Posts: 86
Joined: 9/23/2014
Location: Williamstown, MA USA
I'm in the market for a new KTM 350 XCF and found a couple leftovers that are marked down to around $8K OTD. I was originally looking at 2018's, but wondering what I should expect to pay for a 2017 vs 2018 at this time of year?
Also, is the extra money for a 2018 worth the updates(I'm not 100% sure what changed between years)?
Posts: 1455
Joined: 3/22/2014
Location: Garden City, ID USA
Posts: 648
Joined: 7/13/2012
Location: Fayetteville, AR USA
2018 350 XC-F Highlights
UPDATED WP AER 48 front fork with a sophisticated air spring design and separate damping for easy adjustment to any track condition, rider weight or skill level. A new setting improves damping.
UPDATED rear suspension damping settings are perfectly matched to the WP AER 48 front fork
NEW radiator guards provide better airflow in muddy conditions.
NEW C4 bearing fitted to the transmission shaft for a bigger overlap in the cases for improved reliability at high operating temperatures.
NEW clutch plates from nitrated steel for reduced wear on the steel clutch basket.
Also, orange frame. For me there isn't enough difference to justify the price on the 18 over the 17.
Posts: 3922
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location: CA, USA
The two biggest things are the updated AER 48 fork settings and the orange frame.
I have a 2017, and the bike is outstanding. If you really want the features of the 18 get the 17 forks updated to the 2018 spec, lots of WP suspension guys around here will do it.
That price for that bike is pretty good.
Posts: 361
Joined: 10/20/2014
Location: INLAND EMPIRE, CA USA
Hey Rob,
I was just in the same exact position as you. I ended up getting a 17 sxf instead of the xcf though. Started reading people having problems with the xcf having stalling issues and a few other things. Anyways the cheapest I could find a new 350 here in socal was $9200 OTD (2017) so I ended up driving to Phoenix and bought one for $7750 OTD! Well worth the drive! Save your money and just get a 17 PERIOD! Hurry though because there rebate ends at the end of the month. Plus all new 19's are around the corner... BTW super happy I got the sxf instead!
Posts: 361
Joined: 10/20/2014
Location: INLAND EMPIRE, CA USA
Also I'm 6' 2" and currently 240lbs. As for people saying it's not enough are full of shit! Most fun I've ever had on a bike and the power is incredible to say the least! Whether I want to be up a gear or rev her out it has power...
Posts: 3946
Joined: 4/22/2009
Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA USA
GouldRacing25 wrote:Also I'm 6' 2" and currently 240lbs. As for people saying it's not enough are full of shit! Most fun I've ever had on a bike ...more
I said in another post, if I had ridden a 350 before I bought my 17 FC450 I would have bought a 350 and I'm bugger than you. My friend has a 350 with a Rekluse clutch in it. It makes it a cheater bike and probably a perfect bike for nearly anyone.
The older I get, the faster I was.
Posts: 1362
Joined: 12/17/2009
Location: BEL
Buying leftover bikes is a double edged sword in my opinion. The question you should ask yourself is how long you intend to keep the bike. Resale value tends to decrease rapidly the first few years and then stabilizes.
So if you were to buy this '17 and sell it in 2 years, you would get resale on a 3 year old bike, which would be quite a bit less than for a 2 year old bike (at least around here). It seems llike 2 years is kind of the cut off for a "recent" bike. But if you were to keep this bike for 5 years or more, the difference in resale value would likely be marginal, plus by then you have to factor in the countless hours of fun you had on the bike over those years.
So long story short (in my opinion):
Intent to keep the bike for
2 years or less: Buy '18
3+ years: Buy '17 if the price is right
*Anyone but Reed or Webb Crew*
Posts: 150
Joined: 1/5/2007
Location: Newark, DE USA
$8,000 is a real good price 0n a XCF. Probably $9,300 - $ 9,500 0n a 2018. I would buy the 17 as their wasnt many upgrades. 17 air fork is great.
Posts: 147
Joined: 5/12/2010
Location: Anaheim, CA USA
GouldRacing25 wrote:Hey Rob,
I was just in the same exact position as you. I ended up getting a 17 sxf instead of the xcf though. Started reading ...more
How does the rebate work? Instant rebate or mail-in?
Posts: 4611
Joined: 1/10/2010
Location: Sacramento, CA USA
GouldRacing25 wrote:Hey Rob,
I was just in the same exact position as you. I ended up getting a 17 sxf instead of the xcf though. Started reading ...moreDizzy714 wrote:How does the rebate work? Instant rebate or mail-in?
Instant. At least thats how it was for my bike and I had a dealer incentive that took another 500 off.
I got a left over 17 FC350 and couldn't have been happier.
Posts: 4611
Joined: 1/10/2010
Location: Sacramento, CA USA
I disagree.
KTM/Huskys are the highest re-sale bikes in my area and go for top dollar. My buddy sold 15 KTM 350 for 8500 two months ago.
And what may jack everyone up is when the all new Dungey edition bike is released next year depending on how much is changed and what kind of advancements they make.
Posts: 1732
Joined: 8/15/2006
Location: USA
I personally know two people that have 350's and both of them have stalling / flame out issues (one is a SX-F, the other an XC-F). I've also read a lot of people posting online about the problem but I've yet to see anyone come up with a real solution. Anyone out there had these problems and then actually fixed it 100%?
I'm interested in getting a 2018 but don't want the frustration of a bike that keeps dying.
Posts: 147
Joined: 5/12/2010
Location: Anaheim, CA USA
GouldRacing25 wrote:Hey Rob,
I was just in the same exact position as you. I ended up getting a 17 sxf instead of the xcf though. Started reading ...more
Hm, odd that the rebate would end if there's still leftovers to be sold in some shops. I'm looking hard at a leftover 17' 350 in orange, but have to sell off a few things prior - likely won't be until after August ends.
Posts: 202
Joined: 10/9/2016
Location: Saint Clair Shores, MI USA
make sure the idle is set correctly.. mine was stock at 850-900 turned it up to 1200-1250(as manual mentions) and haven't had any issues other than self caused ones since i did that.
Posts: 3922
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location: CA, USA
Posts: 7329
Joined: 10/31/2013
Location: PA, USA
Set the TPS, and then set the idle, works wonders...Every bike is different, but it is not hard to dial it in, tool only runs you about $35
Tomac and/or Anderson for 2020.....
Posts: 1455
Joined: 3/22/2014
Location: Garden City, ID USA
Ditto on the tps. Had a customer's FX350 come in the shop and was complaining about stalling(experienced rider). Sure as snot, had to rev bike up to get it going. Adjusted tps and now one can let out clutch without giving any throttle and will chug away. Question is why KTM never sets the TPS properly from the factory, our US fuel is different?
