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Edited Date/Time
10/14/2017 3:15pm
Can someone explain to me why so many people say the 350 is the best vet bike? This is a serious question. 350's make their best power higher in the rpm range(peak horsepower at 13,400 rpm). I don't know many vets that ride nearly that high in the rpm range even on a 250f. Can anyone give me some more info? Thanks guys!
IMO a 350 has a ton of positives compared to a 450. I just picked up one myself but have yet to ride it due to prior obligations.
The Shop
Its light as 250f but makes way more usable power and 450f is just too much for old people
who don't workout weekly outside motos.
I came off a KTM 300XC to the 350XCF. The 300 was not nearly as good on the MX track. Yeah, it doesn't have the pull your arms out torque the 450 does, but it isn't weak.
I can lug my 350 about as good as the 300 in the tight woods. It's easy to ride, doesn't feel as heavy as the 450 (even though the are about the same). I never rev mine as high as the fastest MX guys, but it is a great powerplant as long as you go 2016 and newer. The older ones are a little more hyper and need the higher revs...
Ride one to see for yourself...
My understanding, in a nutshell, is that:
1) it makes you *feel* like you are hauling ass.
2) it's easier to lean it and put it where you want than a 450 (less rotating mass)
3) you can rev the piss out of it like you did when you were 18 and the only 4-strokes around were XTs and XRs (nostalgia)
4) yet (in reference to #3) power is more linear than your old 91 RM250 (or whatever you had back then)
5) you can carry a few extra pounds around the mid section and still get a 350 moving (harder to do on a 250F)!
I think it's the fun factor, not the "win races" factor. A lot of vets (not all) care more about having a good time, than filling a trophy case.
Am I close???
Maybe they like the reviness without being scared of the power dilevery like a 450.
(although once you get into the 220lb+ range, the 125 starts to become less fun, methinks)
It's a little tame down low, BUT that gentle roll on down low is a huge asset. It doesn't fatigue you, doesn't upset the chassis, gets you hooked up and going forward with no drama. As you keep the throttle on it just keeps pulling and pulling..
On many sections where I needed to make a shift on my old bike (15 Kx450) the 350 can do it all in second. You can come out of a corner in second, keep the throttle on and let it eat all the way to the next corner and now be going mach10.
It's amazing how well it handled, brakes are amazing , suspension never gave it a second thought after the first day.
Overall it's an amazing bike. The low to mid is a smooth , mid to top is down right ferocious. It revs like a formula 1engine it feels like seriously. The power spread is unreal. So much usable rpms, almost takes shifting and the engine out of the equation on most tracks letting you focus on hitting your lines. I don't clutch it very much either. I'm 240lbs ntermediate rider.
Pit Row
I'll have one for 19'-
At first, I wasn't sure I made the right decision, as it wasn't comfortable and had some handling issues, but come to find out, it was setup for woods, and undersprung. Took care of that, and it's been great. My only problem, is revving it out. I tend to ride it a gear low, and have to remind myself to rev the piss out of it. And when I do, it's can be a beast.
Can anyone tell me how much better a 17/18 would be than a 15? I'm debating on selling and buying new, but I'm pretty happy with it now, and I can't imagine a newer one being worth the cost of upgrading.
As I’ve written before. If I bought a new MX bike it would be a 350 if I wanted to be as competitive as possible.
After riding a new Husky 125 I’d probably buy one of them instead, for the pure fun of it.
(I’ve actually bought a new FS450, for Supermoto, but haven’t ridden it yet.)
On a side note, my brother was at a race on the '15 and had hurt his foot to the point that he couldn't shift but still wanted to race. Stuck the 350 in second gear on the gate and raced both motos, finishing on the podium without ever shifting. Pretty versatile little engine if you ask me.
2) I do not agree with that, being 6'2 and 175lbs sure does help tho.
3) Yes and no, you can but you need to be quite fit to be able to do that for a whole moto.
4) I was born in 98 so no comment
5) You can carry a few extra pounds and still make a 125 get moving. One of my ridding buddies smokes my ass (1-2 sec per lap) while weighing 240 lbs even if hes on a 125, 250, 350 or 450. I know because he has ridden them all this year haha..
If you do get a 350 do the following: screenless filter cage, good setup on the forks/shock, check the spokes after every moto and you're golden. If your intention is to race on a more serious level I would consider some other mods such as: suspension revalve or even inserts of your liking. There is really no need for a pipe but what the heck it's cool
2) Absolutely. It weighs "only" 1 kg less than my SXF 450 but it feels way lighter than that when you ride it
3) highest revving bike out there
4) I'm born in 95 so i can't comment on that haha
5)You can carry a few extra pounds and get anything moving these days. I tried the 2018 SX 125 on a demo day(it was at a sand track) i thought it would be extremely slow since i weigh 190 pounds. Well i was wrong, it was a huge surprise how it dragged my heavy body around the track. Like i mentioned earlier in the thread, the 2016-2018 350 has 54hp stock. That is similar to the RMZ 450 and the old gen CRF 450.
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