, I wouldn’t go as far to say one or the other necessarily blows the other out of the water thoigh
GNCC's are wide open and fast, not overly technical (unless it is muddy). Look at all of the hard enduro stuff from Euro land, two strokes are king.
Monk
Posts
866
Joined
1/11/2017
Location
CA
10/9/2017 11:39am
Monk wrote:
300 is overrated and far from the 'best offroad bike made". The 250 2t is a better power plant... But, a new 350 is about as...
300 is overrated and far from the 'best offroad bike made". The 250 2t is a better power plant... But, a new 350 is about as good as it get with the current technology around. Lightweight, FI, 6spd, etc. make it as about as factory racer you can get...
You do realize the 250 and 300 are the exact same engine except for the Cylinder and piston right? What makes you say the 250 is...
You do realize the 250 and 300 are the exact same engine except for the Cylinder and piston right? What makes you say the 250 is a better powerplant? if the 300 weren't the best off road bike, why would ALL of the top guys ride them? Don't even say it's because that's what KTM wants them to ride. That's bullcrap. KTM sells more 300's than anything else. Every one of them is sold on preorder, every year. You cant walk in and buy one off the floor.
No, I had no idea the 250/300 was the 'exact' same engine. Like who would have thought to do that? Use the same frame, suspension, wheels, brakes, transmission, clutch, bottom end, etc etc but just make a smaller cylinder? You know the 250f/350f share the same setup also?

What argument can I possibly make when it comes to the 'pros' and what they choose to ride? Like their Pros, they can ride whatever they want... Maybe we could talk about how Walkers 300exc uses the XC transmission, or how Lars Enokl (sp) was riding the TPI 300 in hard enduro long before it saw production. Point being, what the pros ride is irrelevant to what you and I ride.

As for the 300, lots of people buy 450s for no other reason than because they 'think' they need a 450. Usually when they drop down to something small they find out they are faster and less tired at the end of their ride. People buy the 300 on the 'hype' of it being a 300. It doesn't make any more power then the 250 and its torque numbers isn't mind blowing different than the 250. The 250 motor isn't quite as aggressive off the bottom, transitions smoother through the power range and revs out farther too. It's a much easier motor to ride than the 300 which peaks quickly and then signs off earlier...
grunkster
Posts
393
Joined
12/2/2014
Location
Rochester, MN US
10/9/2017 11:51am
Have to agree with monk...have ridden my 17 250xc back to back with 17 300’s, and the 250 engine just seems “happier”. At least the 17/18 300’s are no longer paint can shakers (counterbalancer) like they used to be.
BobPA
Posts
8023
Joined
10/31/2013
Location
PA US
10/9/2017 12:02pm
Monk wrote:
No, I had no idea the 250/300 was the 'exact' same engine. Like who would have thought to do that? Use the same frame, suspension, wheels...
No, I had no idea the 250/300 was the 'exact' same engine. Like who would have thought to do that? Use the same frame, suspension, wheels, brakes, transmission, clutch, bottom end, etc etc but just make a smaller cylinder? You know the 250f/350f share the same setup also?

What argument can I possibly make when it comes to the 'pros' and what they choose to ride? Like their Pros, they can ride whatever they want... Maybe we could talk about how Walkers 300exc uses the XC transmission, or how Lars Enokl (sp) was riding the TPI 300 in hard enduro long before it saw production. Point being, what the pros ride is irrelevant to what you and I ride.

As for the 300, lots of people buy 450s for no other reason than because they 'think' they need a 450. Usually when they drop down to something small they find out they are faster and less tired at the end of their ride. People buy the 300 on the 'hype' of it being a 300. It doesn't make any more power then the 250 and its torque numbers isn't mind blowing different than the 250. The 250 motor isn't quite as aggressive off the bottom, transitions smoother through the power range and revs out farther too. It's a much easier motor to ride than the 300 which peaks quickly and then signs off earlier...
350 SX-F stroke : 57.5mm
250 SX-F stroke : 52.3mm

You were saying?

The Shop

Monk
Posts
866
Joined
1/11/2017
Location
CA
10/9/2017 12:27pm
Monk wrote:
No, I had no idea the 250/300 was the 'exact' same engine. Like who would have thought to do that? Use the same frame, suspension, wheels...
No, I had no idea the 250/300 was the 'exact' same engine. Like who would have thought to do that? Use the same frame, suspension, wheels, brakes, transmission, clutch, bottom end, etc etc but just make a smaller cylinder? You know the 250f/350f share the same setup also?

What argument can I possibly make when it comes to the 'pros' and what they choose to ride? Like their Pros, they can ride whatever they want... Maybe we could talk about how Walkers 300exc uses the XC transmission, or how Lars Enokl (sp) was riding the TPI 300 in hard enduro long before it saw production. Point being, what the pros ride is irrelevant to what you and I ride.

As for the 300, lots of people buy 450s for no other reason than because they 'think' they need a 450. Usually when they drop down to something small they find out they are faster and less tired at the end of their ride. People buy the 300 on the 'hype' of it being a 300. It doesn't make any more power then the 250 and its torque numbers isn't mind blowing different than the 250. The 250 motor isn't quite as aggressive off the bottom, transitions smoother through the power range and revs out farther too. It's a much easier motor to ride than the 300 which peaks quickly and then signs off earlier...
BobPA wrote:
350 SX-F stroke : 57.5mm
250 SX-F stroke : 52.3mm

You were saying?
The bottom ends are virtually the same with many of the same parts being interchangeable. I understand the stroke and bore differences...
8/26/2021 1:19pm
How did you go? I’m weighing up the same options now. I have a fe501 and fc350 for sale, and can’t decide whether to get a 350 or 300….

I mostly trail ride with mates, we push each other occasionally and race occasionally. Not for sheep stations but gotta beat your mates. If it wasn’t for all the bent 300 pipes I see I would get one. I like the 350 because I won’t likely bend the pipe, and I can’t forget to top up the 2-stroke oil.
yota
Posts
1427
Joined
6/23/2008
Location
Crystal River, FL US
8/26/2021 1:41pm
there's a reason that almost all of the racers at the Tennessee Knock Out were on 2 strokes and most were on 300's.
RACERX69
Posts
1072
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
San Antonio, TX US
8/26/2021 3:33pm Edited Date/Time 8/26/2021 3:35pm
How did you go? I’m weighing up the same options now. I have a fe501 and fc350 for sale, and can’t decide whether to get a...
How did you go? I’m weighing up the same options now. I have a fe501 and fc350 for sale, and can’t decide whether to get a 350 or 300….

I mostly trail ride with mates, we push each other occasionally and race occasionally. Not for sheep stations but gotta beat your mates. If it wasn’t for all the bent 300 pipes I see I would get one. I like the 350 because I won’t likely bend the pipe, and I can’t forget to top up the 2-stroke oil.
As a jack of all trades, the 300 is THE bike to have. I have both a 300 and 350. Although the 350 is a great bike, especially in faster flowier trails, it's not a 300. In the slower, more technical trails, the 350, with it's engine braking and heavier feel, is a hell of a lot more work and not nearly as fun. It can be very fatiguing compared to the 300.
1
8/26/2021 4:21pm
How did you go? I’m weighing up the same options now. I have a fe501 and fc350 for sale, and can’t decide whether to get a...
How did you go? I’m weighing up the same options now. I have a fe501 and fc350 for sale, and can’t decide whether to get a 350 or 300….

I mostly trail ride with mates, we push each other occasionally and race occasionally. Not for sheep stations but gotta beat your mates. If it wasn’t for all the bent 300 pipes I see I would get one. I like the 350 because I won’t likely bend the pipe, and I can’t forget to top up the 2-stroke oil.
RACERX69 wrote:
As a jack of all trades, the 300 is THE bike to have. I have both a 300 and 350. Although the 350 is a great...
As a jack of all trades, the 300 is THE bike to have. I have both a 300 and 350. Although the 350 is a great bike, especially in faster flowier trails, it's not a 300. In the slower, more technical trails, the 350, with it's engine braking and heavier feel, is a hell of a lot more work and not nearly as fun. It can be very fatiguing compared to the 300.
Ok cool, how much heavier does the 350 feel?
langhammx
Posts
8904
Joined
5/5/2011
Location
Santa Clarita, CA US
Fantasy
323rd
8/26/2021 5:49pm
‘19 XCW300 for tight/ technical single track and a ‘20 EXC500 for fast/ OffRoad/ desert.
I have a SXF350 for the MX track and love it.

I’ve been to a few riding destinations and have ridden both the 300 and 350 with no complaints. I consider my 300 a 3 stroke, because it’s so easy to ride. You honestly can’t go wrong with either, but I ultimately chose the 300 after riding one in the gnarly woods type stuff. It’s just easier to ride and feels much lighter on the trails.
Not to mention it’s easy to work on and a little cheaper to maintain.
RACERX69
Posts
1072
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
San Antonio, TX US
8/26/2021 5:51pm
Ok cool, how much heavier does the 350 feel?
It's actually hard to quantify, really. The 300 feels like a mountain bike compared to my 350. Higher rotating mass, engine braking and lower rpm power deliver are all contributing factors to the heavier feel for the 350. Now, open the trail up and all of the aforementioned are marginalized down to a very minimum amount. I love both bikes, but if forced to only own one, the 350 is gone. FWIW, I ride 80% trail/off road and 20% moto.
8/26/2021 7:04pm
Ok cool, how much heavier does the 350 feel?
RACERX69 wrote:
It's actually hard to quantify, really. The 300 feels like a mountain bike compared to my 350. Higher rotating mass, engine braking and lower rpm power...
It's actually hard to quantify, really. The 300 feels like a mountain bike compared to my 350. Higher rotating mass, engine braking and lower rpm power deliver are all contributing factors to the heavier feel for the 350. Now, open the trail up and all of the aforementioned are marginalized down to a very minimum amount. I love both bikes, but if forced to only own one, the 350 is gone. FWIW, I ride 80% trail/off road and 20% moto.
Thanks for that, I'm swaying back to the 2-stroke now.
Magic Man
Posts
208
Joined
12/9/2010
Location
Albuquerque, NM US
8/26/2021 7:47pm
I have a 300 TPI with the TSP kit and have to say it's a bad mofo for the tight technical stuff and really crosses over well in fast flowy stuff.

Post a reply to: ‘17 Ktm 350 vs 300?

The Latest